A Guide to Online Casino Bonuses
An in-depth guide to understanding Welcome Bonuses, Free Spins, wagering requirements, and other key terms for casino promotions.
Bonuses are a great way to get more playtime and explore new games. Offers like Welcome Bonuses and Free Spins can add significant value, but they come with important terms and conditions. This guide explains how these bonuses work to help you play with confidence.
Why These Rules Are Important
A clear understanding of how casino bonuses work helps you:
Get Maximum Value: Learn how to use bonuses effectively and convert bonus money into real cash.
Avoid Surprises: Understand key concepts like wagering requirements and game weighting before you start playing.
Know the Difference: See the clear distinction between your real money balance and your bonus money balance.
Make Informed Choices: Place your bets with a full understanding of the rules that apply when playing with an active bonus.
Key Casino Bonus Rules: A Detailed Breakdown
The following rules are essential for anyone playing with a casino bonus.
Real Money vs. Bonus Money When you have an active bonus, your account balance is split into two parts:
Real Money: Your deposited cash. You can withdraw this at any time. Your real money is always used first when you place bets.
Bonus Money: Promotional funds given to you. This money is locked and cannot be withdrawn until a "wagering requirement" is met.
Wagering Requirements Explained This is the most critical bonus term. A wagering requirement is a multiplier that tells you how many times you must bet your bonus amount before it converts into real, withdrawable money.
Our standard wagering requirement for most casino bonuses is 35x.
Example: If you receive a $100 bonus, you must place bets totalling $3,500 ($100 x 35) to complete the wagering. Once completed, any remaining bonus funds and winnings are converted to real cash.
Game Weighting Contribution Not all games contribute equally to clearing your wagering requirement.
Most Slots contribute 100%. (A $1 bet reduces your wagering requirement by $1).
All Table Games and Live Casino Games contribute 50%. (A $1 bet reduces your wagering requirement by $0.50).
Certain games do not contribute at all (0%).
Maximum Bet Size When playing with an active bonus, there is a maximum bet size allowed (e.g., $5 per spin). Placing a bet above this limit may result in the forfeiture of your bonus and any associated winnings.
Common Types of Casino Bonuses
Welcome Bonus: An offer for new players, typically including a deposit match (e.g., 100% up to $500) and a package of Free Spins.
Reload Bonuses: Deposit match bonuses offered to existing players.
Free Spins: A set number of free rounds on a specific slot game. Winnings from Free Spins are paid as bonus money and are subject to the same 35x wagering requirement.
FAQ
Q: Why can't I withdraw my winnings?
A: If the winnings were generated from bonus money, they are locked until you complete the wagering requirement. Once the wagering is complete, they become real money that you can withdraw.
Q: I'm playing Live Roulette. Why is my wagering progress so slow?
A: Live Casino games, like all table games, have a 50% weighting contribution. This means for every $10 you bet, only $5 is counted towards clearing your bonus wagering requirement.
Q: What happens if I forfeit my bonus?
A: You can forfeit a bonus at any time. However, be aware that doing so will remove not only the remaining bonus funds but also any winnings that have been generated from playing with that bonus.
Q: Where is my real money? I made a deposit but I only see my bonus.
A: Your real money is always used first. If your balance has decreased, it means you have been playing with your real funds. Your bonus funds will only be used once your real money balance is zero.
Troubleshooting
My bonus did not activate after a deposit:
Before making a deposit, you usually need to tick a box to accept the bonus in the cashier screen. If you believe a bonus should have been credited, please contact Support before placing any bets.
My wagering progress is not moving:
You may be playing a game with a low or zero contribution weighting. Also, check that your bet size is not above the maximum allowed limit for bonus play.
Need Help?
If you have questions about a specific bonus or our terms, our team is ready to help.
Live Chat: 24/7
Email: support@wildz.com