If you’ve ever claimed a casino bonus, you probably know the catch: you can’t just cash out the money right away. Before withdrawing, you need to meet something called a wagering requirement. In plain terms, it’s the amount you need to bet before your bonus money (and anything you win from it) becomes real cash.
I’ll break down exactly how wagering works, from the simple math behind it to the hidden rules casinos don’t always highlight. By the end, you’ll know how to tell a fair deal from one that’s almost impossible to clear.
Think of wagering requirements (or rollover) like a mileage goal you need to hit before you can cash out. Let’s take an example. Suppose a casino offers you a 100% match bonus of $100 with a 25x wagering requirement.
If you deposit $100, you’ll get an additional $100 as bonus, giving you a $200 starting balance. Since the wagering is 25x, you must roll over 25 times your balance of $200. That means you need to wager $200 × 25 = $5,000 before you can withdraw anything tied to that bonus.
When casinos explain rollover, you’ll usually see these terms come up. Knowing what they mean will help you spot whether a bonus looks fair or not.
Once you know how the target is calculated, the next step is understanding how your bets actually count toward it. The rules are simple, but casinos add details that can make a big difference.
Not all online casino bonuses work the same way, and the rollover can change a lot depending on the type of offer. Here’s how the most common ones are structured, how casinos calculate their wagering, and what that looks like in practice:
This is the classic “100% up to $X” deal that we covered above. Most US casinos apply the rollover to your deposit and bonus combined, usually in the 25x–30x range.
Example: You deposit $50 and get a $50 bonus with a 25x requirement. Since the base is $100, you’ll need to wager $2,500 before withdrawing.
These work differently depending on the casino. Sometimes they’re completely wager-free, which is rare but the best-case scenario. More often, the rollover applies to whatever you win from the spins.
Example: If you win $40 from free spins with a 20x requirement, you’ll need to wager $800 before cashing out.
A reload bonus is a match bonus offered to existing players. These often come with slightly tougher rules than welcome bonuses. A 25x to 35x range is common, and game restrictions can be stricter.
Example: Deposit $100 with a 50% reload bonus ($50) at 30x. The base is $150, so you must wager $4,500.
A percentage of your losses given back. These are usually the friendliest because they can be wager-free or have just 1x rollover. Sometimes cashback casino offers come as bonus funds with a small playthrough.
Example: If you receive $20 cashback with a 1x requirement, you’ll only need to wager $20 before withdrawing.
You get a fixed bonus when someone signs up through your referral. Rollover varies widely: some are treated like sportsbook credits with 1x requirements, while others work like standard deposit bonuses.
Example: A $50 referral bonus with 10x rollover means you must wager $500 before the funds can be withdrawn.
It’s easy to get tempted by a flashy offer that looks unbeatable, only to find out the rules make it almost impossible to clear. The truth is, a fair bonus isn’t about chasing the lowest number. It’s about whether the terms fit your budget, your favorite games, and the time you actually have to play.
Here’s what I look for when judging if a bonus feels fair:
Tip: In my experience, cashback offers and wager-free free spins usually give the most value with the least friction. On the other hand, reload bonuses and deposit + bonus structures can be much harder to clear, even when the multiplier looks good on paper.
Examples of Wagering Requirement of Real CasinosThese examples show how the same headline offer can play out very differently depending on the details.
Bonus description:
Analysis:
At first glance, 15x looks like an easy rollover. But because it applies to your deposit and bonus combined, the total is much larger than it seems. Add in the tiny game contributions, very low bet cap, and only five days to finish, and the offer becomes almost impossible to clear unless you grind slots non-stop at low stakes.
Verdict: Bad offer
Bonus description:
Analysis:
Even though the multiplier looks higher, this deal is much friendlier. Since the rollover applies to the bonus only, the total wagering is cut in half compared to a deposit + bonus structure. The fair bet cap and full month to play mean you can clear it at a comfortable pace.
Verdict: Good offer
Bonus description:
Analysis:
If you win $50 from the spins, the target is $50 × 10 = $500 in bets. The $100 win cap is a drawback, but since no deposit is required, it’s still low-risk. Slots at 100% contribution and a two-week window make it simple to clear.
Verdict: Good offer
Bonus description:
Analysis:
This is the kind of offer you’ll see once you’re already playing at a site. It’s not terrible, but it’s not easy either. The 30x on deposit + bonus means the target gets big quickly, and the low bet cap slows progress. That said, the two-week window is manageable if you stick to slots, and some players can still clear it without changing their style too much.
Verdict: Okay offer
Do lower wagering requirements always mean a better bonus?
Anonymous, August 23, 2025
Answer
Taylor Smith, August 24, 2025
Not necessarily. I’ve seen “low” 10x offers on deposit + bonus end up tougher than 25x bonus-only deals. The base amount and restrictions matter just as much as the number.
Do table games count toward wagering?
Anonymous, August 23, 2025
Answer
Isaac Payne, August 24, 2025
Sometimes, but usually at reduced rates. Many players on forums get caught out when blackjack only counts 5% toward rollover, it’s a long grind.
Are wagering requirements the same at all casinos?
Anonymous, August 23, 2025
Answer
Isaac Payne, August 24, 2025
Not even close. I’ve played at sites with 20x bonus-only and others with 60x deposit+bonus. Always read the T&Cs before depositing.
Wagering requirements set the amount you have to bet before you can withdraw bonus money and any winnings tied to it. A low number can look tempting, but the real value depends on the whole package: whether it’s bonus-only or deposit + bonus, how much different games contribute, the bet limits, and how much time you’re given.
The best bonus isn’t the one with the flashiest headline, but the one you can actually clear while playing the games you enjoy. In practice, a 25x bonus-only slot bonus with fair rules often beats a “low” 15x that hides strict terms.
Bottom line: go for offers that match your budget, your favorite games, and your pace of play. If a bonus doesn’t fit your style, skip it, there’s always another one around the corner.
The Top Poker Sites for Online Poker in 2025 
Best Online Sports Betting Sites 
Claim the Best Online Gambling Bonuses 
The Best Slots Games to Play Online 
Reviews of Online Gambling Sites 
Contact Taylor
