Comprehensive Guide To Casino Wagering Requirements

If you’re not confident about the ins and outs of wagering requirements, then NoDepositKings has got you covered. On this page, we’ll show you how wagering requirements work and the best ways to turn your bonus into real cash.

Understand how to calculate wagering requirements with practical examples.
Learn how to convert your bonus funds to withdrawable real cash faster.
Find out the different ways online casinos apply wagering requirements.

Table Of Content

What Are Wagering Requirements?
Why Casinos Have Wagering Requirements
Wagering Requirements For Different Bonuses
What Is A Good Wagering Requirement?
Other Bonus Terms That Affect Wagering Requirements
How To Clear Wagering Requirements Efficiently
About Wager Free Bonuses

What Are Wagering Requirements?

A wagering requirement, also referred to as a playthrough requirement, reflects the number of times you must play through your bonus before it becomes withdrawable cash. This requirement is always expressed as a multiplier and generally sits anywhere from 25x to 70x.

The wagering multiplier amount directly impacts your bonus conversion. For instance, if you claim a $100 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement, you need to bet $3,500 (35 x $100) to turn the bonus into real money.

Top Tip

Watch Out For Different Wagering Requirement Rules

Some online casinos will make meeting wagering requirements a little harder. They do this by requiring you to wager both the bonus and your deposit.

For instance, a 100% deposit match with a 30x wagering multiplier means that depositing $100 gets you a $100 bonus. But, to meet the 30x requirement, you must wager $6,000 ($100 bonus + $100 deposit x 30 wagering requirement).

How to Fulfill Bonus Wagering Requirements

Regardless of the online casino you choose, the approach used to meet wagering requirements is almost always the same.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Browse Your Bonus Options

Check out our top online casino bonuses. All our featured online casinos are reputable, licensed, and fully tested by our team of experts.
Step 2: Check The Wagering Requirements

Reasonable wagering requirements typically range from 20x to 40x the bonus amount, so try to avoid anything higher. Always remember to review this information before accepting any bonus offers.
Step 3: Make a Deposit (if applicable)

If the bonus requires a deposit, check the terms to make sure your payment option isn’t excluded from claiming the bonus.
Step 4: Don’t Forget Your Bonus Code!

Most bonuses are triggered automatically, but if a bonus code is required, you’ll find it listed right next to the offer. The bonus code field is usually part of the registration or in the casino’s cashier section. when making a deposit.
Step 5: Start Playing and Check Your Progress

Some bonuses restrict specific games; ensure you place bets on eligible games to fulfil the wagering requirements. You can always check the tracking bar in your account to see how much of your bonus wagering has been fulfilled.
Step 6: Cash Out Your Winnings

That’s it! Once your bonus has been wagered, you can request a withdrawal. Check the casino’s minimum withdrawal policy to make sure you meet the threshold.

Top Tip

Be Wary Of Time Limits

You’ll have a time limit to wager the bonus funds before they expire. For welcome bonuses, this can be up to 30 days, whereas free spins come with shorter times. If you surpass the given timeframe, your bonus and any accumulated winnings may be forfeited.

Why Casinos Have Wagering Requirements

You may be curious about why casino bonuses have wagering requirements in the first place. These are integral to the casino remaining profitable whilst also rewarding players.

Here are the main reasons why wagering requirements are necessary:

Ensuring Financial Stability: Casinos need to remain financially viable. If there were no wagering requirements in place, you could immediately claim a bonus, cash out the funds, and get free money. This would lead the casino to major financial loss.
Encouraging Engagement: Bonuses encourage you to try new games and, ideally, become a regular player. Wagering requirements can motivate you to keep playing and testing out what the casino has to offer.
Balancing Risk and Reward: Wagering requirements allow the online casino to offer enticing bonuses whilst also ensuring you contribute to the casino’s revenue through ongoing gameplay.

Wagering Requirements For Different Bonuses

The main idea behind wagering requirements stays the same – you must bet a certain amount before you can cash out your winnings. However, these details can vary depending on the specific bonuses.

In the following sections, we’ll explain the different wagering requirements you might come across.

