Understanding Wagering Requirements
The Short Version
A 30x wagering requirement on a $100 bonus = $3,000 in bets before you can withdraw. Most slots count 100% toward that total; table games usually count 10-20% or not at all.
What Are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements (also called playthrough requirements) are conditions attached to casino bonuses that require you to wager the bonus a certain number of times before withdrawing winnings. They exist because casinos would otherwise lose money the moment a player claimed a bonus and immediately cashed out.
The requirement is usually expressed as a multiplier — 20x, 30x, 40x — applied to the bonus amount, the deposit+bonus combined, or (less commonly) winnings only.
Wagering Requirement Examples
Example: You deposit $100 and claim a 100% match bonus of $100. The casino offers 30x wagering on the bonus amount.
- Bonus amount: $100
- 30x wagering: $100 × 30 = $3,000 in total bets required
- If the casino applies 30x to deposit+bonus: $200 × 30 = $6,000 in bets
At a slot with 96% RTP, you'd expect to lose roughly 4% of each bet to the house. $3,000 × 4% = $120 expected loss to clear the $100 bonus. Whether it's "worth it" depends on variance and your luck.
Game Contributions: Why Blackjack Players Get Burned
Casinos structure game contributions to limit profit from skilled play. A typical structure:
- Slots — 100% contribution
- Scratch cards / keno — 100%
- Roulette — 10-20% (or excluded)
- Blackjack / baccarat — 10% or excluded
- Video poker — 10-20%
- Live dealer games — usually 0%
If you play blackjack at 10% contribution toward a 30x bonus, you'd need to wager $30,000 at blackjack to clear a $100 bonus — effectively impossible at most stakes.
How to Evaluate Whether a Bonus Is Worth Claiming
Simple formula: Bonus value = Bonus amount ÷ (Wagering requirement × House edge)
A $100 bonus with 30x wagering at a 4% house edge (typical slot): Expected loss = $100 × 30 × 0.04 = $120. You're expected to lose $120 to claim a $100 bonus. The expected value is negative.
However, at low house edges (e.g., 1% on blackjack with full game contribution): $100 × 30 × 0.01 = $30 expected loss for a $100 bonus. That's positive expected value — but casinos know this, which is why they exclude or limit table game contributions.
No-Wagering Bonuses and Sweepstakes
Some casinos now offer no-wagering bonuses — the full amount is cashable immediately. These are typically smaller (a $10-$20 free chip vs. a $500 match bonus with 40x wagering). Calculate the real value before deciding which is better for your play style.
Sweepstakes casinos work differently. Sweeps Coins have no wagering requirements — once you accumulate them, you can redeem anytime after meeting the minimum threshold (usually 50-100 SC). This is one of the main advantages of the sweepstakes model for casual players.