Wagering requirement
A wagering requirement is the total amount you must bet, usually a multiple of the bonus, before bonus money and its winnings can be withdrawn.
Also called rollover, playthrough, turnover requirement, WR
Most casino bonuses come with a wagering requirement, also called rollover or playthrough. It is written as a multiplier, such as 35x. Always check what it multiplies: the bonus alone, or the deposit plus the bonus.
Example. You deposit 100 and get a 100 bonus with 35x wagering on the bonus. You must stake 35 × 100 = 3,500. On a game with a 4% house edge, the expected loss over that wagering is 3,500 × 4% = 140. That is more than the 100 bonus, so if you finish the wagering, the offer costs you about 40 on average. If the 35x applied to deposit plus bonus, you would have to stake 7,000.
What people get wrong. The requirement is not an amount you must lose, and it is not a fee. It is turnover: every bet counts, win or lose. But the house edge is charged on all of it, which is why a big multiplier can cost more than the bonus is worth.
Other rules sit on top: game weighting, a maximum bet, a time limit and sometimes a maximum cashout. Test an offer in the wagering calculator.
Related terms
- Game weighting
Game weighting is the share of each bet that counts towards a bonus wagering requirement, which differs by game and is often less than 100%.
- Maximum bet rule
A maximum bet rule is a bonus term that caps how much you may stake on a single bet or spin while a bonus is active.
- Sticky bonus
A sticky bonus is a bonus you can bet with but never withdraw, so it is either removed when you cash out or kept for more play, depending on the terms.
- Maximum cashout
A maximum cashout is a cap on how much you can withdraw from winnings made with a bonus, however much you actually win.
- House edge
The house edge is the share of each bet a casino expects to keep on average over the long run, equal to 100% minus the game's RTP.