How casino bonus wagering works, step by step

A wagering requirement (also called a playthrough or turnover requirement) is the number of times a bonus must be bet before the winnings can be withdrawn. It is written as a multiplier: x20 means twenty times.

A worked example

A player receives a cash bonus of 100 with a wagering requirement of x20.

1. The turnover needed is 100 × 20 = 2,000 in bets.
2. Every bet counts toward that amount as it is placed, win or lose.
3. When 2,000 has been bet, the requirement is met and the bonus balance becomes withdrawable.
4. If the bonus expires or the player forfeits first, the progress is lost and the bonus is removed. The player's own money is not touched.

Why the multiplier matters to the operator

• It sets the real cost of a bonus. A low multiplier makes the bonus expensive; a very high one makes it a promise players learn to ignore.
• It differs by bonus type. Free spins often carry a lower multiplier than cash (in SATO the defaults are x5 and x20). Defaults per type, with a per-campaign override, keep campaigns consistent.
• x0 is a different product. A bonus without wagering is paid to the wallet at once. It should need its own permission to create, because its cost is the full nominal value.

What to check in the terms

• Whether the multiplier applies to the bonus only or to bonus plus deposit.
• Whether some games count for less or not at all toward the requirement.
• The expiry, and what happens to progress when it passes.
• Whether a maximum bet applies while wagering.

How we handle it

In SATO, wagering is explicit on every bonus, a grant is keyed by campaign and player so it happens once, and forfeiting is a defined action with an event. A campaign is previewed with audience and cost before it is confirmed. Details are on the bonus engine page.