A casino bonus is money or spins you can only withdraw after meeting its terms, and the terms decide what it is worth. The number that matters most is the wagering requirement: how much you must bet before bonus money turns into money you can withdraw. A 100% bonus of €100 with 35× wagering means betting €3,500 first, and at a typical slot that costs more on average than the bonus gives you. This guide shows how to work that out, which other terms to read, and when it is better to say no.
Casino bonus types at a glance
| Type | What you get | Usual catch |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome (deposit match) | A percentage of your first deposit, up to a maximum, sometimes spread over several deposits | Wagering on the bonus, or on deposit + bonus; a maximum stake while wagering |
| Free spins | A number of spins at a fixed value on named slots | Winnings paid as bonus money with their own wagering; often a cap on what you can win |
| No-deposit bonus | A small amount or a few spins for signing up | A low cap on withdrawable winnings; a deposit or ID check before any payout |
| Reload bonus | A smaller match on later deposits | Same wagering terms as a welcome bonus |
| Cashback | A share of net losses back over a period | Sometimes paid as bonus money with wagering, not cash |
How wagering works
The wagering requirement is a multiplier. Multiply it by the amount it applies to, and you get the total you must bet before you can withdraw. Every bet counts, wins or losses, so a €1 spin adds €1 to your total whatever the result.
Two details change the number a lot. First, what the multiplier applies to: the bonus only, or your deposit plus the bonus, which doubles the total on a 100% match. Second, how much each game counts: slots usually count 100%, while table games and live casino often count 10% or 0%, so €10 of blackjack may add only €1.
Here is the same €100 deposit with a 100% bonus (€100) under different terms, at €1 a spin on a slot with 96% RTP (return to player: the share of all bets a game pays back over a very large number of spins):
| Terms | Amount to wager | Spins at €1 | Average loss while wagering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10× the bonus | €1,000 | 1,000 | €40 |
| 35× the bonus | €3,500 | 3,500 | €140 |
| 35× deposit + bonus | €7,000 | 7,000 | €280 |
| 35× the bonus, playing a game that counts 10% | €35,000 | 35,000 | €1,400 |
The average loss is the amount wagered × 4% (100% − 96% RTP). It is an average over many sessions: a single session can end far above or far below it, and most sessions that clear a bonus do so after a good run, not a typical one. At 35× the bonus, the average cost of wagering (€140) is larger than the bonus itself (€100). Use the calculator below with the terms of the bonus you are looking at.
What wagering costs at different RTPs
The same €100 bonus, wagered on the bonus only, on slots that count in full. The cost columns are the average loss while wagering at each RTP; the last column is what is left of the bonus on average at 96% RTP.
| Wagering | Amount to wager | Average loss at 94% RTP | at 96% RTP | at 98% RTP | Bonus left on average (96%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5× | €500 | €30 | €20 | €10 | €80 |
| 10× | €1,000 | €60 | €40 | €20 | €60 |
| 20× | €2,000 | €120 | €80 | €40 | €20 |
| 25× | €2,500 | €150 | €100 | €50 | €0 |
| 30× | €3,000 | €180 | €120 | €60 | −€20 |
| 35× | €3,500 | €210 | €140 | €70 | −€40 |
| 40× | €4,000 | €240 | €160 | €80 | −€60 |
| 50× | €5,000 | €300 | €200 | €100 | −€100 |
The break-even multiplier on the bonus is 1 ÷ (1 − RTP): about 17× at 94% RTP, 20× at 95%, 25× at 96%, 33× at 97% and 50× at 98%. Above it, wagering costs more than the bonus on average. Wagering on deposit + bonus halves these thresholds for a 100% match, and games that count only partly lower them further. All of this assumes you finish the wagering; many sessions run out of money first, and any single session can end far from the average.
The terms that decide what a bonus is worth
- The wagering multiplier, and whether it applies to the bonus only or to deposit + bonus.
- A maximum stake while the bonus is active, often a few euros per spin. Betting above it can cost you the bonus and the winnings from it.
- Game contribution: which games count, and by how much. Some slots are excluded altogether.
- A maximum cashout, common on no-deposit bonuses and free spins, which caps what you can withdraw from them.
- Expiry dates for claiming the bonus and for finishing the wagering, often a few days to a month. Unfinished wagering usually means losing the bonus and its winnings.
- Whether the bonus is sticky or non-sticky. With a non-sticky bonus your own deposit is played first, and if you win before touching the bonus you can usually give it up and withdraw. A sticky bonus can never be withdrawn itself, only what you win above it.
- Excluded payment methods: some casinos leave out deposits made with certain e-wallets, such as Skrill and Neteller, or with vouchers.
- Country exclusions and one-bonus-per-person, household or device rules.
No-deposit bonuses and free spins
A no-deposit bonus lets you try a casino without paying in, but its terms are usually the tightest: a low cap on what you can withdraw, wagering on any winnings, and an ID check, sometimes a deposit, before the first payout. Treat it as a test of the casino, not as income.
