We know you don’t want to read the T’s and C’s. We know you want to click Claim right now to receive that 100% Match Bonus up to $500. The thing is, that bonus almost always comes with conditions. Conditions that ultimately determine whether you can keep your bonus and your winnings.
We read and summarize bonus terms for you. Here, we cut through the financial jargon and legal speak to help you understand which bonus conditions can ultimately leave you with a $0 balance. Whenever a topic gets too technical or lengthy, we’ll direct you to our related but more comprehensive guides.
What You'll Learn
- Why Bonus Terms Actually Matter
- Wagering Requirements: Where to Find Them
- The Max Bet Rule (Where Most Players Fail)
- Game Restrictions and Contribution Rates
- Maximum Cashout Limits
- Time Limits and Expiration Dates
- Restricted and Excluded Games
- Withdrawal Restrictions and Pending Periods
- Red Flags That Signal Bad Terms
Why Bonus Terms Actually Matter
There are many conditions and rules with betting limits. Breaking a rule can happen to even the most experienced player. Once a rule is broken, the casino is well within their right to forfeit your bonus and the winnings associated with that bonus.
Some players assume that there will be a warning when you are about to break a rule, or that a first mistake will be forgiven. This is rarely the case.
Why Casinos Write These Rules
From the casino's perspective, offering bonuses and promotions is an expensive marketing cost. In order to limit this cost, many conditions are associated with each bonus.
Some wagering requirements are reasonable, for example a 25x wagering requirement on slots within 30 days. Others seem designed to punish. Take a 60x wagering requirement, a max $2 bet, and only 7 days to do it. Sounds enticing?
Nobody Warns You First
These rules are enforced quietly. Most casinos don't bother to tell you when you are about to break a rule. The casino tracks every bet you make and you can continue to play and even win while that happens. The first time most people find out about this is when they try to withdraw money and find out the casino has taken away the money they won.
At this point, there's not much a player can do. The casino will simply show the player the terms and conditions they previously agreed to and did not read.
For a more detailed explanation, including how to evaluate the true worth of a bonus, see our Wagering Requirements article.
Wagering Requirements: Where to Find Them in the Terms
You see this number all the time: 35x wagering, 40x playthrough, 25x rollover. Whatever the case may be, you have to place a certain amount of bets to withdraw your bonus money.
Casinos don’t always tell you what the multiplier applies to. For example, "35x wagering" could be 35x the bonus money or it could be 35x the bonus money + deposit. If you deposit and receive a bonus for $100, you’re looking at a bet total of $3,500 or $7,000.
What to Look For
When you read the terms, look for wording like this. Some version of it appears at almost every casino:
- "This bonus carries a 35x wagering requirement on the bonus amount."
- "Playthrough is calculated as 40x (deposit + bonus)."
- "You must wager the bonus 30 times before requesting a withdrawal."
The first and third items on the list apply only to the bonus. The second applies to your deposit + bonus. So, if you have a 100% match bonus, your total would be multiplied by 2. Make sure the terms clarify before you deposit. Additionally, contact customer support if you have questions.
Quick Benchmark
A benchmark: We consider 25x or less acceptable for bonuses. We flag offers between 26x-40x. Offers over 40x are flagged in red. A single number does not tell the whole story. For example, a 30x requirement might be considered acceptable if there is a $10 max bet, and you have 30 days to complete the requirement. However, a 30x requirement might be unacceptable if there is a $2 max bet and you only have 7 days to complete the requirement.
For a detailed explanation of wagering requirements and how to identify fair requirements, see our Wagering Requirements Guide.
The Max Bet Rule (This Is How People Lose Everything)
This is a gotcha provision that catches even the most experienced player. When playing with bonus money, you will almost always have a maximum bet provision. A casino can and will take your winnings if you bet over the maximum provision even once.
What's the Limit?
A common maximum bet is $5, but some will allow $2, and others will allow $10, so always double check.
How Players Trip Over This
Scenario: Max bet is $5. Player begins betting $2. After a few spins, and a good fortune, player bets $7.50. This is a breach. Dropping the bet back to $2 does not fix this. Every bet gets logged and the casino will see the $7.50 bet when the player withdraws money.
Putting the maximum bet sticky note on your monitor really does help. You really do get so caught up in the game you don’t take time to think about your bet size.
What About Buy Features?
Some games let you buy free spins for 100x your bet. With a game where the cost per spin is $2, is buying free spins for $200, a $200 bet?
The buy feature for free spins may be completely restricted during a casino bonus offer, or the full purchase amount of the free spin buy may be treated as the bet for that spin, or the casino may take no action for this situation. Check which policy is in effect at the particular casino.
- Any single bet above the stated cap
- Purchasing bonus features when the terms say you can't
- Table game bets above the cap, which applies per hand, not just to slots
- Jacking up your stake after a lucky streak
Casinos log all wagers. Don't take chances.
Game Restrictions and Contribution Rates
Suppose you opt-in for a bonus and play blackjack. Two hours later you check your progress and find that very little of your bets counted. You’re not alone. This is due to the casino’s contribution rates, which are part of the fine print of bonuses.
