A playthrough requirement is the total amount you must bet before bonus money, and anything you win with it, can be withdrawn. It is written as a multiple of the bonus: 15x on a $100 bonus means $1,500 of bets. You can check any offer with the wagering requirement calculator.
How the requirement is counted
The requirement counts turnover, the total of every bet you place, not your losses. Each $1 spin on a game that counts in full takes $1 off the requirement, whether it wins or loses. Wins you bet again count again.
That is why a $1,500 requirement does not mean losing $1,500. On a 96% RTP slot, $1,500 of betting costs about $60 on average, because most of what you bet keeps coming back as wins that you bet again. The cost is the house edge on the turnover, not the turnover itself.
A worked example, at $1 a spin on a slot that counts 100%:
| Point in the play | Spins so far | Counted toward 15x on $100 | Left to go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | 0 | $0 | $1,500 |
| After 500 spins | 500 | $500 | $1,000 |
| After 1,000 spins | 1,000 | $1,000 | $500 |
| Requirement met | 1,500 | $1,500 | $0 |
Games that count less move the counter more slowly. A game that counts 20% takes 20 cents off per $1 bet, so the same $1,500 takes $7,500 of betting. Game contribution covers why casinos weight games.
Bonus only, or deposit plus bonus
The multiple can apply to the bonus alone or to your deposit and the bonus together. On a 100% match that doubles the work.
| Offer | Applies to | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| $100 deposit, $100 bonus, 15x | Bonus only | $1,500 |
| $100 deposit, $100 bonus, 15x | Deposit plus bonus | $3,000 |
The second version also doubles the expected cost: $120 instead of $60 at 96% RTP, which is more than the $100 bonus. The terms say which basis applies. If the wording is unclear, look for a worked example in the terms: one that multiplies only the bonus by the multiple means bonus only.
What the rules require casinos to tell you
In the states that license online casinos, the regulator sets what bonus terms must contain. Three examples:
- New Jersey requires promotional terms to state the wagering requirements and limits by type of game, the order in which funds are used, the eligible games and any withdrawal restrictions, in plain language that stays available until the promotion is complete (N.J.A.C. 13:69O-1.12).
- Pennsylvania has a near-identical list and requires the terms to be posted clearly on the operator’s site for the whole promotion (58 Pa. Code § 813a.3).
- Michigan requires offers to be stated in clear and unambiguous terms, including wagering requirements by game type and the order funds are used (Mich. Admin. Code R 432.649).
So the inputs the calculator needs, the multiple, the basis and what counts, should all be written down in a licensed casino’s terms. If they are not, that is a reason to ask before you opt in.
Which money you are betting
While a requirement is open, your balance is often split into parts: cash you deposited, bonus funds, and winnings made with bonus funds. The terms set the order they are used in. One large regulated operator’s welcome terms, as published in late 2025, used the deposit tied to the bonus first, then bonus funds, then winnings from bonus funds.
That order matters. If your own deposit is used first, the early spins are your money, and the bonus only starts working once that cash is gone. If you plan to stop early, check whether you can withdraw your deposit without forfeiting the bonus, and what happens to the requirement if you do.
Expiry turns the requirement into a deadline
Every bonus has a window. In the regulated welcome terms we read, it was 7 days from opting in, and an unfinished requirement forfeited the bonus. The calculator’s time figure tells you whether the window is realistic: 1,500 spins at 10 a minute is 2 hours 30 minutes, easy to fit in a week. A $1,000 bonus at the same 15x and $1 a spin is 15,000 spins, or 25 hours of play inside the same 7 days, which is a different proposition. The bonus rules the calculator cannot see covers expiry and the other terms that can cost you the winnings.
Common questions
Do losing bets count toward a wagering requirement?
Yes. The requirement counts the amount you bet, not what you win or lose. A $1 spin that loses counts $1 toward the total, as long as the game counts in full, exactly like a $1 spin that wins.
Is a wagering requirement the same as a playthrough requirement?
Yes. Wagering requirement, playthrough, rollover and turnover requirement all describe the same thing, the total amount you must bet before bonus money becomes withdrawable.
What happens if I do not finish the playthrough in time?
The terms decide, and regulated casinos must spell this out. In the regulated welcome terms we read, an unfinished requirement meant the bonus was forfeited when the window closed. Check the expiry before you opt in.