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April 16, 2026
Wagering requirements are the single most important thing to understand before claiming any casino bonus. They determine whether a bonus is genuinely worth taking, and getting them wrong is one of the most common and expensive mistakes casino players make.
This guide explains exactly how wagering requirements work, how to calculate them, what the different variations mean, and how to decide whether a bonus is actually in your favour before you commit.
A wagering requirement is a condition attached to a casino bonus that tells you how many times you must bet through bonus funds before you can withdraw any winnings from them.
They are also called playthrough requirements or rollover requirements. These terms mean the same thing. If you see "30x wagering", "30x playthrough" or "30x rollover" on a bonus offer, the casino is telling you the same thing in different words.
The logic behind them is straightforward from the casino's perspective. If a casino gives you €100 for free, they need you to actually play with it rather than deposit, claim the bonus, and immediately withdraw. Wagering requirements ensure a certain amount of genuine gameplay happens before any withdrawal is possible.
The problem is that how they are structured and how high they are set varies enormously between casinos. A 10x requirement on a €100 bonus is a very different proposition to a 60x requirement on the same bonus, and understanding that difference is what this guide is about.
Let's use a straightforward bonus to illustrate:
The offer: 100% deposit match bonus up to €100 with a 30x wagering requirement.
You deposit €100. The casino matches it with €100 in bonus funds. You now have €200 to play with, but the €100 bonus is subject to the 30x wagering requirement.
The calculation:
€100 (bonus amount) × 30 (wagering multiplier) = €3,000 in bets required before the bonus converts to withdrawable cash.
That means you need to place a total of €3,000 in bets before you can withdraw anything earned from the bonus. Your €100 deposit is typically yours to withdraw at any time, but the bonus funds and any winnings generated from them are locked until the requirement is cleared.
This does not mean you will lose €3,000. If you are playing slots with a 96% RTP, your theoretical loss across €3,000 in bets is around €120. In practice, results vary, but this gives you a realistic sense of what you are signing up for when you claim a bonus with a 30x requirement.
This is one of the most important distinctions in casino bonus terms, and one many players miss.
Bonus-only wagering means the multiplier applies only to the bonus amount.
Example: You deposit €100, receive a €100 bonus, wagering is 30x bonus only. Calculation: €100 × 30 = €3,000 required.
Deposit plus bonus wagering means the multiplier applies to both your deposit and the bonus combined.
Example: You deposit €100, receive a €100 bonus, wagering is 30x on deposit + bonus. Calculation: €200 × 30 = €6,000 required.
The same "30x" headline figure results in double the wagering obligation depending on which calculation method the casino uses. Always check the terms carefully, because casinos do not always make this obvious in their marketing.
At JustCasinoSites, we check this for every casino we list and note it in our reviews. If you are ever unsure, the safest approach is to contact the casino's live chat before depositing and ask them directly: "Does the 30x apply to the bonus only, or to the deposit and bonus combined?"
Not all bets count equally. Casinos assign a contribution percentage to different game types, meaning €1 bet on a slot may count differently to €1 bet on blackjack.
The most common structure looks like this:
Slots: 100% contribution. Every €1 you bet on a slot counts as €1 towards your requirement. This is why slot players are better positioned to clear wagering requirements than table game players.
Live casino and table games: Typically 10% to 20% contribution, sometimes 0%. A €1 bet on roulette might count as just €0.10 towards the requirement, meaning you effectively face a 300x playthrough on that game if the headline requirement is 30x.
Specific slots excluded: Some casinos exclude high-RTP slots from bonus play entirely. NetEnt's Mega Joker (99% RTP) and Thunderkick's 1429 Uncharted Seas (98.6% RTP) frequently appear on excluded game lists. This is deliberate. The casino is not offering bonuses to be used on games that are almost break-even.
Sports betting: If a casino also offers a sportsbook, betting contributions can vary significantly. Some casinos count sports bets at 100%, others exclude them entirely. But most have a completely separate bonus altogether for sports betting.
Always find the game contribution table in the bonus terms before playing. It is usually in the terms and conditions under a section called "Game Contributions" or "Bonus Eligible Games."
The wagering requirement multiplier is the headline figure, but several other conditions determine the true value of a bonus.
Most casino bonuses expire. The wagering requirement must be completed within a set period, typically between 7 and 30 days, or the bonus funds and any associated winnings are forfeited. Some casinos are stricter than this. Luna Casino, for example, requires free spin winnings to be wagered within 30 days, with the spins themselves to be used within a defined window after crediting.
A 30x wagering requirement is far more achievable with a 30-day window than a 7-day one. Factor this in when comparing offers.
This is a term that catches players out regularly. Most casinos impose a maximum bet per spin or per hand while bonus funds are active, typically €5 per spin on slots. If you place a bet higher than this limit, the casino can void your bonus and any winnings connected to it.