Free spins have a fixed value per spin, often €0.10 or €0.20, so 50 spins at €0.10 are €5 of play. Their winnings are usually paid as bonus money with wagering, often with a cap. Check which slot the spins are for and how long you have to use them.
What free spins are worth on average, on a 96% RTP slot, and what 35× wagering on their winnings takes:
| Free spins | Value played | Average winnings | To wager at 35× | Average loss while wagering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 at €0.10 | €2.00 | €1.92 | €67.20 | €2.69 |
| 50 at €0.10 | €5.00 | €4.80 | €168.00 | €6.72 |
| 100 at €0.20 | €20.00 | €19.20 | €672.00 | €26.88 |
With 35× wagering on the winnings, clearing them costs more than they are worth on average, the same break-even rule as above. Free spins with no wagering on winnings, which some casinos offer, keep their full value.
Cashback, reload bonuses and bonus codes
Cashback returns a share of your net losses over a period, such as a week. Paid as cash, it has no wagering; paid as bonus money, it works like any other bonus. Reload bonuses match later deposits, usually at a lower percentage than the welcome bonus, with similar terms. Some offers need a bonus code in the cashier; without it the deposit goes through with no bonus, and casinos rarely add it afterwards.
When to say no to a bonus
- When you want to withdraw soon. Wagering locks your deposit too, under most terms, until it is complete or you give the bonus up.
- When you prefer table games or live casino, which often count little or nothing towards wagering.
- When the maximum stake doesn't fit how you play.
- When the average cost of wagering, from the calculator, is larger than the bonus.
- When you have already lost more than you planned. A bonus is not a way to win losses back.
Declining is usually a checkbox or an option in the cashier at the time of deposit. Ask support before depositing if you can't find it.
Bonus rules in Great Britain since January 2026
For casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, two rules apply from 19 January 2026. Wagering requirements are limited to ten times, so a 35× bonus can no longer be offered to players in Great Britain. And offers that require you to gamble on two or more types of product, such as betting and slots, are banned. Other markets have their own rules; casinos licensed elsewhere may still offer higher multipliers. Our licence guides explain what each licence means for you.
Before you claim a bonus: a checklist
- Find the wagering multiplier and what it applies to.
- Check the maximum stake while wagering.
- Check which games count and by how much.
- Look for a maximum cashout and the expiry dates.
- Check that your payment method qualifies.
- Put the numbers in the calculator and compare the average cost with the bonus.
- Decide your budget before you play, bonus or not. Our responsible gambling page lists tools and free help lines.
Bonus terms explained
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Wagering requirement (playthrough, rollover) | How many times you must bet the bonus, or deposit + bonus, before you can withdraw |
| Game contribution (weighting) | The share of each bet that counts towards wagering, by game type |
| Maximum bet | The largest stake allowed per spin or hand while a bonus is active |
| Maximum cashout (win cap) | The most you can withdraw from a bonus or free spins, whatever you win |
| Bonus balance and cash balance | Bonus money you can't withdraw yet, and your own money, which you can |
| Sticky bonus | A bonus that can't be withdrawn itself; only winnings above it can |
| Non-sticky bonus | Your deposit is played first; win before using the bonus and you can usually give it up and withdraw |
| Expiry | The time to claim a bonus and the time to finish its wagering |
| Bonus abuse | Terms that let a casino cancel a bonus, for example for multiple accounts or betting patterns its terms forbid |
| RTP (return to player) | The share of all bets a game pays back over a very large number of spins; 96% RTP means a 4% house edge |
| KYC | Know your customer: the ID and address checks a casino makes before paying out |
Casino bonus FAQ
What does 35× wagering mean?
You must bet 35 times the amount it applies to before you can withdraw. On a €100 bonus that is €3,500 in bets; on €100 deposit + €100 bonus it is €7,000.
Is a bigger bonus always better?
No. The wagering, the maximum stake, game contribution and any cashout cap decide its value. A smaller bonus with 10× wagering can be worth more than a large one with 40×.
Can I withdraw my deposit while a bonus is active?
Under most terms, not until wagering is complete or you give up the bonus. With a non-sticky bonus you can usually withdraw winnings made with your own money before the bonus is used.
At what wagering does a bonus stop being worth it?
On average, when the multiplier passes 1 ÷ (1 − RTP) on the bonus: about 25× at 96% RTP, 17× at 94%. Above that, wagering costs more than the bonus on average.
Do table games count towards wagering?
Often only partly, or not at all. Many casinos count slots at 100% and table games and live casino at 10% or 0%. The bonus terms list the percentages.
What is the maximum wagering allowed in the UK?
Ten times, for casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, since 19 January 2026.
Sources
- Gambling Commission: gambling promotions to be safer and simpler (wagering limited to ten times, mixed-product offers banned, from 19 January 2026)
Checked 29 October 2026.
