How to Use a Wagering Requirements Calculator

A wagering requirements calculator tells you how much you must bet before bonus winnings can be withdrawn. You only need three things: the bonus amount (and deposit, if it counts), the wagering multiplier, and the game contribution percentage. Work out the total first, and you will know whether a bonus is worth claiming.

A wagering calculation exampleA wagering calculation example1Bonus: R100Example uses bonus-only wagering.2Requirement: 30 timesR100 × 30 = R3,000 in qualifying bets.3Then check game contributionLower contribution means more play.Illustration only; the actual bonus rules apply.

Bonuses are popular with almost every player, but wagering requirements (also called playthrough or rollover) are where many people get caught out. A bonus that looks generous can hide a very large amount of betting. The good news is that the sums are simple, and a calculator does them in seconds.

Why Calculate Wagering Requirements Before You Claim?

Before you accept a bonus, it helps to know how much you need to play through before you can cash out. Put the deposit, the bonus, the multiplier and the contribution percentage into the equation and you can tell whether the offer is worth claiming at all.

A newcomer might think a R100 deposit with a 100% match is a great deal. But attractive bonus offers (welcome, match, reload, cashback, free spins and so on) often hide a very large amount of betting that must be done before you can withdraw. If you are not sure what kind of bonus you are looking at, our guide to the types of casino bonuses explains the main ones.

Calculating the Playthrough Step by Step

A good example of one such calculator lets you enter the bonus amount (or bonus plus deposit), add the wagering requirement, and set the game contribution percentage. Press calculate and read the result. If you would rather do it by hand, follow these steps.

  1. Find the wagering requirement. It is a multiplier such as 30x. Anything above 30x is generally considered high.
  2. Check what the multiplier applies to. Is it the bonus only, or the bonus plus your deposit? The Terms and Conditions will say.
  3. Multiply. Take the amount it applies to and multiply it by the wagering requirement. That is the total you must bet.
  4. Adjust for game contribution. If the game you want to play only counts for part of each bet, the real amount you need to bet goes up (see the example below).

Bonus only versus bonus plus deposit

Worked example (illustrative figures, not a real offer): you deposit R100 and receive a R100 bonus, with a 30x wagering requirement.

  • Bonus only: R100 x 30 = R3,000 in bets.
  • Bonus plus deposit: (R100 + R100) x 30 = R200 x 30 = R6,000 in bets.

The multiplier is the same in both cases, but the second version asks you to bet twice as much. This is why a lower multiplier is not always the better deal. Our 90-second wagering requirements video works through this same R100 example, including how game contribution changes your progress. Our bonus terms and conditions guide shows a longer comparison (example figures): with a R1,000 deposit and R1,000 bonus, 25x on bonus plus deposit comes to R50,000, while 35x on the bonus only comes to R35,000.

Only once you have wagered the full total can you withdraw winnings from the bonus, so always check that the number is realistic for your budget.

How Game Contribution Changes the Maths

Almost as a general rule, not all casino games contribute equally towards wagering. Some games give the player a much better chance of meeting the requirement, so casinos set their own contribution percentages. Typical ranges at online casinos in South Africa look like this:

  • Slots: 0% to 100% (almost always 100%, except for high RTP slots)
  • Baccarat: 0% to 25%
  • Blackjack: 0% to 25%
  • Hold’em poker: 10% to 50%
  • Keno: 100%
  • Scratchcards: 100%
  • Video poker: 0% to 25%

These are typical ranges only. Every casino sets its own, so check the terms of the bonus you are claiming.

Worked example (illustrative figures): a bonus needs R3,000 in bets and blackjack contributes 10%. Each R1 you bet on blackjack then counts as only R0.10 towards the requirement. To clear R3,000, you would have to bet R3,000 / 0.10 = R30,000 on blackjack. The same R3,000 on a slot that contributes 100% needs just R3,000 in bets.

Keep in mind that some slots with high RTP (97% or higher) are sometimes completely excluded from counting towards wagering. If you are unsure what RTP means, read what is RTP, and for a wider list see the highest RTP slots for South Africans.

Max Bet Limits and Time Limits

Players who claim a match bonus usually cannot place big bets to meet the requirement. The limit varies from casino to casino, but it is often low, around R75 (or the equivalent in another currency). Breaking it can void your bonus winnings.

The limit also affects your planning. Example (illustrative figures): with a R75 maximum bet, getting through R3,000 of wagering takes at least R3,000 / R75 = 40 bets.

You are also often required to meet the wagering within a set time, otherwise the bonus funds are lost for good. In some cases bonus money cannot be withdrawn at all and can only be used for extended play. That is the casino’s own policy, so read the terms before opting in. Some offers avoid this problem: see our guide to non-sticky bonuses, which work differently when it comes to wagering.

Why Do Online Casinos Enforce Wagering Requirements?

If you browse gambling forums, you will find plenty of discussion on this topic. Some players believe the rule exists to stop them cashing out easy money; others think it is simply there to get in the way.

One reason casinos give is preventing money laundering. Without playthrough, criminals could deposit illegal funds and withdraw them straight away with no restrictions. Many casinos cite playthrough in their terms as a way of complying with anti-money-laundering (AML) rules and standards.

Are There Wager-Free Bonuses?

Some casinos still offer promotions with no wagering requirements at all. They can be found if you know where to look, and they are the easiest to calculate: whatever you win is yours, subject to the other terms. Other operators have removed wager-free offers completely.

The Bottom Line

There is no magic formula for beating wagering requirements, and no way around slot machine variance. You may clear the requirement in a few spins or only after hours of play, and there is no guarantee of a profit. A calculator simply helps you judge the offer before you commit. If you are unsure whether to claim a bonus, do the maths first.

For the full list of terms to look for, from bet limits to maximum cash-out, read our bonus terms and conditions explained.

18+ only. Gamble responsibly: SA Responsible Gambling Foundation counselling line 0800 006 008 (24/7).