Online casinos aggressively market their deposit bonuses, making it seem like they are handing out free money.

However, seasoned players know that this 'free cash' is locked firmly behind a wall of terms and conditions.

What Exactly is a Wagering Requirement?

It is essentially a mathematical hurdle you must clear before the casino allows you to cash out your winnings.

If the terms state 20x on both the deposit ($100) and bonus ($100), you must wager $4,000 in total.

• The goal of the casino is for you to lose the bonus money before hitting the target
• Always check if the multiplier applies only to the bonus, or the deposit + bonus combined
• Understanding this math is crucial to determining if an offer is actually worth taking

Understanding Game Contributions

To make things even more complicated, not every game on the platform contributes 100% towards the requirement.

However, playing roulette might only contribute 10%, meaning a $10 bet only counts as $1 towards the playthrough.

Always read the fine print carefully, and never accept a bonus if the playthrough multiplier exceeds 50x.