The maximum bet limit exists to prevent players from trying to complete wagering requirements with very large bets in a short time. Stick to the limit. It is in the terms and it is enforced.
Some bonuses, particularly no deposit bonuses and free spin offers, cap how much you can actually withdraw from any winnings. A casino might offer 50 free spins with winnings capped at €50 regardless of what you actually win. This is common and legal, but it means a large win from a bonus is not always fully cashable.
Some bonuses are explicitly non-cashable, also called phantom bonuses. You play with them, any winnings you generate are real and withdrawable, but when you withdraw, the bonus amount itself is deducted from your balance. This is different to a standard bonus where the bonus amount itself can be withdrawn once wagering is complete.
Non-cashable bonuses are not necessarily bad, but they function differently and are worth understanding before you claim.
This depends on the bonus type, but here are the general benchmarks used in the industry:
0x to 5x: Excellent. This is essentially a wager-free or near-wager-free bonus. The offer at the top of our homepage from Mondcasino carries just a 5x requirement, which is among the most player-friendly structures available.
10x to 25x: Really good. Realistic to complete without heavy losses if you choose high-RTP slots.
30x to 40x: Average. This is the standard across the industry. The bonus has value but you should calculate the expected loss before committing.
50x and above: High. Proceed carefully. At 60x on a 96% RTP slot, your expected loss to clear the requirement on a €100 bonus is €240, more than double the bonus value.
Wager-free bonuses (0x): These are increasingly available and often significantly smaller in headline value. A €20 wager-free bonus is frequently worth more in real terms than a €100 bonus with 50x wagering.
These two bonus types have different relationships with wagering requirements, and it is worth understanding both.
Non-sticky bonuses (also called detachable bonuses) keep your deposit and your bonus funds separate. If at any point you want to withdraw your deposit (and potential winnings) before reaching the bonus balance, you can simply forfeit the bonus and withdraw. This gives you an exit if you run up a good win on your deposit before the bonus is cleared.
Sticky bonuses mix your deposit and bonus together from the start. You cannot access your deposit independently. The full balance must run through the wagering requirement before any withdrawal is possible.
For most players, non-sticky bonuses are preferable because they retain the ability to withdraw if things go well early. JustCasinoSites lists both types clearly on every casino review and bonus page.
Before claiming any bonus, run through this checklist:
Step 1: Identify the actual wagering obligation. Is it bonus only or deposit plus bonus? What is the total amount you need to wager?
Step 2: Check game contributions. Will you be playing slots at 100% contribution, or do you prefer table games where contributions may be much lower?
Step 3: Calculate expected loss. Multiply your total wagering obligation by the house edge of the game you plan to play. A 96% RTP slot has a 4% house edge. €3,000 in required wagering × 4% house edge = €120 expected loss to clear the bonus. If the bonus is worth €100, you are expected to lose more than you gain.
Step 4: Check the time limit. Is it realistic to clear the requirement within the window, given your normal playing habits?
Step 5: Check the maximum bet. Make sure you know the cap and that you can play comfortably within it.
Step 6: Check the maximum withdrawal. On free spin bonuses especially, confirm there is no cap that makes a large win uncashable.
If the numbers work and the terms are clear, the bonus may be worth taking. If the numbers do not work, it is often better to deposit without claiming a bonus at all, leaving you free to play and withdraw on your own terms.
One of the advantages of following JustCasinoTV is that our streamers claim and play through bonuses live on camera. When DomiNate claims a welcome offer during a stream, you see the wagering progress tracker in real time, the games he chooses to hit the requirement, the maximum bet limits respected, and how long the process actually takes.
This is something no written guide can fully replicate. If you want to see how a specific casino handles its bonus wagering in practice before you commit your own money, check whether that casino has been streamed on our channel.
Wagering requirements are not inherently bad, but they require attention. The same "30x" headline figure can mean very different things depending on whether it applies to the bonus only or the full deposit plus bonus, which games you plan to play, whether there is a time limit you can realistically meet, and what the maximum bet restriction is during bonus play.
A bonus with a low wagering requirement and fair terms is a genuine benefit to the player. A bonus with a high multiplier, restrictive game contributions, and a short time window can end up costing more than it gives back.
At JustCasinoSites, every bonus listed on the site has been checked for its wagering terms before it goes live. The wagering requirement, bonus type (sticky or non-sticky), and minimum deposit are displayed clearly on every casino listing so you can make that comparison at a glance.
About the author Freddi Nilsson is the Editor-in-Chief at JustCasinoSites. He has extensive experience working in the iGaming industry, including time at LeoVegas, and has reviewed and verified casino bonus terms across hundreds of operators. [View full profile →]
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