What are Wagering requirements?
Who can say no to casino bonuses and all things that come for free? It’s fun, boosts our bankroll, and allows us to play some casino games risk-free.
However, claiming a specific bonus still comes with certain restrictions. A popular condition used by operators is the wagering requirement. So, what is the wagering casino requirement, and why should you pay attention?
The wagering requirement is a multiplier that traditionally ranges from x5 up to x100. It represents the number of times you need to wager the bonus before you can make a withdrawal. To any release your pending funds to your casino’s Main Wallet, you need to satisfy the requirement for a specific bonus.
To illustrate, let’s talk about the widely popular welcome bonus. Let’s assume that the operator rewards new players with a 100% deposit bonus up to $100 with a x30 wagering requirement. If you earned the maximum bonus of $100, it means that you need to wager at least $3,000 ($100 x 30 playthrough) before you can request a withdrawal. This requirement varies depending on the operator. As such, we encourage players to check the Terms and Conditions before going forward.
Why do US casinos have wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements are important conditions set by casino operators. It may seem unpopular to most players, but its presence serves several purposes.
First, it serves as a protection for casino operators. Casinos are still businesses, and they want returns from whatever they give to players. So, if they award a bonus, they need a guarantee that players will not just withdraw the money from the platform.
Second, this rule helps prevent money laundering online. This condition serves as a deterrent for some criminals to mask illegal money by depositing and withdrawing their funds using the casino. And third, it’s now part of industry regulations to impose the wagering requirements.
Games contribution to wagering requirements
When checking out the wagering casino requirement, don’t just consider the multiplier. It’s equally important to check the qualifying games and their contributions to the completion of the requirement.
Remember, not all casino games contribute to the playthrough. And for games that contribute, the actual contribution percentage varies depending on the game type.
In most casinos, slot games contribute 100% to the completion of the wagering requirement. As a policy, some operators publish a list of titles that contribute or don’t contribute at all.
Table games such as all types of blackjack, roulette, and baccarat will often contribute up to 25% to the playthrough.
Video poker games and lotteries, on the other hand, may not contribute at all. Not all operators follow the same guidelines when it comes to playthrough contribution.
So, make sure to read the Terms and Conditions page and look for the ‘Wagering Requirements’ section.
Wagering of bonus money only / including deposit
There are two ways on how to wager the bonus. One, to wager the bonus only, and two, to wager both the bonus and the deposit amount. The difference between the two is self-explanatory and as an informed player, you need to be aware of this. For beginners or those looking for clarification, a simple illustration below can explain the difference.
Let’s assume a deposit and bonus of $10 that is subject to a x30 playthrough requirement. If the rule is to wager the bonus only, it means that you only need to wager at least $300 before you can request a withdrawal ($10 x 30 playthrough). In the second example, you now need to wager $600 ($10 deposit+$10 bonus x 30 playthrough). So, two bonuses with similar wagering requirements can still be different from each other!
How to benefit despite wagering requirements
As you can see, wagering requirements are primarily thrown into the mix to help protect the casino operators. But this does not mean that you cannot also benefit from this arrangement.
Since the wagering requirement is now a standard entry on the Terms and Conditions page, your approach now is to find a walk-around and maximize its potential. What you can do is find casinos that offer lower wagering requirements.
For example, look for bonuses with a playthrough that ranges from x10 up to x30. Whenever possible, watch out for bonuses with no wagering requirements at all!
US Casinos with no wagering requirements
When it comes to the best bonus offers, you can’t go wrong with promotions with no wagering requirements. This often applies to deposit bonuses and free spins you can use on qualifying games.
Although these bonuses are relatively smaller, they’re still lucrative. Make sure to check out our list of the best US casinos that offer bonuses with no wagering requirements.
You should definitely check out the 25 no wagering free spins on Starburst at PartyCasino!
Casinos with low wagering requirements in the US
Wagering requirements are one standard rule in most casinos. Since it’s now a standard condition in almost all bonuses, it’s important that you carefully choose what bonuses to take.
Whenever possible, look for offers with low wagering requirements that range from x10 up to x30. On this site, we review the best casinos that deliver bonuses with low or even no wagering requirements.
We recommend checking out SugarHouse and BetRivers and their unbeatable 1x wagering requirement.
Conclusion
Bonuses and promotions are exciting offers from online casino operators. It helps us grow our bankroll, play some games risk-free and participate in contests.
However, these promotions are still marketing tools and are subject to certain conditions. For example, your favorite deposit bonuses and free spins are covered by a casino playthrough requirement.
Before you avail of the bonus, make sure to review its playthrough and double-check if it covers just the bonus or both the bonus and deposit. Understanding the details of the bonus goes a long way in maximizing your casino experience.