Wagering Requirements Explained: Updated Guide for Beginners
Ready to hit the online casinos and start raking in the bonuses?
Well, hold your horses! First, you need to learn a thing or two about wagering requirements as these can have a big impact on how you use a casino bonus.
Looking for the best sites with no wagering? Jump to our list of the casinos that have no wagering or low wagering requirements.
What you’ll learn about wagering requirements:
Of course, if you’re already well aware of how wagering works, and just want to see the best casino bonuses with no wagering requirements – we have you covered:
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What is Wagering? What does Wagering Mean?
In order to understand what are the wagering requirements, you have to first understand what a wager and ‘wagering’ is.
That part is simple: A wager, simply put, is simply a bet.
When it comes to an online casino, a wager refers to the amount of money you stake with each hand of cards, spin of reels, or throw of the dice.
It can also refer to the amount of money that you bet overall, in a session or specific time period.
What Are Wagering Requirements?
When you sign up at a new online casino or take advantage of a promotion for existing casino players, you'll encounter any number of bonus offers.
These include things like free spins, free bets, and cash bonuses. In particular, a no deposit bonus is the holy grail of all casino bonuses.
Seems awesome, right? Well, these offers come with strings attached — and those strings are known as wagering requirements.
These requirements are stipulations which state that you must wager a certain amount of money before you can withdraw the bonus or collect any winnings you derive from it.
How Wagering Requirements Work
So, how do wagering requirements work? It's different for each bonus type.
With a cash bonus, you'll have to bet through a specified multiplier before you can withdraw any bonus funds and related winnings.
For example, let's say you take a cash casino bonus with a wagering requirement of 30X.
This means that you'd have to bet your bonus amount thirty times over before you can withdraw it and the winnings you get from it.
You may also deal with requirements when you wager free spins.
Since free spins don't come with a cash amount, the multiplier applies to only to the winnings you receive from the free spins.
Free bets usually come with requirements as well. Depending on the Casino, you might have to deposit a certain amount before you collect the bonus or only bet on sports with certain odds.
Calculating Your Wagering Requirements
Calculating your wagering requirements is a relatively simple formula. Simply plug in your numbers and you have a baseline:
(Bonus Amount) X (Wagering Requirement) = Total Bet
Let's say you deposit €50.
You receive a match-deposit bonus of €50, and your wagering requirement is 30X.
The formula would look like this:
(€50) X (30) = €1,500.
Depending on the casino, you could encounter a sticky bonus. Your initial deposit is also included in the wagering requirements and the formula is changed:
(Bonus Amount) + (Initial Deposit) X (Wagering Requirement) = Total bet
Following the first example, the formula would look like this: (€50) + (€50) X (30) = €3,000.
These numbers seem high, but they aren't incredibly difficult to meet.
You'll be able to use the winnings from the bonus money to make wagers, and if you make them smartly you can usually beat the requirements and have a bit left over at the end.
Don't want to do the math? You can use a wagering requirements calculator online.
This eliminates the chance of human error in your calculations and ensures you know exactly how much you need to bet immediately.
Find the best casinos in your location that have casino bonuses with low wagering requirements!
Read moreCashable No Deposit Bonus - No Wagering Requirements
The same requirements for general casino bonuses and free spins also usually apply to a no deposit bonus. This means that even though you’ll get a bonus just for signing up at a casino, you would still need to wager a specific amount to receive your winnings.
Even though you might find that casinos with no wagering requirements provide less in the way of free play, a no deposit bonus or free spins which are provided without any wagering required, can be just as profitable.
As well as a cashable no deposit bonus without wagering requirements, you can sometimes find bonuses which require a minimum deposit, but without the need to wager a specific amount, and these can also be worth a try.
Differences Between Cashable & Non Cashable Bonuses
Simply put, you cannot 'cash out' when you win using a 'non-cashable' bonus to play slots or casino games at an online casino. Terms and conditions will differ depending on the casino sites you play on, so you may find you can obtain further freeplay or credits, by winning off a non-cashable bonus, but you will never be able to withdraw or cash any winnings. Alternatively, some non-cashable bonuses may require you to wager real money up to a specific amount before you can cash out.
Meeting & Beating Your Wagering Requirements
In order to meet and beat your wagering requirements, you have to understand the subtler nuances of how they function and learn to play the smart way.
Terms and Conditions
When you have the chance to claim some welcome bonus money or another promotional offer, read the terms and conditions very carefully.
The fine print will inform you about all the strings which come attached to the bonus offer, including what the wagering requirements are and what you need to do to beat them.
You'll generally have to make a minimum deposit to receive the bonus in the first place.
You could have to use a certain deposit method to claim it, and have a limited amount of time to use it. Every online Casino is different, and they all have different rules and regulations when it comes to meeting the requirements.
Choosing Your Casino
Some casinos have wagering requirements of 50X or more, while some require less than 30X. Some also limit the amount of money you can win from Casino bonuses, so it's imperative you do your research and shop around.
Choose a casino which has favorable bonus terms, and make sure it has a good reputation among enthusiasts.
It must be fully licensed and regulated, simple to use, and have easily accessible customer support in case you have questions or encounter any problems with your bonus.
Choosing Your Games
Different games will contribute different percentages of your wager to the requirements.
Find out which games qualify and what percentage of your wager they contribute, then play the games which give you the most bang for your wagering requirement buck.
Online Slots commonly contribute 100% of your bet to the requirements.