Wagering Requirements For No Deposit Bonuses

No deposit bonuses are free deals that do not require a qualifying deposit. These bonuses can be either free spins or bonus credits that casinos give out as an incentive to sign up.

Once you know the value of the bonus (for example, a $10 bonus credit) and the wagering requirement, it’s easy to calculate the amount you need to bet.

Here’s how it works:

Bonus Value x Wagering Requirement = Amount You Have To Wager For example, if you claim a $10 no deposit bonus with 35x wagering requirements, you will need to wager the bonus amount ($10) x the wagering requirement (35) = $350.

No deposit bonuses wagering requirements usually range from 30x to 50x+. As a general rule, they tend to be heftier than the wagering requirements on deposit bonuses as the casino is taking a bigger risk.

Improve your odds of winning real money with our beginner’s guide to no deposit bonuses.

Top Tip

Expert Tip:

Looking to calculate the value of no deposit free spins? This works a little differently.

Wagering Requirements For Deposit Bonuses

After you’ve used up your no deposit bonus, you can choose to deposit to claim more bonuses. While these are no longer free, they do come with bigger rewards and, more often than not, lower wagering requirements from 25x to 45x.

Wagering requirements can be applied to deposit bonuses in two ways:

Scenario 1 – Just the bonus value:

Bonus Value x Wagering Requirement = Total Wagering Amount For example, if you claim a $50 bonus with 30x wagering requirements. This means you will need to wager the bonus amount ($50) x the wagering requirement (30x) = $1,500.

Scenario 2 – The deposit amount AND the bonus value:

(Bonus Value + Deposit Value) x Wagering Requirement = Total For example, a 100% match on a $50 deposit with a 30x wagering requirement. To meet the requirement, you must wager the bonus amount ($50) + deposit value ($50) x wagering requirement (30x) = $3,000.

Top Tip

Pick Your Bonus Carefully

As you can see in the two scenarios above, wagering requirements that apply to both the deposit and the bonus value can put you at a significant disadvantage. We always advise opting for casino bonuses that require you to wager only the bonus value.

Wagering Requirements For Free Spins

There are two types of free spins bonuses, both of which usually feature wagering requirements:

Deposit free spins – Wagering requirements can apply to bonus winnings or include a deposit, often ranging from 20x to 40x. For example, with 50 free spins, a $10 deposit, and a 35x requirement, winning $50 means wagering $2,100.
No deposit free spins – As no qualifying deposit is needed, wagering requirements apply to winnings from free spins. Industry-standard amounts range from 30x to 45x. For example, if you get 25 free spins with a 30x requirement, winning $5 means wagering $150.

If you’d like to learn more, check out our beginner’s guide to free spins.

What Is A Good Wagering Requirement?

When it comes to casino bonuses, knowing if the wagering requirement is reasonable can greatly impact your chances of winning real money.

Our bonus experts classify bonuses as follows:

30x or lower – Very reasonable
30x – 40x – Below average
40x – 50x – Standard
50x – 60x – Above average
70x or higher – Too excessive

Let’s take a look at these different wagering requirements in more detail:

Wagering Requirement	No Deposit Offers	Our Verdict	Deposit Offers	Our Verdict
Below 30x	Not common	Excellent	Not common	Excellent
30x -40x	Fairly common	Very Reasonable	Common	Reasonable
40x – 50x	Common	Standard	Common	Acceptable
50x – 60x	Common	A bit high	Uncommon	Above average
60x or higher	Uncommon	Very high	Uncommon	Too much

Key Takeaways

Wagering requirements are applied differently depending on the generosity of the casino.
Wagering requirements typically range from 20x to 40x, with 30x being considered standard for many online casino bonuses.
You’ll have a fair chance of completing the requirements naturally while playing if you avoid wagering requirements over 50x.
No deposit bonuses usually have higher wagering requirements compared to deposit match bonuses due to their completely free nature.

Top Tip

You May Need to Confirm Your Identity

When requesting a withdrawal, some casinos might need to verify your identity as part of their KYC (Know Your Customer) process. This usually includes uploading certain documents, like a passport or driver’s license.

