A bonus is rarely free money. Wagering requirements decide how much you have to stake before you can withdraw, and they’re worth understanding first.
Key points
- A wagering requirement is the amount you must stake before bonus money, or winnings from it, can be withdrawn.
- Since January 2026, wagering requirements for bonuses offered in Great Britain are capped at 10 times the bonus.
- Games often count towards wagering at different rates, and some may not count at all.
- Maximum bet rules, time limits and withdrawal caps can matter as much as the multiplier.
- Since January 2026, operators in Great Britain can’t offer promotions that require you to gamble on more than one product, such as betting and casino.
Casino bonuses look generous, but most come with wagering requirements: rules about how much you must stake before you can withdraw bonus money or winnings made with it.
How wagering works
If a £10 bonus has a 10x wagering requirement, you’d need to stake £100 in total before the bonus and any winnings from it can be withdrawn.
| Bonus | Wagering requirement | Total stakes needed |
|---|---|---|
| £10 | 10x | £100 |
| £20 | 10x | £200 |
| £50 | 10x | £500 |
Every pound staked is exposed to the house edge, so the more you have to stake, the more of the bonus you can expect to lose on average. Our guide to the house edge explains why.
The 10x cap in Great Britain
Since 19 January 2026, the Gambling Commission has capped wagering requirements on bonuses offered to customers in Great Britain at 10 times the bonus amount. Before that, much higher multiples were common.
At the same time, the Commission banned “mixed product” promotions, which required you to gamble on more than one type of product, such as placing a sports bet to unlock casino spins.
Note
A lower multiple doesn’t make a bonus free. You still have to stake many times the bonus, and you can lose your own money along the way.
Other terms to check
- Game contributions: slots might count 100% towards wagering while table games count less, or nothing.
- Maximum bet: a limit on the stake per spin or hand while a bonus is active. Breaking it can void the bonus.
- Time limits: wagering must often be completed within a set number of days.
- Withdrawal caps: some offers limit how much you can win from a bonus.
- Excluded payment methods: some deposits may not qualify.
Decide whether it’s worth it
Ask yourself whether you’d have staked that much anyway. If a bonus would push you to gamble more, longer or more often than you planned, it isn’t good value. Our guides to free spins terms and reading bonus terms cover the rest of the small print.
Questions answered
Does the 10x cap apply to the bonus or the bonus plus deposit?
The Gambling Commission’s cap is set by reference to the bonus. Always read how a specific offer calculates wagering, as terms must explain it clearly.
Can I withdraw my own deposit while a bonus is active?
Your own deposit should not be locked away by bonus terms. If terms seem to prevent this, ask the operator to explain, and consider declining the bonus.
Is it better to decline a bonus?
Often, yes. Playing without a bonus means no wagering requirements or bonus restrictions. A bonus that encourages you to stake more than planned isn’t good value.
Do wagering requirements apply to free spins?
Winnings from free spins may be paid as bonus funds with wagering requirements, or as cash. The offer’s terms must say which.
18+ only. This guide is general information for adults in Great Britain, not encouragement to gamble. Gambling involves risk; only gamble with money you can afford to lose. For free, confidential support, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.