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

1. 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.
2. 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. 
3. Wagering requirements are essential because they prevent money laundering. 
4. 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. 

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 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. 

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.