Since the start of 2026, online casinos are no longer allowed to offer bonuses with wagering requirements above 10x, marking a drastic change from the previous 50x to 60x requirements that players had to endure for years.
Perhaps you are returning to casino gambling after a few years away, or maybe completely new to wagering requirements. This guide explains what they are, how they work, what the new cap actually means to bettors and how to judge whether a bonus is worth claiming.
What are wagering requirements?
A wagering requirement, sometimes referred to by casinos as a playthrough requirement, is the number of times you must bet through a bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings from it.
For example, an old-style 30x wagering requirement on a £10 bonus meant you had to effectively place £300 worth of bets before you could cash out.
These restrictions make sense from an operator's perspective. Bonuses cost money, and wagering requirements allow operators to reduce the risk of players depositing, claiming a bonus, and immediately withdrawing.
Be mindful that wagering requirements apply to bonuses and promotional funds, and not to your own deposited cash.
How wagering requirements work: A step-by-step example
- You sign up to a casino and claim a 100% match bonus on your first deposit.
- You deposit £50 and receive £50 in bonus funds, providing a total balance of £100 - £50 real cash, matched by a £50 bonus.
- The bonus comes with a 10x wagering requirement, which is the new maximum allowed by the UK Gambling Commission. You must wager £50 ten times (a total of £500) before the bonus funds convert to withdrawable cash.
- Each bet you place on eligible games counts towards the £500 total.
- Once you have wagered £500, the remaining bonus balance becomes real money you can withdraw.
Under the old rules, this same scenario could have required bets totalling £1,500 (30x) or even £2,500 (50x) in wagering. The contrast is quite striking, with the updated UKGC rules in January 2026 benefiting punters.
Wagering Requirement |
Bonus Amount |
Total Wager Needed |
Status (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
10x |
£50 |
£500 |
Maximum allowed from Jan 2026 |
20x |
£50 |
£1,000 |
No longer permitted in UK |
30x |
£50 |
£1,500 |
No longer permitted in UK |
40x |
£50 |
£2,000 |
No longer permitted in UK |
50x |
£50 |
£2,500 |
No longer permitted in UK |
The UKGC 10x cap: What changed in January 2026
As previously mentioned, in January 2026, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) introduced new rules as part of its consumer protection reforms. This capped wagering requirements on casino bonuses at a maximum of 10x the bonus amount.
These reforms were part of a broader implementation of the UK Government's Gambling Act white paper, published in 2023. The Gambling Act identified high wagering requirements as a key form of consumer harm. Before the updated rules, wagering requirements of 30x to 60x were standard across the UK market, meaning most players could never realistically complete them and withdraw their winnings from bonus bets.
The 10x cap applies to all licensed UK casino operators, meaning any casino that offers higher wagering requirements to UK-based players is in breach of its UKGC licence. It should also be noted that the cap applies to the bonus amount only, not the bonus plus the initial deposit combined. For example, a £50 bonus at 10x requires £500 in wagering, not £1,000 - the total amount you would have in your account from a match bonus.
Free spins winnings are also subject to the cap. Winnings from free spins must not be subject to more than 10x wagering before withdrawal as cash.
What this means for players
The updated rules now mean that bonuses are significantly more achievable, as the 10x requirement can be completed within a normal session for some players. It also allows punters to more easily identify poor-value bonuses, as operators could previously hide behind inflated wagering requirements.
However, despite the win for consumers, customers should still read the T&Cs, as other bonus conditions such as time limits, game restrictions, and max bet rules still apply.
If you see a UK-licensed casino offering a bonus with a wagering requirement above 10x, report it to the UKGC.
Bonus types and how wagering requirements apply
Bonus Type |
How Wagering Typically Applies |
Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
Welcome / deposit match |
Wagering applied to bonus amount |
Whether the requirement is on bonus only or bonus + deposit |
No deposit bonus |
Wagering applied to bonus credit received |
Low maximum withdrawal caps - often £5 to £20 |
Free spins |
Wagering applied to winnings from the spins |
Wagering may only be completed on specfic slots |
Reload bonus |
Same rules as deposit match |
Shorter time windows to complete wagering |
Cashback bonus |
Some cashback offers have no wagering; others apply a 1x to 3x requirement |
Always check - 'cashback' is not always wager-free |
Game contribution rates
There are still ways operators can stretch out wagering requirements, as not all games count equally toward clearing them. This is because operators set contribution rates by game type: Online slots typically contribute 100%, meaning every £1 wagered counts as £1 towards the requirement.
Table games such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat often contribute 10% or less, and depending on the operator, sometimes 0%.
Similarly, live dealer games may be excluded entirely from wagering, even under the new rules.
Contributions rates for video poker and other games vary widely, so make sure to always check the specific terms of your chosen casino operator.
