Wagering requirements at online casinos, also known as playthrough or rollover requirements, refer to the number of times a player must bet or 'wager' the bonus money (and occasionally the original deposit too) before they can withdraw any winnings derived from the bonus.
Online casinos offer bonuses and promotions to attract players and to reward their loyalty. However, to prevent potential abuse of these offers, such as withdrawing the bonus money without playing, casinos impose these wagering requirements.
Here's a bit more detail:
Understanding the Numbers
The wagering requirement is typically represented as a multiple, such as 20x, 30x, or 40x. The higher the multiple, the more you have to bet before you can withdraw your winnings.
For example, a 20x wagering requirement on a $100 bonus means you must place bets totaling $2,000 (20 times the bonus) before you can withdraw any winnings made from the bonus.
Bonus Only vs. Bonus and Deposit
Wagering requirements can apply to the bonus amount only, or to both the bonus and the deposit amount. This distinction is crucial as it can significantly affect how much you need to bet. Always check which of these two options applies at your chosen online casino.
For example, pretend an online casino offers a 100% match bonus on a $100 deposit, accompanied by a 30x wagering requirement on the bonus amount only. In this scenario, you'd have to place bets amounting to $3,000 (which is 30 times the $100 bonus) before you're permitted to withdraw any winnings generated from that bonus.
However, if an online casino offers a 100% match bonus on a $100 deposit, accompanied by a 30x wagering requirement on the bonus and deposit amount, the wagering requirements would be $6,000 (30 times the $100 bonus and $100 deposit).
Game Contribution
It's also important to note that not all games contribute equally towards fulfilling the wagering requirements. Slots typically contribute 100%, meaning every bet you place counts toward the requirement. However, other games like roulette or blackjack might contribute less, say 10%, which means only 10% of every bet you make on these games counts towards the requirement. When you make $100 worth of bets on blackjack, this counts as $10 of wagering requirements, if the contribution is only 10%.
Maximum Bet Limits
Maximum bet amounts are another factor that online casinos often stipulate in their terms and conditions when it comes to fulfilling wagering requirements for bonuses. Essentially, this rule places a limit on the size of the bet you can place while playing through your bonus.
The purpose of this rule is to prevent players from rapidly meeting wagering requirements by placing large bets. By limiting the bet size, the casino ensures that the player spends a reasonable amount of time playing games before they can withdraw their winnings.
For instance, a casino might offer a bonus with a 30x wagering requirement but also state that you cannot place a bet greater than $5 until the wagering requirement has been met. This means that even if you have a large balance, you can only bet a maximum of $5 at a time.
Breaching this rule could lead to your winnings being forfeited. Therefore, it's crucial to be aware of maximum bet amounts when working towards fulfilling wagering requirements. Always remember to read the bonus terms and conditions carefully to understand these details.
Time Limit
Most online casinos set a time limit within which the wagering requirements must be met. This could range from a few days to a few months. If you do not meet the wagering requirements within this period, you may forfeit your bonus and any associated winnings.
Should I Claim Bonuses from Online Casinos?
With the wagering requirements and time restrictions placed on players that claim bonuses from casinos, you might be wondering whether you should even bother with the bonus. This is up to your personal preference. Some players like to withdraw any winnings they have straight away, and so they opt to play without bonuses. If your bonus is automatically added when you make a deposit, simply contact the live casino support team and ask them to remove the bonus, before you play.
The majority of players enjoy using bonuses as they increase the amount of gameplay they have at the casino. For example, a 100% match bonus on a $20 deposit means that you spend $20, but can play with $40 of credits on the games you like!
Do All Bonuses have Wagering Requirements?
Most online casinos that offer bonuses will have wagering requirements attached to them. This is to prevent players from abusing the system and taking away money from the casino without playing. However, there are some instances where casinos may offer a no wager bonus. Here is a list of some crypto casinos that offer a no wager bonus.
Conclusion
Wagering requirements are a critical aspect of online casino bonuses. They can affect your ability to withdraw your winnings, so it's important to understand them before accepting any bonus offers. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully to understand the wagering requirements and other associated terms.
At many online casinos you can contact the support staff to remove any bonus before you start playing. This ensures that you will be able to easily withdraw any winnings, without worrying about meeting wagering requirements. Be sure to do this before you start playing any games or placing any bets, otherwise you could be stuck with the bonus and the playthrough requirements.