A casino bonus is only as good as its wagering requirement. That little "35x" decides whether your bonus is real money or a number you'll never touch. This is how to read it properly.
What "wagering" actually means
A wagering requirement is how many times you must bet the bonus (and sometimes the deposit) before you can withdraw any winnings from it.
If you claim a €100 bonus with 35x wagering on the bonus, you must place €3,500 in bets before cashing out. That doesn't mean losing €3,500 — it means the total amount staked must reach that figure as you play.
Bonus-only vs. deposit + bonus
This is the term that matters most:
- 35x (bonus) on a €100 bonus = €3,500 to wager.
- 35x (deposit + bonus) on a €100 deposit and €100 bonus = €7,000 to wager.
Same headline number, double the grind. Always check which one applies.
Game weighting changes everything
Not every game contributes equally. A typical weighting table looks like this:
| Game type | Contribution to wagering |
|---|---|
| Slots | 100% |
| Roulette | 10–20% |
| Blackjack | 5–10% |
| Live dealer | Often 0% |
Bet €10 on a slot and €10 counts. Bet €10 on blackjack and as little as €0.50 counts. A "low wagering" bonus you can only clear on slots may be worse than a higher one with friendlier weighting.
The terms that quietly kill a bonus
- Max cashout: caps what you can withdraw from bonus winnings (e.g. 5x the bonus). A great-looking offer with a tight cap is a trap.
- Max bet: stake above the limit (often €5) and you can void the whole bonus.
- Expiry: seven days to clear a high requirement is often impossible by design.
The 30-second value check
- Find the wagering number and whether it's bonus-only.
- Confirm slots count 100% and check the max cashout.
- Multiply it out. If the wagering would take longer than the expiry allows at sensible stakes, the bonus isn't worth claiming.
Run that check every time and you'll never be surprised by a locked balance again. When you're ready, our toplist ranks casinos partly on exactly how fair these terms are.