Core Wagering Terms
Understanding playthrough and rollover requirements
Wagering Requirements (WR)
Also known as: Playthrough, Rollover, Turnover
The number of times you must bet bonus funds (and sometimes deposit funds) before you can withdraw winnings. This is the single most important term affecting bonus value.
Example:
£100 bonus with 30x WR = £3,000 total wagering required
£100 bonus with 40x WR = £4,000 total wagering required
Important Variations:
- • Bonus Only WR: Only bonus amount counts (30x on £100 = £3,000)
- • Deposit + Bonus WR: Both count (30x on £200 = £6,000)
- • Winnings WR: Rare, applies to winnings from free spins
Game Contributions / Weighting
Percentage of each bet that counts toward WR
Different game types contribute different percentages toward completing wagering requirements. This dramatically affects how quickly you can complete WR and which games are optimal.
High Contribution (100%)
- • Slots
- • Scratch cards
- • Keno
- • Instant win games
Low Contribution (10-20%)
- • Blackjack (typically 10%)
- • Roulette (10-20%)
- • Video Poker (10%)
- • Baccarat (10%)
Excluded (0%)
- • Live dealer games (often excluded)
- • Progressive jackpot slots
- • Specific restricted games listed in T&Cs
True Value
Expected value after completing all requirements
The realistic amount you can expect to withdraw after completing wagering requirements, factoring in house edge. This is more useful than the headline bonus amount.
Calculation Example:
£100 deposit + £100 bonus = £200 starting
30x WR on bonus only = £3,000 wagering
Playing 96% RTP slots (4% house edge)
Expected loss: £3,000 × 4% = £120
True Value: £200 - £120 = £80 expected final
Net profit: -£20 (negative EV)
Restriction Terms
Limits and prohibitions during bonus play
Maximum Bet Limit
Critical restriction—violating this voids all winnings
The maximum amount you can bet per spin, hand, or round while a bonus is active. This is the most commonly violated term and leads to frequent bonus confiscations.
Common Limits:
- • £5 / $5 / €5 per bet (most common)
- • 10% of bonus amount (e.g., £10 on £100 bonus)
- • 15% of original bonus (stricter casinos)
- • Some casinos: £2-£3 maximum (very restrictive)
Important Warning
Casino software doesn't always prevent you from exceeding the limit. It's your responsibility to check and comply. Exceeding even once can void your entire balance.
Time Limit / Expiry
Deadline to complete wagering requirements
The period within which you must complete all wagering requirements. After this time, unused bonus funds and any winnings are forfeited.
Generous (30 days)
Plenty of time for casual players
Standard (14-21 days)
Fair for most players
Restrictive (7 days)
Difficult to complete
Special Cases:
- • Free spins: Often 24-72 hours to use, then 7-30 days to clear winnings
- • No-deposit bonuses: Usually shorter expiry (7-14 days)
- • Reload bonuses: Typically 14-30 days
Maximum Cashout / Win Limit
Cap on withdrawable winnings from bonus
The maximum amount you can withdraw from bonus winnings, regardless of how much you win. Excess winnings are removed upon withdrawal request.
Example Scenario:
£10 no-deposit bonus with £100 max cashout
You complete WR and have £500 balance
You can only withdraw £100; £400 is forfeited
Common Limits:
- • No-deposit bonuses: £50-£100 maximum cashout
- • Free spins: £100-£500 max from winnings
- • Deposit bonuses: Usually no max cashout (unlimited)
- • Some casinos: 5x-10x the bonus amount cap
Minimum Deposit
Required deposit to qualify for bonus
The minimum amount you must deposit to qualify for a bonus offer. Depositing less means you won't receive the bonus.
Common Minimums:
- • £10 / $10 / €10 (standard)
- • £20 (premium bonuses)
- • £5 (very accessible)
- • £50+ (high roller bonuses)
Why It Matters:
- • Affects accessibility
- • Higher minimums often = better bonuses
- • Must meet minimum for bonus code to work
Bonus Structure Types
Understanding different bonus mechanics
Sticky vs Non-Sticky Bonuses
How bonus funds interact with your withdrawable balance
Non-Sticky (Preferred)
Bonus is separate from real money. You play with real money first, then bonus money. Can withdraw at any time, forfeiting unused bonus.
