by Alex Thomas | The Gamble Times, updated 10th of June, 2025.
TL;DR
Wagering has been a hot topic since the foundations were set for online casinos and online casino bonuses. But what is it, and how does it affect you, as a player? Well, it basically means how many times you need to bet your deposit (or deposit plus bonus) amount before you can withdraw your funds. It’s a common hurdle at online casinos, but with a little ingenuity, you can easily pass even a 40x wager requirement. Or, if you wish, skip it completely by going with a no-wager casino. In this guide, we will explain how wagering works, how to calculate it yourself, and what to look out for.
What is Wagering?
If you’re anything like me, you’ve most probably claimed at least one bonus in your online casino journey, whether it be for an online casino or sportsbook. Soon after you have done so, you are faced with your first wagering requirements… But let’s face it, wagering sucks. Well, maybe not for everyone (there are a few oddballs out there), but for the vast majority it does. It’s one of those things where you can’t live with them can’t live without them. So let’s dive right in and explain what wagering requirements are, how to deal with them, and most importantly, how to beat them.
Playthrough requirements, rollover requirements, or wagering requirements are all fancy words for basically the same thing. When you first start out your online casino journey, it can be a bit confusing and hard to understand. However, once you get the hang of it, no casino lingo will be able to confuse you ever again.
How does Wagering work?
In its simplest meaning, a wager is a bet. And if you’ve been presented with a wagering requirement, it most likely means you have taken an online casino or sportsbook bonus with your deposit. If you took a deposit bonus, casinos won’t just let you withdraw it all at once, as they would soon go out of business. As soon as you enter the deposit bonus code into your cashier or profile section, wagering requirements are applied to your account based on the casino’s Terms of Service or their Bonus Terms of Service.
Some casinos, often referred to as No Wager Casinos, don’t require you to wager anything apart from the bare minimum of 5 times, as per the Anti-Money Laundering policy they are obligated to uphold by their license. Others opt in for low requirements (such as 10x), and some go far beyond with even a 50x requirement.
How do Wagering Requirements work?
Let’s break it down with an example. Let’s say you chose to deposit €100 and claimed a 100% reload bonus. This would give you a total of €200 to play with. If the withdrawal is locked behind a 40x wagering requirement for the deposit amount + bonus, it means you need to wager (100 + 100) * 40 = 8.000.
That doesn’t mean you need to lose all of that money; it just means you need to bet that amount over time.
What about other wagering conditions?
Minimum Odds – To be eligible, a wager has to have odds of -300 or greater. Meaning, a line with let’s say 200 would count, but a line with -325 would not.
Time limit: As if getting a 40x wagering requirement wasn’t enough, some casinos opt for a time limit on how fast you need to wager the amount to clear the bonus. This is a good indicator of how fair the online casino is with its bonuses. Some offer up to 70 days, which is more than enough for the majority of players. Then, there are the greedy ones that give you five to seven days. Honestly, I’d recommend staying away from those. Online casinos are meant to be fun, not a pressure cooker for your nerves.
Max bet: I cannot stress this enough… Read The Bonus Terms And Conditions. In almost all cases, there is always a rule of what the maximum bet allowed is when playing with bonus funds. If you go over it just once, or do a €20 feature buy, you’re done. So please be careful and read the terms before accepting or playing with bonus funds.
How to pass the Wagering requirements?
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s see how you can pass the wagering requirements without any serious issues. I know, wagering €8.000 out of a €100 deposit might seem scary, but in all honesty, it is doable. Easy? No. Doable? Yes.
The first thing you need to do is find the right casino and the right bonus for you. We review a lot of casinos with a high emphasis on wagering requirements and bonus terms. Take a look at our online casino section or email us with what you are looking for, and we’ll be glad to help.
As far as the bonuses go, don’t be greedy. Don’t chase that 1000% up to 10.000 as it’s not something you’d need. You can always try something reasonable, like 150% up to 300 EUR offered by Casinostars.io with (check this out) no wagering.
Once you have the right casino and you have your bonus, it’s time to choose the right game. My recommendation would be to choose a low volatility, high RTP slot. This means you will win more frequently with reasonable rewards.
Just play calmly, don’t let your emotions get the best of you, and enjoy the ride.
FAQ
What does 40x wagering mean?
You need to bet the bonus amount 40 times before you can cash out. For a €100 bonus, that’s €4,000 in total wagers.
How does wagering work in gambling?
You place bets using your bonus funds. Only after meeting the required number of wagers (the wagering requirement) can you withdraw any winnings.
What are the wagering requirements for withdrawal?
They’re the rules that say how much you have to bet before you can turn bonus funds into real, withdrawable cash.
Wagering bonus?
It’s a bonus that comes with wagering requirements. You’ll need to bet it a set number of times before cashing out.
What is online sports wagering?
It’s the act of betting on sports events over the internet. Bonuses here also often come with wagering rules, like betting credits or odds limits.
Can I find casinos without wagering requirements?
Yes, and they’re growing in popularity. These casinos let you keep what you win from bonuses, no strings attached. I’ll add a list here soon.
