What Is a Wagering Requirement on a Casino Bonus? A Plain-English Explainer for Canadian Players, With the Math Done for You

Updated 2 Nov 2026 · Written by Ethan McLeod · Reviewed by Aisha Noor

A wagering requirement is the rule that says how much you have to bet before bonus money turns into money you can actually withdraw. You'll also see it called playthrough or rollover. If a casino gives you a $100 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, you usually need to place $3,000 in total bets before you can cash out anything that came from that bonus. It's the single most important number in any bonus offer, and it's often in the smallest print. Let me break it down the way I'd explain it to a buddy over coffee, with the math done so you don't have to.

Quick fine print. You need to be 19 or older in most provinces (18 in Manitoba and Quebec). This site does not serve Ontario or Alberta residents. Cloudbet, which we link to on this page, holds a Curaçao licence and is not licensed or authorized by any Canadian province or by Loto-Québec. Under the Criminal Code, provinces conduct and manage gambling, so the authorized options are the provincial sites (PlayNow in BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Loto-Québec in Quebec, and so on). All dollar examples below are made up to show the math.

The short version

• A wagering requirement is a multiple, like 30x or 40x, applied to the bonus (or to the bonus plus your deposit).
• Total to bet = multiple × the amount it applies to. 30x a $100 bonus is $3,000 in bets.
• It's about total bets placed, not losses. A $10 bet that wins still counts as $10 wagered.
• Different games count at different rates. Slots often count 100%; table games and live dealer often count much less or nothing.
• Bonuses usually come with a max bet, a time limit and a list of excluded games. Break one and you can lose the bonus and its winnings.
• The real cost of a bonus is roughly total wagering × house edge. If that's bigger than the bonus, the offer is worth less than it looks.

Why casinos use wagering requirements

Without one, a bonus would be free money. You'd deposit $100, get $100 extra, withdraw $200 and leave. Wagering requirements stop that by making you play through the bonus first. While you play, the house edge works on every bet, which is how the casino gets its money back on average. That's not a scam in itself. It's just the deal. The trick is reading how big the deal really is.

How to work out your wagering total

The first thing to find in the terms is what the multiple applies to. There are two common versions, and the difference is big.

Bonus only. The multiple applies to the bonus amount. Deposit $100, get a $100 bonus with 30x: you need $3,000 in bets.

Deposit plus bonus. The multiple applies to both. Same $100 deposit and $100 bonus with 30x: you need 30 × $200 = $6,000 in bets. Double the work for what looks like the same offer.

For free spins, the requirement usually applies to the winnings from the spins. Win $20 from free spins with 35x wagering and you need $700 in bets before that $20 can be withdrawn.

Game contribution: not every bet counts the same

Casinos set how much each game type counts toward the requirement. A typical pattern looks something like this, but it varies by site, so always check the actual table in the terms:

The reason is simple. Games with a low house edge, like blackjack played well, would let you clear the bonus too cheaply. So casinos count them at a fraction or not at all. If you're a table-game player, a bonus with 10% table contribution means a 30x requirement effectively becomes 300x for your favourite game. That's often a reason to skip the bonus.

As an example from one operator's terms: as we read Cloudbet's general bonus rules, slots and arcade games with an RTP above 99.5% count only 10%, live and virtual table games count 10%, and other slots count based on their RTP. Terms change, so check the current version before you rely on that.

The other rules that ride along

Max bet. Most wagering bonuses cap how much you can bet per spin or hand while the bonus is active, often a few dollars. Going over, even once and even by accident, can let the casino remove the bonus and any winnings from it.

Time limit. You might have 7, 14 or 30 days to finish the wagering. Run out of time and the remaining bonus (and often what you won with it) disappears.

Excluded games. Some games don't count at all, and playing them with bonus funds can break the terms. Bonus-buy features on slots are a common exclusion.

Max cashout. Some bonuses cap what you can withdraw from bonus winnings, for example 5x or 10x the bonus. Anything above that is removed when you withdraw.

Withdrawing early. Asking for a withdrawal before you finish wagering often cancels the remaining bonus.

Minimum odds or targets. Some casinos also restrict "low-risk" play, like betting both red and black on roulette, or using very low targets in crypto originals just to churn through the wagering.

Sticky vs non-sticky bonuses

This one changes everything about how a bonus feels.

Non-sticky (sometimes called "parachute") bonuses keep your real money and the bonus separate. You play your deposit first. If you win big with your own money before touching the bonus, you can usually withdraw it and give up the bonus. If your deposit runs out, then the bonus kicks in. This type is generally friendlier to players.

Sticky bonuses mix your deposit and the bonus into one balance, and the bonus part can never be withdrawn. It only exists to play with. When you cash out after finishing wagering, the bonus amount itself is removed.

The terms don't always use these words. Look for phrases about "real money balance is used first" (non-sticky) or "bonus amount will be deducted on withdrawal" (sticky).

The cost formula that cuts through the hype

Here's the most useful thing on this page. On average, every bet loses the house edge. So the average cost of clearing a bonus is roughly:

Expected cost ≈ total wagering × house edge of the games you play

Then compare that to the bonus:

Expected value of the bonus ≈ bonus amount − expected cost

Some made-up examples on slots with a 96% RTP (a 4% house edge):

This is rough. It ignores max cashout, variance, and the fact that if you lose your whole balance early you stop wagering (which actually caps your cost at what you had). But it gets the big picture right: low multiples on the bonus only can be decent, while high multiples on deposit plus bonus are usually just a way to keep you playing. Choosing higher-RTP eligible slots lowers the cost, which is why casinos often cut contribution on the highest-RTP games.

