5 Things to Keep In Mind When Looking at Wagering Requirements in 2022

Introduction

Any casino player would agree that part of the thrill in playing is knowing there’s a juicy bonus to get your hands on. Whether it’s matched deposits or free spins, there’s an abundance of offers waiting to be claimed by millions of players. But, before you start rubbing your hands in glee, it’s good to know that the majority of bonuses come with a catch in the form of – you guessed it – wagering requirements. And while this may deter players from wanting to claim a bonus, it’s important to know what they are, how they work and ultimately, why they’re useful. 

What are Wagering Requirements?

In simple terms, a wager is a bet. It’s the amount of money you stake with each hand of cards, spin of reels, or sports match. Moreover, a wager can mean the amount of money that you bet overall, in a session or even a specific time frame. They demonstrate how many times you must wager your total bonus amount before actually withdrawing your winnings. Some casinos ask players to wager their deposit and bonus. This means you have to gamble much more before being allowed to withdraw cash, making it a little challenging to convert any of your bonus into withdrawable money.

It’s also important to keep in mind that wagering requirements from one casino to the next vary. Sometimes they even vary between individual bonuses. However, wagering requirements of 35x-45x may be frequently seen, even though certain bonuses have wagering requirements which can up to 60x your bonus funds. If you’re already getting a bit confused trying to understand the ins and outs of how the system works, it’s your lucky day! Because we’ve compiled a list of 5 useful things to keep in mind when looking at wagering requirements. 

1. Know How to Calculate Your Wagering Requirements

You don’t need to be a math wiz to understand how to calculate wagering requirements, as there’s a relatively simple formula to follow, and we’ve broken it down into the below baseline:

Bonus Amount x Wagering Requirement = Total Bet

So, let’s imagine you deposit $50. You receive a match-deposit bonus of $50, and your wagering requirement is 30x. The formula would be as follows: $50 x 30 = $,500.

What’s more, depending on the casino, you could come across a ‘sticky bonus’. Your initial deposit is also included in the wagering requirements and the formula changes accordingly: 

Bonus Amount + Initial Deposit x Wagering Requirement = Total bet

If we take the initial example, the formula would look like this: $50 + $50 x 30 = $3,000.

While these numbers may seem high, they aren’t that difficult to meet. You can use the winnings from the bonus money to make wagers, and if you’re smart, you can beat the requirements and have a bit left over at the end.

But …If numbers aren’t your thing and simply give you hives, then you’ve come to the right place, because we’re here to give you some useful tips worth remembering when looking at wagering requirements. For a more in-depth understanding of what this concept is, we highly recommend that you visit www.casinoshortlist.org! In the meantime, we encourage you to keep reading on.

2. Wagers Vary Depending on the Game Played

It may come as a surprise to you, but not all the wagers made on games will count 100% towards fulfilling the requirements. So think twice before applying your poker skills or blackjack strategy to complete wagering requirements, because table games, roulette and video poker usually only contribute 10%-20%. Additionally, certain operators exclude wagers on some games altogether. 

Let’s imagine you’ve claimed a $100 bonus and the wagering requirements are 25x, and you need to wager $2,500. If blackjack only contributes 10% to the wagering requirements, only $10 out of every $100 you wager will count towards meeting the$2,500 benchmark. In other words, it’s going to take a heck of a lot of blackjack games to get there. If slots are your go-to game, then you needn’t worry, since most games usually count as 100%. 

Sure, slots are likely to help you meet your wagering requirements at a faster rate, but you also need to remember that not all slots are created equally and it’s important to pay attention to the variance of your games and the RTP (Return to Player Percentage). The lower the RTP, the higher the variance. And while they don’t pay out as often, when they do, you can expect greater amounts. 

3. Remember Time Limits Are Also Applied to Wagering Requirements

You might think that time limits only apply to claiming and cashing in on bonuses – but this is a misconception. It’s important to remember that if you don’t manage to complete the wagering requirements in the stipulated time period, your bonus funds (and usually any winnings associated with them) will be void. Since such requirements usually mean you have to gamble a huge amount, you may be in a race against time to complete it. Time limits vary considerably from one casino to another – some give you a mere week, while others allow an entire month. 

4. Maximum Bets Might Prolong Meeting The Requirements

This is why it’s important to read the small print of online casinos carefully, because often, you’ll realize you can only bet a certain amount per game with your bonus funds. Of course, the limit varies, but a common example is that of $5. If you were playing mobile slots, you’d only be able to bet a maximum of $5 per spin.

Maximum bets don’t increase or decrease your chances of winning. But they could mean that it may take you slightly longer to meet the requirements. On a more positive note – they do help stretch out your bonus funds so that you can enjoy playing your favorite titles for longer!

5. There Are Maximum Win Caps

So you’ve claimed a fantastic bonus, completed the wagering requirements and even managed to come out the other end in the green. Now you’re simply keeping your fingers crossed that your winnings are within the limit! One thing not many players are aware of is the fact that casinos cap bonus winnings, so there’s only so much you can win. 

This is the main reason why wagering requirements are there, as they already make it pretty unlikely for players to come out with a big win. Most casinos have reasonable caps, such as $500 though, so if you think about it, you’re still getting a pretty sweet deal!

BONUS TIP: Don’t Forget to Read the T&Cs

And, in the spirit of being generous with the tips, we thought we’d give you an additional (albeit obvious) one: Read the T&Cs! These detail all the wagering requirements, minimum deposits and withdrawals. It’s imperative to make sure you go through them with a fine-tooth comb before placing any bets. This way you’ll be better equipped to maximize the deal for your playing style and budget and you know all the strings which come attached to the bonus offer, including what the wagering requirements are and how to beat them. It’s pretty standard practice to be required to make a minimum deposit to receive the bonus in the first place.

We hope we’ve equipped you with enough information to make you feel more knowledgeable about wagering requirements. Ultimately the most important thing is to consider what suits your individual playing style and needs. Once that’s sorted, you’re good to go and can place your first bet!