Understanding Wagering Requirements In Casino Bonuses

Online casinos aggressively market their deposit bonuses, making it seem like they are handing out free money.


The reality is that these promotional funds are heavily restricted by a mechanism called a playthrough requirement.

How the Bonus Catch Actually Works

It is essentially a mathematical hurdle you must clear before the casino allows you to cash out your winnings.


If the terms state 20x on both the deposit ($100) and bonus ($100), you must wager $4,000 in total.

Low wagering requirements (under 30x) are considered the gold standard in the industryMany players prefer to decline bonuses entirely to avoid dealing with these restrictionsYou must clear the playthrough before you can withdraw even your own initial deposit in most cases
Game Weighting and Restrictions

You cannot simply grind out the requirement on games like Blackjack that have a 99.5% RTP.


However, playing roulette might only contribute 10%, meaning a $10 bet only counts as $1 towards the playthrough.

Game TypeWeighting %RecommendationLive Casino0%Avoid completely while bonus is activeScratch Cards100%Excellent option for clearing funds

Always read the fine print carefully, and never accept a bonus if the playthrough multiplier exceeds 50x.