What Are Wagering Requirements and Why Are They Needed?

Are you planning to redeem your next online casino bonus? Not so fast – almost every casino promotion carries numerous stipulations in the fine print, chief of those being the so-called wagering requirements. But, what are they, and how do they work? In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about wagering requirements, from decoding the formula to identifying the most common types you’ll find, and finally, the best tips and strategies for beating them.

Introduction to Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are a very common term that significantly impacts how you interact with casino bonuses. Beating them is one of your key objectives when making use of promotions at online casinos, but before we get all strategic and analyse how you can do that, let’s fully understand what they are and the rationale behind their implementation by casinos.

What Are Wagering Requirements?

Wagering requirements (also known as ‘rollover requirements’ or ‘playthrough requirements’) are the number of times you must wager the bonus amount given by the casino (and often also the amount you’ve deposited to get that bonus) before you can cash out any winnings. The number typically ranges from 30x to 60x, with 40x being the most common industry standard. As you can imagine, wagering forty or more times while still maintaining a winning run is no easy feat.

Why Do Casinos Impose Wagering Requirements?

Casino sites implement wagering requirements for a few key reasons:

Prevent Bonus Abuse: Bonuses are a way for casinos to welcome in new players and keep their excitement alive. Without them, it would be too easy for someone to just grab the money and leave, which isn’t the purpose of such promotions.
Get Players to Try Different Aspects of the Casino: Requiring you to bet a specific amount before withdrawing your winnings encourages experimentation and trying out a variety of games on the site (unless the promotion is locked to specific titles, in which case, the idea is to promote that title). The general idea is to funnel players towards certain content that the casino wants to promote and ensure they stay around long enough to experience it.
Maintain Profitability: Another reason for wagering requirements is simply to make it more challenging for players to convert bonus money into withdrawable cash. Think about it: if a casino offers a NZ$100 bonus without any wagering conditions or requiring you to just wager through the bonus once, it’ll be very easy to walk away with essentially free cash. However, if the operator imposes a 40x wagering requirement, you’ll need to make at least 40 bets to cash out, which severely reduces your chances of winning.

Common Types of Wagering Requirements

While there are certain common practices when it comes to wagering requirements, there is no uniform rule across casinos and bonus offers. In the following sections, we’ll take a look at all of the wagering requirements you’ll typically encounter when gambling online:

Standard Wagering Requirements

A 35x to 40x wagering requirement is relatively standard and is probably the most common wagering requirement range you’ll run into. This range gives you a solid chance to win while letting you experience what the casino has to offer if they let you wager across multiple games.

High Wagering Requirements

Anything over 40x is considered high, but don’t rush to hit the ‘X’ button just yet. We commonly see such figures in no-deposit bonus offers. Since it’s free to play, it’s still worth a shot to try and beat the odds.

Another reason to accept high wagering requirements is when the casino gives you 150% or higher matched funds – combined with a low enough minimum bet, this allows you to wager many times, as your higher bankroll will allow you to keep betting.

Low Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements as low as 1x are most common in cashback offers, where the gambling site gives you back a part of your losses. Beyond bonuses, we’ve also observed casinos that enforce this minimal wagering requirement on deposits to manage transaction fees before allowing withdrawals. You’ll sometimes see wagering requirements of 20x or lower on specific promotions, but it’s a rare occurrence.

No Wagering Requirements

Though highly coveted, rewards with no wagering requirements are hard to find. Your most likely source is through loyalty programs, where casinos reward progress with such incentives. Another avenue is through special, time-limited free spins on newly launched or exclusive games.

How To Calculate Wagering Requirements

Calculating wagering requirements is a straightforward process once you get the hang of it. Here’s how to determine the total amount you must bet before withdrawing your winnings.

Bonus-Only Wagering Requirements

The formula when only the bonus balance needs to be wagered is: Total Wagering Requirement = Bonus Amount × Wagering Multiplier.

For example, if you receive a NZ$100 bonus with a wagering requirement of 20x, the calculation would be NZ$100 × 20 = NZ$2,000. This means you need to bet NZ$2,000 before you can cash out any winnings.

Bonus + Deposit Wagering Requirements

Sometimes, the wagering requirement applies to both the bonus and the deposit amount. In such cases, the formula is Total Wagering Requirement = (Deposit Amount + Bonus Amount) × Wagering Multiplier.

Let’s say you deposit NZ$50 and receive a NZ$200 bonus, with a wagering multiplier of 35x. The calculation for your total wagering requirement would be: (NZ$50+NZ$200)×35=NZ$8,750. This means you need to bet a total of NZ$8,750 before you can withdraw any winnings.

Common Terms and Conditions

Online casino bonuses include various terms that, beyond their primary implications, influence your strategy for meeting playthrough conditions. Here’s a quick table to illustrate what they mean:

Term	Description	Typical Figures	Impact on Wagering Strategy
Maximum Bet Limit	Caps the bet amount per wager with bonus funds.	NZ$7 – NZ$10	Lower limits mean more bets to meet requirements; higher limits increase risk but speed up the process.
Minimum Deposit	The smallest amount you must deposit to activate a bonus.	NZ$10 – NZ$20	Determines the initial bonus size, influencing the total amount needed to wager.
Bonus Expiry	Time frame in which you must use the bonus or lose it.	7-30 days	Shorter periods force faster play.
Game Restrictions	Limits bonus usage to specific games or excludes some.	Most slots: 100% Table Games: 10% – 20%	Dictates which (and by how much) games contribute towards the wagering requirements.
Win Caps	Limits the maximum earnings from bonus funds.	Varies significantly	Affects potential winnings; higher caps make it worthwhile to complete wagering on high volatility games.

Strategies for Beating Wagering Requirements

Ready to give it a go yourself? Here are seven expert tips to get you on your way:

Play games with high RTP rates to maximise your chances of winning while meeting requirements.
Choose slots that offer bonus features such as free spins or re-spins for extra winning opportunities.
If the contribution rate is high, opt for games where betting strategy matters, like blackjack, to use skill to your advantage.
Keep track of your playthrough progress regularly to know how close you are to the target.
Set realistic bet sizes to manage your bankroll effectively without exhausting funds prematurely.
Monitor time limits closely.
If the maximum withdrawal limit is low, favour games with low volatility. You won’t be taking massive jackpots home either way!

Pros and Cons of Wagering Requirements

As we’ve already established, wagering requirements are mostly a way for casinos to protect themselves. As such, from a strictly player point of view, the system has far more cons than pros. But let’s look at it from a broader perspective, including the operator’s angle:

Extends playtime
Increases player engagement
Prevents or limits bonus abuse
Rewards player commitment

Can be restrictive & complex
Discourages low stakes players
Requires more time and money investment
Lower the chances of making profit from the bonus offer it is attached to

Conclusion

Wagering requirements might not be popular, but we accept them as a necessary evil we deal with to get a chance to turn bonus offers at casinos into profits. Always remember to thoroughly review the fine print before opting for any bonus. Wagering requirements play a huge role in your chances to win, but you should also watch for terms like maximum bet limits, validity periods, and eligible games before signing up for an enticing-looking bonus offer. We hope this short guide has been useful, and you can put the knowledge learned here towards future success at your favourite casino. Good luck!