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When you claim a welcome bonus or deposit match bonus at an online casino, it often comes with wagering requirements. This is the number of times you need to bet the bonus amount (sometimes including your deposit too) before you can cash out any winnings. Understanding how wagering requirements work—and how they interact with things like Return to Player (RTP) percentages—is key to getting the best value out of your bonus.

Lower wagering requirements are always better. For example:

A 10x wagering requirement on a £100 bonus means you need to wager £1,000.
A 20x requirement would require £2,000 in bets.
A 35x requirement would mean wagering £3,500 before withdrawing.

As you can see, the higher the wagering, the longer and tougher it becomes to actually clear the bonus profitably. Many top casinos now offer bonuses with lower requirements (10x–20x) on smaller promotions like free spins, giving players a better shot at seeing real returns.

Another factor to consider is the RTP of the games you play. Slots with high RTPs (like 96–97%) are far better for clearing wagering than volatile games with RTPs closer to 90%. The higher the RTP, the more of your money you theoretically retain during the clearing process, giving you a better chance to complete the wagering without busting your bankroll. For example, clearing a 35x requirement on a 96% RTP slot is significantly more achievable than trying to do so on a 91% RTP game.

In short: if you want to maximise your bonus value, aim for bonuses with lower wagering requirements, stick to high RTP games while clearing, and always read the terms carefully before you start spinning.

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A Look at Wagering Requirements: How They Really Affect Your Casino Bonus