Online casino wager
Casino Wagering Deciphered: Meanings, Differences, and Online Requirements
Visit any online casino and you will find an array of great bonus offers. Whether those bonuses involve bonus spins, matched deposits or something else entirely, they will almost all have casino wagering requirements attached to them.
To complete your bonus, you need to meet the specified casino wagering requirements. It is always wise to read the terms and conditions of a bonus before claiming it, as this is where you will find details of the wagering requirements. If you need any more guidance on casino wagering, you’ll find it here.
Understanding wagering requirements: Definitions
1. What does wagering mean in a casino?
A wager is the amount of money you place on the outcome of a casino game. Essentially there is no difference between betting and wagering, except that wagering is usually used when discussing casinos, whilst betting is the preferred term at sportsbooks.
Casino wagering can be on the outcome of a roulette wheel, a hand in a game of cards or a spin on a slot game. Wagering can also refer to the cumulative amount of wagers you place on a game or during a casino session.
2. What are online casino wagering requirements?
Whenever you claim a bonus offer at an online casino, you will inevitably see that there are wagering requirements attached to the promotion. Simply put, this is the amount of wagering you need to do in order to complete the offer. In other words:
Total Wagering to complete an offer = Bonus Amount x Wagering Requirement
For example, a casino bonus gives you $10, but has a wagering requirement of x10. That means you have to wager $100 in order to complete the offer. Alternatively, you may have a bonus that gives you 20 bonus spins to use on a certain slot game. In these cases, the casino wagering is on the amount you win from the bonus spins.
You will find plenty of variations in how wagering works. Here are the main differences to look out for:
Ideally, you want to complete your wagering on your favorite games. However, a lot of promotions stipulate that you have to wager your bonus funds on a specified game or games. Any wagers placed on ineligible games will be taken from your cash balance, but not contribute towards your wagering requirement.
Although a bonus may allow you to use any game for your casino wagering, you may find that the wagering contribution varies between games. Typically, games with a high Return to Player rate (RTP), such as roulette and blackjack, contribute less towards your wagering. For instance, if a game contributes 50% towards wagering, you will need to wager double the amount compared to wagering on a game that contributes 100% towards wagering.
If you have claimed a bonus, you will have two separate balances in your casino account - a cash balance and a bonus balance. Some offers use your cash bonus before your bonus balance, others do the opposite, and some sites take a percentage of both balances every time you wager.
The implications of wagering requirements
The bottom line is that you cannot withdraw your full bonus winnings until you have completed your casino wagering requirements. Calculating and tracking the amount you have to wager can sometimes be a bit tricky. Many online casinos allow you to view your wagering progress on your account page. However, this is not always the case.
Fortunately, there are online calculators available that work out how much you need to bet to complete a bonus offer. To use these calculators you just need to input your bonus amount and wagering amount, plus any additional details such as game contributions and how the bonus is released. If you have any doubts regarding the amount you need to wager, always use these online calculators to put your mind at ease.
Navigating wagering requirements: Three expert tips
Navigating your casino wagering is often a tough task, so to help you out, I have put together three essential tips:
Read the terms and conditions
Fully understanding the casino terms and conditions of a bonus is essential. When reading the T&Cs of a promotion, you should pay particular attention to the following:
- Wagering amount
- Eligible games
- Wagering contributions
- Expiry date
- How the bonus is released
Once you have established which games are eligible and contribute 100% towards your casino wagering, you need to decide which specific titles to play. The first parameter you need to look at is RTP. This tells you the percentage of your stake you should expect to receive back on average, if you play a game over a long period. Games with an RTP of over 96% are generally considered attractive.
Variance is the other key parameter you need to look at when deciding which games to play. Low variance games track their RTP fairly closely, meaning you are unlikely to land any huge wins, but you are also unlikely to experience significant losing runs. On the other hand, high variance games give you the chance of big wins, but can lead to long losing streaks. In short, a high RTP game with low variance gives you the best chance of success.
