Wagering Requirements Explained: How They Work and What They Cost
A wagering requirement is the number of times you must stake a bonus before the winnings tied to it can be withdrawn. A £100 bonus at 10x means £1,000 of total stakes, and the same bonus at 35x means £3,500. For UK-licensed casinos the Gambling Commission has capped the multiplier at 10x of bonus funds since 19 January 2026.
This article is part of our slot guides, written to explain the maths and mechanics behind every spin.
This guide shows how to read the requirement, how to work out what it really costs, and where it differs from the headline offer. It sits in our slot guides alongside the explainers on bonus game weighting and the max bet rule.
What is a wagering requirement?
A wagering requirement, also called a playthrough or rollover, is a condition that stops bonus money turning into cash on day one. You have to place bets worth a stated multiple of an amount before the casino releases the balance. The multiple is written as a number followed by x, such as 10x.
The requirement counts stakes, not profit. If you bet £1 on a spin and lose, that £1 still counts towards the total. If you win £5 on the next spin and stake the same £1 again, it counts again. What matters is how much you put through the game, which is why the number of spins at your usual stake matters so much.
You will find the multiple in the offer’s own terms, usually next to the expiry period.
How do you calculate a wagering requirement?
Multiply the amount the requirement applies to by the multiple. Take a £100 bonus with a 10x requirement on the bonus: 100 × 10 = £1,000 of stakes. At £1 a spin that is 1,000 spins. At £2 a spin it is 500 spins.
The same £100 bonus with a 35x requirement needs £3,500 of stakes. That is the kind of multiple that used to be common and now only appears outside UK licences or in older material, so treat the figure as an illustration of how steeply the maths climbs.
Put your own numbers into the calculator below to see the stakes, the number of spins and the expected cost.
The calculator uses bonus-only wagering. It shows the stakes you must place, the spins that takes at your average bet, the long-run loss while you clear it, and the bonus value that is left on average. A fuller walkthrough of each field is on the wagering requirement calculator page.
Is the requirement on the bonus only, or on bonus plus deposit?
Some terms apply the multiple to the bonus alone. Others apply it to the bonus plus the deposit that triggered it. The second version is much more expensive, because the base is twice as large for a 100% match.
| Offer | Base | Multiple | Stakes required |
|---|---|---|---|
| £100 deposit, £100 bonus | Bonus only (£100) | 10x | £1,000 |
| £100 deposit, £100 bonus | Bonus + deposit (£200) | 10x | £2,000 |
| £100 deposit, £100 bonus | Bonus only (£100) | 30x | £3,000 |
| £100 deposit, £100 bonus | Bonus + deposit (£200) | 30x | £6,000 |
Illustrative figures, calculated by us. Check which base your own offer names.
For UK-licensed operators the question is largely settled. The Commission’s rules cap the multiple at 10x "bonus funds", and its guidance says players "must not be made to meet wagering requirements before they can withdraw money from their deposit balance" (restrictions on withdrawing deposit and deposit winnings, last updated 28 May 2024). Offers licensed elsewhere may still use the bonus-plus-deposit base, so read the sentence that defines it.
What wagering requirement applies at UK-licensed casinos?
The Commission announced the cap on 26 March 2025 under the heading "Bonus wagering requirements limited to ten" and set the start date at 19 January 2026 (Gambling promotions to be safer and simpler). The code text says licensees must not apply wagering requirements "over a maximum of 10 times".
Published terms we read on 24 October 2026 line up with that. One UKGC-licensed casino’s welcome offer says any winnings "must be wagered x10" before they become withdrawable, and another states "10x wagering on bonus amount". Neither exceeds the cap.
The cap limits the multiple, not the other terms. Expiry, game weighting, maximum stake and maximum cashout are still set by each operator, and they decide whether a 10x offer is easy or awkward to finish.
How does game weighting change the real turnover?
