Internet casinos use incredibly lucrative promotional banners to attract new players to their sites.
While getting free cash to play with sounds fantastic, there is always a catch involved.
The Catch: Playthrough Requirements Explained
To protect themselves from immediate losses, platforms impose what are known as wagering or playthrough requirements.
This means you must bet the bonus amount a certain number of times before it converts to real cash.
- High wagering requirements make it almost impossible to keep your winnings
- Look for promotions with playthrough limits of 35x or lower
- Read the terms to see if your real money is locked until the bonus is cleared
Game Weighting and Betting Limits
Even if the wagering requirement seems fair, the fine print often dictates which games you can play.
Typically, slots contribute 100%, but table games like blackjack might only contribute 10% or nothing at all.
| Game Family | Contribution to Playthrough | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Roulette | 10% | Takes 10x longer to clear |
| Jackpot Slots | 0% (Usually restricted) | Read the specific rules |
Educating yourself on the fine print is the only way to successfully turn a casino bonus into real, withdrawable profit.