The sum, in one line
Bets you must place = amount the multiple applies to × the multiple. That amount is either the bonus alone or your deposit plus the bonus. The offer's terms say which, and it changes the answer a lot.
£50
your bonus
£500
you must bet first (10x the bonus)
£20
average cost at 96% RTP
Why a bonus has a cost
Every casino game returns slightly less than it takes in over time. A slot with 96% RTP (return to player) keeps about 4% of everything bet on it, on average. So working through £500 of wagering on that slot costs about £20 on average, before you know whether you will withdraw anything.
That average hides wide swings. You can lose your whole deposit long before the wagering is done, so set a deposit limit before you claim anything.
Try it with any offer
Wagering calculator
Wagering applies to
You need to bet
£500
About 500 bets at £1
Average cost at 96% RTP
£20
A long-run average, not a prediction
In any one session you can lose more, including your whole deposit.
The terms that change the maths
- Time limit. £500 of bets in 30 days is about £17 a day. In 7 days it is about £71 a day.
- Maximum bet. Betting above it while wagering can cancel the bonus and any winnings.
- Game weighting. If live games count 0%, none of your live bets reduce what you owe.
- Maximum win. A cap means a big win on bonus money is cut down to the cap.
- Excluded payment methods. Some offers ignore deposits made with certain e-wallets.
In the UK, 10x is the ceiling
Since 19 January 2026, operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission cannot set wagering above 10x on bonus funds, and cannot tie one product's bonus to betting on another (how the 10x cap works). Our listings hide any UK offer that breaks either rule.
See which casinos meet the cap where you are: UK casinos, Canada, US states.
Questions people ask
Is a lower wagering requirement always better?
Usually, but check the other terms too: a short time limit, a low maximum bet or a cap on winnings can make a low multiple harder to clear than it looks.
What does 'bonus only' versus 'deposit plus bonus' mean?
It is what the multiple applies to. 10x on a £50 bonus is £500 of bets. 10x on a £50 deposit plus £50 bonus is £1,000.
Do all games count towards wagering?
Rarely. Slots often count 100%, while table and live games may count 10% or nothing. A £10 blackjack bet at 10% weighting clears only £1.
What is the maximum wagering in the UK?
Since 19 January 2026, UK-licensed operators cannot apply more than 10x wagering to bonus funds.
Sources
Spotted an error? We correct within 48 hours. Editorial policy