Make sure you regularly track your casino wagering progress. Doing this will help you formulate the best strategy for completing the offer. For example, If you are 80% (or more) towards meeting your wagering requirements and still have a healthy bonus balance, it is prudent to use minimum stake amounts. This approach will reduce your variance and help preserve a significant percentage of your bonus balance.
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Avoid the pitfalls of wagering requirements: What not to do
There are a few pitfalls you need to avoid when casino wagering. Here are a few of the most common:
1. Excessive wagering requirements
If an offer has excessive wagering requirements it can be virtually impossible to complete. Let’s say a promotion gives you $50 in bonus funds and has a wagering requirement of x70 that needs to be completed within seven days.
In reality, this means you have to wager $3,500 in seven days. The overwhelming likelihood is that you will lose your bonus funds long before you complete your wagering. This is especially problematic if the casino in question takes your cash balance before your bonus balance. Always thoroughly assess the attractiveness of an offer before you claim it.
2. Untrustworthy casinos
Not all online casinos can be trusted. Claiming a bonus from an untrustworthy brand can cause significant issues, including loss of funds and compromised financial data. You will often find that these casinos have a complicated verification and withdrawal process that makes it impossible for you to successfully complete a bonus. To avoid these untrustworthy sites, make sure you check out my guide to blacklisted casinos.
3. Wasting bonus funds
It can be tempting to deviate from your usual gambling strategies when playing with bonus funds. After all, even if you lose your entire bonus balance, you’ve not lost any real money, so why not throw caution to the wind?
Unfortunately, that approach will almost certainly end in wasted bonus funds. Your best chance of success involves sticking to your usual gambling strategies and following the tips I have outlined above.
Alternative casino bonuses
Not all casino offers involve wagering requirements. Here are a couple of alternative promotions you may encounter:
- No wagering bonus - Occasionally an online casino may reward you with a bonus that does not require any wagering. This may be bonus spins on a selected slot game or it may even be a cash bonus that has no wagering attached to it.
- Cashbacks - A cashback offer refunds a percentage of the losses you incur over a specified amount of time. So if the offer gives you 50% cashback and you rack up a loss of $30 during the promotion, you will receive a refund of $15. Sometimes this refund is issued as cash, whereas some casinos give you bonus funds. If it is the latter, there will likely be wagering requirements you need to meet.
Casino wagering: My conclusion
Wagering requirements are part and parcel of using online casino bonuses. Therefore, it is vital that you have a comprehensive understanding of how they work. Always proceed with caution when you see a casino promotion. Carefully go through the full terms and conditions of the offer as this will enable you to make an informed decision on whether or not to accept it.
If you do conclude that a promotion provides good value, make sure you regularly track your wagering when attempting to complete the bonus and always stick to your usual casino strategies. Ultimately, your aim is to preserve (and hopefully grow!) your bonus balance whilst completing the casino wagering. Good luck!
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Casino wagering - FAQs
🎰 What does wagering mean in a casino?
A wager in a casino is the amount of money you place on the outcome of a game. It's essentially the same as betting, but the term "wagering" is commonly used in the casino context. This includes bets on roulette, card games, or slot spins. Wagering can also refer to the cumulative amount of bets placed during a casino session.
🔄 What are online casino wagering requirements?
Online casino wagering requirements are conditions attached to bonus offers. To complete the offer, you must fulfill a specified amount of wagering. The formula is simple: Total Wagering = Bonus Amount x Wagering Requirement. For instance, if you get a $10 bonus with a x10 wagering requirement, you need to wager $100 to complete the offer. Variations exist, including eligibility of games and different wagering contributions.
🤔 How can I navigate casino wagering requirements effectively?
To navigate casino wagering successfully, follow these expert tips:
- Read and understand the terms and conditions, focusing on wagering amount, eligible games, contributions, expiry date, and bonus release.
- Play games with high Return to Player (RTP) and consider variance for better chances.
- Monitor your wagering progress regularly and adjust your strategy accordingly, especially when close to completing the requirements.