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How to Read Wagering Requirements: A Plain Guide

Wagering requirements decide whether bonus money can ever become cash you can withdraw. Learn the terms, check the sums with a worked example, and use a simple checklist.

By CasinoRadius team, updated 30 October 2026, 5 min read

Last checked: 29 October 2026

A bonus often looks like free money. The wagering requirement is the rule that decides if it really is. This guide explains the terms and walks through one example with the sums checked.

What wagering means

Wagering (also called playthrough or rollover) is the amount you must bet before bonus money, or winnings from it, can be withdrawn. The UK Gambling Commission defines a wagering requirement as a rule where a customer must make wagers totalling a particular value for funds to become withdrawable.

Wagering is usually written as a multiple, such as 35x. It is the total amount of bets that count, not the amount you lose.

Bonus only or bonus plus deposit

The multiple is applied to a base amount. Read which one.

  • Bonus only: 35x on the bonus amount.
  • Bonus plus deposit: 35x on the bonus and your deposit added together.

The second type needs twice as much betting when the bonus equals the deposit.

A worked example

You deposit 50 and receive a 100 percent bonus of 50. The wagering is 35x.

Bonus only

  • Base: 50.
  • Required bets: 50 x 35 = 1,750.
  • Check: 35 x 50 = (30 x 50) + (5 x 50) = 1,500 + 250 = 1,750.

Bonus plus deposit

  • Base: 50 + 50 = 100.
  • Required bets: 100 x 35 = 3,500.
  • Check: 3,500 / 2 = 1,750, the first answer. Right.

Now think about what those bets cost on average. Say the slot you play has a 96 percent RTP, so the game keeps 4 percent of stakes on average over the long run (see our RTP vs volatility guide).

  • Bonus only: 4 percent of 1,750 = 70.
  • Bonus plus deposit: 4 percent of 3,500 = 140.
  • Check: 1,750 x 0.04 = 70 (1,750 / 100 = 17.5, and 17.5 x 4 = 70). Doubling gives 140.

On average, the cost of clearing the wagering is 70, which is more than the 50 bonus. This is an average, not a forecast. Some people finish ahead and many do not. But it shows why the bonus is not simply free.

Game contribution percentages

Not every bet counts in full. Each game type has a contribution (weighting).

The Commission gives this example: a 100 bonus with 10x wagering needs 1,000 of contributions. If roulette counts for 30 percent, each 1 staked adds only 30 pence. You would need about 3,333 of roulette bets (1,000 / 0.3 = 3,333.33).

Typically slots count more and table games count less, but each offer is different. Read the list. Games excluded entirely add nothing.

Max bet, expiry and maximum cashout

  • Max bet while wagering: many offers cap the bet size. If the cap is 5 per spin, then 1,750 of wagering needs at least 350 bets (1,750 / 5 = 350). Betting above the cap can void the bonus and winnings under some terms.
  • Expiry: the days you have to finish. If you have 7 days for 1,750, that is 250 per day (1,750 / 7 = 250). Ask if that is realistic for your budget.
  • Maximum cashout: a limit on how much of the bonus winnings you may withdraw. A bonus with a low cap can make large wagering pointless.
Worked example: a 50 deposit plus a 50 bonus makes 100, and a 35 times requirement on the bonus means 1,750 in total bets.
Worked example: a 50 deposit plus a 50 bonus makes 100, and a 35 times requirement on the bonus means 1,750 in total bets.

Why a big bonus can be worse than a small one

Wagering grows with the bonus. Compare two offers, both 35x on the bonus only:

  • Bonus 10: 350 of required bets (35 x 10), average cost at 4 percent about 14.
  • Bonus 200: 7,000 of required bets (35 x 200), average cost at 4 percent about 280.

The larger bonus asks you to stake twenty times more. Check: 7,000 / 350 = 20. A big number on the banner is not a sign of a good offer.

Rules differ by country

The UK Gambling Commission has said that from 19 January 2026 licensees in Great Britain must not apply wagering requirements over 10 times. On the same example, 10x on a 50 bonus is 500 of bets (10 x 50). It also says players must be able to withdraw their deposit balance at any time, even while a bonus is active, and that wagering must not apply to deposit funds. These are rules for Great Britain only. They do not apply in other countries, and many offers elsewhere use far higher multiples. Check the law and the offer terms where you live.

Checklist

  1. Is wagering on the bonus only, or on bonus plus deposit?
  2. What is the multiple, and what is the total bet amount (do the sum)?
  3. Which games count, and at what percentage?
  4. What is the max bet while wagering?
  5. How many days until it expires?
  6. Is there a maximum cashout?
  7. Can you withdraw your own deposit while the bonus is active?
  8. Can you decline the bonus? If the terms look poor, do.

Play with care

Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. It can be addictive. A bonus is never a reason to stake more than you planned. Set deposit and time limits, and stop if you feel pressure to chase a requirement. GambleAware offers free, confidential help for people in Great Britain. Look for a service in your own country too.

Sources

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