A wagering requirement is how many times you must bet a bonus before any winnings from it can be withdrawn. It’s the number that matters most.
A worked example
Say you take a £50 bonus with a 35× wagering requirement. You must place 35 × £50 = £1,750 in bets before the bonus (and anything won with it) becomes withdrawable cash. Some sites apply the multiplier to bonus + deposit, which raises the bar further — always check which.
What counts toward it
- Game weighting: slots usually count 100%, but table games like blackjack or roulette often count 10% or less — so clearing wagering on them takes far longer.
- Max bet: exceeding a per-spin cap (e.g. £5) while wagering can void the bonus entirely.
- Expiry: requirements usually must be met within a set window (e.g. 7–30 days).
Why it matters
The higher the multiplier, the more you must risk — and the more the house edge grinds down the bonus along the way. As a rough guide, wagering under ~35× on slots is manageable; well above that, a bonus is mostly marketing. If a requirement isn’t stated clearly, don’t opt in.