The quality and fairness of a casino bonus lie in the fine print. Especially the wagering requirements, also known as playthrough or playthrough requirements. In this guide, learn the meaning of wagering requirements, how they work, and how they affect the payout of your (bonus) money.
Are casino bonuses really what they promise and worth it? Or is it more like misleading advertising? The answer to these questions lies in the bonus terms and conditions, more specifically: the wagering requirements, or ‘wager’ for short. Canadian gambling sites don’t have a consensus on the terminology either, also referring to them as play-through requirements or playthroughs.
The wagering requirements of a casino bonus say a lot about its attractiveness and can make or break it. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with this aspect. We’re happy to help you with that. After reading this guide, you’ll not only know the meaning of wagering requirements but also how to get more value out of casino bonuses with that knowledge.
What are Wagering Requirements?
Before you can withdraw the bonus money, you must play through it to release it for payout (except for a no wager casino bonus). Wagering requirements indicate how many times you must wager the bonus amount before you can cash it out from your player account. The lower the wagering requirements, the better the feasibility of the bonus!
The wagering requirement is always explicitly stated in the bonus terms and conditions of Canadian online casinos. It’s often expressed as a number with an “x”, referring to how many times the bonus money must be played through to convert it into withdrawable cash.
Example: A $10 deposit bonus with a 10x wager. This means you have to wager the $10 bonus amount 10 times, so $100 total, before you can withdraw any winnings from this bonus.
Wagering Requirements for No Deposit Free Spins
For no deposit free spins, wagering requirements work differently than bonuses requiring a deposit since there’s no fixed bonus money amount. With no deposit free spins, any winnings are subject to play-through requirements.
Let’s explain with an example. Say you win $20 from 10 no deposit free spins with a 1x wager requirement. You must then wager that $20 one more time before you can cash out the winnings. It sounds tough, but remember – even with less luck, you still get to keep some of those winnings. Maybe more!
Why Do Casino Bonuses Have Wagering Requirements?
Of all bonus terms, wagering requirements are the most discussed by gamblers, often negatively. Yet Canadian gambling sites include them in the fine print for a reason.
Without play-through requirements, unscrupulous players could simply earn free money from an online casino by depositing, claiming the full bonus, and immediately withdrawing the total amount. This was possible in the past, but as ‘bonus hunters’ exploited this, casinos got smarter and stricter. Introducing wagering requirements was the only way to avoid losing money on bonuses.
But there’s another reason they exist. No wagering casino bonuses could potentially be used by criminals for quick and easy money laundering, going against anti-money laundering policies that reputable casinos must follow.
Canadian gambling sites are free to set their own wagering requirements, as long as they are clear and transparent!
Game Contribution to Wagering Requirements
Before claiming a bonus, it’s good to know that not all casino game bets contribute equally to meeting the wagering requirements. The game contribution percentage also differs between providers.
In general, bets on online slots count 100% towards requirements. Every $1 wagered is fully counted. Table games like roulette, blackjack and baccarat, however, often contribute only 25% or less due to the lower house edge. So every $1 bet may only count as $0.25 played.
To see how much a specific game contributes, check the promotion’s terms and conditions or the general bonus rules!
Does the Playthrough Apply Only to the Bonus or Also the Deposit?
Knowing the playthrough multiplier is only half the battle. At some casinos, it applies solely to the bonus amount. At others, it’s calculated on the total of the bonus plus your deposit amount – making it significantly harder to clear.
Another example helps illustrate this important difference. Let’s say you deposit $20 for a 100% bonus with a 10x wager:
- Playthrough on Bonus Only: You must play through just the $20 bonus 10 times, so $200 total.
- Playthrough on Deposit + Bonus: The playthrough is now calculated at $40 (bonus + deposit), so you must wager $400 total.
The moral? Check exactly what the playthrough requirement applies to – it can make a big difference in the amount you need to wager.
How to Benefit from Bonuses Despite Wagering?
Don’t be deterred by wagering requirements on a bonus. As long as you choose promotions with low wagering requirements, you can reasonably meet them, especially if playing smartly. Look for high RTP slots and table games that contribute 100% to the playthrough, minimizing the house edge.
Canadian No Wagering Casinos
If wagering requirements give you a headache, simply go for a no wager online casino in Canada. Several sites only offer bonuses completely free of any playthrough requirements, such as:
PlayOJO Casino: Offers a money-back guarantee on every bet, no wagering welcome bonuses, and 81 free spins on the first deposit
Guts Casino: Provides a 100% matched bonus up to $200, 100 free spins and 25 free spins with no wagering requirements
Canadian Casinos with Low Wagering
More common than no wager casinos are those with low wagering requirements in Canada. These still exist since reasonable playthrough discourages bonus abuse, but what counts as “low”? Generally, offers where the bonus must be wagered 10x to 30x, are applied only to the bonus amount – not the deposit too. Anything higher is considered quite unfavorable.
Here are some top Canadian casinos with low wagering requirements:
- Jokersino: Offers a 5x wagering requirement on a Cash Match Bonus of up to $2,500
- ArcaneBet: Features a 17.5x wagering requirement for the welcome bonus
- LuckyDays: Offers a 25x wagering requirement on 100 free spins and a $1,500 welcome bonus
Wagering requirements were created to protect casino operators’ interests when offering bonuses. But their presence as a ‘necessary evil’ doesn’t make bonuses less attractive if you understand what you’re agreeing to. The real value lies in the terms – the wager requirement in particular.
Do all casino bonuses have wagering?
No, there are many bonuses where all winnings are automatically withdrawable with no playthrough required. These are no wagering casino bonuses.
What does ‘playing through’ or ‘rolling over’ a bonus mean?
Simply meeting the wagering requirements. This term tells you exactly how many times the bonus amount must be wagered before any winnings can be cashed out.