Bearing all of this in mind, be aware that if you only play blackjack, for example, and the contribution rate is 10%, the wager requirement is effectively 10x higher than it is for slots. A 10x requirement on blackjack at 10% contribution means placing £5,000 in bets.
Game Type |
Typical Contribution Rate |
|---|---|
Slots |
100% |
Scratch Cards / Instant Win |
100% |
Roulette |
10% to 25% |
Blackjack |
10% or excluded |
Baccarat |
10% or excluded |
Live Casino Games |
0% to 10% (often excluded) |
Video Poker |
10% to 50% |
What does 'no wagering' mean?
A no-wagering bonus - sometimes known as a wager-free bonus - means any winnings can be immediately withdrawn without any wagering or playthrough requirement. No-wagering free spins operate similarly, with winnings from the spins going straight to your withdrawable balance.
These bonuses and spins are more valuable than equivalently sized bonuses with wagering requirements. Of course, that means operators tend to offer lower amounts or attach other restrictions.
Ever since the UKGC implemented the 10x cap, no-wagering offers are less of a standout. That is because a 10x wagering requirement is now much more achievable than before, so the gap between wagering and no-wagering bonuses has narrowed considerably.
It should be noted that no-wagering casinos still exist.
How to assess a casino bonus
If you’re weighing up a casino bonus, there are six checks you should prioritise each time:
- Check the wagering requirement: Is it at or below 10x? If you are a UK player and it is above 10x, do not claim it and consider reporting the operator if they are advertising to UK-based players.
- Check what the requirement applies to: Is it a bonus amount only, or bonus plus deposit? Bonus-only is more favourable.
- Check game contribution rates: If you prefer table games or live casino, a slots-only contribution structure effectively makes the bonus useless to you.
- Check the time limit: Most bonuses expire within 7 to 30 days. A short window combined with a 10x requirement may still be difficult to complete if you play infrequently.
- Check the maximum bet rule: Many bonuses impose a maximum bet per spin or hand, typically £5, while wagering. Exceeding this max bet can void the bonus.
- Check the maximum withdrawal from bonus winnings: Some bonuses cap how much you can actually withdraw, regardless of how much you win while wagering.
If the answer to all six checks is satisfactory, the bonus is likely worth taking.
Wagering requirements glossary
• Wagering requirement/playthrough requirement: The number of times you must bet the bonus amount before withdrawing.
• Rollover: Another term for wagering requirement / playthough requirement.
• Bonus funds: Money credited to your account as a bonus. This is distinct from real money, until the wagering requirements are complete.
• Sticky bonus: A bonus that can never be withdrawn, as only the winnings generated from it are withdrawable.
• No wagering / wager-free: Bonus winnings that are immediately withdrawable.
• Contribution rate: The percentage by which a game type counts towards clearing a wagering requirement. Sometimes games such as Blackjack are set at 10% contribution rate, meaning for every £1 bet, only 10p counts towards the cap.
• Time limit: The window in which a wagering requirement must be completed, as the bonus expires if it is not cleared in time.
• Max bet rule: The maximum stake allowed per bet while a bonus is active.
• Game restriction: Specific games excluded from wagering or from being played while a bonus is active.
Wagering requirements conclusion
Wagering requirements are the conditions attached to casino bonuses that determine when funds become withdrawable.
If a UK casino is still advertising wagering requirements above 10x, it is breaking its licence conditions. However, even though the pendulum has swung in favour of customers on the topic of wagering requirements, punters should still always check contribution rates, time limits, and max bet rules before claiming any bonus, as they can dilute the value of an offer.
FAQs
What is a wagering requirement?
The wagering requirement is the number of times you must bet through your bonus before you can withdraw it. For example, the new max wager requirement of 10x on a £50 bonus equals £500 in total wagers before it can be withdrawn.
What is the maximum wagering requirement UK casinos can set?
Since January 2026, the UKGC caps wagering requirements at 10x the bonus amount for all UK-licensed operators.
What does a 10x wagering requirement mean?
You must wager 10 times the value of your bonus. For example, a £20 bonus with 10x wagering requires £200 in bets before you can withdraw the bonus and your winnings as cash.
What does no wagering mean on free spins?
Any winnings from the free spins are credited directly to your withdrawable balance, with no playthrough required.
Do wagering requirements apply to my own deposit?
No. Wagering requirements only apply to bonus funds, not to your own real-money deposit.
Can I play any game to clear wagering requirements?
No. Most casinos assign contribution rates by game type. Slots typically count at 100%, while table games may count as little as 10%, or sometimes nothing, depending on the casino.
What happens if I do not complete the wagering requirement?
Uncleared bonus funds and any associated winnings are forfeited when the bonus expires.
Are wagering requirements the same as rollover requirements?
Yes, as rollover is simply another term for wagering requirement. It is the more common term in sportsbook promotions.
