When playing at UK crypto casinos, you will encounter the term wagering requirements whenever you accept a bonus. This is a crucial concept to understand, as it determines how a bonus is converted from “bonus money” into real, withdrawable cash. While uk crypto casino are known for offering much larger bonuses than traditional ones, these offers are still subject to specific terms and conditions.
What is a Wagering Requirement?
A wagering requirement, also known as a playthrough or rollover, is a multiplier that represents the number of times you must bet the bonus amount (and sometimes the deposit amount as well) before you can cash out any winnings associated with it.
For example, a 100% matched deposit bonus up to 1 BTC with a 40x wagering requirement means:
- If you deposit 0.1 BTC, the casino gives you an additional 0.1 BTC in bonus funds.
- To unlock your bonus and any winnings from it, you must place bets totaling 40 times the bonus amount.
- Calculation: . You would need to wager a total of 4 BTC to clear the bonus.
This system is in place to protect the casino from “bonus abuse,” where a player would simply take the free money and withdraw it without playing any games.
Factors That Influence Wagering
Several factors can affect how a wagering requirement is cleared, so it’s important to read the bonus terms and conditions carefully.
- Game Contributions: Not all games contribute equally to the wagering requirement. Slots, which have a low house edge and are played quickly, almost always count 100%. However, table games like Blackjack and Roulette or live dealer games often contribute much less, sometimes as little as 10% or even 0%, due to their higher Return to Player (RTP) and lower house edge.
- Time Limits: Most bonuses come with a time limit within which you must fulfill the wagering requirements. This can range from a few days to several weeks. If you don’t meet the requirements within this period, the bonus and any winnings from it will be forfeited.
- Bonus vs. Real Funds: The bonus terms will specify whether the wagering requirement applies to just the bonus amount or to both the deposit and the bonus. A bonus that applies to both is harder to clear. For example, a 40x bonus-plus-deposit requirement would be in the example above.
The Advantage of Crypto Wagering
While the concept of wagering requirements is universal in online gambling, crypto casinos often provide more favorable conditions.
- Lower Rollover: The best crypto casinos tend to have lower wagering requirements than their traditional counterparts.
- Wager-Free Offers: Some of the most valuable crypto casino bonuses are wager-free altogether. Offers such as a certain percentage of weekly cashback on losses or rakeback (a percentage of every wager returned to you) often come with no rollover requirements, meaning the funds are yours to keep or withdraw instantly.
- Higher Caps: Crypto casino bonuses often come with much higher (or even unlimited) withdrawal caps once the wagering requirements are met, allowing you to cash out your full winnings.