Typical Contribution Rates
| Game Type | Typical Contribution | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Slots | 100% | Every $10 wagered counts as $10 |
| Video Poker | 10% to 50% | $10 bet is only $1 to $5 |
| Blackjack | 0% to 20% | $10 bet counts as $2 at most. Ouch! |
| Roulette | 0% to 20% | $10 wagered counts as $2 at most |
| Live Dealer Games | 10% or excluded | Barely moves the needle, if it counts at all |
Why the Gap Is So Big
The house edge plays a role in determining contribution rates. Blackjack, played with basic strategy, has a house edge between 0.5% to 1%. Slot games range from 2% to 10% house edge. If a casino allows a player to clear bonus requirements by playing games with a low house edge, the casino loses money in the long run. For promotions to be of no detriment to the casino, contribution rates are often set very low, or completely disallowed for table games.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Say you need to clear $3,500 in wagering:
- Slots at 100%: You wager $3,500. Done.
- Blackjack at 10%: You'd have to bet $35,000. Roulette at 10% works out the same.
Same bonus, same terms. Ten times the bet if you pick the wrong game.
Look for this. Some casinos include language that states something like, "Excluded games include... low volatility slot machines... and slots with an RTP of 97% or greater." This is usually very long and difficult to read and it simply states that a casino will not let you clear the bonus with games that, in the long run, give you the best expectation.
Maximum Cashout Limits
This rule really stings. You cleared the wagering requirements, stuck within the max bet, and played the right games, only to find that your casino has rules that limit your profitability.
How They Word It
You'll find it phrased a few different ways in the terms:
- "Maximum withdrawal from bonus winnings: $500"
- "Maximum convertible amount: 10x bonus value"
- "Winnings capped at $1,000"
They all mean the same thing. In the end, this is a game of chance and how much you can win from a bonus, will always be limited.
Time Limits and Expiration Dates
Almost every bonus has a time limit. The time usually starts when you claim the bonus. Once the time is up, the bonus and any money you won from the bonus is taken. No casino will make an exception to this rule.
How Much Time Do You Actually Get?
- Generous casinos: 30 to 90 days. Plenty of room
- Typical casinos: 7 to 14 days. Tight, but manageable if you play regularly
- The aggressive ones: 24 to 48 hours. Basically forces a marathon session
Some bonuses have even shorter time frames. For example, a bonus may only be valid for 12 hours after it is claimed. These types of bonuses are often promotional bonuses or free spins and are typically sent to a player via email.
When Does the Clock Start?
Time limits trap players. Casinos do not always start the time limit on bonuses and promotions from the time they are claimed. For example, it may start from the time a player makes a qualifying deposit. To be safe, players should assume the time limit starts earlier than it actually does.
The Two-Timer Trick
One of the more frustrating situations for players is when a casino has a bonus that carries a 30x playthrough requirement. However, the time limitation to complete the playthrough requirement may be as low as 7 days from the time the bonus is claimed. Since the casino states the time limitation to claim the bonus is 30 days, the player may believe he or she has 30 days to complete the playthrough requirement when, in fact, he or she has only 7 days.
Restricted and Excluded Games
Additionally, a casino may place a restriction on games that may be played while a bonus is available. A single spin on a restricted game may result in the bonus and the winnings from the bonus being forfeited.
Games That Typically Get Blocked
- Table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat
- Live dealer tables (almost always excluded or heavily restricted)
- Video poker in most of its variants
- Progressive jackpot slots, the big name ones especially
- High-RTP slots named in the terms. Blood Suckers and 1429 Uncharted Seas, for example, show up on many restricted lists.
This rule is usually in a casino's best interest, because they don't want someone to win a large jackpot with bonus money.
Finding the Actual List
Bonus terms shouldn’t be a secret. Good casinos list their bonus terms where they’re easily accessible. Bad ones put them in lengths of terms and conditions where you’d have to specifically look for them to find them. If you can’t find a straight, explicit list of games that don’t count toward wagering:
- Read the full terms top to bottom, not just the highlights
- Search the casino's terms for "excluded" or "restricted"
- Message support directly and ask before you play anything
Withdrawal Restrictions and Pending Periods
You’ve cleared the wagering. Stayed below the max bet. Played the games that do count. If you have funds available, you should be able to cash out. Right?
The "Pending" Trap
A number of casinos have ways to delay payments. One of the more common methods is to place a hold on withdrawals for a period of 24 to 72 hours. This is supposed to allow you the opportunity to change your mind and remove the withdrawal; however, this also has the effect of inducing people to play rather than cash out.
Look for these phrases in the terms:
- "48-hour pending period before processing"
- "Reversible withdrawals for 3 business days"
- "Cooling-off period before cashout is finalized"
Minimum Withdrawal Amounts
Many players are caught by surprise when they learn that they are required to make a minimum withdrawal, and sometimes that is $50 or more. It means that if you clear a bonus with a $40 balance, you can’t cash it out.
