Casino bonuses
For every offer we publish the wagering in dollars, the deadline, the maximum stake allowed while wagering and which games count towards it. A $200 bonus at 50x is worse than a $50 bonus at 10x, and the banner will never tell you that.
Reading a bonus properly
Four numbers decide whether an offer is any good, and the headline figure is not one of them.
1. Wagering. A 35x requirement means you must stake 35 times the bonus before the winnings become withdrawable. Check whether it multiplies the bonus alone or deposit plus bonus.
$100 bonus at 35x on bonus = $3,500 to stake. The same 35x on deposit and bonus (with a $100 deposit) = $7,000 to stake. Identical headline, double the work.
2. The deadline. Usually 7 to 30 days. Miss it and the bonus and everything won from it are removed. A high requirement inside a short window is a requirement designed not to be met.
3. Maximum stake while wagering. Typically $2 to $5 a spin. One larger spin voids the whole bonus, and operators check retrospectively before they pay out.
4. Game weighting. How much of each $1 staked counts:
Game type | Typical weighting | Note |
|---|---|---|
Slots | 100% | jackpot slots often excluded |
Roulette | 10–20% | sometimes excluded entirely |
Blackjack | 5–10% | often excluded on low-margin variants |
Video poker | 5–10% | |
Live casino | 0–10% | commonly excluded from welcome offers |
Working out which offer is really better
Offer A | Offer B | |
|---|---|---|
Bonus | $200 | $50 |
Wagering | 50x on bonus | 10x on bonus |
Turnover required | $10,000 | $500 |
Deadline | 14 days | 30 days |
Max stake while wagering | $2 | $5 |
Minimum spins at max stake | 5,000 | 100 |
Offer A looks four times more generous and asks for twenty times the turnover in half the time. On a slot with 96% RTP, $10,000 of turnover carries an expected loss of about $400. Double the bonus you were given.
A quick test: divide the bonus by the turnover required. Offer A scores 0.02. Offer B scores 0.10. Higher is better.
The types of offer
- Welcome bonus. The largest headline and the strictest terms. Tied to a first deposit, sometimes split across two or three.
- No deposit bonus. Credit or free spins simply for registering. Amounts are small and the maximum you can withdraw from them is usually capped between $20 and $100. Still the cleanest way to test a site.
- Free spins. Tied to a named slot at a fixed spin value, usually $0.10 to $0.50. A hundred spins at ten cents is $10 of value, not a hundred dollars.
- Cashback. A percentage of losses returned, normally weekly. Often carries no wagering or very low wagering, which makes it one of the more honest offers on the market.
- Reload bonus. A smaller repeat offer on later deposits.
- Loyalty scheme. Points converted into credit. Worth something to a regular player; never a good reason to choose a casino.
Terms worth reading twice
- Maximum withdrawal from a no deposit bonus
- usually lower than players assume.
- Excluded payment methods
- at some sites depositing by e-wallet forfeits the offer.
- Minimum qualifying deposit.
- Which balance is spent first
- real money or bonus. "Real money first" gives you a chance to withdraw winnings without touching the bonus at all.
- Currency conversion
- an offer written in another currency is converted at the operator's rate, and the wagering is calculated on the converted figure.
- One offer per household or IP address
- this catches housemates and couples.
When to turn a bonus down
A bonus is optional, and refusing one is sometimes the right move:
- you intend to play table games weighted at 10% or excluded;
- you want to deposit, play and withdraw quickly: a bonus locks withdrawals until the wagering is cleared;
- your normal stake is above the cap allowed while wagering;
- you cannot realistically hit the turnover inside the deadline.
Most sites let you decline at the deposit screen. Where you have to ask support instead, we say so in the review.
Frequently asked questions
What does 40x wagering mean?
Your stakes must total forty times the bonus, or forty times deposit plus bonus, depending on the terms. Before bonus winnings can be withdrawn.
Can you actually withdraw a no deposit bonus?
Yes, after clearing the wagering and up to the maximum withdrawal cap, typically $20 to $100.
Why was my bonus removed?
Usually an over-limit stake while wagering, a missed deadline, or play on an excluded game. Save the terms on the day you claim: operators change them, and the version that binds you is the one in force when the bonus was credited.
Are free spins really free?
The spins are. Winnings from them nearly always carry wagering and a withdrawal cap.
Do bonus rules differ by country?
The maths does not, the law does. Some regulators cap wagering, force plain-language terms or ban bonuses aimed at people who have self-excluded. Where you live decides which of those protect you, and the country editions say so.