Wagering requirements explained: what 40x really costs
Wagering is the price of a casino bonus. You don't pay it in cash; you pay it in house edge, on every bet you place to unlock the bonus. Once you see the maths, most bonuses look very different.
How wagering works
A wagering requirement says how much you must bet before a bonus turns into money you can withdraw. It's written as a multiple: 40x on a $100 bonus means $4,000 of bets. The bets don't vanish, as you win some back, but every bet pays the game's house edge on average. That house edge, multiplied across all the betting, is the real cost of the bonus.
Expected cost = bonus × wagering × house edge
Example: $100 × 40 × 4% (a 96% RTP slot) = $160. You'd expect to lose $160 to unlock $100.
Bonus only, or deposit plus bonus?
Read which balance the wagering applies to. "40x the bonus" on a $100 bonus is $4,000 of betting. "40x deposit plus bonus" on a $100 deposit and $100 bonus is $8,000, which doubles the cost. It's the single most important line in any bonus terms.
What a $100 bonus costs to clear
| Wagering | Total to bet | 99% RTP | 97% RTP | 96% RTP | 94% RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10x | $1,000 | $10 | $30 | $40 | $60 |
| 20x | $2,000 | $20 | $60 | $80 | $120 |
| 30x | $3,000 | $30 | $90 | $120 | $180 |
| 40x | $4,000 | $40 | $120 | $160 | $240 |
| 50x | $5,000 | $50 | $150 | $200 | $300 |
Green: clearing costs less than the bonus on average. Red: it costs more. Averages only; any single session can swing either way.
That's why the RTP you clear on matters as much as the wagering itself. And it's why casinos give low weighting to high-RTP games like blackjack: they'd make the bonus too cheap to clear.
The rules that void bonuses
- Max bet. A cap on your stake while the bonus is active, often $5 or a percentage of your deposit. One bet over it can void the lot.
- Time limit. Usually 7 to 30 days. Miss it and the bonus goes.
- Game weighting. Some games count less or nothing, and some casinos charge higher wagering on certain games. Cybet, for example, runs 40x on standard slots but 400x on its own Originals.
- Max cashout. A cap on what you can win from the bonus. Anything above it is removed when you withdraw.
- Withdrawing early. Cashing out before the wagering is done often cancels the bonus.
When a bonus is still worth taking
If you were going to bet that much anyway and you enjoy the extra playtime, a bonus can be a fine deal: you're paying the house edge either way, and the bonus gives you a bigger balance to do it with. It's a bad deal when it pushes you to bet more than you planned, or locks up your deposit when you'd rather withdraw.
See every welcome offer priced out on the best crypto casino bonuses page, with a calculator for your own deposit, or skip wagering entirely with no-wagering casinos.
Wagering questions
What does 40x wagering mean?
You must place bets worth 40 times the bonus before you can withdraw it. A $100 bonus means $4,000 of bets. If the wagering applies to deposit plus bonus, a $100 deposit with a $100 bonus means $8,000.
What is a good wagering requirement?
Lower is better, and the break-even point depends on the game. On a 96% RTP slot, any wagering above 25x costs more than the bonus is worth on average. Most crypto casino bonuses sit at 30x to 40x, which is why the honest answer is that they rarely pay on expected value.
Do all games count towards wagering?
No. Slots usually count 100%. Table games, live casino and in-house games often count less or nothing, and some casinos set higher wagering for certain games. Check the game weighting in the bonus terms before you play.
What happens if I don’t finish the wagering in time?
The bonus, and usually any winnings from it, is removed. Most crypto casinos give 7 to 30 days. A short deadline pushes you to bet bigger, which is exactly when max bet rules catch people out.
Can I lose my deposit because of a bonus?
You can lose it playing, as always. But breaking a bonus rule, such as the max bet or playing an excluded game, can also void the bonus and its winnings. Some casinos lock your deposit until the wagering is done, so read the terms first.