The main method of attracting new players to online casinos is lucrative bonuses. These can be deposit bonuses, free spins, etc. But is the bonus beneficial to the player himself? If you read the text of the offer more carefully, you will see that a nice gift is attached to the list of conditions that must be met to make a full wagering. This article will explain wagering requirements, their points, and how to meet them. This information will help you objectively evaluate each bonus offer and make the right decision whether to participate in the promotion or not.
What are the bonus wagering conditions?
Bonus wagering conditions are a list of requirements, after which the player receives a reward and can use it in the games of a given online casino. Logically, the main goal of an online casino is to make money; the operator will not give something for free. After all, each bonus has several goals:
- Attract the player – Because who doesn’t want extra money or free spins on their account?
- Get motivated to deposit – Many bonuses are awarded for depositing a certain amount.
- Maintaining customer loyalty – Many players stay at an online casino simply because they are regularly offered bonuses.
- Extending player’s gaming session – The bonus is used after the player has made a deposit, and the extra money is a good opportunity to continue playing and try to win back the winnings.
- Increase online casino profits – Every game has an advantage over the house, and the more bets a player makes, the more the gambling site ultimately earns.
Bonuses cannot be used like regular money to work 100% in online casinos. The requirements for bonuses are designed to create such conditions that the “generous” gambling site is not at a disadvantage. That said, the player still has a chance to come out on top – if he thoroughly understands the bonus terms, he will know exactly what to do to not only wager it, but also get quite real money at the expense of the online casino.
What are the basic wagering requirements?
To ensure that all the bonus features described above are met, such a reward has several basic conditions regarding its use:
- Bet amount,
- Betting limits,
- Bonus validity period,
- Game restrictions,
- Withdrawal limits.
The terms and conditions may also include additional clauses, such as specific payment methods for claiming the bonus or the issue of bonus payout after betting.
The most important thing to know about the terms and conditions of any bonus offer is that they must be met, and met in full. Otherwise, the player will not be able to fully use the bonus money or free spins, withdraw any winnings received from the prize, and in some cases, lose all of the free spins or bonus money. Additionally, some online casinos will not allow you to withdraw money while you have an active bonus – you will either have to pass on the transfer or the prizes received will be burned. That is why it is so important to understand all the wagering requirements before participating in the promotion – let’s get started.
Bet amount
The wagering requirement is a number that indicates how many times you need to bet the bonus amount (or total amount) to unlock it for withdrawal successfully. It is expressed as a multiplier and typically ranges between 30x and 40x. Let’s look at an example to see how it works:
- The player receives a 100% deposit bonus of USD 50 – another USD 50;
- Bet is USD 30;
- 50×30=1,500 – this is USD 1,500 that you need to stake;
- If the bet also concerns the deposit amount, the calculation is as follows: (50+50) x 30 = USD 3,000, i.e., you must play for USD 3,000.
The lower the bet, the better for the player. Experienced players do not recommend using bonuses with a bet higher than 40 – it is very difficult to meet such wagering requirements. However, 30-35, or even less, is an excellent rate and can be used to wager a prize.
Maximum bet and winning limits
All online casinos set a wagering limit for the bonus. On average, this is no more than USD 2 per line on online slots and no more than USD 9-25 per round on table and live games. This ensures the player plays for as long as possible and does not meet the wagering requirements on a few lucky bets. Of course, based on the previous example, it would be easier and faster to wager USD 100 on one spin on an online slot 10 times, but in practice you would have to play around 300 spins, more often than usual.
Another limitation is the maximum win limit. It is also often expressed in odds, e.g. x2 of the bet size, but the bonus can specify a specific amount. So if you bet USD 5 and a successful game round, you will win USD 30, but according to the bonus terms, 5×2=10, only USD 10 will be added to your balance, and the remaining 20 will be deducted. This is a kind of insurance in an online casino – in case you hit the jackpot in only one game round.
Bonus validity period
No bonus is given indefinitely – there is always a specific period within which the prize must be wagered. This ensures that players do not forget to use the prize and do not return after a month complaining that the bonus has been canceled. In this case, the deadline is set based on other requirements, for example, the higher the bet – the more days the player has to meet the wagering requirements. On average, deposit bonuses can be wagered within 7, 14 or even 30 days. No-deposit bonuses have a shorter lifespan – from 3 to 5 days.
