What Are Wagering Requirements – What does Wager Mean?
Wagering Requirements – This is a term that you will no doubt have come across when playing at an online casino. Usually used in the context of taking a casino bonus from the online casino you play at.
Whether it be a new player bonus, a particular promotion being run or a bonus as part of the casino’s loyalty programme.
Wagering Requirements are tied with these bonuses, as part of your acceptance of said bonus or comp. So what does wager actually mean then and how does it affect your casino play?
In layman terms a wagering requirement on a bonus is the total amount you are required to bet at the casino in order to be able to withdraw from the casino. Also bear in mind that many online casinos issue Phantom Bonuses.
Casinos Don’t Give Away Something for Nothing
Casinos do not give away something for nothing, after all it would not make business sense to give away bonuses, that you could then just cash out and withdraw, without even placing a bet at the casino of your choice.
No, pretty much all bonuses awarded to players, even those at the highest level of VIP status have a playthrough or wagering requirement attached to them. In most, but not all and this is why you need to read the Terms and Conditions prior to accepting a bonus, the wagering required is 35 x the value of the bonus received.
Also you need to ensure you read the Terms and Conditions to see if there are any restrictions on what games are excluded from counting towards meeting the wagering requirement of a bonus. For instance you will find many casino table games such as Blackjack not counting.
On the flip side though, if you are primarily a slots player, then you are in luck as the vast majority if not all the online slots available at a casino to play, are deemed ok and count towards the wagering requirement of any bonus accepted.
How to Wager When Accepting A Bonus
Ok, so pretty straightforward then, you know how to wager and meet the wager requirement of any bonus you accept when playing at an online casino. Not so fast! Many online casinos and we have seen this multiple times with player complaints, operate a maximum wagering level upon providing a bonus.
Basically, this means the casino will enforce a maximum bet level when players are trying to meet the playthrough to make their winnings cashable. Now this maximum bet level can be quite small ie a couple of pounds or dollars per bet.
Also another thing to look out for is when casinos state ‘Unnatural Betting Patterns’ or the old ‘Spirit of the Bonus’ when refusing to honour a withdrawal. Basically again in layman terms, if you change and vary the amount of your bet size, then you could come unstuck.
The way I play, when I start betting at £1 or £2 a spin, then racking it right up if I have a lucky hit, whereby I have bet £20+ spin before, would fall foul of certain casino’s policies.
So again, make sure you read those terms and conditions fully before accepting a bonus. Also use google and stick to the recommended casinos here on OCR, to ensure you won’t hit the buffers, should you meet the wagering requirement and go to withdraw.
I hope the above is of use to you. Any questions just join our Facebook Page and ask away.
