What Are Wagering Requirements In Online Casinos?

One thing to note before we begin is that wagering requirements are also called playthrough or rollover requirements. Playthrough is commonplace on online gambling sites amongst gamblers, while wagering is used more commonly in online sports betting settings like Betfair. Rollover requirements, while used interchangeably, aren't that commonly used in the US compared to other parts of the world. Keep on reading to learn more about wagering requirements at online casinos.

Quick Answer

Wagering requirements are attached to the casino bonuses. This is the minimum amount of money a punter must bet in selected casino games to make a cash withdrawal.
Casino bonuses include various features, like a time limit, wagering limit, selection of games, and additional terms and conditions. Players must read through all of these features before using the offer.
Wagering requirements are essential because they prevent money laundering.
Casino players cannot avoid wagering requirements, although they can opt for no-wager casinos.

What is a Wager?

To understand what wagering requirements are, first, you need to understand what a wager is. Wager is another term for a bet placed on any casino game, online slot poker, or online bingo game. It refers to the amount of money you stake for a match, a hand of cards, or a spin of reels. A wager can also be the total amount of money you bet on a game session or in a specific period - like one night at the casino.

Wagering Requirements Defined

When casinos offer you a crazy, too-good-to-be-real casino bonus that offers you thousands of dollars in deposit matches or cashback, you can count on a wagering requirement to follow. Bonus money won from a deposit bonus, or a welcome bonus acts like a siren luring you to sign up to the casino website. In this business, you can't take anything at face value.

Casinos add wagering conditions to strike a balance with the numerous bonus offers they have on the site. They want to make sure that they aren't simply giving away a bonus amount with no return - customers are also placing wagers on the various games they offer, like slot games or video poker. When you claim a bonus from a casino, you are paid in bonus money, not cash. Similarly, free spins, winnings, or payouts are always in bonus money. The bonus money is separate from real cash in your account, and it comes with a wagering requirement.

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Since you can't withdraw the bonus money, you must follow the rules and fulfil the wagering requirements and other regulations attached to it, like a time limit, a region-based rule, game-specific rules, etc., to access it and make a cash withdrawal. There might also be a min or max win condition attached to it. There are many types of rules attached to the bonus offer. This is, so players don't abuse the offers without upholding their end of the deal.

So, in a nutshell, a wagering requirement is the amount (usually 2x or 3x the bonus amount or winnings) a player must bet to make a cash withdrawal.

For example, the casino gives a €20 casino bonus with a 10x wagering requirement to a player in the Starburst slot game. This means that the player will have to spend €200 on the game before he can withdraw the winnings. If he wants to accept the offer, he has no option but to place the bets to get his best shot at getting some real cash. If you complete the requirements, you can turn your bonus money into real money. The casino gives quite a number of chances to convert the money - you simply need to have all the information to make a profit. Otherwise, the deal will have run its course without any real benefit to you.

We have created our very own wagering requirements calculator. Check it out below!

What is the Reason for Wagering Requirements?

They might be a thorn in the side of every customer, but as a matter of fact, wagering requirements have a legitimate explanation behind them. The issue is that casinos must comply with anti-money laundering regulations to maintain their status as wagering casinos and cultivate a reputation as a good site to play games on. This is to prevent criminals from cleaning out their illegal funds by depositing the money and withdrawing it immediately.

Can I Avoid Wagering Requirements?

Not really. If you don't want to deal with the effort that goes into meeting wagering requirements, you can always renounce your bonus, but we wouldn't recommend forfeiting your wins, especially the ones that payout big.

This is because even though wagering requires you to spend money, the casino increases the size of your bankroll by a lot - sometimes 3x the original amount. A larger bankroll gives you more chances at the games you love, like jackpot slots or a game of solid poker. You will meet the wagering requirements before you know it. If you still don't want to dabble with wagering requirements, find one that offers wager-free welcome bonuses or hope that you land a bonus with no wagering requirements, like a cashback bonus.

What are Some Wager-Free Casino Bonus Offers?

No-wager casinos are popular because their bonus funds come with fewer terms and conditions, but the range of winnings is also a bit lacklustre. On the other hand, you can also get wager-free bonuses at your regular wagering casinos - you will be able to withdraw straight away without any hurdles.

