Katrina Griffiths
Senior editor
Published on: October 6, 2026
How wagering requirements work, and why bonus money isn’t free money
A wagering requirement, also called a playthrough or rollover requirement, is the amount you need to bet before you can withdraw a casino bonus or its winnings. It’s written as a multiple, so a $100 bonus with a 35x requirement means $3,500 in bets.
Bonus funds look like extra money in your account, but the requirements decide what they’re actually worth, and it’s usually the term players skim past. The figures below are illustrative examples, not any operator’s current offer.
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements are the conditions that turn bonus funds into cash you can withdraw. You bet a set multiple of the bonus, and once that total has passed through the games, you can cash out whatever’s left in your balance.
The multiplier tells you how many times over the bonus you have to play. It doesn’t mean you’ll lose that amount; it means that amount has to pass through the games as bets, win or lose.
How do you calculate wagering requirements?
To calculate a wagering requirement, multiply the bonus by the multiplier:
Total wagering = bonus × multiple
What the multiple is applied to matters just as much, and terms usually go one of two ways:
- Bonus only: the multiplier applies to the bonus amount. A $100 bonus at 35x means $3,500 in bets.
- Deposit plus bonus: the multiple applies to both. Deposit $100, get a $100 bonus, and the same 35x now means $7,000 in bets.
The headline number is identical, but the second version takes twice as much betting to clear. When two offers look alike, the base the multiple sits on is usually where they differ.
Is casino bonus money really free?
Bonus money isn’t free, because every bet you place carries the house edge, and a wagering requirement makes you place a lot of them. Clearing a bonus costs you money on average, and you can estimate how much with a second formula:
Expected cost = total wagering × house edge
A slot with 96% RTP has a 4% house edge, so it keeps $4 of every $100 bet on average. Using the same $100 bonus at 35x:
- Total wagering: $100 × 35 = $3,500.
- Expected loss while clearing it: $3,500 × 4% = $140.
- Average value of the bonus: $100 − $140 = −$40.
On average, you’d lose the whole bonus plus another $40 of your own money. Some players will finish ahead, because slots are volatile, but the average is what most players end up with across many bonuses. That’s why a bonus is better treated as extra play time than as a gift.
The multiple drives everything. Here’s the same illustrative $100 bonus, played on a slot with 96% RTP that counts 100% towards the requirement:
| Multiple | Total wagering | Expected cost | Average value of the bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x | $1,000 | $40 | $60 |
| 20x | $2,000 | $80 | $20 |
| 25x | $2,500 | $100 | $0 |
| 35x | $3,500 | $140 | −$40 |
| 50x | $5,000 | $200 | −$100 |
At a 4% house edge, the break-even point is 25x. Below it, a bonus is worth something on average; above it, clearing the bonus is expected to cost more than the bonus itself. A requirement that also covers your deposit doubles the total wagering, so the break-even point drops to 12.5x.
Which bonus terms change the math?
Game contribution, the maximum bet, the expiry date and the withdrawal rules can all change what a bonus costs, sometimes as much as the multiple itself.
Do all games count towards wagering requirements?
Not every game counts fully towards the requirement. Slots typically count 100%, while table games like blackjack and roulette often count 10% to 20%, or not at all. At 10%, a $10 hand clears just $1 of wagering, so the same $3,500 requirement would take $35,000 in blackjack bets. Low-edge games usually count the least because they’d make the requirement too cheap to clear.
Is there a maximum bet while a bonus is active?
Most bonuses cap your stake while the requirement is active, usually as a set amount per spin or hand. Bet over it, even once, and the terms generally let the operator void the bonus and anything won with it.
Do wagering requirements expire?
Wagering requirements usually expire, commonly anywhere from a few days to a month after the bonus is credited. Anything not cleared by then is forfeited, and the short window pushes you to play more, faster, than you otherwise would.
What happens if you withdraw before finishing?
Withdrawing before you meet the requirement usually cancels the bonus and any winnings. The terms also specify whether your cash or the bonus is used first, and some bonuses cap how much you can win from them, no matter how big the hit. Disagreements over these clauses are among the most common withdrawal disputes.
What Alberta’s rules say about bonus terms
AGLC’s standards for internet gaming set out how a bonus can be presented to Alberta players. Under them, an offer has to meet three minimum rules:
- It isn’t free if conditions apply: an offer can’t be described as free if you must risk your own money or meet conditions to use it.
- It isn’t risk-free if you can lose: an offer can’t be called risk-free if you need to risk or lose your own money to use it or withdraw what it wins.
- Its terms come first: all material conditions must appear when the offer is first presented on the operator’s site, with the rest no more than one click away.
AGLC also bars promotions that aren’t reasonably attainable without substantial losses. Bonus offers can only be advertised on an operator’s own site or through direct marketing you’ve opted into, and you must be able to withdraw that consent at any time. That’s why the full terms of any offer are on the operator’s site rather than on review or comparison sites.
What to check before you accept a bonus
You’re never obliged to take one. Before you do, it’s worth running through these checks:
- Find the multiple and check whether it applies to the bonus only or to the deposit plus bonus.
- Work out the total wagering and multiply it by the house edge of the game you’d actually play.
- Check that game’s contribution rate, the maximum bet and the expiry date.
- Look for a cap on winnings and the rules on withdrawing early.
- Decide whether you’d rather keep your deposit free to withdraw at any time.
If the expected cost is higher than the bonus, or the terms push you to play faster than you’d like, turning it down is a perfectly sensible choice.
Wagering requirements FAQ
What does 35x wagering mean?
It means you need to bet 35 times the amount the requirement applies to before you can withdraw. On a $100 bonus, that’s $3,500 in bets, or $7,000 if the requirement also covers your $100 deposit.
Do free spins have wagering requirements?
Free spins often do. Winnings are usually credited as bonus funds with their own wagering requirement, so you must play through them before you can withdraw. Some offers are wager-free, but their terms still set an expiry date and sometimes a cap on winnings.
Can you cancel a casino bonus?
Most operators let you forfeit an active bonus from your account. Cancelling usually removes the bonus and any winnings made with it, but your remaining cash balance stays yours to withdraw.
Do you have to accept a casino bonus?
Bonuses are optional. If you decline one, your deposit stays free to withdraw at any time, subject to the operator’s usual verification checks.
Conclusion
A wagering requirement turns a bonus into a betting target, and every bet on the way there costs you the house edge. Once you multiply the two, it’s clear why bonus money isn’t free money, and why the terms are worth reading before you accept anything.
If you do take one, set a deposit limit first so the requirement can’t pull you past what you planned to spend. More of the math behind RTP and house edge is in six myths about online casinos.
Always remember that gambling is entertainment.
You must be 18 or older to gamble online in Alberta. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, the Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline is open 24/7 on 1-866-332-2322, and GameSense has free tools and advisors.
