Wagering requirements, also referred to as playthrough conditions, are an integral part of most online casino bonuses. Simply put, they dictate how much you need to gamble before you can withdraw Just Casino bonus funds as real cash. At first glance they may seem harmless but wagering demands can heavily diminish the value of a bonus.
On the surface, wagering stipulations are implemented to prevent bonus abuse. Without them, players could simply cash out free money as soon as they get it. However the extent of playthroughs today clearly favors the house. Some carry ludicrous 50x or even 100x demands, requiring you to wage a multiple of your bonus dozens of times over before cashing out.
Let’s examine precisely how wagering works, its effects on bonuses and tips to reduce its impact.
The Multiplier Effect: Calculating Wagering Requirements
Wagering demands are represented by a multiplier number attached to a bonus. For example, a 100% deposit match up to $200 with 10x wagering means:
- You deposit $200 and receive another $200 in bonus credit
- You must wage a combined $2,000 — 10 times the $200 bonus amount — to convert bonus money into cash
| Bonus Amount | Wagering Multiplier | Total Required Wager |
| $200 | 10x | $2,000 |
In effect, the more you must wager compared to the bonus itself, the more difficult it becomes to cash out winnings.
Consequences: How Playthroughs Eat Your Profits
Since wagering must be met before withdrawing, your bonus funds are locked up until you complete the playthrough. Any winnings from the bonus are also unavailable for withdrawal.
For example, let’s return to the $200 bonus above. You wage $1,000 and luck into $300 in winnings. But until you wage the remaining $1,000 and meet the $2,000 playthrough, that $300 remains locked up.
Now imagine you continue wagering and suffer a few losses, busting your original $200 bonus amount. Even if you already won $300 that money evaporates if the bonus is lost before completing wagering.
This highlights the central issue. Wagering not only restricts bonus funds but also any associated winnings. So while a bonus may provide short-term gambling bankroll, outsized playthroughs make cashing out profits unlikely.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
If wagering is unavoidable, a few tips can help overcome the inherent house edgeю
- Select bonuses with the lowest viable playthrough – Compare multiple offers and calculate the total required wager you’ll have to make. Target bonuses nearer to 5x or 10x over 50x.
- Focus on high RTP slots – Games with a 96% or greater RTP theoretically return more money to players over time, boosting your chance to wage enough to cashout. Volatility also plays a role.
- Bet small & pace wagering – Placing large bets may seem logical to finish playthrough faster. But losing your balance quicker makes cashing out unlikely. Take your time and gradually wage.
- Avoid side games – Every casino game has a built-in house edge working against you. Side games like blackjack and roulette generally have higher margins than slots. Stick to RTP-friendly slots while clearing wagering.
In the end, restraint and smart bankroll management are key to overcoming high wagering demands. The math is ultimately stacked against you, so approach bonus play carefully.
In Conclusion
While wagering requirements are nothing new at online casinos, their severity continues to increase. For the players, it leads to situations where big wins vanish if playthrough conditions are not met in time.
Ultimately the online gaming sector would benefit tremendously if regulated to limit extreme bonus demands. But until then, your best recourse as a player is to read the fine print, compare offers and gamble cautiously with bonuses hampered by difficult playthrough clauses.
