If you’ve ever claimed a casino bonus, you’ve probably noticed a little clause in the terms: “30x wagering requirements” or “25x rollover”. For new players, it can feel like casino jargon designed to trip you up. But once you understand how wagering requirements work, you’ll be able to make smarter decisions and keep more of your winnings.
Let’s break it all down, using real examples from popular online casinos.
Quick Navigation for Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements:
What Are Wagering Requirements?
A wagering requirement (WR) is the number of times you need to bet your online casino bonus (and sometimes your deposit) before you can withdraw any winnings.
Think of it as a “playthrough” condition. The casino gives you extra funds, but you have to show you’re playing with them before cashing out.
Example:
You claim a $100 bonus with a 30x WR on bonus funds.
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- $100 x 30 = $3,000 in bets before you can withdraw.
If the WR is on deposit + bonus, it works differently:
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- Deposit $100 + $100 bonus = $200 total.
- $200 x 30 = $6,000 in bets required.
Types of Wagering Requirements
Not all wagering requirements are calculated the same way. The two main types, bonus-only and deposit + bonus, determine how much you’ll need to wager before cashing out. We explain them both in detail below.
Type 1: Bonus-Only Wagering
This is the simplest form of WR. It applies only to your bonus funds, not your deposit.
Example – Bovada:
Bovada offers a 100% match bonus up to $3,000 with a 25x WR on the bonus only.
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- Deposit: $100
- Bonus: $100 (100% match)
- WR: $100 x 25 = $2,500 in bets required.
Your deposit money isn’t tied to the WR, so the total playthrough target is lower.
Type 2: Deposit + Bonus Wagering
Here the WR applies to both your deposit and the bonus amount, making the playthrough target much larger.
Example – DuckyLuck:
They offer a 500% match bonus up to $2,500 with a 30x WR on deposit + bonus.
Let’s say you deposit $100:
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- Deposit: $100
- Bonus: $500 (500% match)
- Combined Total: $600
- WR: $600 x 30 = $18,000 in bets required.
Even though you’re getting a huge bonus, the higher WR target means you’ll have to play significantly more before cashing out. This is why high-percentage match offers can be tricky — the bigger the bonus, the bigger the playthrough.
Other Key Terms That Affect Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements aren’t the only thing that determines how easy (or hard) it is to cash out from a casino bonus. Certain bonus rules and game restrictions can stretch out your playthrough far longer than you expect. Understanding these terms will help you pick offers that fit your playing style — and avoid nasty surprises when you try to withdraw.
1. Game-Weighted Contributions
Casinos set contribution rates based on the type of game you play. Slots usually contribute 100% to WR, while table and live dealer games often contribute less. This is to prevent players from clearing WR too quickly on low-house-edge games like blackjack.
Games Contribution Table
Most online casinos use a game contribution system to decide how much each bet counts towards clearing your wagering requirements. This setup is extremely common across the industry and helps the casino manage risk.
Here’s what a typical table looks like:
Game Type
Contribution %
Slots
100%
Blackjack
10–20%
Roulette
10%
Live Dealer
0–50%
How it works:
If a game contributes 100%, every $1 you bet counts fully towards your WR target. At 20%, only $0.20 per $1 wagered counts. This is why slot games are often the go-to for clearing bonuses quickly, you make progress with every spin.
Example:
Let’s say you have a $3,000 WR target:
- Playing slots (100%) → $3,000 in bets needed.
- Playing blackjack (20%) → $15,000 in bets needed.
Casinos do this because games like blackjack and roulette have a lower house edge, meaning you have a better chance of winning, so they limit their contribution to keep bonuses fair for both sides.
2. Sticky vs. Non-Sticky Bonuses
When you claim a casino bonus, it usually falls into one of two categories: sticky or non-sticky. The difference comes down to whether the bonus itself can ever be withdrawn or if it’s just there to give you extra playtime. Knowing which type you have is key to understanding what happens to your funds when you cash out.
3. Reload Bonuses and Wagering Requirements
Reload bonuses are like a second helping of a welcome bonus — offered on future deposits after you’ve joined. They usually come with the same WR rules as the welcome offer, but sometimes the percentage match is lower, or the WR is slightly higher to offset the repeated benefit.
How Wagering Requirements Work (Step-by-Step)
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Opt in when depositing or enter a promo code. Always check the terms first, once you activate the bonus, you’re committed to meeting wagering requirements or forfeiting the bonus.
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Not all games contribute equally. Slots usually count 100%, while table games count less. Picking high-contribution games helps you clear rollover faster.
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This is the “playthrough” phase. If you have a $100 bonus with a 30x WR, you must place $3,000 in total bets, wins and losses both count toward this total.
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Once rollover is complete, you can request a withdrawal. Sticky bonuses will vanish at this point, but non-sticky bonuses can be withdrawn along with your winnings.
🎯 Example Flow:
Claim $200 bonus (30x WR bonus only) → Play slots (100% contribution) → Reach $6,000 total bets → Withdraw winnings.
How to Beat or Minimize Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements can feel like a big hurdle, but with the right approach, you can make them much easier to manage and sometimes avoid them entirely. It’s important to understand them to be able to use casino bonuses effectively . Here’s how to play smart:
1. Choose Low-WR Offers
The lower the WR, the easier it is to clear.
2. Play High-Contribution Games
Always check the casino’s game contribution table. Slots almost always count 100%, so every $1 you bet makes full progress toward your WR target.
3. Avoid Cashout-Restricted Bonuses
Some bonuses limit the maximum you can withdraw from them. Even if you win big, you may only be allowed to cash out a set amount — which can be frustrating if you’ve worked hard to clear WR.
4. Look for Wagering-Free Offers
These are the holy grail of bonuses — they let you keep whatever you win without having to meet any WR.
5. Try Cashback Deals
Cashback offers give you a percentage of your losses back, often with no WR or very low WR. They’re a great way to get value without committing to long playthroughs.
6. Know the Catch with No Deposit Bonuses
They’re great for testing a casino without risk, but the WR is often higher in no deposit bonuses (sometimes 40x–60x) and there’s usually a max cashout limit. If you just want a taste of the games, they’re perfect, but for bigger wins, a low-WR deposit bonus will be better value.
FAQs About Wagering Requirements
Can I withdraw before completing WR?
Yes — most casinos will let you withdraw before you’ve cleared wagering requirements. But if you do, the casino will remove your bonus funds and any winnings you earned from them. You’ll only be able to cash out what’s left from your original deposit (if anything). For example, if you deposit $100, get a $100 bonus, and try to withdraw after betting only $500 of a $3,000 WR target, the $100 bonus and any bonus-related wins will be taken away.
What does 20x WR mean?
A 20x WR means you need to wager the required amount 20 times before you can withdraw winnings. Whether it’s “bonus only” or “deposit + bonus” will make a big difference. For example:
- Bonus only: Deposit $100, get $100 bonus → $100 × 20 = $2,000 in bets required.
- Deposit + bonus: $200 total × 20 = $4,000 in bets required.
This doesn’t mean you need to deposit that amount — just wager it in total bets over time.
You can see how rollover impacts the value of different bonuses in our casino bonus comparison guide.
Why do different games contribute differently?
Casinos assign different contribution rates to manage risk and prevent bonus abuse. Slots often get 100% contribution because they have a higher house edge and faster play — making it more likely the casino can cover the bonus. Table games like blackjack and roulette have a much lower house edge, meaning skilled players could win more often. To balance this, casinos reduce their contribution rates (e.g., 10–20% for blackjack) so you’d have to wager much more to clear the same WR.
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