Wagering in Bonuses: How to Calculate It and Avoid Mistakes

Wagering (also called playthrough) is the number that decides whether a bonus can be turned into withdrawable cash. Players usually lose money not because the maths is “hard”, but because they calculate the wrong base, ignore game contribution, or break a single rule like maximum bet. This guide explains how wagering is counted in 2025 terms and how to check your own numbers before you accept an offer.

Start with the base amount and the wagering formula

The first step is to identify what the casino uses as the wagering base. Common options in 2025 are: “bonus only”, “deposit + bonus”, or “bonus after conversion” (for free spins that turn into bonus funds). If you calculate using the wrong base, every later step is wrong, even if your multiplier is correct.

Once the base is clear, the core formula is simple: required turnover = base amount × wagering multiplier. Example: a £50 bonus with 35× wagering on the bonus only means £50 × 35 = £1,750 turnover. If it’s 35× on deposit + bonus and you deposited £50 to receive £50, the base becomes £100 and the turnover becomes £3,500.

Be careful with “up to” wording and tiered multipliers. Some offers apply different wagering to different parts (for example, deposit at 10× and bonus at 35×), or they cap the bonus that counts. In those cases, calculate each component separately and add them together, rather than forcing everything into one multiplier.

Worked examples: bonus-only, deposit+bonus, and free spins conversion

Bonus-only example: deposit £20, get £20 bonus, wagering 40× bonus. Turnover target is £20 × 40 = £800. If the casino shows progress as a percentage, you can sanity-check it: after £400 of valid bets, you should be around 50% complete (before considering contribution rules).

Deposit+bonus example: deposit £50, get £50, wagering 30× deposit+bonus. Base is £100, turnover target is £100 × 30 = £3,000. Players often assume it is £50 × 30, which is off by £1,500 and can change whether the offer is realistic for their bankroll.

Free spins example: 50 free spins, winnings convert to £12 bonus funds, wagering 25× on converted winnings. The base is £12, not “50 spins”. Turnover target is £12 × 25 = £300, and the timer typically starts at conversion, not at claiming the spins.

Game contribution, excluded play, and why your tracker may “lag”

Not every bet counts equally. Many casinos apply contribution rates by game type, meaning only a percentage of stakes counts towards wagering. A common pattern is slots at 100%, some live games at 10–20%, and certain table games at 0%. If you bet £10 on a game with 20% contribution, only £2 is credited to wagering progress.

Excluded play is separate from contribution and is where people get caught out. Some bets simply do not count at all, often including specific roulette bet types, low-risk patterns, or particular game providers. When a casino says “excluded games”, your actual turnover may be rising, while your wagering progress stays flat, because the system is ignoring those stakes completely.

Progress displays can also lag because casinos often credit wagering after the round is settled, not when the bet is placed, and some providers report in batches. This is normal, but it becomes a problem if you keep betting on the assumption you are “nearly done”. A safer habit is to keep your own rough tracker using the contribution rate and compare it to the account display.

How to calculate contribution correctly (and avoid the classic 100% assumption)

Use a simple adjusted formula: credited turnover = stake × contribution rate. If you need £1,000 credited turnover and you play a game at 50% contribution, you must stake about £2,000 to generate £1,000 credit. This is why “I wagered the full amount and nothing happened” is often a contribution issue, not a bug.

Mixed play example: you need £800 credited turnover. You stake £300 on slots (100%) and £500 on blackjack (20%). Credited turnover is £300 × 1.0 + £500 × 0.2 = £300 + £100 = £400. You are only halfway there, even though you staked £800 in total.

Practical rule: if you cannot find a clear contribution table, treat anything that is not a standard slot as “low or zero” until proven otherwise. That single assumption prevents most accidental shortfalls, especially with live games where contribution is frequently restricted in bonus terms.

Max bet rules, time limits, and the conditions that void the bonus

Maximum bet is one of the most enforced bonus rules in 2025 because it is easy to automate. If the terms say “max stake £5 per spin/round”, a single £6 spin can be enough to void winnings or cancel the bonus. Some casinos apply it as “per bet”, others as “total round stake” (including side bets), so you must read the wording carefully.

Time limits matter just as much as the multiplier. A 40× requirement might be manageable over 14 days but unrealistic over 24 hours, especially if contribution rates reduce your credited turnover. Always convert the requirement into an average daily target (for instance, £2,800 credited turnover over 7 days is £400 per day) and decide if that is realistic for your budget and time.

Other common deal-breakers include: using restricted payment methods, playing while verification is incomplete when the terms require KYC first, switching to excluded games mid-way, or attempting a withdrawal before wagering is finished. None of these are “hidden tricks” if you know where to look, but they often sit in the fine print.

A quick pre-claim checklist to reduce costly errors

Check the base and multiplier first, then write down the turnover target in pounds. If the casino shows wagering as “x/target”, match it to your calculation. If it shows only a percentage, compute what 10% and 50% should look like in pounds so you can spot mismatches early.

Confirm three rules before you place the first bet: max stake, game contribution, and excluded games. If any table game contribution is below 100%, decide upfront whether you will avoid them entirely during wagering. That removes the temptation to “just do a few hands” that barely move the progress bar.

Finally, plan for variance. Even with perfect maths, short sessions on high-volatility slots can swing your balance hard. If your turnover target is large compared to your bankroll, reduce stake size and accept that completion may take longer, rather than chasing a faster finish and risking rule breaches or bankroll collapse.