Mention wagering requirements to someone who wants to get on and win casino games with the free casino bonus they’ve collected, and watch their eyes glaze over.
Yes, the term ‘wagering requirements’ really does have that effect on people. To some, it’s tedious, mathematical, and requires players to read the T&Cs before accepting a free casino bonus. A sharp contrast from the exciting games they’re at the casino to play.
So here’s a quick guide to learn all you need to know in under 5 minutes. Besides, if you want to take advantage of any of the numerous free casino bonuses available, you will have to learn it sooner or later. Especially if you’re going to maximise your chances of winning free cash courtesy of an online casino.
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements are attached to almost every type of bonus.
It is the amount of money that has to be played through (expressed as a multiple of the bonus amount given) before winnings turn into cash you can withdraw.
Here’s an example.
You pocket a free bonus of £/$/€ 100
The wagering requirement is x10
You need to wager £/$/€1,000, and winnings after that is cash you can spend.
What are the best games to play with a free bonus?
Unfortunately, not all games are weighted equally. Some casino games are easier to win than others. Compare the ease at winning in blackjack to winning on a progressive jackpot slot, for example. Games that can be edged with a bit of skill, like most casino table games, for instance, are weighted lower than those relying on pure luck.
For this reason, most slots contribute 100% to the wagering requirement. In comparison, table games might contribute only 20%, sometimes less, depending on the operator’s terms. This means that if you want to play your bonus on blackjack, you will need to play it through more, x5 more in the above example.
Why do casinos have wagering requirements?
Casinos are in the business to make money, not give it away. For an online casino, implementing a wagering requirement ensures players don’t just play the free bonus, walk away with the winnings and move on to the next casino for another free bonus. If it were that easy, we would all do it.
How do I know when I can withdraw winnings?
When you open a casino account and deposit cash, bonus credits to be played through are shown separately from the money you have deposited. Once the wagering requirement has been met, winnings are transferred to your cash account. You can now do with it whatever you wish.
What is considered a low requirement?
A multiplier of between x30 to x35 is considered an average wagering requirement. Many casino bonuses come attached with x50 or x60 requirements. Stay away from these offers; this is far too high. Anything between x5 to x25 is very low and provide the best chance of playing through successfully.
Where can I find online casinos with the lowest wagering requirement?
Good question and one everyone should be asking before choosing a bonus and casino (if free bonuses are important to you). Players have a million choices or more of casino bonuses online. The best ones are those with the lowest wagering requirement. Why? Because they are the easiest to play through, giving players a greater chance of winning real cash they can withdraw.
It is not hard to find the wagering requirement attached to an online casino bonus. Almost all casinos will publish this requirement alongside the offer and other bonus restrictions. If this information is not front and centre, you can find it in the terms and conditions usually under the heading ‘Bonus Terms and conditions etc.
What is the fastest way to find bonuses with the lowest wagering requirement?
Most of us don’t want to go through the terms and conditions of hundreds of casino bonuses to find the lowest, and therefore best offers. Fortunately, many casino review websites do a pretty decent job of highlighting the wagering requirement of every casino bonus they promote. Some of the best review sites, like gamblescope.com, for instance, publish the wagering requirements with the bonus offers on every filtered list.
This saves you a lot of time. Players simply search for the best casino from hundreds of options per their personal preferences. Then scan through the shortlist for bonuses with the lowest wagering requirements, click claim bonus, and you’re done.
Final thoughts
Don’t overlook the wagering requirement when accepting a casino bonus. They are the best indication available on your chances of winning real withdrawable cash from a free online casino bonus.
