Wagering Requirements — The Full Explanation

What a wagering requirement is

A wagering requirement (also called playthrough requirement) specifies how many times you must bet through the bonus amount — or in some cases, the deposit plus bonus amount — before the bonus converts to real withdrawable money.

Example: You claim a 100% match bonus up to £100. You deposit £100 and receive £100 bonus. The operator has a 40x wagering requirement on the bonus amount. You must place 40 × £100 = £4,000 in total bets before the bonus becomes withdrawable.

The real cost

If you play slots with a 96% RTP, the expected loss over £4,000 of wagering is £4,000 × 4% = £160. You receive a £100 bonus in exchange for an expected loss of £160. This is a negative expectation activity — the bonus costs you more than it gives you, on average.

Deposit plus bonus requirements

Some operators apply the wagering requirement to both the deposit and the bonus combined: 40x on (deposit + bonus) = 40 × £200 = £8,000. This is twice as hard to clear as a bonus-only requirement and should be treated very differently.

Game contribution rates

Slots typically contribute 100% to wagering. Live casino games often contribute 0% to 10%. If you plan to play blackjack while clearing a bonus, most of your play will not count — making the requirement essentially impossible to clear from table games alone.