Understanding wagering requirements is essential if you want to make the right decision about which welcome offer you want to choose from our lists. In this article we explain what wagering requirements are and how they work so you that can pick the best value slots bonuses.

What Are Wagering Requirements?

Wagering requirements are a restriction applied to a slots bonus that has been credited to your account. They specify that the bonus, and any winnings generated from it, cannot be withdrawn until the value of the bonus has been wagered X times.

For example, if a slot site credits your account with £10 in bonus funds and sets a 30x wagering requirement on the bonus then you must wager £300 (£10 x 30) before the bonus funds and winnings become withdrawable.

To make it easier to see how this works most casinos create a separate bonus balance so you can easily see how much of your bonus you have wagered and how much more you have to wager before you can cash out your winnings.

Wagering Requirements and Free Spins Winnings

Wagering requirements don't just apply to deposit match bonuses. They also apply to free spins winnings. In many cases those winnings are paid out as bonus funds. Typically you will need to wager them 30 times or more before they become withdrawable cash.

Average Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements may be different at each slot site. They typically range from 30x up to 60x.

Always read the small print carefully. Some wagering requirements apply to the bonus value. Others to the value of the deposit AND the bonus. For a 100% match bonus, that DOUBLES the amount you need to wager.

A wagering requirement of 30x the bonus means you would need to wager £300 on a £10 bonus from a £10 deposit. A wagering requirement of 30x the bonus PLUS deposit means you would need to wager £600 on a £10 bonus from a £10 deposit.

That's quite a difference!

Why Do Casinos Use Wagering Requirements?

Wagering requirements are a way for casino managers to limit their liability from bonuses. 'Free' money is a tool used by operators to entice you to sign up and deposit but it would be a problem if you could simply withdraw that money and walk away without wagering it.

As RTP and house edge dictates, the more times you wager from your bonus funds, the more you will lose. By asking you to wager the value of your bonus 30, 40 or even 60 times, the casino is ensuring that in many cases the funds are gone before you are allowed to make a withdrawal.

EXAMPLE: If you play a slot with a house edge of 5% (or 95% Return to Player) then for every £1 you wager you will lose 5p on average. Therefore, if you wager £300 (a £10 bonus wagered 30 times) you will lose £15 (300 x 5p). In this instance, if the game follows its average RTP rates, you will lose your £10 bonus before you hit £300 wagering.

This table uses real examples from slot sites we recommend to shows how much you need to wager from a £10 bonus at different wagering requirement levels, and the likely losses on a slot with a 95% RTP.

As you can see, in ALL cases the odds are stacked against you coming away with any money from bets made with your bonus.

Is This Fair?

As you can see, the casino is tipping the scales in their favour when it comes to bonus funds with wagering requirements. But remember, the numbers shown above are based on the average RTP of a slot game. Over a session of £300 in bets, games will sometimes pay out much more than the advertised RTP rate and sometimes much less.

That's how they work.

You might get lucky and hit a huge win. Or you might not. But whatever the outcome, at the very least you are being given a free hit on your favourite games.

Further Terms and Conditions Relating To Slots Bonuses

Wagering requirements are just one part of the terms and conditions of any offer that casinos use to limit their liabilities. There are others that you should be aware of.

Bonus Expiry - there is a limited time in which to meet the wagering requirements on your bonus, usually between 7 and 28 days. If you don't complete the wagering in that time then the bonus and any winnings are forfeited.

Maximum Wins - a cap on the amount you can win with a bonus. Typically this will be between £10 and £500.

Maximum wagering - there may be a cap on how much you can spend on a single bet with bonus funds. Typically, it will be £5.

Game restrictions and weightings - due to variations in house edge and RTP across different slots and table games, not all count equally towards your wagering requirements. Games with a high RTP like Blackjack or high RTP slots typically don't count at all, or just count 10%. If you play these games, you need to wager 10x to meet the wagering requirements.

Do All Bonuses Have Wagering Requirements?

No, not all slots bonuses have wagering requirements. Offers without these restrictions are not as common but you can find them and we have some on our site - just check our list of no wagering free spins for current deals where winnings are paid in withdrawable cash.

Opting-Out Of Bonuses

Remember, if you are not comfortable with wagering requirements and other restrictive terms, then you can choose to 'opt out' of taking up a bonus. Just make sure you tick the correct box when you make your first deposit to be sure you don't receive the offer.