Other Bonus Terms That Affect Wagering Requirements

It’s not all about meeting wagering requirements. There are other terms to consider that can affect how you enjoy your bonuses. Below, we outline other crucial bonus terms and conditions.

Game Weightings and Restrictions

The game weighting percentage indicates how much of your bet counts toward the wagering requirement. When a game is 100% weighted, an amount equal to your bet is subtracted from your wagering requirement with each spin or hand.

This means wagering a bonus on 100% weighted games increases your chances of converting it to real money.

Here’s what typical game weighting contributions look like:

Pokies – 100%
Speciality Games – 100%
Crash Games – 100%
Video Poker – 0-20%
Table Games – 5-50%
Live Dealer Games – 0%

Bet Limits

Bet size limits will also apply, limiting the amount that can be won in a single hand or spin. This rule is in place to make sure you don’t meet the requirements too quickly by placing big bets, thus slowing down the process.

By limiting the bet size, the casino ensures that you spend a reasonable amount of time playing games before you can cash out any winnings. Usually, the maximum bet limit is $5. However, this differs from casino to casino.

Expiry Dates And Time Limits

Bonuses and free spins come with expiration dates. You’ll have a timeframe to claim the bonus, which is often 24-48 hours upon registration. You’ll also have a set time to wager your bonus, usually anything between 14 and 30 days.

These times vary for each casino. If you fail to wager the bonus within the allocated timeframe, your bonus and any winnings will be forfeited. So, always check the bonus terms in advance to know what you can expect.

Win Caps

Win caps provide a maximum limit on the amount you can withdraw from a bonus once you’ve met wagering requirements. These restrictions tend to be more of a feature of no deposit bonuses, where the casino is more concerned about their risk exposure.

Win caps prevent you from withdrawing more than a certain sum, even if you win more with your bonus. You won’t be able to cash out more than the limit, and the casino will void anything extra.

Here’s how we rank common win caps:

$10 or less: Poor
$10 – $20: Acceptable
$20 – $50: Average
$50 – $100: Great
$100 or more: Excellent

Top Tip

Learn All About Bonus Terms

Every promotion has its own set of terms and conditions, making it challenging to sort through the good and the bad. Our experts have created an in-depth article on bonus terms to guide you through this.

How To Clear Wagering Requirements Efficiently

Even though no strategy can guarantee success, there are ways to boost your odds dramatically.

Here are some pro tips to boost your chances:

Choose Wagering Requirements: Find casinos that offer good bonuses with low wagering requirements. This makes it easier for you to meet the goal, making it more likely to cash out your winnings.
Adjust Your Bet Size: If you’re on a winning streak, think about making slightly bigger bets to keep the good luck flowing. But if you’re not having much luck, placing smaller bets is a good idea.
Play 100% Weighted Games: Play eligible games that fully count towards the wagering requirement. For example, choosing a 100% weighted game makes each bet count more, helping you reach the wagering requirement faster.
Balance High RTP and Low Volatility: Pick pokies with high RTP (Return to Player) ratios and low volatility. High RTP means you get more from your bets in the long run, and low volatility gives you steady wins to keep you in the game longer.

About Wager Free Bonuses

Wager-free bonuses are the unicorn of online casino bonuses — highly sought after and incredibly rare. These bonuses allow you to cash out your winnings immediately without the hassle of meeting wagering requirements.

As the name implies, no wager free spins are basically free spins with no wagering requirements on specific pokies. Although they are rare, we work hard to negotiate these deals and have them listed at NoDepositKings as soon as they’re released.
No wager bonuses offer more flexibility, as you’re awarded a bonus credit, which you can use on pokies and table games. Anything you win is entirely yours to keep. Our top no wager bonuses are always fully tested and available at leading Aussie casinos.

Top Tip

Exciting Bonuses You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

Some online casinos are cautious about giving out bonuses without any wagering requirements at all. Luckily, NoDepositKings maintains great relationships with leading casinos to bring you exclusive bonus offers with better terms, including lower wagering requirements.

Published on: 2024/04/16

About the Author

Hi, I'm Courtney, the Webmaster at No Deposit Kings - We provide visitors with free and easy access to real money casino gaming thanks to no deposit casino bonuses offered by our hand-picked selection of online casinos.