With this type of bonus, the winnings will be small, and you will be required to make deposits, but the wins will be paid in real cash once you have sorted out the deposit amount. If you win enough times, you will make a sizable sum of money. Wager-free bonuses can be in the form of cashback, wager-free spins, or wager-free deposit bonuses. Several top casinos in the UK offer bonuses without wagering requirements. For instance, Mr Q Casino, Video Slots, or the Paddy Power Casino.

Tips to Handle Casino Wagering Requirements

If you want to get the most out of your online casino gaming experience, here are a few things that you can do:

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Terms & Conditions

When you have a chance to claim some bonus money, deposit bonus, or a promotional offer, read the fine print carefully - because there is always more to an offer than meets the eye. Nothing comes without strings attached. When you pay close attention to detail, you can pick out the various terms and conditions attached to the offer. Studying this information first will allow you to avoid any possible payout issues. You will have what you need to beat the wagering requirements.

The most important features in the terms and conditions are as follows:

The winning amount.
The minimum deposit.
The wagering requirement of the offer made to the punter.
The time limit - most offers tend to expire between 7 days and 3 months. The offer expires if you cannot meet the wagering requirements in the set amount of time.
The eligible games - not all casino games are eligible for the offer. For instance, a slot game with a low RTP might be eligible for the offer.
The bonus bet limit.
Casinos may also limit or ban bets or strategies used to exploit the system. While this may take the fun out of the game, the casino does everything it can to retain its house advantage.

Casino Selection

When choosing a casino to play your games at, you must remember that each casino has different wagering requirements. The variance between casino wagering requirements is high. In some cases, they may have wagering requirements of 50x or more, while others may have wagering requirements of less than 30x.

It is best to read reviews of casinos before signing up. Look for the ones that give you a clear idea of their reputation and image. Every review counts during the vetting process - if there is any inconsistency, try to explore why that is the case. Here's a list of minimum requirements a casino should have:

The casino should be licensed with a gaming authority so that your rights are protected. The licensing authority can be found at the bottom of the home page. You can click on the embedded link to learn more about the authority and see if it is up to standard.
Registration should be simple but thoroughly vetted.
Customer support should be readily available to address any concerns or problems you may have with the deals or any part of the offer.
The casino should have favourable bonus terms.

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Game Selection

The game you choose affects the percentages of your wager and its requirements. Study the catalogue, understand the RTP (return to player) and variance, and determine which games qualify for the bonus and what percentage of your wager they contribute. Only then can you play the games that will give you the highest payout possible. This strategy is crucial if you want to make serious money. Since the contribution to bets is 100% in a game of slots, you are more likely to win when you play online slots compared to table and card games, where the odds are lower because of a 50% contribution.

Learning more about the Casino Wagering Requirements

Several laws are in place to ensure that all wagering requirements are visible to players. If your casino fails to provide this information, you should report it to the gambling commission. Whenever a casino operator offers a free cash bonus, including free spins, they, by law, need to display the terms and conditions with it. You should find everything mentioned in the section above in the T&Cs. Sometimes, the terms and conditions take you to the promotions page, depending on the software.

If you are confused about the terms and conditions attached to your offer, you can drop the casino an email asking them to clarify the information given to you. Alternatively, you can contact the customer support helpline for further details on using the deal to your advantage. They are extremely efficient and courteous in their dealings because they want to make sure all casino players are satisfied with the assistance received.

FAQs

What is a Wagering Requirement?

Wagering requirements refer to a condition applied to promotions offered to a player. It affects how and if the player can spend the winnings won from that promotion.

How do I meet my Wagering Requirement?

You must wager a certain amount or make a cash deposit to meet your wagering requirement.

Do all Casino Games have Wagering Requirements?

Wagering requirements are attached to bonuses, not casino games. Bonuses are fun ways to make more money in your chosen game.

Can a card game have bonuses?

Yes, in some cases, card games have bonuses.

What is the best strategy to use with Wagering Requirements?

The best strategy is to read the terms and conditions before accepting the offer.

What is a Wager Amount?

The wager amount refers to the money you use to place bets. In terms of casino bonuses, this refers to the amount you have to bet before making any bonus money withdrawals.

Casino Mentor

Seánie O'Brien

Casino Adviser

Seánie has plenty of experience in the casino world and enjoys sharing this accumulated knowledge. He offers great tips and tricks for players to enjoy casinos safely.

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Fact Checked By Rebecca Mackay