What To Know About Online Casino Playthrough Requirements
A wagering requirement, or playthrough requirement, is a term every online casino-goer has come across. It’s inextricably linked with the terms and conditions for casino bonus offers.
Players likely consider playthrough requirements to be an obstacle, while online casinos deem them necessary. The truth could be some of both. This guide will provide information about casino wagering requirements: what they are, how they work and what to watch for.
What are wagering and playthrough requirements?
A casino wagering requirement is a figure that shows how much money you must bet on qualifying real money games before being able to withdraw the bonus and collect any winnings associated with it. It’s expressed as a multiplier anywhere from the 1x to 50x range, depending on the offer. As a rule of thumb, the higher the size of the claimed welcome bonus, the bigger the multiplier.
There are also rules about which games count toward clearing a bonus (slots count 100%, other games don’t) and time restrictions (you usually have anywhere from seven to 30 days to meet the requirements).
In some instances, requirements pertain only to the awarded bonus money. In other cases, though, it refers to the sum total of the deposited cash plus the bonus credits.
How do playthrough requirements work?
If you’re a beginner in the world of online gambling, some of these phrases may be unfamiliar, so here’s an example of an online wagering requirement. For the sake of explanation, we’ll use a welcome bonus from BetMGM Casino. BetMGM’s offer is that you’ll receive $25 on sign-up and a 100% match up to $2,500. For our purposes, we’re going to look at the deposit match element of the bonus.
This part of the offer carries a 15x wagering requirement, which means that you need to spend 15 times the total of your deposit before being able to request a withdrawal. So if you deposited the maximum $1,000, you would need to wager $15,000 before you can withdraw any money.
It’s important to note that playthrough requirements apply to free spin offers, as well. Since these don’t have a fixed monetary value, the multiplier applies to the winnings that derive from free spins.
How to calculate playthrough on a casino bonus
The formula for calculating the requirement is quite straightforward — you merely have to multiply the bonus or the bonus plus your deposit, depending on the terms, by the required number.
Going back to our BetMGM welcome bonus example, let’s say that you deposited $100. Since this is a 100% match offer, when your deposit settles, you will have a total of $200 to play with. Since the bonus has a 15x requirement, to turn it into withdrawable cash, you would have to wager:
- $100 x 15 = $1,500
Hypothetically speaking, let’s say Fanatics Casino offers 1x playthrough requirement. You deposit $100. This one is much simpler, you’d need to wager $100 before withdrawing (provided you meet game contribution and time stipulations).
Take a look at our bonus calculator to calculate the value of any bonus.
Wagering Calculator
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Results
- Free Bonus Money:
- Total Play Money:
- Amount You Need to Bet:
- Amount You Need to Bet:
Which games count for playthrough requirements?
Not all casino games count equally toward meeting a playthrough requirement. Some are far more player-friendly than others, as you will see below.
Slots
Online slots typically count 100% toward meeting the playthrough requirements. Therefore, it’s clearly the best choice when trying to clear a bonus.
Blackjack/table games
Table games such as blackjack, video poker, roulette, etc. usually only count about 10% toward meeting a playthrough requirement, so this is not an efficient way to clear a bonus. It’s wise to hold on these games until you’ve met the playthrough requirements.
Live dealer games
Live dealer games typically don’t count toward meeting a playthrough requirement. It’s best to steer clear until after you’ve wagered enough if your goal is to meet the requirements quickly.
Time restrictions and playthrough requirements
It’s always a good idea to go through the terms and conditions page before claiming the bonus. Reading the fine print can give you vital knowledge that you can use to your advantage later on, as you’ll learn about conditions such as time limits and game contribution.
Once you activate a bonus, you’ll have a limited amount of time to use it up — usually seven to 14 days, but sometimes longer. Thirty days is usually the highest you’ll see.
So if you’re choosing a bonus with a high playthrough requirement and it has a shorter time restriction, take that into account when considering overall bonus value.
If you need to cancel a casino bonus after registering, our guide covers everything you need to know.
Choose your casino wisely
If a casino offers a huge welcome bonus, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth your time and money. You have to look past the size of the offer and focus more on the attached terms and conditions, most importantly wagering requirements. This multiplier can make or break your chances of cashing in on the bonus.
Moreover, you need to make sure that your chosen site is legitimate and safe to play at. Only if you opt for a casino that’s legal and licensed in your state will you be sure that you won’t get scammed in some way. Game selection is also important— the more versatile the library is, the easier it could be for you to spot an opportunity, one that will help you meet the playthrough requirements faster.
No deposit bonuses and wagering requirements
No deposit bonuses and sweepstakes no deposit bonuses will likely have playthrough requirements. To calculate a requirement on a no deposit bonus, you will have to use a slightly modified formula from the one earlier. The only difference is that you would take out the deposited sum from the equation. That leaves:
- Awarded bonus money multiplied by the requirement number
For example, if you receive a $20 bonus with a playthrough requirement of 20x, you would need to wager up to $400 before you could withdraw any of the winnings. When it comes to no deposit free spins, the same principle applies as with “regular” free spins: The requirements apply to your winnings.
