Bonus wagering is how many times you must stake the bonus amount (or the bonus plus your deposit) before the casino lets you withdraw. Most players activate a bonus without reading the terms, then discover they need to wager €3,000–€9,000 before any real money becomes withdrawable. The formula below takes under 30 seconds and works at any licensed casino, whatever the brand.
What is bonus wagering?
The wagering requirement is the multiplier in a bonus's T&Cs that shows how many times you must stake the bonus amount before you can cash out. It's written as x25, x30, x35 and so on — the lower the number, the faster a real withdrawal. CasinoDays, for example, sets a x25 wagering requirement on its €1,000 + 300 free spins welcome bonus, one of the lowest figures among licensed operators. The mechanic exists for a reason: without it, players would simply claim bonus cash and cash out instantly, so regulators like the MGA and UKGC allow the practice but require the multiplier to be disclosed clearly in the T&Cs before signup.
How to calculate bonus wagering in 30 seconds?
The formula is simple: bonus amount × wagering multiplier = total amount you need to stake. The six steps below give you an exact figure in under half a minute.
- Find the bonus amount in the T&Cs (e.g. €200 at 888 Casino).
- Find the wagering multiplier next to it (888 Casino uses x30).
- Multiply: €200 × 30 = €6,000 — that's the total you must stake before withdrawing.
- Check the wagering base: bonus only, or bonus plus deposit — this changes the final figure by 1.5–2x.
- Divide the total by your average bet size to see how many spins you'll actually need.
- Compare the bonus's time limit (usually 7–30 days) against that total: €6,000 over 7 days means roughly €857 in stakes per day, unrealistic for most budgets.
What multiplier counts as good, and what counts as bad?
A rough benchmark for licensed casinos in 2026: x25–x30 is solid (CasinoDays x25, 888 Casino and Betway x30), x35 is average (LeoVegas), and x40+ deserves closer scrutiny, especially with a deadline under 14 days. Stake, which runs on a rakeback model, technically shows x1 — that's a different mechanic entirely, a cashback on stakes already played rather than a classic deposit bonus. Judge the multiplier alongside the deadline, not in isolation: x25 over 3 days can be harder to clear than x35 over 30 days, because the daily staking load ends up higher.
Bonus-only vs. bonus-plus-deposit wagering — what's the difference?
This is the trap most players miss. If the T&Cs say "wagering applies to bonus only", only the bonus amount counts. If they say "bonus + deposit", your deposit gets added to the wagering base too. Example: a €100 deposit plus a €100 bonus at x30 — bonus-only means €3,000 to clear, bonus-plus-deposit means €6,000. Same multiplier, double the requirement. It's easy to spot once you know where to look: search the T&Cs for the phrase next to "wagering" or "playthrough", usually the first or second sentence of the bonus clause, almost always in small print.
Which games count 100% toward wagering?
Not every bet moves you toward withdrawal at the same rate, so this clause is worth reading before your first spin. Slots typically contribute 100% to wagering, live casino games 10–20%, table games like blackjack and roulette 5–10% or are excluded entirely, and video poker is often 0%. Clear a bonus on blackjack and the real wagering figure balloons compared to slots — check this in the T&Cs before activating, not after. The practical takeaway: if your goal is clearing the bonus fast, pick a high-RTP slot (96%+) over a live table, even if the table looks like better odds on any single hand.
A worked example with real numbers
Take Betway: a €1,500 + 100 free spins welcome bonus, x30 wagering, €10 minimum deposit. Deposit €150 and claim €150 in bonus funds, and under a bonus-plus-deposit rule you'd owe (€150 + €150) × 30 = €9,000. At an average €1 slot spin with 96% RTP, that's roughly 9,000 bets — realistic over 2–3 weeks of regular play, unrealistic over a weekend. For comparison, the same €150 bonus at CasinoDays, with x25 wagering on a bonus-only base, comes out to just €3,750 — almost half, for a similarly sized bonus. Before activating, always check the operator's own page — full terms for LeoVegas or 888 Casino are listed under Terms & Conditions.
How do you avoid high-wagering traps?
Before you click "Activate bonus", check the operator's license — here's how to do it in 2 minutes — and watch for the red flags below.
- A x40+ multiplier combined with a deadline shorter than 7 days.
- A bonus-plus-deposit wagering base that isn't flagged in the promo banner, only buried in the small-print T&Cs.
- A max bet cap under €2 while the bonus is active — exceed it and the casino can void your winnings.
- Live casino and table games contributing 0% — meaning wagering is only realistic on slots.
- T&Cs you can't find without creating an account — a red flag before you even register.