Heather Arranie 
Wagering requirements, also known as playthrough requirements, refer to the conditions attached to casino bonuses that players need to fulfill before they can withdraw any winnings generated from the bonus funds. These requirements continue getting stricter by the year, making it considerably difficult for players to actually benefit from the lucrative bonuses dangled in front of them.
Steady Rise of Wagering Requirements
In 2015, wagering requirements on bonuses available at MyStake Casino and other legitimate sites ranged between 20x to 40x the bonus amount. A 100% match bonus of $200 with 30x wagering, for instance, meant players had to wager a total of $6,000 before cashing out. This was relatively reasonable for most players back then.
But with online gambling getting intensely competitive, things took a drastic turn by 2025. Today, it’s impossible to find wagering requirements lower than 45x at reputable online casinos and sports betting sites. 50x, 60x and even 70x bonus rollover conditions have become the norm.
For the same $200 bonus amount, you’re now looking at over $10,000 in bets at the average 50x playthrough.
And it only gets worse the higher the requirement.
| Year | Standard Wagering Requirements | Explanation |
| 2015 | 20x – 40x | Lower requirements made it easier for players to cash out their bonus winnings. |
| 2020 | 30x – 50x | Increasing requirements due to growing competition among online casinos. |
| 2025 | 45x – 70x | Reflects more complex bonuses and stricter conditions to limit frequent cashouts. |
Factors Driving the Surge
Operators continue slapping insane rollover terms on their bonuses to mitigate risks for various reasons:
Huge Bonuses
Competition has led to operators offering extremely generous opening bonuses like $5,000 across the first 3 deposits. Naturally, they have to safeguard themselves from big losses with monstrous playthrough demands.
Game Volatility
Players are increasingly using bonuses on high-variance slots and games like video poker. These games can turn small bankrolls into mammoth balances with a bit of luck. Stringent wagering limits payout variance.
Bonus Abuse
With each passing year, operators get smarter at recognizing professional bonus hunters who only sign up to casinos to profit from incentives. Sky-high demands deter such abuse.
Regardless of the rationale, the crux of the matter is bonuses are getting tougher to clear. Players need to tread carefully before grabbing any offer blindly.
Analyzing Key Factors
You must consider multiple key factors while assessing the viability of a casino bonus in 2025:
- Wagering Requirement. As a thumb rule, anything above 60x is going to be an uphill task to clear. Bonuses below 50x are rare but worth the effort. Analyze your bankroll and playing budget before accepting any bonus.
- Qualifying Games. Generally, slots contribute 100% towards playthrough as they have the highest house edge. Table games and video poker have significantly lower contributions between 5% to 20% only. The limited options make completing wagering tougher.
- Betting Restrictions. Most operators cap the maximum bet amount when playing with an active bonus. This is generally $5 per round or spin. With 60x wagering on a $1000 bonus, you would need to place 12,000 bets of $5 each. The number of spins required is astronomical.
- Time Duration. You usually have between 7 and 90 days to meet the rollover demands. While 90 days seem sufficient, completing 10x requirements within a week is next to impossible. Assess your playing habits before signing up.
Smart Betting Habits
Even if you accept a bonus after proper analysis, there is no guarantee you will complete wagering. Depending on pure luck is never a wise strategy. Implement smart betting habits to tilt probabilities in your favor:
- Bet small & slow
- Pick games with 96%+ RTP
- Play at peak hours for big wins
- Quit when ahead to secure profits
Bottom Line
Sky-high wagering and confusing terms make modern-day casino bonuses tough to clear. The same applies to sports betting and poker bonuses too. You must analyze the playthrough demands along with other key factors before accepting any offer.
At the end of the day, bonuses are supposed to be fun little incentives. If clearing one seems like an arduous task, it defeats the purpose. Don’t get swayed by the shiny promotion numbers. Read between the lines to determine if the offer is worth your time and effort after all.
