A casino bonus that promises to double your deposit sounds generous until you read the wagering requirement. Wagering, also called playthrough or rollover, is the amount you must bet before bonus money and any winnings from it can be withdrawn. A 100 percent bonus up to 100 units with a 35 times wagering requirement does not mean you play through 100 units once. Depending on the terms, you may need to wager 35 times the bonus alone, or 35 times the deposit plus the bonus combined, which nearly doubles the total. That single distinction changes the deal completely.

The calculation itself is simple once you know which version applies. If wagering applies to the bonus only, multiply the bonus amount by the requirement: 100 units times 35 equals 3,500 units of total bets before withdrawal. If it applies to deposit plus bonus, the maths is 200 times 35, or 7,000 units. Now factor in the house edge. On a game with a 4 percent edge, 3,500 units of wagering carries an expected cost of about 140 units, which is more than the 100-unit bonus itself. That is why so many bonuses are worse than they look: the expected cost of completing them can exceed the value of the bonus.

Game contribution percentages change the picture further. Not every bet counts equally toward wagering. Slots usually count 100 percent, while table games, live dealer games, and crypto originals often count far less, sometimes 10 percent, 5 percent, or zero. If dice counts only 5 percent, then a 3,500-unit target requires 70,000 units of dice bets, not 3,500. Always check the contribution table in the bonus terms before you start, and choose games that actually move the requirement forward if clearing the bonus is your goal.

Maximum bet limits are another term that catches players out. Many bonuses cap the stake you can place while wagering is active, often at a small fixed amount per spin or hand. Exceeding that cap, even once and even accidentally, can void the bonus and any winnings attached to it. The same applies to restricted games: some high-RTP titles are excluded from bonus play entirely, and playing them can cancel the offer. Read the excluded-games list before you open a game, not after you hit a win on it.

Time limits matter too. Most bonuses must be cleared within a set window, commonly 7 to 30 days. If the requirement is large and your usual stakes are small, the window may be unrealistic, and the bonus will expire with its winnings. A smaller bonus with a lower requirement and a longer window is often worth more in practice than a headline-grabbing bonus you cannot finish. Work backwards from your normal session size: if you typically wager 200 units a week, a 3,500-unit requirement needs more than four months, so a 30-day bonus is not a realistic fit.

There are also bonuses designed to be fairer. No-wagering bonuses, rakeback, and cashback deals return a fixed percentage of your play with no playthrough attached, which makes their value easy to calculate. Ten percent rakeback on 1,000 units of wagers is 100 units back, with no strings. Free spins without wagering work the same way: winnings are real money immediately. When comparing offers, ignore the headline amount and compare the expected value after wagering, contribution, and time limits. The smaller, cleaner offer usually wins.

A quick checklist before claiming any bonus will save most headaches. First, is wagering on the bonus only or deposit plus bonus? Second, what is the multiplier, and what total wagering does that imply in your currency? Third, which games count fully, and are your favourite games excluded? Fourth, what is the maximum bet during wagering, and how long do you have? Fifth, is there a maximum win cap on bonus winnings? If any answer is missing from the terms page, ask support before depositing, and keep the reply.

Bonuses are not free money, but they are not always a trap either. A low-requirement offer on games you already play can genuinely extend your session. The difference between a good bonus and a bad one is never the size of the headline number. It is the wagering maths, the contribution rules, and the time you realistically have to complete them. Run those numbers first, and you will know within a minute whether an offer deserves your deposit or your skip.