Table games and card games, on the other hand, may contribute just 50% or even less. You'll find you meet your requirements more quickly and easily if you choose to play the Slots.
Play the Right Way
You know that Slots are likely to help you meet your wagering requirements more rapidly, but not all Slots are created equal. It's important to pay attention to the variance of your games and the RTP (Return to Player Percentage).
Games with a lower RTP have a higher variance. They don't pay out as often, but when they do, they pay out larger amounts.
If you're trying to meet wagering requirements, play these types of games at the beginning.
This will allow you the chance to significantly increase your bankroll, and insure yourself against possible losses in the future.
Once you've padded out your bankroll, take it easy and play lower-variance games. These will have a high RTP, meaning they pay out smaller amounts but more consistently.
They are a safer bet because they don't diminish your bankroll as easily and allow you to keep more of your winnings over time.
Know your RTP from an RNG?
Read our full guide on how to spot the 'Return to Player' percentage (RTP) for your next slot game, and what it means.
Opting Out
Don't want to worry about wagering requirements? You can choose to opt out of the bonus entirely.
Sometimes casinos will have the option readily available, but you may have to contact customer support to convey your wishes.
The Best Online Casinos with No Wagering Requirements
No that you understand a bit more about wagering, it’s easy to see why it’s an advantage to find an online casino without wagering requirements.
Yes they do exist(!) These no wagering casinos are becoming more popular because their bonuses come with less stipulations, but you normally won't see crazy amounts of free cash.
We’ve listed some casinos below in different locations, that don’t currently have wagering requirements.
The Best Online Casinos with No Wagering Requirements - US
The best (or closest) that US casino players can get when it comes to wagering winnings from a bonus, is at FanDuel Casino.
At FanDuel Casino, they have a 1X Playthrough policy, which means if you play with a bonus or any kind of site credit, you only need to playthrough once to keep your winnings. Not quite as perfect as pure no wagering, but very competitive in the US real money marketplace.
Casting an eye over the other US online casinos, we’d also look to the bonus provided by PartyCasino NJ. Although their welcome deposit bonus (100% of your opening deposit matched up to a maximum of $500) includes wagering, the attached 100 Free Spins come with no wagering requirements, so any wins from your bonus spins are yours to keep.
The Best Online Casinos with No Wagering Requirements - UK
For UK casino players, there’s only one name to throw in the hat for no wagering requirements - Sky Vegas.
It's relatively simple at Sky Vegas. There are absolutely no wagering requirements whatsoever attached to their casino bonuses or free spins. So whatever you win from playing with a bonus, is yours to keep – every penny.
To sweeten the pill even further, right now you can get a 50 Free Spins just for signing up at Sky Vegas, in addition to their deposit bonus of 200 Free Spins for a minimum of £10.
Your next best option is bet365 Casino who currently offer a deposit bonus with no wagering required.
New players who sign up, deposit and stake £10, will get 50 Free Spins to use on bet365 Casino games and slots. Any winnings from these bonus spins, are yours to keep without the need to wager a specific amount.
The Best Online Casinos with No Wagering Requirements - ROW
The rules around wagering requirements for casinos outside the UK and US, will vary from casino and casino and the different locations in which they operate, although there are still some interesting casino bonuses without wagering attached in specific countries.
For example, right now PokerStars Casino Canada (outside ON), are offering 300 Free Spins in addition to their deposit bonus (100% of your opening deposit matched up to a maximum of C$2,000). So, any CA players who take up this offer will be able to keep any wins accrued from their bonus spins, although be aware that other terms apply.
The Best Online Casinos with No Wagering Requirements - South Africa
The most highly recommended online casino in South Africa is Yeti Casino which offers free spins in addition to a deposit match offer.
Offering 100% up to R3,333 + 100 Free Spins on Book of Dead, in addition to its great Welcome Offer, Yeti is known for its incredible range of slots and table games.
Wagering Requirements FAQs
What is wager amount?
The wager amount is the amount of money you use to make a bet. In the case of casino bonuses, it can also refer to the amount of money you have to bet overall before you can withdraw winnings.
What does no wagering mean?
No wagering refers to a type of casino bonus in which you do not have to meet any wagering requirements. You can collect winnings from this bonus as soon as you get them.
Can I withdraw winnings from a free bet?
Absolutely! Once you qualify for the bonus and make your bet, any winnings derived will be credited to your casino account and you can withdraw them anytime. However, you will not receive the stake amount, since the casino paid it for you.
What is a cashable no deposit bonus?
This is essentially a no deposit bonus that doesn't have any wagering requirements. So if you take advantage of a no deposit bonus at an online casino and win some money, this is yours to do with as you wish, without the need to wager a specific amount before cashing out.
How do you beat wagering requirements?
The best way to beat the wagering requirements is to play slots games, because they contribute the largest percentage of your wager to the requirements and have a high relative return.
What does 10x wagering requirement mean?
A 10X wagering requirement means that you must wager the amount of your bonus 10X over in order to collect your bonus and subsequent winnings. If your bonus was €10, you'd have to wager €100 to meet the requirement.
What is a 20x wagering requirement?
A 20X wagering requirement means you must wager the amount of your bonus 20X over in order for you to collect the bonus and subsequent winnings. If your bonus was €10, you'd have to wager €200 to meet the requirement.
What is a 50x wagering requirement?
A 50X wagering requirement means you must wager the amount of your bonus 50X over in order for you to collect the bonus and subsequent winnings. If your bonus was €10, you'd have to wager €500 to meet the requirement.
