Wagering requirement: what it means

Wagering requirement: the definition

The Gambling Commission's glossary for operators (opens in a new tab) defines a wagering requirement as any requirement that a consumer must make wagers totalling a particular value for funds to become withdrawable. In plain English: bonus money comes with a stake target, and until you hit it, the bonus and anything won with it stay locked.

It's the most important line in most bonus terms, because it decides what a bonus is really worth. Related entries in our glossary include deposit match, welcome bonus and its opposite, no wagering.

How a wagering requirement works, step by step

Here's the general pattern for a deposit match bonus. The details, including which games count, come from each offer's own terms.

1. You opt in and make a qualifying deposit, for example £50.
2. The operator adds the bonus, say £50 for a 100% match, to a separate bonus balance.
3. The terms set the multiple, for example 10x, so the target is £50 × 10 = £500 of stakes.
4. Bets on eligible games count towards the target; restricted games may count for less or not at all.
5. When £500 has been staked within the time limit, any remaining bonus balance becomes withdrawable cash.
6. If the time runs out or the bonus balance reaches zero first, the bonus and its winnings are lost.

Table games, blackjack, roulette and live casino are often excluded or count for less, so check the terms before playing them with a bonus. Our guide to how wagering works in casino apps covers mixed balances and game rules in more detail.

What a wagering requirement costs you

Wagering isn't just a hurdle; it has a price. Every pound staked carries the game's house edge, so the expected cost of clearing a bonus is the total wagering multiplied by the edge. On a slot at 96% RTP the edge is 4%.

The last row shows why the cap matters: under a 50x requirement, the expected cost of wagering is bigger than the bonus itself. These are averages; real sessions vary, and a bonus balance can run out before the target is reached.

Two worked examples from partner offers

Casumo's welcome offer (18+, new customers, opt-in, terms apply) is a 50% bonus up to £100 on a first deposit of at least £20. A £200 deposit earns the full £100 bonus, which must be wagered 10x, so £1,000 of stakes within 7 days, with a maximum of £5 per bet while the bonus is active. At a 4% edge the expected cost of that wagering is £40. Details are on the Casumo welcome bonus page.

10bet's casino welcome bonus (18+, new UK customers, terms apply) is a 100% match up to £25, chosen at sign-up with a first deposit within 7 days. The £25 bonus must be wagered 10x on slots, £250 in total, within 3 days; maximum bonus winnings are £1,000, and Skrill and Neteller deposits are excluded. Expected cost at 4%: £10. See the 10bet welcome bonus page.

Your rights when a bonus has wagering

The Commission's guidance on withdrawing your deposit (opens in a new tab) sets clear lines that protect you:

• You can withdraw your deposit balance at any time, even while a bonus is active.
• You can't be made to meet wagering requirements before withdrawing your own money.
• Deposit and bonus balances must be shown separately, not as one pot.
• Operators may require wagering on bonus winnings, but only within the 10x cap.

Withdrawing your deposit may mean giving up the bonus, so read the terms. If a bonus is removed and you don't know why, our answer on why a bonus was removed explains what an operator must tell you.

Bonuses come with conditions, and the house edge still applies while you wager. Never deposit more than you'd planned just to reach a bonus threshold.

Related terms

• Wagering cap: the UK rule limiting wagering to 10x the bonus.
• Free spins: spin offers, which may or may not carry wagering on winnings.
• Minimum deposit: the smallest deposit that qualifies for an offer.
• House edge: the cost built into every wagered bet.

Partner casino apps with no-wagering spins

The three offers featured here avoid the issue: winnings from their free spins carry no wagering. They are still conditional offers, all 18+ for new customers with terms applying, and spins are for slots only.

• Coral: 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Make a deposit (some methods don't qualify, including PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, prepaid cards and certain debit cards) and bet £10 or more on slots for 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games. Accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings.
• Ladbrokes: deposit and spend £10 or more on slots to receive 50 free spins every day for 10 days, up to 500, at 10p each on selected games. Claim each day by 23:59 and use within 7 days; no wagering.
• PlayOJO: new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) get 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each with a first deposit of £10 or more. No wagering, winnings paid in cash; not combinable and only through the designated offer link.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain), so you may not be able to open new accounts at both. Compare more on our no wagering casino apps list.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.