Online casinos aggressively market their deposit bonuses, making it seem like they are handing out free money.

The reality is that these promotional funds are heavily restricted by a mechanism called a playthrough requirement.

What Exactly is a Wagering Requirement?

A wagering requirement is a multiplier that dictates exactly how much money you must bet before you can withdraw.

A $50 bonus with a 40x playthrough means you must wager a total of $2,000 before making a withdrawal.

• Low wagering requirements (under 30x) are considered the gold standard in the industry
• Many players prefer to decline bonuses entirely to avoid dealing with these restrictions
• You must clear the playthrough before you can withdraw even your own initial deposit in most cases

Understanding Game Contributions

Casinos are smart; they know which games have the lowest house edge, and they restrict them accordingly.

Typically, video slots contribute 100%, meaning every dollar spent removes a dollar from your target.

By playing low-risk slots, you can slowly grind through the mathematical requirement and emerge with a profit.