Wagering Requirements: The Complete Guide
The wagering requirement is the single number that determines whether a casino bonus is genuinely valuable or just looks good on paper. Here's how to calculate, compare, and beat them — with real examples from our 19-casino testing round.
What a wagering requirement actually is
When a casino credits bonus funds to your account, those funds come with a condition: you must bet them a certain number of times before they can be withdrawn. This number is the wagering requirement, also called the playthrough requirement.
A 35x wagering requirement on €100 in bonus funds means you need to place a total of €3,500 in bets before any winnings from those bonus funds become real, withdrawable money. The bets accumulate over time — you don't need to do it in one session. Each qualifying bet reduces the remaining requirement by the amount wagered (multiplied by the game's contribution percentage).
The most important distinction is what the requirement applies to. Two common models:
Wagering applies to the bonus amount only. Deposit €100, get €100 bonus, wager only the €100. At 35x = €3,500 total bets.
Wagering applies to deposit plus bonus. Deposit €100, get €100 bonus, wager €200 combined. At 35x = €7,000 total bets.
Every casino in our June 2026 comparison applies wagering to bonus funds only. This is the more common structure, but it's not universal — always check the T&Cs of casinos we haven't reviewed.
Wagering Requirement Calculator
Enter your bonus amount and wagering multiplier to see exactly what you need to wager before withdrawing.
Expected cost assumes 96% RTP slots at €2/spin. Actual results vary. This is a mathematical expectation across many sessions, not a guarantee for any single session.
Real Examples from Our Testing
These are real wagering calculations from casinos we tested in June 2026, using their actual bonus amounts.
Stake Casino
Varies by promotion
No wagering — all bonus winnings withdraw directly. The gold standard. Stake's promotions operate on a rakeback model rather than traditional bonus wagering.
Chancer Casino
300% Welcome Package
30x is the lowest traditional wagering in our comparison. On a €50 deposit with 300% match, the €150 bonus needs €4,500 total wagering — but the low multiplier compensates for the large bonus amount.
Blockspins Casino
100% First Deposit Bonus
30x on a 100% match gives €3,000 required wagering on a €100 deposit. The lowest absolute wagering total in our comparison for standard bonus structures. Crypto withdrawals also arrive in under 2 hours.
Billionaire Spin
€450 + 250 Free Spins + 25% Cashback
35x is the market standard. At €100 bonus: €3,500 total wagering. But Billionaire Spin also includes 25% cashback on losses — effectively reducing the net cost of wagering even if you fall short.
LuckyWins Casino
€8,000 + 500 Free Spins
40x on €100 bonus = €4,000. Higher than standard. On the maximum €8,000 bonus, clearing the full package would require €320,000 in wagering — which most players will never complete. Only the tranches you actually claim need clearing.
Crocoslots
€1,000 + 100 Free Spins
45x is the highest in our comparison. Same €100 bonus but €4,500 required wagering — €1,500 more than a 30x casino. At €2/spin that's 750 extra spins, costing roughly €60 more at 96% RTP.
Which games count toward wagering — and how much
Not every bet counts equally toward your wagering requirement. Casinos apply "contribution percentages" that determine how much each type of bet moves the counter. This is the most underappreciated aspect of bonus terms.
Every €1 bet = €1 toward wagering
Varies by casino — check terms
Usually counts but at reduced rate
€1 bet = €0.10–0.20 toward wagering
Same as table games at most casinos
Often fully excluded. Check before playing.
Almost never counts toward casino bonus
Practical example: A €3,500 wagering requirement on slots (100% contribution) requires €3,500 in slot bets. The same requirement on Blackjack at 20% contribution requires €17,500 in Blackjack hands. Bonuses are fundamentally designed for slot players — table game players should either skip bonuses or accept that clearing them will take significantly longer.
Wagering Requirements: All 19 Casinos
Sorted lowest to highest. Green = player-friendly. Red = high cost.
| # | Casino | Welcome Offer | Wagering | €100 bonus = bets needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stake Casino | Choose your offer | 0x | No wagering |
| #2 | Chancer Casino | 300% Welcome Package | 30x | €3,000 |
| #3 | Blockspins Casino | 100% First Deposit Bonus | 30x | €3,000 |
| #4 | LuckyMax Casino | €4,000 + 300 Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #5 | Billionaire Spin | €450 + 250 Free Spins + 25% Cashback | 35x | €3,500 |
| #6 | Rooli Casino | €500 + 200 Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #7 | VegasHero Casino | €500 + 200 Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #8 | EmirBet Casino | €500 + 200 Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #9 | Jackpoty | €2,000 + 100 Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #10 | Luck Nation Casino | 100% up to €200 + Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #11 | Playio | 100% up to €500 + 200 FS + 1 Bonus Crab | 35x | €3,500 |
| #12 | Rooster.bet | Welcome Package up to $5,000 + 300 FS | 35x | €3,500 |
| #13 | TalisMania | 100% up to €500 + 200 FS + 1 Bonus Crab | 35x | €3,500 |
| #14 | Winningz Casino | €5,000 + 500 Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #15 | Wonaco Casino | 100% up to €500 + 200 Free Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #16 | Spin Fever Casino | UP TO €4,000 + 4 Gold Spins | 35x | €3,500 |
| #17 | LuckyWins Casino | €8,000 + 500 Free Spins | 40x | €4,000 |
| #18 | BinoBet Casino | €1,500 + 150 Free Spins | 40x | €4,000 |
| #19 | Crocoslots | €1,000 + 100 Free Spins | 45x | €4,500 |
How to Beat Wagering Requirements
"Beat" doesn't mean cheat — it means approach them intelligently so you get the most value from the bonus with the least expected cost.