The Surprise Deposit Requirement
Many players run into this problem when they’ve used a no deposit bonus. They win some money, try to take their cash, and the casino wants them to make a minimum deposit, often $10, to “verify” something or other. The casino terms allow this, but the terms are often lengthy and detailed, and this is usually not explained to you until after you have already agreed to the terms.
Example:
A player was given a $20 no deposit bonus. They turned this into $150. When they wanted to withdraw, the casino said they needed to make a $10 deposit to verify a payment method. After the deposit, they were allowed to withdraw the $150 plus the $10 deposit, for a total of $160.
This is not a scam, just an added condition. Knowing about it before signing up is better than finding out during withdrawal.
Red Flags: When to Skip the Bonus Entirely
Some terms associated with bonuses are created to prevent the user from ever being able to cash out. In these situations, it is better to not take the bonus at all.
We flag bonuses with these sorts of conditions in red. Most users don't succeed and the house edge wins. This is what the casino is counting on.
Trying to cash out a $100 bonus only to see the cash out limit is $200 is demoralizing. We like to see limits of 10x the bonus and no limits are even better.
If the casino does not show the games that contribute to the wagering requirement, this is intentional. Ask support and if you do not get a clear answer, do not support that casino.
48 hours to complete a playthrough is unrealistic, especially if the user has other things to do. The limited time gives users the incentive to skip or rush various steps.
When you're not sure about a bonus, don't take it. With your own money there are no rules. That means no maximum bets, no limits on how much you can withdraw. If it's to your advantage, you can always take your money and leave.
The Short Version: Read Before You Click
Marketing teams try to lure in players by offering bonuses. House rules protect the casino, and they can be pretty restrictive. But if a casino offers a good bonus, it’s worth looking into. A good bonus has 25 times playthrough on the bonus, a $5 max bet, an unrestricted cash out, and a time period to clear it of 14 days or more.
The restrictions are usually small print. You have to look for them.
In Ontario and Alberta, management of regulated casinos cannot publicly post bonuses. Terms and conditions may be found on the casino website or by subscribing to receive electronic communications. That is the reason our web pages for Ontario and Alberta do not provide bonuses.
Before you claim any bonus, check these six things:
- What's the wagering? 25x or less is good, 26x to 40x favours the casino, and above 40x we'd walk away
- Max bet rule? $5 is standard, anything lower is a grind
- Which games count toward clearing? Slots at 100% is what you want
- Cashout cap? 10x bonus or higher is fair. No cap is ideal
- How long do you have? 7 days minimum for casual players
- Excluded games? Know the list before you spin anything
Those terms cover the large majority of complaints and issues written about by players.
Looking for Bonuses With Fair Terms?
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Browse CasinosFrequently Asked Questions
Can I decline a bonus after I've claimed it?
Typically, yes. Most casinos allow you to forfeit a bonus by going to your account settings, or through email or live chat. Though the procedures differ from casino to casino, in all cases the bonus and winnings associated with it are removed. Often the funds associated with the deposit remain in the account and are withdrawable.
What happens if I break a bonus rule by accident?
It's typically the same as if you'd purposely broken the rules. The casino can remove the bonus and the winnings associated with it. Some casinos monitor your activity and catch rule breaking during game play, while others find rule breaking upon a withdrawal request. The terms of the rules still apply regardless of your intent.
Does the wagering multiply my deposit too, or just the bonus?
It depends on the casino and the type of bonus. For bonus only wagering requirements, the multiplier is applied to the bonus. With bonus + deposit wagering, the multiplier is applied to the bonus and the deposit. For a 100% match deposit bonus, the wagering requirement is doubled. Some casinos, as part of their anti-money laundering policy, may require a deposit to be wagered at least once. These terms may be included in the general terms and conditions and not the bonus terms.
Can I stack multiple bonuses at once?
Typically, casinos allow you to have only one bonus at a time. In order to claim a new bonus, you must first clear or forfeit your old bonus. Breaking these rules may cause the casino to void both the old and new bonus.
Are sticky bonuses ever worth it?
When you withdraw funds, sticky bonuses are removed from your balance first. For example, if you have $500 and $100 of that is sticky bonus, you can withdraw $400. Sticky bonuses become attractive if other conditions are favorable (low wagering, no cashout cap), but usually non-sticky bonuses are better for the player.
Big bonus with high wagering or small bonus with low wagering?
Low wagering requirements usually point towards player-friendly terms. $200 bonuses usually have high wagering requirements (e.g. 50x), therefore you should look into the lower bonuses to see if they're player-friendly.
Bonuses Are Always Optional
You're always allowed to decline a bonus. If you find the bonus terms to be predatory, or you find yourself obsessively attempting to fulfill the requirements, you should always play with your own money.
Need support? Free help is available 24/7: find your provincial helpline, or in Ontario call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 (in Alberta, the Alberta Health Services helpline at 1-866-332-2322). You can also visit the Responsible Gambling Council.