Skip to content
Real Money Casino
21+

Advertiser disclosure: we may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. This never affects our ratings, which are set by our editorial scoring method.

Wagering requirements: a worked example

Wagering requirements are the single most misread term in any casino bonus. The number looks small next to the bonus headline, but it decides whether an offer is genuinely worth claiming. The clearest way to understand it is to follow one bonus all the way through, with real arithmetic.

What the wagering number actually means

The wagering requirement is a multiplier, not a fee. A “40x” requirement means you must place bets totalling forty times the bonus before any winnings from it can be withdrawn. It is the total stake required, not money you lose, but it is also the figure that quietly turns a generous-looking bonus into a long grind.

Whether it applies to the bonus or the bonus plus deposit changes everything. “40x bonus” and “40x (deposit + bonus)” are very different. On a €100 deposit with a €100 bonus, the first means €4,000 in bets; the second means €8,000. Always check which basis the casino uses before you judge the offer.

A worked example, step by step

Take a typical offer: a €100 deposit, a 100% bonus, 40x wagering on the bonus. You deposit €100 and receive €100 in bonus funds, giving a €200 balance. The wagering applies to the €100 bonus at 40x, so you must wager €4,000 in total before the bonus and its winnings can be withdrawn.

Now factor in the house edge, because that is the real cost. If you clear the €4,000 on slots with a 4% house edge (96% RTP), the expected cost of that turnover is roughly €160. In other words, the €100 bonus is expected to cost you about €160 in losses to unlock — which is why the wagering number, not the bonus size, decides the value.

Game weighting can multiply that turnover without you noticing. Slots usually count 100% toward wagering, but blackjack and roulette often count only 10–20%. If you clear the same bonus on a game weighted at 10%, you need €40,000 of actual play to satisfy the €4,000 requirement. The weighting table is where a “fair” bonus quietly becomes impossible.

Try the numbers

Wagering calculator

Enter a bonus offer to see the real stake it asks for and what clearing it is likely to cost. The defaults follow the worked example above.

Bonus amount—
Total stake to clear—
Real money you must wager—
Expected cost to clear—

What it means

Estimates only. Expected cost = total stake × house edge (100% − RTP); real play is variable. 21+. Wagering, max-cashout and contribution rules vary by operator — always read the offer terms.

Reading the offer before you accept

Three numbers decide whether a bonus is worth it. The wagering multiplier, the basis it applies to (bonus, or deposit plus bonus), and the maximum cashout. A low multiplier on a modest bonus you can actually clear beats a huge bonus at 60x with a €100 withdrawal cap every time.

The maximum cashout is the term most likely to surprise you. Some bonuses let you clear all the wagering and still cap what you can withdraw, often at a fixed amount. Read it first: a bonus you can clear but barely cash out is worth less than its headline suggests.

Frequently asked questions

What does 40x wagering mean?
It means you must place bets totalling forty times the bonus amount before winnings from the bonus can be withdrawn. On a €100 bonus, 40x is €4,000 in total stakes. It is the cumulative amount wagered, not money lost, though clearing it does carry an expected cost from the house edge.
Does wagering apply to my deposit too?
It depends on the offer. “40x bonus” applies only to the bonus; “40x (deposit + bonus)” applies to both, doubling the turnover on a 100% match. Always check which basis the casino uses, because it can be the difference between €4,000 and €8,000 of required play.
How much does clearing a bonus really cost?
Roughly the required turnover multiplied by the house edge. Clearing €4,000 of wagering on a 96% RTP slot has an expected cost of about €160. That is why the wagering multiplier, not the bonus headline, determines whether an offer is worth claiming.
Why do table games count less toward wagering?
Because their lower house edge makes them cheaper to clear, casinos weight them down — often to 10–20% — or exclude them. A bonus cleared on a 10%-weighted game needs ten times the turnover, so always read the game-weighting table before choosing where to play.
What is a maximum cashout on a bonus?
It caps how much you can withdraw from bonus winnings, sometimes even after you have cleared all the wagering. A low cap can make a large bonus nearly worthless, so check it before accepting and weigh it against the wagering you would have to complete.

In short

Judge a bonus by its arithmetic, not its headline. Work out the total turnover from the multiplier and its basis, factor in the house edge as the real cost, check the game weighting that can multiply that turnover, and read the maximum cashout. A small bonus you can clear cleanly is worth more than a large one designed not to be cleared.