Play high-RTP slots
The expected cost of clearing wagering is directly tied to the house edge of the games you play. Blood Suckers II has 98% RTP — losing just 2% per bet cycle. Mega Moolah has roughly 88% RTP — losing 12%. On €3,500 in wagering, the difference is €70 vs €420 in expected losses. Check the RTP before you load the game. NetEnt's Blood Suckers II and Mega Joker (99% RTP in max bet mode) are the best options available at most casinos in our comparison.
Stay under the maximum bet cap — always
Every casino in our comparison has a maximum bet rule during bonus play, typically €5 per spin. Some cap it at €2. Betting above this — even once, even accidentally — can void the entire bonus and all accumulated winnings. The rule isn't always enforced automatically during play, but it is checked when you request a withdrawal. Bet at €2–€4 per spin and you'll never have a problem.
Don't chase losses
The instinct when losing during wagering is to increase stakes and recover. This is the wrong move. Higher stakes don't speed up the wagering requirement — they just increase variance. A €500 loss trying to recover with €25 bets achieves nothing that steady €2 bets wouldn't have. Treat each session as making incremental progress toward the requirement.
Track progress at the start of each session
Most casinos display your remaining wagering requirement in the bonus or promotions section of your account. Check it when you log in. This prevents the common mistake of thinking you've cleared it when you haven't — which leads to frustrated withdrawal requests that get rejected. Know the number.
Start immediately — don't let the bonus expire
A 30-day bonus expiry feels generous. It disappears faster than you expect. If you deposit and claim a bonus but don't start using it for two weeks, you've already lost half the available time. Free spins attached to welcome bonuses often expire in 72 hours regardless of the main bonus expiry — use them the same day you claim them.
Compare the total wagering required, not just the multiplier
Chancer's 300% match at 30x on a €100 deposit generates €150 bonus × 30 = €4,500 in required wagering. LuckyMax's 100% match at 35x on the same €100 deposit generates €100 × 35 = €3,500. The lower percentage casino with lower multiplier requires less actual wagering despite Chancer's better multiplier. Always multiply bonus amount × multiplier to get the real number.
Wagering Requirements FAQ
What is a good wagering requirement for a casino bonus?
30x or lower is excellent — only Stake (0x), Chancer (30x), and Blockspins (30x) in our comparison offer this. 35x is the industry standard and considered fair. 40x (LuckyWins, BinoBet) is high but not unusual for larger bonuses. Anything above 40x (Crocoslots at 45x) is punishing and generally not worth claiming unless the casino offers something else you need that you can't find elsewhere.
Does wagering requirement apply to my deposit or just the bonus?
At all 19 casinos in our comparison, wagering applies to bonus funds only. If you deposit €100 and receive €100 bonus, you wager only the €100 bonus. Some casinos outside our comparison apply it to deposit + bonus combined — always check the T&Cs. The wording to look for is 'wagering requirement applies to the bonus amount' vs 'wagering requirement applies to the bonus and deposit amount'.
Can I withdraw my deposit while the bonus is active?
Usually no — but you can typically forfeit the bonus first, which releases your deposit for withdrawal. Forfeiting the bonus means you lose any bonus funds and winnings accrued from them, but your real-money balance becomes withdrawable. Check the specific casino's terms for how to forfeit a bonus. Most have a button in the bonus section of your account.
What happens if I win big before meeting wagering requirements?
Your winnings sit in your bonus balance and are subject to the same wagering requirement. You can't withdraw them until the requirement is fully met. Be aware of any maximum win cap — some casinos cap the total you can withdraw from bonus winnings regardless of how much you actually win. This cap can turn a jackpot into a modest payout.
Why do Blackjack bets count for less toward wagering?
Blackjack has a house edge of under 1% when played with basic strategy. A €100 bet in Blackjack generates almost no expected profit for the casino. Casinos set contribution percentages to ensure they make money from the wagering process — so low house-edge games like Blackjack are discounted to 10–20%, and sometimes excluded entirely. The casino is essentially making you lose a certain expected amount before the bonus unlocks.
What is a 'wagering requirement on free spins winnings'?
When free spins produce winnings, those winnings go into your bonus balance rather than your real-money balance. They then carry their own wagering requirement — often the same as the main bonus (35x or 40x). 100 free spins at €0.10/spin generating €20 in winnings would need €700 in wagering at 35x before you can withdraw. Free spins with no wagering on winnings are rare but exist at some casinos.
How long does it take to clear a 35x wagering requirement?
It depends entirely on your bet size and session frequency. At €2/spin on a 96% RTP slot: €3,500 ÷ €2 = 1,750 spins. At 600 spins per hour, that's about 3 hours of active play. Spread across several sessions over a week or two, it's very manageable. At €0.50/spin: 7,000 spins — about 12 hours of play. Higher stakes clear the requirement faster but increase expected losses proportionally.
Is it possible to profit from wagering a bonus?
Mathematically yes, but unlikely. The expected outcome of wagering is a loss equal to (wagering requirement × house edge). On €3,500 wagering at 4% house edge (96% RTP slots), the expected loss is €140. Any winnings from the bonus are net of this expected loss. A minority of players will clear the requirement in profit through variance — but that's luck, not strategy. The correct framing: the bonus reduces your expected cost of playing, but the casino still has an edge.