Bonus Guides · 6 min read
Casino Bonuses Explained: Wagering, Caps & Real Value
A 200% bonus isn't automatically better than a 100% one — the terms decide everything. Here's how to read a welcome package and calculate what it's actually worth before you deposit.
01Wagering requirements are the whole game
When a casino offers '100% up to $500 with 35x wagering', that 35x means you must stake the bonus amount thirty-five times before winnings become withdrawable. A $500 bonus at 35x requires $17,500 in total bets. At a typical slot RTP of 96%, expected losses over that volume are around $700 — more than the bonus itself.
The practical rule: below 20x is generous, 20–35x is standard, above 40x usually isn't worth planning around. Watch whether wagering applies to the bonus only (better) or deposit plus bonus (roughly double the burden).
02Game weighting changes the math
Slots usually contribute 100% toward wagering, but table games often count 10–20% and live dealer sometimes zero. If you're a blackjack player, a slots-weighted bonus may be effectively unusable — check the contribution table before you claim, not after.
03Caps, expiry and max bets
Three quiet terms sink more bonuses than wagering does: maximum cashout caps (common on no-deposit offers — winning $2,000 from a capped bonus may pay out $100), expiry windows (7-day windows on 35x wagering force volume you may not want), and max-bet rules while a bonus is active (betting above, often $5, can void everything).
04How to judge real value
Multiply the wagering volume by the house edge of the games you'll actually play, subtract that from the bonus amount, and respect the caps. If the number is positive and the terms fit how you naturally play, claim it. If a bonus only makes sense by changing how you play, skip it — the offers on our bonuses page are screened with exactly this lens.