Bonuses
Wagering requirements 101
· 5 min read
What 35× really costs, why max-bet rules matter, and how to tell a usable welcome offer from one designed never to clear.
Wagering is the number that decides whether a welcome bonus is a gift or a leash. Operators print the match percentage in lime green and bury the multiplier. If you remember one formula, remember this: you must stake the bonus (and often the deposit too) that many times before anything can be withdrawn.
Bonus only versus bonus plus deposit
A $100 bonus at 20× on the bonus alone means $2,000 of bets. The same bonus at 20× on bonus plus a $100 deposit means $4,000. That doubling is the most common trick in “100% up to” offers. Always check which base the multiplier uses.
The max-bet trap
While a bonus is active, most casinos cap each spin or bet, $5 is typical. Go over it, even once, and the operator can void the winnings. That is not a rare edge case; it is in the terms because it is enforced. If you usually bet higher, skip the bonus.
Game weighting
Slots usually count 100% toward wagering. Blackjack, roulette and many live tables count 0–10%. Clearing a 35× bonus at a blackjack table is therefore not slow, it is impossible. If the lobby highlight is live casino, a slot-weighted bonus is the wrong product.
What “good” looks like
- Wagering 20–30× on the bonus only.
- At least seven days to clear, ideally fourteen or more.
- A published max bet.
- No hidden cap that claws back wins above a few hundred dollars.
We list those four numbers on every bonus on Chipindex. If an operator will not publish them until after registration, treat the offer as advertising, not a product.
See also: casino rankings · bonus terms
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