A wagering requirement is the amount you must bet before bonus money becomes cash you can withdraw, and most players claim a bonus without ever calculating it. The formula is simple: total to wager equals the amount the multiplier applies to, times the multiplier, divided by the game's contribution. A $100 bonus at 40x wagering means $4,000 in bets. But the details — what the multiplier applies to, and which games count — can double or triple that number.

The first thing to check is the base. Some bonuses apply wagering to the bonus only: a $100 bonus at 35x means $3,500 in bets. Others apply it to the deposit plus the bonus: deposit $100, get a $100 bonus, and 35x on the combined $200 means $7,000 in bets. The same headline offer costs twice as much to clear in the second case. Free spins work differently again — wagering applies to the winnings from the spins, not the spin value. Win $8 from free spins at 35x and you need $280 in bets.

Not every bet counts in full. Slots usually count 100%, so every $1 staked is $1 toward the target. Table games count far less: blackjack at 10% means a $1 hand counts as 10 cents, so clearing a $4,000 target on blackjack takes $40,000 in bets. Some games count 0% and are excluded entirely while wagering is active. The real formula is total to wager equals (bonus or deposit plus bonus) times multiplier, divided by game contribution. Always check the contribution table in the bonus terms before you choose your game.

Here is what the numbers look like in practice. A $25 bonus at 10x on slots: $250 in bets, or 250 spins at $1. A $50 bonus at 30x on slots: $1,500 in bets. The same $50 bonus at 30x played on roulette at 10% contribution: $15,000 in bets. And a $100 bonus at 40x on blackjack at 5%: $80,000 in bets. The multiplier is only half the story — the game you play decides how long clearing takes and how much of your bankroll it eats along the way.

Two more rules catch players out. Time limits are usually 7 to 14 days from when the bonus is credited, and missing the deadline voids the bonus and any winnings. Max bet rules cap how much you can stake per spin or hand while wagering — typically $5 — and breaking the cap can void the bonus entirely. And since January 2026, UK-licensed casinos cannot set wagering above 10x, a major improvement on the old 35x and 50x terms, though the cap only applies to UK-licensed sites. Before you claim any offer, read our guide to how casino bonuses work and the full breakdown of wagering requirements explained — and check our guide to using a 1win promo code for a worked example of a real bonus offer. The rule is simple: if you cannot calculate the cost of clearing a bonus before you claim it, do not claim it.

The best bonus in 2026 is the one with no wagering at all, and these offers are becoming more common as regulators tighten the rules. A wagering-free bonus pays winnings as real cash, withdrawable immediately, which removes the entire calculation above. The UK's 10x wagering cap, in force since January 2026, has pushed operators toward lower multiples across the board, and several brands now compete on 1x or zero wagering as a selling point. When you compare offers, a smaller bonus with no wagering is almost always worth more than a bigger bonus at 40x. A $20 bonus with zero wagering is $20 of real value. A $200 bonus at 40x requires $8,000 in bets to clear, and most players will lose the bonus and part of their deposit trying. Check the terms for the words wager-free, no wagering, or keep what you win, and verify there is no hidden win cap or withdrawal minimum attached.