Wagering Requirements Explained: What 40x Really Means
A wagering requirement is the amount you have to bet before bonus money turns into money you can withdraw. It is the single most important number in any casino bonus, and the one most often misunderstood. This guide turns it into real dollars, shows how game choice and RTP change the picture, and includes a calculator for any offer.
Examples use JustCasino's default terms, but the maths works for any casino.
40x the bonusJustCasino's default requirement, applied to the bonus amount.
7 days to finishUnfinished wagering means the bonus and its winnings are removed.
Game choice mattersPokies count in full. Table games count far less.
It has a costEvery dollar wagered carries the house edge.
What a wagering requirement is
When a casino gives you a bonus, that money is not yours to withdraw straight away. The wagering requirement, sometimes called a playthrough or rollover requirement, sets how much you must bet before the bonus, and anything you win with it, becomes withdrawable.
It is expressed as a multiple, such as 40x. Under JustCasino's default terms, that multiple applies to the bonus amount, and to free spin winnings. Some casinos apply the multiple to your deposit plus the bonus, which doubles the amount you need to bet, so it is always worth checking which one an offer uses.
Wagering means the total value of your bets, not your losses. If you bet A$1 and win A$2, you have wagered A$1. Winnings you then bet again count towards wagering again.
How to calculate it
The basic calculation is simple.
So a A$50 bonus at 40x needs A$2,000 of bets on games that count in full before it can be withdrawn. For free spins, the multiple applies to what the spins win. If 20 free spins win A$15, you would need to wager A$600 before those winnings can be cashed out.
The real cost of wagering
Every bet you place carries the game's house edge. That means working through a wagering requirement has an expected cost, and that cost is what really decides whether a bonus is good value.
The expected cost is roughly the total amount wagered multiplied by the house edge. On a pokie with 96% RTP, the house edge is 4%, so every A$100 wagered costs about A$4 on average.
Example: a A$50 bonus at 40x on a 96% RTP pokie
The expected cost of about A$80 is higher than the A$50 bonus. On average, a player completing this requirement ends up about A$30 behind where the bonus alone would have left them. Some players will finish ahead through a lucky run, and many will lose the bonus balance entirely before finishing. The average is what the maths predicts across many players.
Why most bonuses end at zero
In practice, many players never finish the requirement at all. A long run of losses drains the bonus balance before the wagering is complete, and JustCasino's terms cancel a bonus automatically once its balance falls to A$0.05 or below. High volatility pokies make both outcomes more likely: a bigger chance of busting out early, and a smaller chance of finishing well ahead.
How the multiple changes the value
The table below shows the same A$100 bonus at different wagering multiples, all played on a 96% RTP pokie. It shows how quickly a bonus moves from positive to negative expected value as the multiple rises.
| Multiple | Total wagering | Expected cost | Expected value of the bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20x | A$2,000 | A$80 | +A$20 |
| 25x | A$2,500 | A$100 | A$0 |
| 30x | A$3,000 | A$120 | −A$20 |
| 40x (JustCasino default) | A$4,000 | A$160 | −A$60 |
| 50x | A$5,000 | A$200 | −A$100 |
On a 96% RTP game, the break-even point is 25x. Anything above that has a negative expected value before any other restrictions are taken into account. A higher RTP game moves the break-even point up. A lower RTP game moves it down.
How game contribution changes everything
Not every game counts fully towards wagering. Under JustCasino's default terms, pokies count 100%, roulette 25%, card games such as blackjack and baccarat 10%, and all other games nothing. Contribution changes how much real betting it takes to clear the same bonus.
| Game | Contribution | Real betting to clear a A$50 bonus at 40x |
|---|---|---|
| Pokies | 100% | A$2,000 |
| Roulette | 25% | A$8,000 |
| Blackjack and other card games | 10% | A$20,000 |
| Other games, including most instant win | 0% | Cannot be cleared |
Table games have a lower house edge than most pokies, but the reduced contribution more than cancels that out. This is why bonuses are generally poor value for players who prefer live or table games. Some specific pokies are also excluded from bonus play entirely, so check JustCasino's restricted games list before choosing what to play.
Wagering calculator
Enter the details of any bonus to see how much play it needs and what that play is expected to cost. The expected figures are long-run averages, not a prediction of any single session.
Choosing a game fills in a typical RTP, which you can change. Expected figures assume the full requirement is completed and ignore winnings caps and restricted games.
Rules that catch players out
The multiple is only part of the picture. These default JustCasino rules decide whether a completed requirement actually pays out.
The 7-day deadline
Bonus funds are valid for 7 days. If the wagering is not finished by then, the bonus and all winnings from it are removed.
The A$8 maximum bet
No single bet can exceed A$8 while a bonus is active, including bonus buys. Going over, even once, can cancel the bonus and its winnings.
The A$5,000 winnings cap
Winnings from a deposit bonus are capped at A$5,000. Anything above that may be forfeited, however much you win.
Bonus abuse rules
Betting systems, switching games to exploit contribution, or cutting stakes sharply after a big win can all void winnings. Our promotions page lists them in full.
Withdrawing your deposit
You can withdraw your own deposit before finishing, but doing so cancels the bonus and removes any winnings attached to it.
You can always say no
You can decline a bonus, or cancel one at any time, without losing your own money. Playing without a bonus means no wagering at all.
A wagering requirement is designed to keep you playing. If you notice yourself playing longer or betting more than you intended just to finish one, it is a good moment to stop. Free, confidential support is available on 1800 858 858 through Gambling Help Online, and our responsible gambling page lists more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means you must place bets totalling 40 times the bonus amount before the bonus and its winnings can be withdrawn. A A$50 bonus at 40x needs A$2,000 of bets on games that count fully towards wagering.
Multiply the bonus amount by the wagering multiple. Then divide by the game's contribution rate to find the real amount you need to bet. For example, a A$50 bonus at 40x played on roulette at 25% contribution needs A$8,000 of roulette bets.
It sits on the higher side of what online casinos commonly use. On a 96% RTP pokie, a bonus breaks even on average at about 25x, so a 40x requirement has a negative expected value before other restrictions are considered.
Only partly. Under JustCasino's default terms, roulette counts 25% and card games such as blackjack count 10%, while pokies count 100%. Other games count nothing. That means clearing a bonus on table games takes four to ten times as much betting.
Under JustCasino's default terms, bonus funds are valid for 7 days. If the wagering is not complete by then, the bonus and any winnings made with it are removed from your account.
You can withdraw your own deposit, but doing so cancels the bonus and removes any winnings attached to it. Bonus winnings only become withdrawable once the full requirement is met.
Related guides
18+ only. Figures are based on JustCasino's published default bonus terms, which can change and can differ for individual offers. Expected values are long-run averages, not predictions. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone close to you, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, any time, for free and confidential support.