How to beat wagering requirements

EVERY online casino player will have encountered the term wagering requirements at some point in their gaming experience, but many are still confused about what it means and how to calculate it, let alone how to ‘beat’ it. In short, wagering requirements refer to the number of times a bonus amount must be wagered before any winnings can be withdrawn. Considering the wagering requirements is essential when deciding whether a bonus is worth claiming in the first place. Although this process can be extremely frustrating, there are a number of strategies players can use to meet the requirements as quickly as possible and maintain a profit. Let’s start by clarifying why wagering requirements exist. 📖 What are wagering requirements Wagering Requirements are the irksome tactic used by casinos to manage their business risk, primarily by preventing players from being able to instantly withdraw the bonus. While the concept can be difficult to grasp, calculating how much you must wager is surprisingly straightforward: simply multiply the bonus amount by the stated wagering multiplier. It’s easiest to illustrate how this works using an example: Let’s assume you signed up to a new site and want to claim a £30 casino bonus which has 10x wagering requirements. You’d need to place at least £300 (£30 × 10) in qualifying bets before any eligible funds remaining from the bonus, including eligible winnings, can be withdrawn. The industry standard for wagering requirements used to be 35x-40x, but in January 2026, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) introduced a cap of 10x in an effort to reduce harmful gambling behaviours and improve transparency in T&Cs at online casinos. In the past, some casinos even required the deposit to be added to the bonus and the total value to be wagered, but this practice is no longer permitted for UKGC-licensed casinos. It’s vital to note that different types of games contribute differently to fulfilling wagering requirements. In most cases, betting on slots counts 100% towards completing wagering requirements, but table games like poker or blackjack often only contribute 10% or 20%. Some titles, like instant wins, don’t count at all. Each casino will have its own set of terms, so it’s really important to get to grips with them before accepting any offers. When it comes to wagering requirements, legally operating casinos in Great Britain cannot require players to wager more than 10x the bonus amount for any promotion, whether it includes a minimum deposit, free spins or neither of these. That said, promotions can still include other conditions such as expiry dates, maximum withdrawal limits, or only certain games being eligible. We’ll walk through which bonuses are actually worthwhile below. 🎁 Most common casino bonus types In the UK, there are five popular kinds of bonuses for new and existing players. Welcome deposit match: This is a standard bonus meant to entice newcomers into registering an account with the casino. The site offers to match a percentage of the player’s first deposit up to a set amount. Under the new rules, the maximum wagering requirement is 10x and the promotion is definitely worth claiming if the eligible games have a high RTP rate and the expiry window is at least 14 days. Free spins: These are typically awarded on specific slot titles and, in most cases, it is the winnings from these spins that carry the wagering requirements, which usually fall between 5x and 10x in accordance with the updated regulations. Unless the game’s RTP is higher than 95%, this offer is not worth your while. No wagering bonus: This is the best value casino offer in the current iGaming market, but scarce compared to other promotions. If you spot it, know that it’s often a superior deal, as any winnings will be yours immediately with no additional betting required. Reload bonus: This is a regularly recurring deposit match offer for a casino’s existing customers. Players should bear in mind that it’s usually less valuable than most welcome offers but can be fruitful in the long run thanks to its consistency, provided that the expiry window is not too short and, similar to those mentioned above, the eligible games have strong RTP rates. Cashback offer: This offer takes a percentage of the player’s losses, often from a 24-hour or weekly period, and returns them to the player as bonus funds. The wagering requirements tend to be much lower than those for deposit match or free spin bonuses, but the percentage on offer can be very small (3-5%). It’s best to use this as a safety net when exploring new games or higher-volatility slots. Bonus TypeTypical RequirementBest ForWorth It?Welcome Deposit Match10x New players 🟡 Yes, if the eligible games have a high RTP and the offer has a long expiry period Free Spins5x – 10xSlot enthusiasts🟡 Only if the game’s RTP is above 95%No Wagering Bonus0xEveryone🟢AlwaysReload Bonus10x Regularly active players🟡 Only worthwhile if you regularly revisit the casino and enjoy playing thereCashback3x – 5x Beginners and high-volatility slot players🟢 Yes, especially for less experienced gamers testing new titles or high-variance slots Having briefly discussed what types of bonuses to look out for, it’s time to share the best strategies for evaluating promotional offers. 👀 How to spot a good bonus before you claim it Wagering requirements, alongside other T&Cs, are usually the reason why a seemingly lucrative bonus is not worth your time. So what should players look out for before trying to claim a bonus? 