Wagering requirements: how to calculate what a bonus costs
A wagering requirement — also called rollover or playthrough — is the amount you must bet before bonus money becomes withdrawable. It is the single most important line in any set of bonus terms, and it is the line we read first on every offer at Platiin or elsewhere. This page sets out the formula, the four inputs that change the result and a way of estimating the expected cost before you opt in. The numbers below are examples to practise with (example in euros; the maths is the same in any currency); the actual multipliers that apply to you are in the operator's bonus terms.
The formula in one line
Required stakes = base amount × multiplier ÷ game weighting.
The base amount is whatever the multiplier is applied to: the bonus alone, or the bonus plus the deposit. The multiplier is the "x" figure. Game weighting is the percentage of each bet that counts — 100% if your game counts in full, 10% if only a tenth of each bet is credited. Every euro you stake on an eligible game moves the counter by your stake times that weighting. Winnings never count; only bets do.
Bonus only or bonus plus deposit
Two offers can carry the same multiplier and differ by a factor of two in the work they ask for. Compare a €60 deposit with a 100% match:
| Base | Multiplier | Required stakes |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus only (€60) | 30x | €1,800 |
| Bonus + deposit (€120) | 30x | €3,600 |
| Bonus only (€60) | 45x | €2,700 |
Worked example — not a Platiin term.
Notice the last row: 45x on the bonus alone still asks for less than 30x on bonus plus deposit. Always convert the requirement into euros before comparing offers.
Game contribution and weighting
Terms usually include a table that says how much each type of game contributes. A typical pattern looks like this — check the actual table of your offer, since it is often different:
| Game type | Typical weighting | Stakes for €1,000 of progress |
|---|---|---|
| Most slots | 100% | €1,000 |
| Some low-volatility or jackpot slots | 0–50% | €2,000 or excluded |
| Table games | 5–20% | €5,000–€20,000 |
| Live dealer games | 0–10% | €10,000 or excluded |
Worked example — not a Platiin term.
Restricted games are a separate list. A game on that list may not just count 0%: playing it with bonus money can be a breach that voids the bonus. Our general bonus terms page explains the difference.
Time limit
Every requirement has a deadline, counted from the moment the bonus is credited or claimed. Divide the required stakes by the days available to see the daily pace. €2,100 of turnover in 7 days is €300 a day; at €0.50 a spin that is 600 spins a day. If that pace is more than you would normally play, the deadline is pushing you to play longer — a good reason to skip the offer.
Which balance is played first
Terms decide whether your bets come out of real money or bonus money first. With real money first, an early win stays real and can often be withdrawn by forfeiting the untouched bonus. With bonus money first, everything you win is tied to the requirement until it is complete. Some casinos split each bet proportionally. This one line changes how early wins behave, so look for it under "balance", "order of funds" or "real and bonus funds".
Expected cost: the number behind the number
Every bet carries the house edge, so clearing a requirement costs, on average, the required stakes times the house edge. Assume a slot with 96% RTP, which means a 4% edge:
| Bonus | Required stakes | Expected loss (4%) | Average result |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40 at 20x | €800 | €32 | +€8 |
| €40 at 35x | €1,400 | €56 | −€16 |
| €40 at 50x | €2,000 | €80 | −€40 |
Worked example — not a Platiin term. RTP 96% is an assumption, not a figure for any particular game.
The break-even multiplier is easy to find: divide 1 by the house edge. At 4% that is 25x on the bonus alone. Above that, an offer loses money on average; below it, it adds a little. Higher-variance games do not change the average, only the spread of outcomes around it.
Tracking your progress
- When you claim, write down the bonus amount, the base, the multiplier, the deadline and the max bet.
- Calculate the target in euros and the daily pace.
- After ten or twenty rounds, open the bonus section of your account and check that the counter moved by your stakes times the weighting you expected.
- If it did not, stop and ask support before you go further — you may be on a game with lower weighting.
- Decide in advance at which balance you will stop, whether or not the requirement is finished.
Related reading: welcome bonus, free spins and the bonus overview.
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