Wagering Requirements Explained
A wagering requirement (also called playthrough or rollover) is the total amount you must bet before bonus money, or winnings made with it, can be withdrawn. It determines the expected cost of a bonus more than any other term. A 100% match with 40x wagering and a 100% match with 25x wagering look identical on a banner, yet one asks you to put far more money through the pokies than the other.
This guide shows how to read the requirement, how to convert it into A$ turnover, and how to estimate what clearing it will cost you on average. It is part of our casino bonus guides.
The Two Ways Wagering Is Calculated
Every requirement is a multiplier applied to a base. The base is the part that matters most, and casinos phrase it in two ways:
- Bonus only: you multiply the bonus amount. “40x the bonus” on a A$100 bonus means A$4,000 in bets.
- Deposit plus bonus (D+B): you multiply the deposit and bonus together. “30x D+B” on a A$100 deposit with a A$100 bonus means 30 x A$200 = A$6,000 in bets.
A D+B requirement is double the equivalent bonus-only figure when the match is 100%. So 30x D+B is the same workload as 60x bonus only. That is why a lower headline number is not automatically better.
| Offer (A$100 deposit, 100% match) | Rule | Base | Turnover required |
|---|---|---|---|
| RocketPlay welcome, first part | x40 bonus | A$100 | A$4,000 |
| Casiny welcome, first part | 40x bonus | A$100 | A$4,000 |
| Fair Go WELCOME code | 30x deposit + bonus | A$200 | A$6,000 |
| Cosmobet welcome | 30x deposit + bonus | A$200 | A$6,000 |
| CristalPoker welcome | No wagering (sticky bonus) | n/a | A$0 |
Figures come from the terms stored in our reviews of RocketPlay, Fair Go and CristalPoker. Promotions change, so confirm the current rule in the casino’s bonus terms before you deposit.
Worked Example: What Clearing a Bonus Really Costs
Wagering does not mean you lose the whole turnover. Most of each bet comes back as wins. What you lose on average is the turnover multiplied by the house edge of the games you play. For a pokie with 96% RTP the house edge is 4%.
Take a A$100 deposit with a 100% bonus and 40x bonus-only wagering:
- Bonus received: A$100. Starting balance: A$200.
- Turnover required: 40 x A$100 = A$4,000.
- Expected loss at 96% RTP: A$4,000 x 0.04 = A$160.
- Expected balance at the end: A$200 – A$160 = A$40.
On average you finish with A$40 of a A$200 balance, which is less than the A$100 you deposited. The bonus has negative expected value at this wagering level. Now repeat it with 25x bonus-only wagering: turnover A$2,500, expected loss A$100, expected end balance A$100. That is break-even, and anything lower than 25x on a 96% pokie starts to work in your favour on average.
With 30x D+B the turnover is A$6,000 and the expected loss is A$240, more than the entire A$200 balance. In practice that means most attempts end with the balance at zero before the requirement is met.
These are averages. Pokies are volatile, so individual results range from busting quickly to a large win. Our guides to RTP and volatility explain why the same maths produces very different sessions.
A Quick Formula You Can Use
- Turnover = multiplier x base (bonus, or deposit + bonus).
- Expected loss = turnover x (1 – RTP).
- Expected value of the bonus = bonus amount – expected loss.
If expected value is negative, the bonus is entertainment money with strings attached, not an edge. That is fine as long as you know it.
How Long Does Wagering Take?
Turnover also costs time. Clearing A$4,000 at A$2 per spin takes 2,000 spins. At roughly 10 spins a minute that is about 3 hours 20 minutes of continuous play. Many welcome bonuses expire in 5 to 7 days (RocketPlay’s welcome bonuses are valid for 5 days), so check that the timetable is realistic before you opt in. Our page on bonus expiry covers this in more detail.
You cannot shortcut it by raising your stake. Almost every offshore casino sets a maximum bet while a bonus is active, typically around A$7.50 to A$8 per spin, and breaking it can void the bonus and its winnings.
Wagering on Free Spins Winnings
Free spins usually carry wagering on what they win, not on the spin value. If 100 free spins at A$0.20 return A$25 and the rule is x40, you must wager 40 x A$25 = A$1,000 before withdrawing. Expected loss on A$1,000 at 96% RTP is A$40, more than the A$25 you won, so most small free-spin wins never reach the cashier. Wager-free spins, such as the welcome spins listed in our Casiny review, avoid this entirely but cap winnings instead (A$500 there). See our full free spins guide.
Not All Games Count Equally
Wagering progress depends on game weighting. Pokies normally count 100%, while blackjack, roulette and live tables often count 0% to 10%. A A$10 blackjack hand at 10% weighting clears only A$1 of the requirement. Some casinos, such as Neospin in our review, count only slots. Playing an excluded game can also break the terms outright, not just slow you down.
Other Terms That Interact With Wagering
- Sticky or non-sticky: with a non-sticky bonus your real money is played first, and you can withdraw winnings before the bonus is touched. Read sticky vs non-sticky bonuses.
- Deposit turnover rules: several casinos we reviewed, including HellSpin and Woo Casino, require your deposit to be wagered 3x before any withdrawal, even with no bonus.
- Win caps: a bonus can be fully wagered and still capped. Wild Tornado caps match-bonus winnings at 10x the bonus.
- Cashback wagering: cashback is usually much lighter. RocketPlay’s weekly cashback carries x5, and some offers have none.
How to Compare Offers Fairly
- Convert every requirement into A$ turnover for the deposit you actually plan to make.
- Multiply by (1 – RTP) of the pokies you will play to get expected loss.
- Check the max bet, expiry, game weighting and win cap.
- Compare the result with simply playing your deposit without a bonus.
Our bonus archive lists current offers with their stored wagering terms, and the step-by-step clearing guide walks through a full session plan. For the fine print itself, see how to read casino terms and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must place bets totalling 40 times the base amount before withdrawing. On a A$100 bonus with bonus-only wagering, that is A$4,000 in total bets.
Usually not. With a 100% match, 30x deposit plus bonus equals 60x the bonus, so it requires more turnover than 40x bonus only.
For pokies around 96% RTP, roughly 25x bonus-only is the break-even point on average. Anything lower has positive expected value, and no-wagering offers remove the turnover cost entirely.
No. You lose roughly the turnover multiplied by the house edge. A$4,000 of turnover on a 96% RTP pokie has an expected loss of about A$160.
You can usually withdraw remaining real money only if the bonus is non-sticky and your cash balance was played first. Withdrawing with an active bonus normally forfeits the bonus and its winnings.
Bonuses are a form of gambling, not free money. Play only if you are 18+, and if gambling stops being fun call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.