Wagering (often WR in the terms) is the multiplier that says how many times the bonus amount has to be played through before the money from the bonus becomes withdrawable. It is the most important number in any offer — more important than the percentage on the banner.
An example with real numbers
A 100 USDT bonus with 30× wagering means 3,000 USDT of turnover. At an average stake of one USDT that is about 3,000 spins, and at 96% RTP the statistical cost of that turnover is roughly 120 USDT. In other words: the average player pays more for the wagering than the bonus gives them — the gain comes from variance, not from the maths. You can do the same calculation for any offer.
Three things to check in the small print
- Does the multiplier apply to the bonus or to the bonus + deposit? "30× (D+B)" is in fact twice as harsh a requirement as "30× on the bonus". - Game weighting. Slots usually fill the wagering in full, live tables and low-variance games often only with a fraction — or not at all. - Max bet and the deadline. While a bonus is active a stake cap applies, and exceeding it voids both the bonus and the winnings from it. The deadline decides whether the requirement is feasible at all.
Rule of thumb
Up to 30× on the bonus is a fair term, 40× and above is marketing. On a no-deposit offer a higher multiplier is understandable, because the money came from the house — there, look instead at the win cap and at whether volatility even allows the requirement to be met. If one of the three numbers (multiplier, max bet, deadline) is hidden or missing, that is the first warning. We state these terms separately at every casino; the withdrawal speed depends on the network — see the payments page.