What Are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements (also called playthrough or rollover) are conditions set by casinos that determine how many times you need to bet the bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings. For example, a $100 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement means you must place $3,500 in total bets before withdrawal.
How Wagering Requirements Work
The formula is straightforward:
Total Wager = Bonus Amount × Wagering Multiplier
Example: $100 × 35x = $3,500 in total bets required
But the real cost depends on the house edge of the games you play. Every bet you make, the casino keeps a small percentage on average. Over $3,500 in bets, that adds up.
Game Contributions
Not all games count equally toward wagering requirements:
- Slots: Usually 100% contribution (every $1 bet counts as $1)
- Table Games: Typically 10% contribution ($1 bet counts as $0.10)
- Blackjack: Often 5% contribution ($1 bet counts as $0.05)
Lower contribution means you need to bet significantly more in real terms, which increases the total house edge cost.
Expected Value: The Key Metric
Expected value (EV) tells you what a bonus is actually worth after accounting for the house edge cost of meeting wagering requirements:
House Edge Cost = Total Wager × House Edge %
Expected Value = Bonus Amount − House Edge Cost
A positive EV means the bonus has value even after wagering. A negative EV means the wagering will likely cost you more than the bonus is worth. Try the calculator on this scenario →
Wagering Requirement Tiers
- 10-20x: Excellent — usually positive EV on most games
- 25-35x: Average — check the EV carefully, may be worthwhile on low-edge games
- 40-50x: High — often negative EV on slots, only viable on very low edge games
- 50x+: Very high — almost always a bad deal
Tips for Crypto Casino Bonuses
- Always calculate EV first — Use our calculator before depositing to know exactly what a bonus is worth.
- Read the fine print — Check if wagering applies to bonus only or bonus + deposit.
- Check game restrictions — Some bonuses exclude certain games entirely.
- Watch for time limits — Most bonuses expire in 7-30 days. Make sure you can meet the wagering in time.
- Max bet limits — Many bonuses cap individual bet sizes (e.g., $5 per spin). Exceeding this can void the bonus.
Calculate any bonus in seconds
Enter your bonus details and instantly see expected value, house edge cost, and our verdict.
Try the CalculatorTry the math on a real bonus
1xBet sports welcome — 5x wagering, ~92% Keep Rate
The 5x wagering on 1xBet's sports welcome (3+ legs at min 1.40 odds) is the friendliest rollover shape in the NG/KE market. Walk through the math by deep-linking the calculator with these defaults, then claim if the math holds for you.