A 40x wagering requirement on a 1 BTC bonus means you must wager 40 BTC in qualifying game play before the bonus — and any winnings from it — can be withdrawn. Lower multipliers are not automatically better: always check which games count, and whether the requirement applies to the deposit, the bonus, or both.
What actually counts toward wagering
Not every bet contributes equally. Slots typically count 100% of the stake toward the requirement; table games like blackjack and roulette often count far less — sometimes as low as 10-20% — because their house edge is lower and easier to profit from consistently. Live dealer games and jackpot slots are frequently excluded entirely. Always check the game-contribution table in the bonus terms before choosing what to play through it.
Bonus-only vs deposit-plus-bonus wagering
A “bonus wagering” requirement applies the multiplier only to the bonus amount — a 1 BTC bonus at 40x means wagering 40 BTC total. A “deposit-plus-bonus” requirement applies it to both combined, which is a meaningfully larger real number for the same headline multiplier. The two are easy to confuse, and operators don’t always make the distinction obvious in the headline offer.
Time limits and max cashout
Most bonuses expire — commonly 7 to 30 days — and many cap the maximum amount you can withdraw from bonus winnings regardless of how much you actually won, even after clearing the wagering requirement in full. A max cashout cap is one of the more consequential terms to check before opting in, since it puts a ceiling on the upside no matter how well you play.
A worked example
Say you deposit 0.5 BTC and get a 100% match, for a 0.5 BTC bonus with 35x wagering applied to the bonus only. You need to wager 0.5 × 35 = 17.5 BTC in qualifying play before the bonus and its winnings become withdrawable. If the max cashout cap is 2 BTC, that’s the most you’ll ever get back from that bonus, no matter how much you win along the way.
Red flags worth checking before opting in
- The wagering requirement applies to deposit + bonus rather than bonus only, without that being stated clearly upfront
- Table games and live dealer games are excluded, if that’s what you actually play
- A max cashout cap far below what a lucky run could realistically produce
- A short expiry window that doesn’t leave realistic time to clear it
See our operator scoring guide for how we factor all of this into a bonus score rather than just quoting the headline percentage.
FAQ
Is a lower wagering multiplier always the better deal?
Not necessarily — check whether it applies to deposit plus bonus (a bigger real number) and which games count. A 20x deposit-plus-bonus requirement can mean wagering more than a 40x bonus-only one.
Can I withdraw my deposit while a wagering requirement is still active?
Usually not without forfeiting the bonus and any winnings tied to it — check the specific operator’s terms, since policies vary.
What happens if I don’t clear the wagering requirement before it expires?
The bonus and any winnings from it are typically forfeited, and your original deposit balance is unaffected.