Claiming a bonus is the step where most of the value is won or lost. The offer on the banner is rarely the offer you end up with, and the difference is almost always in the terms rather than the headline number. This page covers what to check before you opt in, in the order that matters.
Read the wagering requirement first, not the amount
A bonus advertised at 200% is worth less than one at 50% if the wagering requirement is four times higher. The requirement tells you how many times the bonus, and sometimes the deposit as well, has to be staked before anything can be withdrawn. “35x bonus” and “35x bonus plus deposit” are very different obligations on the same headline.
Check what counts towards it
Game weighting decides how fast you clear a requirement. Slots usually count fully; table games often count for a fraction, sometimes nothing. Playing the wrong game can mean staking a great deal more than the stated multiple, or voiding the bonus entirely.
Look for the caps
- Maximum stake while a bonus is active. Exceeding it is the most common reason a withdrawal is refused.
- Maximum win from bonus funds. Some offers cap what you can take out regardless of what you win.
- Time limit. Many bonuses expire in seven to thirty days, and the clock usually starts at the moment you claim, not when you first play.
Opting in is a separate action
A surprising number of bonuses need an explicit opt-in, a code at deposit, or a minimum deposit that is higher than the site’s normal minimum. Depositing first and asking afterwards rarely works: most operators will not apply a bonus retrospectively.
Before you claim, ask one question
Would you make this deposit without the bonus? If the answer is no, the bonus is doing the persuading rather than the maths. The offers worth claiming are the ones that improve a decision you had already made.
Gamble responsibly. Bonus terms vary by operator and by country, and the terms on the operator’s own page are the ones that apply.