Special attention should be paid to the deadline for using the bonus itself – some online casinos also specify a time limit within which the prize must be spent. For example, a player received 20 free spins and must use them within 24 hours to receive new spins tomorrow. Or the money from the first deposit bonus must be spent within 2 days to qualify for the second deposit bonus to the player’s account. In this case, the deadline for the end of the wagering is specified separately.
Limited list of games
Some online casino bonuses are awarded for a specific game, a game from a single provider or a specific game category. Usually, all of this is detailed in the terms and conditions of a specific bonus and sometimes even published on its main poster. Online casinos also offer general bonuses, such as cash bonuses that can be used for any entertainment. However, often, due to certain requirements of the providers or the licensing body, not all games can be used in promotions. These are listed in the general terms and conditions, and it is important to read them carefully.
Another important point about gaming restrictions is the percentage of their participation in the bets. In general terms, almost every online casino has a table that says that online slots have a 100% participation in the bets, table games by 20-30%, live games by 5-10% and the like, these are average values. This means that you do not have to think about anything when betting on online slots; they are fully included in the total bet. However, when playing roulette with USD 10, only USD 2-3 will be counted, significantly reducing the bet rate.
Withdrawal limits
Let’s assume that you have fully met all the conditions for the wager of the USD 50 bonus. Now in automatic mode, whatever remains in the bonus account (and you were lucky, which is USD 400) will be transferred to the main balance and available for withdrawal. However, the online casino transfers only USD 250, and the bonus account is completely zeroed. Why did this happen?
The fact is that almost every bonus has a maximum withdrawal limit. This amount can be expressed as a multiplier, for example x5. This means that regardless of your gambling successes, 50×5=250zt, and the main account will receive exactly 250zt, out of 400 winnings 150zt will simply be canceled. This is another insurance policy of the online casino, which is supposed to protect against bankruptcy – logically speaking, if players deposit 50zt and withdraw 500, or more, this is a serious loss.
Other possible bonus wagering requirements
The wagering requirements mentioned above are the most common. These are the conditions that players must meet to withdraw their winnings from the bonus. In addition to the above conditions, players may encounter requirements related to the payment method used or come across a concept such as the “non-cashability” of the bonus.
Selected payment methods
Almost all online casinos state in their general bonus terms that deposits made via Skrill, Neteller, and sometimes PaysafeCard cannot be considered eligible deposits and getting a bonus with them is impossible. This is due to the anonymity these payment methods provide, which is good for the player, but bad for the gambling platform – the operator cannot fully comply with KYC (Knowledge You Client) requirements. Cards and bank accounts are easier to identify because they use the same data the player provided when verifying the account.
Another nuance is that some online casinos cooperate with modern payment systems on an affiliate basis. For this reason, they can offer a separate bonus from a deposit made through, for example, MuchBetter. This kind of referral program allows you to promote a new wallet; such bonuses often do not even have a wager, and you can use them.
Bonus withdrawal and non-withdrawal
The cash prize is a bonus that will be credited to your main account once you have met the wagering requirements. For example, you received 50zt, met all the requirements and have 150zt left in your bonus account. This is the amount that will be credited to your account and will be available for withdrawal. This is probably the best and fairest bonus for online casino players.
A non-cashable bonus is one where the prize amount is deducted from all your money in the online casino if you withdraw. For example, if you deposit USD 50 and the bonus is 100%, your total balance is USD 100. You have played for a while, you have 80 left and you decide to cash out. The online casino will deduct the USD 50 bonus, allowing you to withdraw only USD 30. It is best not to use such bonuses, but for some reason, they are becoming increasingly popular on gambling sites.
Final thoughts
Wagering requirements are one of the most important features of online casino bonuses. The reason is that this factor will determine how easily you can withdraw your bonus winnings in cash. The bonus essentially adds fun to your gaming, which greatly benefits gamers. For this reason, the gamer has to understand the full meaning of the bonus extended to him by going to the terms and conditions involved. Always remember to check wagering multiplier requirements, game restrictions, and other time limits to ensure you make the most out of the bonus. Maintaining your expectations With a well-framed approach would help players have a better experience at an online casino.