The multiple is only half the sum. Casinos also set how much of each stake counts towards it, and slots usually count in full while table games count far less. If a game contributes 10%, a £1 bet counts as 10p.
| Game contribution | Bonus | Multiple | Real stakes you must place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £100 | 10x | £1,000 |
| 10% | £100 | 10x | £10,000 |
| 5% | £100 | 10x | £20,000 |
| 0% | £100 | 10x | Never completes |
Formula: bonus × multiple ÷ contribution. Calculated by us.
One UKGC-licensed casino’s terms, read on 24 October 2026, list slot games at 100% and table games at 10%. That is the first row and the second row of the table above, and it is why clearing a bonus on roulette takes ten times the stakes. Our guide to bonus game weighting covers the full contribution lists.
What does clearing a bonus cost you at 96% RTP?
Every spin on a 96% RTP slot returns 96p per £1 staked over the long run, so each £1 of required stakes costs you 4p on average. Multiply the stakes by 4% and you have the expected cost of clearing. Our RTP guide explains why that figure is a long-run average and not a promise for one session.
| Bonus | Multiple | Stakes (100% slots) | Expected cost at 96% RTP | Bonus value left on average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £100 | 10x | £1,000 | £40 | £60 |
| £100 | 20x | £2,000 | £80 | £20 |
| £100 | 35x | £3,500 | £140 | −£40 |
Calculated by us: stakes × (1 − 0.96); value left = bonus minus expected cost.
The break-even multiple for a 96% game with full contribution is 25x, because 25 × 4% equals 100%. Below 25x a bonus has positive expected value in the long run. Above it you are expected to hand back more than the bonus is worth.
These are averages, and a single session can finish well above or below them.
How do you check a wagering requirement before you opt in?
Read the offer page and the full bonus terms, then write down five things: the multiple, what it applies to, the contribution of the games you intend to play, the time limit and any maximum cashout or maximum stake. The Commission expects significant conditions to be shown prominently, and for online promotions no further than one click away (Social Responsibility Code 5.1.9, codes of practice). The code also requires terms that are "clear, transparent, and fair" (5.1.1).
If two parts of the terms disagree, ask support in writing before you play and keep the reply. You can then put the figures through the wagering calculator and decide with a price in front of you. For current offers to run the numbers on, see the UK slot bonuses compared page and check each one against the operator’s own terms.
More slot guides
- how online slots work
- RTP explained
- slot volatility explained
- max cashout limits
- live dealer vs RNG
- bonus game weighting
- sticky vs non-sticky bonuses
- the max bet rule on bonuses
- how to value free spins
- wagering requirement calculator
- how crash games work
- Plinko odds explained
- the maths behind Mines
- slots maths course
Frequently asked questions
What does 10x wagering mean?
You must place stakes worth ten times the amount the requirement applies to. On a £50 bonus that is £500 of bets, whether you win or lose along the way.
Does wagering apply to my deposit as well?
At UK-licensed casinos it must not block your deposit. The Gambling Commission says players must not be made to meet wagering requirements before they can withdraw their deposit balance. Offers licensed elsewhere can differ, so check the base the terms name.
Do all games count towards wagering?
No. Slots often count 100% while table games, live casino and some other games count less or not at all. The contribution list in the bonus terms is the only reliable guide.
Can I withdraw before I finish the wagering?
You can withdraw your own deposit balance, but any bonus and the winnings linked to it are normally removed if you do. The terms say exactly what is forfeited, so read that line first.
What is a good wagering requirement?
Lower is better, and wager-free is best. At 96% RTP and full contribution, the break-even point on a bonus-only requirement is 25x, so the 10x ceiling at UK-licensed casinos leaves a positive average value if the other terms are fair.
Does wager-free mean there is no wagering at all?
It means the winnings carry no playthrough, so they can be withdrawn once credited. Check the terms for other conditions such as a maximum cashout or an expiry on the spins.
Responsible gambling. You must be 18 or over to gamble. Set deposit and time limits before you start, and never treat a bonus as a reason to stake more than you planned. Free, confidential support is available from GamCare on 0808 8020 133 and from BeGambleAware. See our responsible gambling page for tools and further help.