Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are the casino's way of making sure you actually gamble before walking away with bonus money. That "100% up to $500" welcome bonus isn't free cash—it's a loan with strings attached. Before you can withdraw a single dollar, you'll need to bet the bonus amount many times over. A 35x wagering requirement on$100 means placing $3,500 in bets. Whether that's good or bad depends entirely on the math, which most players never calculate.

Table of Contents

• How Wagering Requirements Work
• Calculating Wagering
• Game Contribution Rates
• Evaluating Bonus Value
• Wagering Strategies
• Terms and Conditions Traps
• Best and Worst Practices

How Wagering Requirements Work {#how-it-works}

The Basic Concept

Example:

• Bonus: $100
• Wagering: 35x
• Total betting required: $100 × 35 = **$3,500**

What Counts as Wagering

Wagering on Bonus vs Bonus + Deposit

Critical distinction:

Always check whether wagering applies to bonus only or bonus + deposit.

When Requirements Apply

Deposit $100 → Receive $100 bonus → Wager $3,500 → Withdraw

Some casinos also apply wagering to deposits not linked to bonuses after claiming. Check terms carefully.

Calculating Wagering {#calculating}

Basic Calculation

Time to Complete

Example at $1/spin:

• $100 bonus × 35x =$3,500 wagering
• $3,500 ÷$1 = 3,500 spins

At 600 spins/hour = ~6 hours of play

Expected Cost of Wagering

At 96% RTP (4% house edge):

• $3,500 wagering × 4$140 expected loss

If bonus was $100, expected value =$100 - $140 = **-$40**

Break-Even Wagering Calculator

If WR < Break-Even: Positive expected value If WR > Break-Even: Negative expected value

Game Contribution Rates {#game-contribution}

Typical Contribution Rates

Why Table Games Contribute Less

Table games have lower house edge:

Low contribution rates prevent players from using low-edge games to minimize wagering losses.

Effective Wagering with Contribution

To complete $3,500 wagering on 10% contribution blackjack:

• $3,500 ÷ 10$35,000 in actual bets needed

Contribution Calculation Example

$100 bonus, 35x wagering:

Evaluating Bonus Value {#evaluating}

Expected Value Formula

Quick Evaluation Table

$100 bonus at 96% RTP slots (4% edge):

Rating Wagering Requirements

Value Per Dollar of Bonus

Negative means you expect to lose more than the bonus value.

Wagering Strategies {#strategies}

Strategy 1: High RTP Slot Selection

Choose highest RTP slots available:

Higher RTP = less lost during wagering = better bonus value.

Strategy 2: Low Volatility for Survival

Low volatility slots reduce bust risk:

High volatility + high WR = high probability of losing everything before completing requirements.

Strategy 3: Optimal Bet Sizing

Stay well under max bet limits:

• Terms typically limit to $5-10
• Breaking max bet rule forfeits bonus

Strategy 4: Session Planning

Calculate sessions needed:

Plan for multiple sessions. Don't rush.

Strategy 5: Stop-Win Planning

If hitting big win during wagering:

Lock in profits once wagering is done.

Terms and Conditions Traps {#traps}

Trap 1: Max Bet Violations

The rule: "Maximum bet $5 while bonus active"

Solution: Always bet under the max limit.

Trap 2: Game Restrictions

Hidden restrictions:

• Specific slot exclusions
• Progressive jackpot slots excluded
• "Feature buy" modes excluded
• New releases temporarily excluded

Solution: Check full game list before playing.

Trap 3: Time Limits

Solution: Check expiry before claiming. Don't claim if you can't complete in time.

Trap 4: Max Withdrawal Limits

"Maximum withdrawal from bonus: 5x bonus"

Hit a $10,000 jackpot? You only get$500.

Solution: Avoid bonuses with restrictive max withdrawal.

Trap 5: Bonus-Only vs Real Money Priority

Always check which funds are used first.

Trap 6: Wagering on Deposit Too

Type A: 35x bonus only = $3,500 on$100 bonus Type B: 35x (bonus + deposit) = $7,000 on$100 + $100

Type B requires DOUBLE the wagering.

Best and Worst Practices {#best-practices}

Best Practices

Worst Practices

Red Flags to Watch

Wagering Calculator {#calculator}

Full Calculation Example

Bonus Details:

• Deposit: $200
• Bonus: $200 (100% match)
• WR: 35x (bonus only)
• Time limit: 30 days
• Max bet: $5

Step 1: Total Wagering$200 × 35 =$7,000

Step 2: Expected Loss (96% RTP)$7,000 × 4$280

Step 3: Expected Value$200 bonus -$280 expected loss = -$80 EV

Step 4: Spins Required$7,000 ÷$1/spin = 7,000 spins

Step 5: Time Required 7,000 ÷ 600/hour = 11.7 hours

Decision: This bonus has negative expected value. Only take if you value the entertainment more than -$80.

Compare Two Bonuses

Bonus A is positive EV despite being smaller.

Related Calculators

• Wagering Calculator - Calculate exact wagering needs
• Bonus Value Calculator - Determine if bonus is worth it
• Expected Loss Calculator - Project wagering costs