Remember too that "value" here is an average across lots of players. Your own result will swing. Some people clear a bad bonus with a big win; most don't.

A made-up walkthrough from start to finish

Let's say Marie in Quebec City deposits $50 and takes a 100% match: a $50 bonus with 25x wagering on the bonus only, a $5 max bet, 14 days, and slots at 100% contribution.

1. Total to wager: 25 × $50 = $1,250.
2. Her plan: $1 spins on an eligible slot with a 96% RTP. That's 1,250 spins.
3. Expected cost: 4% × $1,250 = $50. The same as the bonus, so the offer is roughly break-even on average.
4. What actually happens: after 600 spins she's down to $60 total. Then a feature hits and she's up to $140. She finishes the 1,250 spins with $118.
5. Cash out: wagering's done, so she can withdraw (minus anything the terms remove, like the bonus itself if it was sticky).

On another week the same plan could just as easily run to zero by spin 400. That's the point: the formula tells you the average, not your night.

Sportsbook rollover works a little differently

Sports betting bonuses also use wagering, usually called rollover. The key differences:

• Minimum odds. Bets usually need to be at or above certain odds, for example 1.50 decimal (−200 American) or higher, to count.
• Settled bets only. Bets often count only when they settle, and voided or cashed-out bets may not count.
• Free bets often return winnings only, not the stake, which lowers their real value.
• The cost works the same way: total rollover times the bookmaker's margin. On a market with about a 5% margin, $1,000 of rollover costs roughly $50 on average.

Bonuses with no wagering

Some offers skip wagering entirely. Examples include cashback paid as real money, rakeback (a share of the house edge on your bets returned to you), or "wager-free" free spins where winnings are paid as cash. These look smaller on the banner but can be worth more than a big matched bonus with heavy wagering, because there's nothing to clear.

Cloudbet's current welcome is an example of this style. It's a 30-day rewards package built on rakeback and cash drops, which its help pages describe as paid with no wagering. We walk through the details, and compare it with traditional deposit matches, on our casino sign-up bonus guide for Canada. Offers change, so check the live terms on Cloudbet's site before you deposit.

How to read a bonus's terms in about two minutes

1. Find the multiple and whether it applies to the bonus or deposit plus bonus.
2. Find the contribution table and check your favourite games.
3. Find the max bet while a bonus is active.
4. Find the time limit.
5. Find any max cashout on bonus winnings.
6. Check whether it's sticky and whether your real money is used first.
7. Run the cost formula. If the expected cost beats the bonus, think hard about skipping it.

If anything is unclear, ask support in live chat and save the transcript. A written answer is far better than a vague memory if there's a dispute later.

Common mistakes with wagering requirements

• Thinking wins reduce the requirement. They don't. Only bets placed count, and every bet counts its full stake (times the contribution rate), win or lose.
• Playing table games at 10% contribution and wondering why the progress bar barely moves.
• Going over the max bet on a big feature or a "just one spin" moment.
• Forgetting the deadline. Set a reminder for a day or two before it ends.
• Taking a bonus you don't need. If you only want a few spins with $20, a bonus with heavy wagering can lock up your money for days.
• Opening extra accounts to claim the same offer twice. That breaks the terms at essentially every casino and can get winnings voided.

When skipping the bonus is the smarter move

A bonus isn't always a gift. Skip it if you mostly play table games or live dealer, if you like to cash out wins quickly, if the terms are unclear, if the multiple is high and applies to deposit plus bonus, or if you're playing on a tight budget. Playing with only your own money keeps things simple: no max bet, no deadline, no voided winnings. Many casinos let you decline a bonus at the cashier. If one is applied automatically and you don't want it, ask support to remove it before you play.

Bonuses at provincial sites

Provincial sites such as PlayNow and Loto-Québec run their own promotions from time to time, with their own terms. They're the authorized options in their provinces and come with provincial consumer protections. The same reading rules apply: check the multiple, the eligible games and the deadline before opting in.

Taxes

For most people in Canada, recreational gambling winnings generally aren't taxed, and that includes winnings from bonus play. If you play with crypto, though, swapping or selling the coin can be a disposal for tax purposes, so a rise in the coin's value between buying and cashing out may create a capital gain. Keep records, and talk to a tax professional if you're unsure.

Bonuses are built to keep you playing

That's not a criticism, it's just how they work. A wagering requirement is designed to keep your money in action, which is exactly the thing to watch if gambling is starting to feel less like fun. Signs it's time for a break: chasing a bonus deadline, depositing more to "unlock" rewards, or playing longer than planned. Use deposit limits and cool-off tools wherever you play. Free, confidential help is available 24/7:

• Gambling Support BC: 1-888-795-6111
• Manitoba: 1-800-463-1554
• Saskatchewan: 1-800-306-6789
• Quebec, Jeu : aide et référence: 1-800-461-0140

My take

A wagering requirement isn't good or bad on its own. It's a price tag, and the formula above lets you read it. Low multiples on the bonus only, slots at 100% and a sensible time limit can make a bonus worth taking. High multiples on deposit plus bonus, low contribution for the games you like and a tight deadline usually mean you're better off playing with your own money or picking a no-wagering reward. Take two minutes to read the terms, run the numbers, and only opt in when the deal still looks good after the math. If you want a provincially authorized option, PlayNow and Loto-Québec are the official routes where available. If you choose an offshore crypto casino like Cloudbet, go in knowing it's licensed in Curaçao, not by any province.