1. The wagering multiplier: Wagering requirements of less than 5x are excellent. Anything between 5x and 8x is decent, while 8x–10x is the new standard per the updated guidelines from the UKGC. 2. Eligible games list: Some casinos exclude high RTP games from being eligible for wagering. Regardless of the headline figure, if a bonus forces play on unfavourable games (usually 95% or less), it is not worthwhile. 3. Expiry window: Imagine you’re claiming a £50 bonus with 10x wagering requirements; that’s £500 in wagering or 250 spins worth £2 each for a casual player. Trying to complete that in a short timespan like three days is not realistic. Never accept a bonus before comparing the maths with the timeline. 🎯 The 5 strategies that actually work 1. Always check the eligible games list first Check the published participating games list in the promotion-specific T&Cs before you even think about claiming the offer. Not every game qualifies for completing wagering, particularly highly sought-after branded slots and progressive jackpots. Choosing an excluded game means the funds you are staking won’t count towards fulfilling the wagering requirement, no matter how much you bet. 2. Choose high RTP slots and stick to them The average RTP rating for UK slot games is between 94% and 96%, so aim to play games with an RTP at that level or higher. Once you’ve selected one or two high RTP games, stay consistent by only playing those titles until you’ve unlocked the bonus. By doing so, you’re less likely to fall into the trap of loss-chasing behaviour. 3. Keep your bet size low Make sure you are always comfortable with the size of the bet you are placing and that it meets any minimum or maximum stake rules. It has become increasingly popular for casino bonuses to enforce a maximum bet size for completing wagering requirements, which is usually £5 or lower. Placing a single bet that exceeds this amount can void the bonus entirely. Smaller bets lessen the risk of overstepping your budget and extend your playtime so you can enjoy the wagering process, rather than dread it. 4. Track your progress manually Don’t rely on the casino to monitor your wagering progress, as most sites don’t offer a live wagering tracker. You don’t need any fancy equipment; a notes app works just fine. Make a note of the total wagering requirement the day you start playing and record exactly how much you bet during each session separately. In many cases, players who don’t track their wagering themselves either end up over-betting or give up just before the requirement is cleared. 5. Know when to forfeit Quitting early is not always a bad thing. If the expiry window gets too short, the eligible games are too restrictive, or you are reaching the end of your budget, it is always better to forfeit the bonus than to make unsustainable bets. In many instances, forfeiting the bonus unlocks the original deposit and any winnings earned throughout wagering, allowing them to be withdrawn. 🇬🇧 Which UK online casinos have the fairest wagering requirements? Terms and conditions, including wagering requirements, are constantly evolving. The best advice for finding casinos with sensible regulations is to carefully research them. The most valuable tool is the terms and conditions page found on any casino site. Read it carefully, looking out for low maximum withdrawal limits, wagering requirements and other bonus restrictions. Most casinos display a huge bonus figure on their homepages while hiding the link to the full T&Cs somewhere slightly more difficult to find. Rest assured that the full T&Cs should always be listed somewhere on the site. If they are not, treat it as a red flag and avoid registering at that casino. The best places to look are the promotions page or the site’s footer. After the introduction of the online casino wagering restrictions, UKGC-licensed casinos have started to prioritise transparency over competitive headlines and this trend is likely to continue. This means that instead of advertising thousands of pounds in bonuses, they will offer smaller sums in their promotions but with no wagering requirements. If you find a licensed, zero-wagering casino, it’s probably going to be worth your time. ❓ FAQ Have a look at the following FAQs for quick answers to the most popular questions about wagering requirements. 1. How can I calculate wagering requirements? You can use this formula to easily calculate wagering requirements: bonus amount x wagering multiplier. Here’s how this looks in practice: for a £50 bonus with 7x wagering requirements, you would need to bet £350 (£50 x 7) to unlock the bonus. 2. Can wagering requirements be avoided? The only way to avoid wagering requirements is to choose an offer that doesn’t include them. Always read the casino’s bonus terms and promotion-specific T&Cs before trying to claim any bonus. 3. How do wagering requirements work? Wagering requirements apply to bonus money and determine how much a player needs to spend before they can withdraw eligible winnings related to the bonus. This stops players from claiming a bonus and cashing it out without actually playing at the casino. About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk Read our guide on responsible gambling practices. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. Most read in Betting