Wagering requirements are the most commonly misunderstood part of any bonus offer in Ireland. This guide explains exactly what they mean, how to calculate the total amount you actually need to bet, and whether a given bonus is genuinely worth claiming.
What Is a Wagering Requirement?
A wagering requirement (also called a playthrough requirement) is a multiplier that tells you how many times you must bet the bonus amount before it can be withdrawn as cash. It is expressed as a number followed by “x”.
Example: You receive a €20 casino bonus with a 20x wagering requirement. You must place €400 worth of bets before any winnings from that bonus become withdrawable. The bonus funds themselves are locked until the requirement is complete.
| Bonus | Wagering requirement | Total bets needed | At €5/spin pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| €20 | 10x | €200 | 40 spins |
| €20 | 20x | €400 | 80 spins |
| €50 | 30x | €1,500 | 300 spins |
| €100 | 50x | €5,000 | 1,000 spins |
This assumes 100% game contribution. Table games reduce the effective requirement — see below.
How to Calculate What You Need to Bet
The maths is straightforward: Total wagering = Bonus amount × Wagering multiplier
Some offers apply the wagering requirement to both the deposit and the bonus. If a 100% deposit match of €50 (giving you €100 in bonus funds) carries a 20x requirement on deposit+bonus, the total is €100 × 20 = €2,000. That is very different from 20x on the bonus only (€50 × 20 = €1,000). Read which base the multiplier applies to.
Also check whether winnings generated during wagering are locked until the full requirement is met, or whether partial completion releases some funds. Some platforms lock everything; others allow incremental withdrawal.
Games That Count (and Don't Count)
Contribution rates determine how much each bet actually counts toward the wagering total. Slots almost always count 100%. Everything else is usually reduced:
- Slots: 100% contribution (most platforms)
- Live casino (blackjack, baccarat): 10% or 0%
- Standard blackjack/roulette: 10–20%
- Video poker: 10% or excluded
- Sports betting: Usually 100% if permitted, but many casino bonuses exclude sports entirely
If you plan to use a casino bonus on table games, recalculate: a 20x requirement on blackjack at 10% contribution becomes an effective 200x requirement. That is almost never completable without losing more than the bonus is worth.
Is the Bonus Actually Worth Taking?
Use this quick test: Bonus value ÷ Total wagering = % return
If a slot has a reported RTP of 96% and you must wager €500 to clear a €20 bonus, the expected loss during wagering is €500 × 4% = €20 — exactly equal to the bonus. Expected net value: zero. Any RTP below 96% and that bonus costs you money on average.
Bonuses that are worth taking: RTP above 97%, wagering requirement below 15x, full slots contribution, and a reasonable time limit (7+ days). Bonuses with 35x+ requirements on slots with 94% RTP are designed to never pay out in real terms.
Welcome offer for new customers. Min odds and T&Cs apply. 18+. No guaranteed wins — this is a betting offer, not a cash equivalent.
See Current Offer →Frequently Asked Questions
A wagering requirement is a multiplier applied to bonus funds. A €20 bonus with a 10x requirement means you must bet €200 in total before any winnings from that bonus can be withdrawn.
Standard SNR free bets do not carry wagering requirements — winnings are yours to withdraw straight away. Deposit match bonuses in the betting section sometimes carry a 3–5x requirement. Always check the specific offer terms.
Slots typically count 100%. Table games (blackjack, roulette) usually count 10–20% or are excluded entirely. Live casino games often count 10% or zero. The low contribution from table games makes the effective wagering requirement much higher than the headline figure.