Wagering Requirement Calculator
Decode any casino bonus in seconds. Calculate your real wagering obligation, expected loss, and whether the bonus is truly worth claiming.
Calculate Your Wagering
Your Results
Sand Dollar
This bonus offers moderate value. You might break even, but significant profit is unlikely.
Compare Up to 3 Bonuses
How Wagering Requirements Work
Wagering requirements are the casino industry's way of ensuring that bonus funds are actually used for play rather than immediately withdrawn. When a casino advertises a "100% deposit match up to $200 with 35x wagering," they are telling you that you must place cumulative bets totaling 35 times the bonus amount before any associated winnings become withdrawable.
The Basic Calculation
The fundamental formula is straightforward: Total Wager = Bonus Amount × Wagering Multiplier. For a $100 bonus with a 35x requirement, that means $100 × 35 = $3,500 in total bets. Some casinos apply the requirement to the deposit plus bonus combined, which doubles the obligation to $7,000 in this example.
Why "Bonus Only" vs "Deposit + Bonus" Matters
This distinction is critical and often overlooked. A 30x requirement on bonus-only means wagering $3,000 on a $100 bonus. The same 30x applied to deposit plus bonus turns into $6,000 — effectively the same as a 60x bonus-only requirement. Always check the fine print to understand what the multiplier applies to.
Understanding Expected Loss
Every casino game has a built-in house edge. Slots typically have a 3–5% edge, meaning for every $100 wagered, you lose $3–$5 on average over time. For a $3,500 wagering requirement played entirely on slots, your expected loss is roughly $105–$175. If your bonus is worth $100, you can see how higher wagering multipliers quickly erode — and eventually eliminate — the bonus value.
Game Contribution Rates Explained
Casinos assign different contribution percentages to each game category when it comes to clearing wagering requirements. This is because lower house-edge games would otherwise allow players to clear bonuses with minimal loss.
| Game Type | Typical Contribution | Avg House Edge | Effective Multiplier* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Slots | 100% | 3–5% | 35x |
| Scratchcards / Keno | 50–100% | 5–10% | 35–70x |
| Video Poker | 10–15% | 0.5–3% | 233–350x |
| Roulette | 10–20% | 2.7–5.3% | 175–350x |
| Blackjack | 5–10% | 0.5–2% | 350–700x |
| Live Casino | 10% | 1–5% | 350x |
| Baccarat | 5–15% | 1.1–1.4% | 233–700x |
*Effective multiplier assumes a base 35x requirement. This is how many units you would actually need to wager on that game type to clear the bonus.
The key insight: while slots contribute 100%, they also have a higher house edge. Lower-contribution games like blackjack have better odds per hand, but the massively inflated effective wagering requirement means you end up losing more in the long run anyway. This is by design — the casino ensures profitability regardless of which game you choose.
Tips for Clearing Wagering Requirements
- Always read the full bonus terms — Check whether wagering applies to the bonus only or deposit + bonus. Look for maximum bet limits (usually $5–$10 per spin), game restrictions, and time limits.
- Stick to high-contribution games — Slots at 100% contribution clear wagering fastest. Playing blackjack at 5% contribution means you need to bet 20x more to make the same progress.
- Choose low-variance slots — Medium to low variance slots give more consistent returns, helping you sustain your bankroll through the required wagering. High-variance slots might pay big but can also drain your balance before you clear the requirement.
- Watch for max cashout limits — Some bonuses cap your withdrawable winnings regardless of how much you win. A $200 max cashout on a $100 bonus makes high wagering requirements even less worthwhile.
- Mind the time limit — Most bonuses expire in 7–30 days. Calculate whether you can realistically place the required number of bets within that period based on your typical session length and bet size.
- Consider no-wager alternatives — Some casinos offer cashback or no-wager free spins. While the upfront value may be smaller, you keep 100% of what you win without any playthrough obligation.
- Set a bet size strategy — Betting $1 per spin on a $3,500 requirement means 3,500 spins. At $0.50, that doubles to 7,000 spins. Balance clearance speed against bankroll longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wagering requirements (also called playthrough requirements) are conditions set by online casinos that determine how many times you must bet your bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings. For example, a 35x wagering requirement on a $100 bonus means you must place $3,500 in total bets before cashing out.
Different casino games contribute different percentages toward clearing your wagering requirements. Slots typically contribute 100%, meaning every dollar wagered on slots counts fully. Table games like blackjack and roulette usually contribute only 10–20%, meaning you need to wager 5–10x more on those games to clear the same requirement.
Wagering requirements below 25x are generally considered good, while anything under 15x is excellent. Requirements between 25x–35x are average in the industry. Anything above 40x becomes very difficult to clear profitably, and requirements above 50x are considered poor value for players.
In most cases, no. You must fully meet the wagering requirements before withdrawing bonus funds or any winnings derived from them. Some casinos offer no-wager bonuses or cashback deals with no playthrough, but these are less common and typically offer smaller bonus amounts.
This depends on the casino. Some apply wagering requirements only to the bonus amount (e.g., 35x the bonus), while others apply them to the deposit plus bonus combined (e.g., 35x the deposit + bonus). Always check the terms and conditions, as this dramatically affects how much you need to wager.
Most casinos give you between 7 and 30 days to meet wagering requirements, though some allow up to 90 days. If you fail to meet the requirements within the time limit, both the bonus and any associated winnings are typically forfeited. Check the bonus terms for the specific timeframe.