Since the starting days of the online casino gambling; the casinos had a tough time dealing with the bonus abusers. Initially the welcome bonuses were offered to any new player, as an incentive for making them play at their casinos. They were given free cash upon successful registration. This increased in the number of players opening fraudulent accounts, taking the welcome bonus and jumping ship. This was not limited to welcome bonuses. Even the match bonuses, where the casinos matched the first three deposits of the players, were also abused. To overcome the financial loss that they faced, the casinos put a condition called the wagering / play through requirement. Wagering Requirement or play through requirement is used by the casinos to protect the bonus amount which they give away. You will find this information displayed in any of the casinos, bonus policy or the terms and conditions page. Usually it is a number with an X, e.g. 30x. It means that you have to play using the bonus amount multiplied by that many times; before you can withdraw any of the cash. This condition is common across all the games, but mostly the slot games are in the news; because of their high visibility and popularity.
Example on Wagering Requirement
You get a deposit bonus of 10 pounds as free money. The wagering / play through requirement is 30 times the bonus amount. So you have to play with a deposit amount of 300 pounds (i.e.10×30), before you are allowed to make a withdrawal to your bank account.
The wagering requirement also comes into play when you are offered deposit bonuses, which can be either cashable or non cashable.
Cashable means that the amount which was won can be withdrawn after meeting the wagering requirement. While the non cashable amount means the winnings cannot be withdrawn. This deposit amount is deducted from your winnings, and the rest of it is subjected to the wagering requirement.
Wagering restrictions
The wagering requirement or play through requirement is present to protect the financial interests of the casinos. There are some wagering restrictions which must be kept in mind when playing at the casinos. Some of the casinos set a limit on the amount which can be wagered before you can meet the wagering / play through requirement. It can be a set value or a percentage of the bonus amount.
This restriction has a time period within which the wagering requirement should be met otherwise, the player could not withdraw the amount.
Online Casino Games and the wagering requirements
There is a connection between the type of game that you play and the wagering requirement that is associated with it.
Games such as slots, scratch cards, Keno and other instant games, usually have a wagering requirement of 15 – 40 times the bonus amount. All these games have a quick gameplay, so you can satisfy the play-through requirement faster. Since they are much easier to bet and play on, these games have a higher wagering requirement. Casino games such as Baccarat, Mobile Blackjack and other poker games usually have no wagering requirement. But again, it all depends on the casinos and their bonus policies.
Closing thought
Before you start your online gambling experience, it is important that you understand the wagering / play through requirements. It is mentioned in the terms and conditions page of the casino website. If it is not available, you can always contact the customer support who will explain to you how it works. Your profile/account information will also provide this information.
Any online mobile casino which does not provide this information can be considered as a rogue casino and should not be trusted.
