If you read the terms of almost any casino bonus, you will see a wagering requirement. It is the single most important condition to understand before claiming an offer, because it decides how much you must stake before bonus winnings become withdrawable. This guide explains what wagering requirements are, how to work them out, and the related terms that can catch people out.
On this page
- What is a wagering requirement?
- How to calculate it
- Game weighting
- Maximum stake while wagering
- Maximum conversion or win cap
- Expiry
- Order of funds and early withdrawal
- UK regulatory changes
- Do real UK offers have wagering requirements?
- Quick checklist
- Is a bonus worth it?
- Staying in control
- Frequently asked questions
18+ only. Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. If it stops being fun, stop. BeGambleAware.org
In short: a wagering requirement is the number of times you must stake a bonus, or the winnings from free spins, before you can withdraw it. A £10 bonus with 10x wagering means £100 of bets first. Since 19 January 2026, UK-licensed operators can’t set a requirement above 10x.
| Wagering multiple | On a £10 bonus | On £5 of free spin winnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1x | £10 of bets | £5 of bets |
| 5x | £50 of bets | £25 of bets |
| 10x (the UK maximum) | £100 of bets | £50 of bets |
Arithmetic only, not an offer.
What is a wagering requirement?
A wagering requirement (sometimes called a playthrough requirement) is the total amount you must stake before you can withdraw money linked to a bonus. It is usually expressed as a multiple, written like “x” followed by a number, and applies to one of:
- the bonus amount; or
- winnings from free spins.
Which of these applies makes a large difference to how much you must stake, so always check the wording.
How to calculate it
The basic formula is:
Amount the requirement applies to × wagering multiple = total amount you must stake
Hypothetical example
The figures below are purely illustrative to show the arithmetic. They are not an offer from any casino.
Imagine a bonus of £10 with a wagering requirement of 10 times the bonus – the highest multiple UK-licensed operators are currently allowed to set. You would need to place £100 of bets (£10 × 10) using eligible games before the bonus balance could be withdrawn.
Staking £100 or £200 does not mean losing that amount – the same money is often staked repeatedly as it is won and lost. But every bet carries the house edge, so the more you must stake, the more likely it is that the balance will run down before the requirement is met.
Game weighting
Not every game counts fully towards wagering. Casinos assign each game type a contribution percentage. For example, if a game contributes 50%, every £1 you stake counts as 50p towards your requirement. Some games may contribute nothing at all, or be excluded entirely while a bonus is active. Contribution rates vary by casino, so check the bonus terms or game list.
Maximum stake while wagering
Many casinos set a maximum bet size while a bonus is active. If you exceed it, even once, the casino may remove the bonus and any winnings. This rule exists to stop large bets being used to complete wagering quickly. The limit should be listed in the significant terms.
Maximum conversion or win cap
Some bonuses limit the amount of bonus winnings you can convert into cash. Anything above the cap is removed when you complete wagering. This is common with free spins and no deposit offers.
Expiry
Both the bonus and the time allowed to complete wagering usually have deadlines. If you do not finish in time, the bonus and associated winnings are typically forfeited. Short deadlines combined with high requirements can encourage longer or more intense play – a reason to be cautious.
Order of funds and early withdrawal
Check whether your cash balance or bonus balance is used first, and what happens if you request a withdrawal before completing wagering. Bonus terms must be clear, transparent and fair (Gambling Commission, LCCP SR Code 5.1.1). Read what the terms say about withdrawing during an active bonus. Some casinos cancel the bonus if you withdraw, which may be the right choice if you want to stop.
UK regulatory changes
Since 19 January 2026, licensed operators must not set a wagering requirement of more than 10 times on bonus funds. Our guide to the 10x wagering cap covers what the rule does and doesn’t apply to. They also must not include more than one type of gambling product (betting, casino, bingo or lottery) in a single promotion. (Source: Gambling Commission, LCCP SR Code 5.1.1, in force 19 January 2026.) The Commission notes, for example, that a £10 bonus with 50 times wagering would have meant staking £500 – the kind of offer this cap now rules out. Operators’ published terms must comply with these rules, but always read them yourself.
Do real UK offers have wagering requirements?
Many don’t. Of four welcome offers we checked on the operators’ own pages on 21 October 2026, none mentioned a wagering requirement on winnings. The other conditions still matter:
| Offer | Wagering on winnings | Other conditions to note |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Bet sports welcome offer (3 × £10 free bets) | None in the offer terms | Free bets are non-withdrawable, the stake isn’t returned, and they expire 30 days after crediting |
| Midnite sports welcome offer (£30 in free bets, code BETGET30) | None stated | Rewards are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after crediting; the free stake isn’t returned |
| Midnite casino welcome offer (100 × 10p spins on Big Bass Splash, code BETGETCASINO) | None stated on the offer page | Deposit £20 and stake £20 on eligible games within 14 days; spins expire 7 days after crediting |
| Stakemate casino welcome offer (50 × 10p spins on Big Bass Blast) | None: Stakemate says spin winnings are paid as cash | Only for selected new customers who see it in the app; deposit and stake £10 on slots within 3 days of registering; Revolut deposits excluded |
18+. New customers only. These are the significant terms as published by each bookmaker on 21 October 2026; the full terms are on the bookmaker’s site and can change, so read them before you opt in. BeGambleAware.org
Where a bonus does carry wagering, the multiple and what it applies to must be in the terms. Our current betting bonuses page puts the key terms of each sports offer side by side.
Quick checklist
Before accepting a bonus, find:
- the wagering multiple and what it applies to;
- game weighting and excluded games;
- the maximum stake while wagering;
- any maximum win or conversion cap;
- the expiry period;
- what happens if you withdraw early.
If you cannot find any of these quickly, consider not taking the bonus. Our casino bonuses guide explains the different offer types.
Is a bonus worth it?
That depends on you. A bonus with wagering is not free money, and meeting the requirement means staking more than you otherwise might. If you would prefer to play with your own budget and withdraw freely, you can usually decline the bonus. Never treat a bonus as a way to make money – the house edge applies throughout.
Staying in control
Wagering requirements can create pressure to keep playing to “finish” a bonus. If you find yourself doing this, stop – forfeiting a bonus is better than spending more than you planned. Use deposit limits and reality checks, and get free, confidential support from GamCare if gambling is causing you concern. See our responsible gambling page.
Frequently asked questions
Do wagering requirements apply to free spins?
Often, yes – to winnings from the spins, if they are paid as bonus funds.
Can I cancel a bonus?
Usually. Check the terms or contact support; you may forfeit bonus funds and related winnings.
Do wagering requirements apply to sports free bets?
Most sports free bets work differently, with the stake not returned. See how free bets work.
Is a lower wagering requirement always better?
Generally it means less staking, but also consider game weighting, maximum stake, win caps and expiry.
What does 10x wagering mean? You must stake the bonus amount ten times before it, or anything won with it, can be withdrawn. A £20 bonus with 10x wagering means £200 of bets. Ten times is also the most a UK-licensed operator can ask for since 19 January 2026.
Do sports free bets have wagering requirements? Usually not. The Sky Bet and Midnite sports welcome terms we read, for example, don’t mention any wagering on free bet winnings. The catch is different: the free bet stake isn’t returned with your winnings.
Affiliate disclosure: onlinebetfree.co.uk may receive a commission if you open an account through links on this page. This does not affect the offers we list or how we describe them, and it never changes the terms an operator gives you.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. For free, confidential support visit BeGambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (England and Scotland) or 0808 2819 265 (Wales).