Better for players - more flexibility
Sticky (Phantom)
Bonus mixed with deposit. Bonus itself can never be withdrawn, only winnings. Must complete full WR before any withdrawal.
Less flexible - bonus is "stuck" to account
Bonus Codes
Alphanumeric codes to activate bonuses
Special codes you must enter during deposit or registration to activate a bonus. Missing or incorrectly entering the code means no bonus.
Examples:
- • WELCOME100 - 100% welcome bonus
- • FREESPIN50 - 50 free spins
- • RELOAD50 - 50% reload bonus
- • NODEPOSIT - No deposit bonus activation
Important Notes:
- • Codes are case-sensitive
- • Must be entered before completing deposit
- • Cannot be applied after deposit is made
- • Some codes are exclusive to specific payment methods
Additional Important Terms
Other terminology you'll encounter
RTP (Return to Player)
The percentage of wagered money a game returns to players over time. Higher RTP = lower house edge.
Example: 96% RTP = 4% house edge
Variance / Volatility
How often and how much a game pays out. Low variance = frequent small wins. High variance = rare big wins.
Affects bonus completion strategy
KYC (Know Your Customer)
Verification process requiring ID, proof of address, and payment method verification before withdrawal.
Required by regulators for anti-money laundering
Cashback Bonus
Returns a percentage of losses (10-25% typical). Often has no wagering requirements or very low WR.
Low-risk bonus type
Bonus Balance vs Real Money
Separate accounts tracking bonus funds vs your deposited money. Usually play real money first, then bonus.
Check balance breakdown regularly
Prohibited Play
Betting patterns considered abuse: opposite bets (red/black simultaneously), low-risk strategies, delayed bonus rounds.
Can void bonus and winnings
Common Misunderstandings
Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
"I can withdraw bonus money directly"
Reality: Bonus funds themselves are almost never withdrawable. Only winnings generated from bonus play can be withdrawn after completing all wagering requirements. The bonus amount is typically deducted from your balance upon withdrawal.
"Wagering 30x means I need to win 30 times"
Reality: Wagering requirement means the total amount you must BET, not win. 30x on £100 means £3,000 total bets, regardless of whether those bets win or lose. You could place 3,000 bets of £1 each, or 300 bets of £10 each.
"All games count equally toward wagering"
Reality: Game contributions vary dramatically. A £10 bet on slots counts as £10 toward WR (100% contribution). The same £10 bet on blackjack might only count as £1 (10% contribution). Some games contribute nothing at all.
"I can withdraw anytime and keep the bonus"
Reality: Withdrawing before completing wagering requirements forfeits the bonus and any winnings generated from it. With sticky bonuses, you cannot withdraw at all until WR is complete. With non-sticky bonuses, you forfeit the unused bonus but keep your deposit and real money winnings.
"The casino will prevent me from violating terms"
Reality: Casino software often allows you to break rules (exceed max bet, play restricted games). The casino checks compliance during withdrawal review, at which point they can confiscate all winnings. It's your responsibility to know and follow all terms.
How to Read Terms & Conditions
What to look for and red flags
Essential Information to Check
Before Claiming:
- • Exact wagering requirement (30x? 40x? 50x?)
- • WR applies to bonus only or deposit + bonus?
- • Maximum bet limit during bonus play
- • Game contribution percentages
- • Excluded games list
Critical Details:
- • Time limit to complete wagering
- • Maximum cashout limit (if any)
- • Minimum deposit requirement
- • Bonus code (if required)
- • Geographic restrictions
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠60x+ wagering requirements: Extremely difficult to complete and rarely offer positive expected value
- ⚠7 days or less expiry: Not enough time for most players to complete wagering
- ⚠Low max cashout on deposit bonuses: If a deposit bonus has £100-£200 max cashout, it's very restrictive
- ⚠Vague "irregular play" clauses: Gives casino broad discretion to void bonuses
- ⚠Most games excluded from wagering: If only specific low-RTP slots count, the bonus is poor value
