Bonuses
Wagering Requirements, With the Arithmetic
A wagering multiple is the difference between a bonus that pays and one that is decorative. Once you can convert a multiple into a dollar cost, every offer on the site sorts itself.
- No deposit wagering
- 60x
- Counts
- Turnover, not losses
- Pokies weighting
- Usually 100%
- Tables weighting
- Reduced or nil
What the number means
A wagering requirement is a multiple of the bonus, or of winnings from it, that must be bet before anything can be withdrawn. At 60x, winnings of AU$20 require AU$1,200 in bets placed.
The critical detail is that it counts turnover, not spending. Every bet you place adds to the total whether it wins or loses. Win a spin and the money returns to your balance and can be bet again, and that second bet also counts. So the requirement is not asking you to lose AU$1,200; it is asking you to cycle AU$1,200 through the games.
That distinction is why wagering is survivable at all. It is also why the house edge is what actually determines the cost.
What a multiple costs you, in dollars
Expected cost is the turnover multiplied by the house edge. At a 96% return, the edge is 4%.
| Amount | Multiple | Turnover required | Expected cost at 4% edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU$20 bonus | 30x | AU$600 | About AU$24 |
| AU$50 bonus | 30x | AU$1,500 | About AU$60 |
| AU$200 bonus | 30x | AU$6,000 | About AU$240 |
| AU$10 winnings | 60x | AU$600 | About AU$24 |
| AU$30 winnings | 60x | AU$1,800 | About AU$72 |
| AU$100 winnings | 60x | AU$6,000 | About AU$240 |
The expected cost of clearing frequently exceeds the value of what you are trying to release. That is the whole design of a 60x requirement, and it is why no deposit bonuses are best understood as free entertainment.
Game weighting changes everything
Not every bet counts the same. Pokies normally contribute 100% of the stake toward wagering. Table games contribute far less, often 10% or 5%, and sometimes nothing at all. Video poker is usually treated the same way as tables.
The reason is the house edge. Blackjack played correctly returns around 99.5%, so clearing a bonus there would cost the operator almost nothing. Weighting it down to 10% means AU$1,000 of blackjack counts as AU$100 of wagering, which restores the economics from the operator’s side.
The practical consequence: if you intend to clear a bonus, play pokies. If you want to play blackjack, do it with cash rather than with bonus funds in the balance.
The terms that sit alongside the multiple
A wagering number on its own does not tell you whether an offer is workable. Four other terms decide that.
- Maximum bet while a bonus is active. usually a few dollars. Exceeding it can void the bonus and everything won with it, and it is enforced automatically.
- Game weighting. covered above. It can turn a 30x requirement into an effective 300x on the wrong game.
- Excluded games. some titles contribute nothing at all, and playing them with an active bonus can breach the terms.
- Expiry. bonus funds and their wagering have a validity window. Miss it and the balance goes.
- Maximum cash out. absent on the welcome offer, present on the AU$25 monthly bonus at AU$180.
- Withdrawal cancels the bonus. requesting a payout mid-wagering normally forfeits the bonus and its winnings.
When to walk away from a bonus
There is no rule that says you must clear what you claimed. If a bonus is going badly, forfeiting it and withdrawing your cash is sometimes the right decision, and support can cancel a bonus on request.
The test is straightforward. Work out the turnover still required, multiply by roughly 4%, and compare that with the bonus funds you would be giving up. If clearing costs more than the bonus is worth, the bonus has stopped being an asset.
Most players never do this calculation, which is how a AU$50 bonus ends up costing AU$200 to chase.
Frequently asked questions
- What does 60x wagering mean?
Winnings must be bet sixty times before they can be withdrawn. Win AU$20 and AU$1,200 in bets must be placed first.
- Does wagering mean I have to lose that much?
No. It counts turnover, so winning bets also contribute. The real cost is the house edge applied across the total turnover, typically around 4% on pokies.
- Do all games count the same?
No. Pokies usually contribute 100%, table games and video poker much less or nothing. Weighting is in the terms of each offer.
- Can I withdraw before finishing wagering?
Requesting a payout with wagering outstanding normally cancels the bonus and any winnings from it. Your own deposited cash is a separate matter.
- What happens if I bet more than the maximum while a bonus is active?
The bonus and its winnings can be voided. The cap is in the bonus terms and is enforced automatically.
- Where can I see how much wagering is left?
In the cashier, by clicking your balance. It shows the outstanding amount directly.