What a wagering requirement actually means
A wagering requirement — also called a playthrough requirement — is the number of times you need to bet an amount before any winnings from it become withdrawable. It's written as a multiplier: 30x, 45x, 200x.
Casinos use it because giving away unconditional cash isn't sustainable. Without it, anyone could claim a bonus and withdraw instantly. The requirement gives the casino enough betting volume to make the bonus economically viable — but the multiplier size determines whether that's a fair trade or a near-impossible bar.
What counts as a good wagering requirement
| Range | Verdict | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25x | Low — genuinely good | Achievable with normal play |
| 25x – 40x | Standard | A common range at crypto casinos, clearable with enough play |
| 40x – 60x | High | Possible but requires sustained, deliberate play |
| Above 60x | Very high | Treat as entertainment value, not realistic bonus cash |
Not every game counts the same toward the requirement. Slots usually contribute 100% of what you wager. Table games and live dealer titles often contribute only 10-25%. Betting $1,000 on blackjack might only clear $100-250 of your wagering requirement — check this before choosing what to play while clearing a bonus.
Why some crypto casinos use much higher multipliers
Casinos offering large headline bonuses or jackpot-style spin packages often attach steep wagering requirements to offset the cost. A "$1 deposit for 40 jackpot spins" offer with 200x wagering is structured around jackpot exposure, not bonus cash — the math only makes sense if you treat it as a long-shot prize entry, not a clearable bonus.
Smaller offers with lower multipliers are easier to clear in practice. The multiplier tells you more about an offer than the size of the headline number.
A worked example: what clearing a bonus actually costs
Say you claim a $100 bonus with a 35x requirement. That is $3,500 of bets. At $1 a spin it is 3,500 spins, which is hours of play. Now the part most pages skip: every bet has a house edge. On a slot with a 96% return to player, the casino keeps about 4% of what you wager on average, so $3,500 of play costs you roughly $140 in expected losses. That is more than the $100 bonus.
It doesn't make the bonus pointless, because the average hides a lot of variance and some people do clear and cash out. It does mean the bonus is closer to an entertainment budget than free money, and it is why a lower multiplier matters more than a bigger headline.
How to use this calculator before claiming any bonus
- Find the exact wagering multiplier in the casino's bonus terms — not the marketing page
- Run your expected or actual win through the calculator above
- Treat anything over about 50x as a prize draw rather than a bonus
- Check which games count toward wagering and at what rate before you start playing it off