Arghh do wagering requirements literally need to ruin every casino bonus we opt in for? As much of a bane of every gambler’s existence, they’re a necessary evil. Plus, they’re not all that bad if you have a trusty reference site listing top operators. This Casino Shortlist vetted casino list is a perfect example that not only gives visitors a fantastic selection, but also answers frequently asked questions relating to bonuses, RTPs, banking options and so much more!
Most of the time we’re attracted to fabulous bonus offers at online casinos, but do we really take the time to read the fine print? Of course, if you’ve played at an online casino before then you’re already aware you’re unable to withdraw those bonus funds – and wagering is specifically why. But what exactly does it mean and is it possible to turn any of those casino bonuses into actual cash? Here’s what we’ve found out so far.
What Is Wagering?
Casino wagering refers to the number of times you’re required to bet your bonus before any of your wins can be converted into real money. Casinos will also sometimes refer to wagering requirements as turnover or playthrough, but they all mean the same thing.
For the sake of this article, let’s say that you’ve chosen to sign up to a new casino and accept their welcome bonus. Here, you’re awarded a bonus fund that you’re able to use to play your favorite games in real money mode.
The first thing you’re going to want to check is whether wagering requirements apply only to your bonus or also include your deposit. This would make a significant difference so make sure you’ve got that covered first.
Wagering Put into Practice
Let’s assume however that the casino you chose applies wagering requirements to your bonus only, and that you’ve made a $10 deposit to qualify for the bonus.
Here you receive a match bonus which means that you’ve got $10 with a x40 wagering requirement, and $10 with no wagering requirements involved. This means that in order to convert the bonus you’re going to need to bet more than $400 on the reels (10 x 40) before you’re able to convert that bonus into withdrawable cash, while for the second $10 you’re free to walk away with any winnings right away, as long as they cover the minimum withdrawal requirement for your casino.
Wagering Seems Unfair
So how realistic are casino bonuses really? The answer to this is pretty simple. Mostly because online casinos are businesses that want to remain profitable, and giving away free money isn’t generally compatible with this. That’s where the marketing department steps in to package things differently, offering seemingly attractive bonus offers to new players.
The biggest advantage of this type of bonus is that it will allow you to browse through the casino’s game selection and play a number of games without effectively using any of your original deposit just as yet. Apart from that, there’s also the chance of fulfilling those requirements and walking away with any wins that could potentially come later. The best way is to think of your bonus as something you never had to begin with. If you happen to make a little extra cash that’s great, if not, you’ve still got to enjoy a bunch of games you might have not considered playing otherwise, with essentially nothing to lose. Now that we’ve got that covered, you’re going to want to learn about wagering contributions next.
What Are These Contributions You Speak Of?
Wagering contributions are often overlooked, but now you know that this something you’re always going to want to be aware of. Several players have been frustratingly disappointed to find out that all their efforts spent on one game did not contribute as much as others, so the requirement had still been not met.
If you want to play it safe, slots will mostly always contribute 100% towards the gaming requirements, however there might be certain games that are excluded from promotional offers, and these will be listed in the casino’s bonus terms and conditions.
Typically, slots will contribute 100%, table games around 20%, while live casino games will contribute around 5% – 10% towards your wagering. Having said so, all casinos are built differently and these are things you’re going to want to look out for when you skim through the T&Cs.
Final Thoughts
So, on the one hand it would make no financial sense for a company to dish out free money to its clients, but on the other, online casinos are consistently getting bigger and better with their bonuses that its difficult to commit to a single platform – do you also see how wagering requirements are a necessary evil in this scenario?
Once we’ve got that out of the way, not fulfilling your wagering requirement would simply mean that bonus funds are eventually spent through your account without having been offered the option of converting them into real money. But you still got to enjoy your favorite games for free while playing in real money mode. If you’re really keen on trying to beat this however, look for bonuses that include lower wagering requirements or higher game contributions, which should statistically give you a better chance.
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