Recycling requirements - how to succeed in bonus wagering
Almost all online casino bonuses come with wagering requirements that must be met before withdrawal. But how do wagering requirements work and how can you successfully complete the bonus wagering?
What are wagering requirements?
The wagering requirements set by an online casino for bonuses determine how many times the bonus money must be played through at the casino before it is added to cash funds. This figure is always stated in the terms and conditions and typically ranges from 20-50x.
Different bonuses are incentives offered by online casinos, which always come with a risk to the gaming site. For this reason, few casinos give away completely free money, as the benefits include a wagering requirement. Wagering requirements level the playing field and slightly reduce the risk to the casino.
Wagering requirements are part of almost all casino and betting bonuses, free spins, cashback offers, and free play money. The size of the bonus wagering and the associated rules and conditions vary between different offers.
Fair wagering casinos
- Slot Paradise: grab a 200% bonus up to €200 with only a 30x wagering requirement
- Speedyslot: start with 10 deposit-free spins and continue with €200 bonuses and 50 spins - only 30x wagering
- Wildz: enjoy a €500 bonus and 200 spins at a quality casino. Wagering requirements: 35x.
This is how bonus wagering works
Bonus wagering may sound complicated, but if you read the terms and conditions and follow them, you will do well in the task. Online casinos' counters will inform you of the progress of the wagering, so you don't have to calculate the numbers in your head.
Next, let's go through an example of how wagering requirements are calculated:
Player A makes a deposit of €40 at the online casino and redeems a 100% bonus. Casino X adds €40 in bonus money to the deposit, bringing the total balance to €80. The bonus comes with a 35x wagering requirement. Therefore, Player A must wager €40x35=€1400, after which the bonus money converts to real money.
Note! Always check whether the wagering requirement applies only to the bonus or to both the deposit and the bonus.
How to identify fair wagering requirements?
The best and simplest tip for wagering requirements is this: the lower the requirement, the easier the bonus is to wager. Too strict wagering conditions make it nearly impossible to play through the bonus, rendering the offer useless.
Fair bonus conditions are between 0-35x. Generally, quality casinos set the limit at 30x or 35x wagering. Under these conditions, it is entirely possible for the player to come out ahead with the bonus.
Within the pain threshold are bonuses with wagering windows of 40x-50x. In these offers, the requirements are already relatively strict, but by no means impossible.
When you start to exceed 50x, we are talking about unfair wagering requirements. Especially with deposit bonuses, the chances of successfully completing the task become very slim. The only exception can be made for no deposit bonuses, for which you haven't spent a penny.
Get to grips with the terms: understand wagering requirements
However, there are other terms related to bonus wagering that can help you determine whether the rules are favourable for you or the casino.
Win cap is the maximum win attached to the bonus, beyond which you cannot win with the bonus. Avoid offers that have this cap (with the exception of no deposit free spins and free play money).
Maximum bonus bet indicates how much you can bet while wagering the bonus. The amount is usually €5 or €10. If the maximum bet is significantly lower than this, it may take a long time to wager large amounts.
Validity period indicates the time frame within which the bonus wagering must be completed. Usually, this is given as 30 days, but some casinos may offer only a one-week window, which is simply too short.
Minimum deposit specifies the amount that the deposit must be in order for the bonus to be activated. Make sure to adhere to this rule, as otherwise the bonus will not activate at all.
Different types of bonuses: non-sticky and wager & get
Online casinos have developed numerous different bonuses where the wagering differs slightly from the "traditional" offer. The most well-known variations are non-sticky bonuses and wager & get bonuses, which can already be found at many gaming casinos.
In a non-sticky bonus, the deposit and bonus are separated. You play with real money first and can choose to cancel the bonus until there is real money left. So if you manage to hit a big win, you can cancel the bonus and withdraw the winnings without wagering requirements.
Wager & get, or wager and redeem bonuses, on the other hand, flips the process on its head. The player must first wager the deposit a certain number of times, after which the bonus is converted into real cash and distributed without wagering requirements.
The best non-sticky & wager & get bonuses can be found at:
- Red Dice Casino: 200% wager and get bonus up to €1000
- Big Boost: a tasty €500 non-sticky package
- 30Bet: brand new €1000 non-sticky and 100 spins
Bonuses without wagering should be taken advantage of
The best bonuses are of course those without wagering, meaning all winnings from them are paid out as cash. Bonuses without wagering are usually free spins, but occasionally cash bonuses are also available.
These bonuses may require a slightly larger deposit than usual, but otherwise, they work exactly the same way as other bonuses. Wager-free bonuses are particularly offered to new players, but there are also casinos online where all bonuses are always cash bonuses. Such sites include:
- Kanuuna Kasino: 200 cash spins for new players
- Amok Casino: 100 wager-free spins
- Chipz: 100 free spins without wagering
The most common mistakes in bonus wagering
Is the wagering not working for some reason? You're spinning away, but the wagering bar just won't progress? Let's take a look at the most common mistakes players make during wagering.
1. You are playing prohibited games
Some games are excluded from wagering due to a high return percentage. You can find the prohibited games in the casino's terms and conditions. Also, note that, for example, live casino games do not contribute to wagering at 100%.
2. You are betting too high
If your stake is too high, unplayed rounds will not be included in the wagering. Generally, the limits are either €5 or €10.
3. You break the rules and conditions related to wagering
Players who cheat or break the rules while wagering will lose their winnings or be removed from the casino. This behaviour includes, among other things, interrupting games when entering a bonus game and returning later, as well as risk hedging, such as betting on both red and black in the same game.