Clearing Online Casino Bonus Playthrough Tips
Online casino bonus playthrough requirements require players to wager their deposit and bonus funds a certain number of times before any winnings can be withdrawn. Often referred to as rollover or wagering requirements, these rules usually come with detailed terms and conditions that aren’t always easy to interpret.
This guide explains how playthrough requirements work, highlights games that may help you meet them more efficiently, and breaks down the common terms and conditions that are often linked to online casino bonus wagering requirements.
All Bonuses Are Not Created Equal
There are bonuses, and then there are bonuses. Usually, the largest online casino bonuses apply to new first-time sign-ups, but some give bonuses for “reloads” as well.
Wild Casino is an excellent example of the range of bonuses available and the restrictions and codicils you need to be aware of when you sign up for a bonus.
Remember that all casino bonuses are “earned” when the player has wagered an amount (in total, not all at once) equal to a multiple of the deposit amount plus the bonus amount. For example, if you deposit $100 and are given a $200 bonus. You must wager $300 x 20 (an average multiple) to earn that bonus: that’s $6,000 in total wagering.
Be aware that you’ll see multipliers as low as 10, but 20 is the most common. And some bonuses require 45x your deposit to earn out.
Standard Bonus
Wild Casino offers a good 250% first-time sign-up bonus for the first deposit of up to $1000. On top of that, they offer additional 100% bonuses for up to four subsequent reload deposits.
Like all other online casinos, gamblers are limited to the games they can play to earn out those bonuses. Not only that, but many casinos apply different percentages for earn-outs according to the game being played.
For instance, slot machines at Wild Casino earn 100% play-through on slot machines but only 5% play-through credit for table games like blackjack and roulette. That’s better than other online casinos, which typically disallow all play-on-table games from earning a bonus. Be sure to head to Wild Casino to grab some great bonuses!
Crypto Bonus
Crypto gambling sites offer special bonuses for players who sign up with a deposit of cryptocurrency. Again, Wild Casino has a generous 300% bonus for crypto deposits up to $3000, meaning that first-time sign-ups could be working on earning a $9,000 bonus.
High Roller Bonus
Like the clubs and special treats awaiting high rollers in Vegas, many online casinos have special bonuses set aside for high rollers.
If you fit their criteria to qualify for a high-roller bonus, then you may find that the rules are different from those imposed on us poor NPCs over here playing Fa Fa Twins at 88 cents a whack.
Be wary. Bigger isn’t synonymous with better.
Bonuses for Certain Games
Online casinos have their own business plans, and like the greengrocer that just opened a fish section, an online casino may have some generous bonuses set aside to encourage play on new games. It’s just added to their platform.
Non-Cashable Bonuses
These bonuses are just what the name says: A bonus you can play with, i.e., treat as your own gambling bankroll, but you can never cash out with that bonus. You likely can’t cash out until you’ve met the play-through requirements.
Please read our detailed guide to bonus hunting at online gambling sites for more information below.
Read the Fine Print
Knowing to actually read the fine print is one of the most important casino bonus playthrough tips you could ever commit to memory. Online casinos want you to spend your gambling money with them. That’s what they’re in business to do.
Anyone who wants to know how to clear bonus wagering requirements needs to know all the rules affecting that bonus. Here are a few of the most important rules to look for when claiming bonuses at the best online casinos to play at.
Max Bet Limits
Gamblers learned early on that one answer to the question of how to clear online casino bonuses fast was simple: Wager vast amounts on a game, and the bonus practically flies into your hands.
Unfortunately, online casinos learned this strategy right about that same time. So, casinos set max limits on wagers you could make to earn out a bonus.
Expiration Dates
Bonuses not only have play-through requirements, but they also invariably have expiration dates, as well.
This makes sense because who wants to pay up on a promise made decades earlier?
Wild Casino’s generous 300% crypto bonus, for instance, is only good for 30 days after sign-up—and that’s industry standard.
Penalty for Early Withdrawal
The phrase made infamous by banks is also part and parcel of the online casino bonus rules. In fact, the penalty for even attempting an early withdrawal can mean the forfeiture of said bonus.
You’d think an innocent mistake of asking to withdraw your bankroll would be shrugged off by the casino with a simple “try again later,” but no.
Play Permitted Games That Have a Proven Strategy
Depending on the particular online casino you’re dealing with and the bonus you’ve opted into, wagering on your favorite games may not help you earn your bonus. If you need to pivot to eligible games that contribute towards your wagering requirements, strategically pick games that can extend your play and increase your total amount wagered. Here are some games to look for when reviewing your bonus T&Cs:
- Slot Machines — Slots offer the lowest RTP (return to player) in the casino, but some slots offer much better RTPs (up to 98% or even higher). Higher RTP slots have a stronger chance of extending your play.
- Roulette — Single zero (European/French) roulette has wagers giving the house only a 2.7% edge, so look for these. Remember that many online casinos disallow table games from those used to earn a bonus. Be sure that roulette is permitted before you place that first basket bet.
- Blackjack — There are specific blackjack strategies or table rules like Soft 17 that give the house a very thin edge, so make sure you understand how to play using these strategies.
- Video Poker — Depending on the pay table, video poker can give the player a slight edge—provided the play is perfect. If you’ve learned how to do that, make sure playing a ton of video poker is acceptable in terms of earning your bonus.
Play Games with the Lowest House Edge
If you want to know how to clear online casino bonuses fast, play games with a low house edge. Jacks or Better Video Poker is a good selection (provided it’s on the permitted list at your chosen casino). Video Blackjack is another good choice.
I’d mention the live version of blackjack, but online casinos often disallow earning a bonus on these games simply because they offer the casino such a thin edge.
Whether you’re trying to limit the edge the house has – or simply looking for upside – it’s good to know which casino games to turn to.
Start Clearing Your Playthrough Requirements
The best casino bonus playthrough tips include reading the fine print to learn time limits, maximum bet restrictions, and when you can withdraw your funds, among others. Not all bonuses are created equal either, as crypto and high roller bonuses have higher rollover requirements than standard welcome bonuses, for example.
By sticking to permitted games and games with a lower house edge, you can potentially clear your rollover in a short amount of time and hopefully claim some bonus money.
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