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April 18, 2025

What are Wagering Requirements?

You see wagering requirements under almost every bonus, but what does a wager mean? We have prepared a detailed explanation with examples for everyone to understand

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By Theodore Miles

Understanding Wagering

When a user begins visiting online casinos, the term "wager" will appear more than once. We have decided to explain the definition of wager in simple words and even created a unique casino bonus wagering calculator so you could estimate the site’s bonus considering the wager limitations.

To put it very simply, a wager (commonly called a wagering requirement) is the number of times a user must bet a bonus reward. Sometimes the wager limit includes a bonus amount + the first deposit. To cash out the free bonus reward given away by a casino, a user ought to bet the wager amount. The wagers are an inevitable part of most casino promos. You can find them everywhere, but mostly in welcome bonus packages or reload bonus deals.

For example, a crypto casino offers you a 100% welcome bonus on the first deposit up to 0.02 BTC with a 10x wager as the promotion’s major requirement. This means that you need to top up the account with the minimum deposit amount (usually the deal specifies the required sum), which will be 0.02 BTC, too. Then you have to wager your 0.02 BTC x 10 = 0.2 BTC in bets and spins before withdrawing the bonus, and related to these wager winnings.

Yes, the withdrawal function will not be available until you reach the wager, sometimes there is even a deadline, but the wager is much smaller at this point. It is extremely basic to do your research (or use our ratings) to compare the terms for each casino’s offers on bonuses and related wagers.

Example of Casino Bonus Calculation with a Wager

Let’s say you have such terms of a deposit bonus promo to input:

  • Deposit - 100 UDST;
  • Bonus amount – 100%;
  • Wager – 20x;
  • Wager type – deposit + bonus;
  • Game contribution – 100%;
  • RTP – 95%.

As a result:

  • Free bonus money – 100 USDT;
  • Total play money – 200 USDT;
  • Amount to wager – 4,000 USDT;
  • Game expectation – 0%.

Calculation Explanation

The user has to wager 4,000 USDT, losing 5% due to RTP offsetting their 200 USDT as play money. It is a purely luck-based scenario at this point. Double this amount up to 40x wager because of the "deposit + bonus" condition, and it is possible to lose 200 USDT on the very first deposit instead of gaining any free cash.

Why Should You Calculate Wager Before Using a Bonus?

Fingers crossed, right now you’ve got a clear picture of the wager's importance to prevent any nasty surprises. Many casinos advertise low wagers like 20x but hide in fine print the "deposit + bonus" condition. Such a deal easily doubles the real wager limitation for a 100% bonus up to 40x. High "transparent" wagers (like 50x) are not better since they just make any bonus non-profitable at this point.

We encourage you to use our bonus expectation calculator to:

  • Choose a slot with an adequate game contribution percentage. Our calculator includes this feature to show you the true cost of a wager in certain games;
  • Get maximum profitability. Lower wagers – for example, 20x Bonus Only with high RTP games of 97% and more give a better shot at breaking even or coming out ahead;
  • Avoid bad promotions. A 25% bonus with a 20x wager (Deposit + Bonus) might sound good, but for a 100 USDT deposit, you only receive a 25 USDT bonus reward with a wager limit of 2,500 USDT (125 USDT x 20). At 95% RTP games, you will lose 5% of 2,500 USDT, which will wipe out the deposit and bonus reward. Not worth it.
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Written By Theodore Miles

Behind this guide is Theodore Miles, a 28-year-old software developer with a passion for betting and gambling on casino sites. By day, Theodore codes innovative tools. And by night, he is a frequent visitor of forums and Reddit threads dissecting casino bonuses and actual profits with an expert opinion. Being close to the industry’s technical background, Theodore can provide useful insights for novice players who seek the most profitable promotions and deals.