What a wagering requirement is, how to work out how much you need to bet, what the UK Gambling Commission’s 10x cap changed, and how to tell whether a casino bonus is worth having.
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Wagering Requirements Explained is a short narrated video guide from Casino Compare. What a wagering requirement is, how to work out how much you need to bet, what the UK Gambling Commission’s 10x cap changed, and how to tell whether a casino bonus is worth having.
In addition, the video runs for 1 min 40 sec and works on any phone, tablet or computer. For example, you can use the chapters above to skip straight to the part you need. After that, read the full written guide for worked examples and answers to common questions.
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Wagering requirements decide whether a casino bonus is worth having. Here's how they work.
A wagering requirement is the amount you have to bet before bonus money, or winnings from bonus spins, turn into cash you can withdraw.
It's shown as a multiple. A ten pound bonus with ten times wagering means placing a hundred pounds of bets: ten pounds, times ten.
Since January 2026, the UK Gambling Commission has capped wagering on casino bonuses at ten times. Before that, thirty-five to fifty times was common. Fifty times on a ten pound bonus meant betting five hundred pounds.
Why does it matter? Every spin has a small, built-in house edge. On a slot with ninety-six percent RTP, wagering a hundred pounds costs about four pounds on average. So the more you have to wager, the less the bonus is really worth.
Not every game counts the same. Slots usually count one hundred percent. Live casino and table games, like blackjack and roulette, often count much less, or nothing at all.
Check the time limit and the maximum bet, too. Bonuses can expire quickly, and staking more than the limit can void your winnings.
The best deals of all are no-wagering offers, where winnings are paid as cash you can withdraw straight away.
Eighteen plus. Please gamble responsibly.
▶ 1:48How to find the right casino offer on Casino Compare: offer levels, offer cards, sorting, quick filters, step-by-step guides, marking offers as done, and the free tools, beginner guides and video guides on the site.
▶ 2:06How matched betting turns a bookmaker free bet into cash whatever the result, with a real example: backing Arsenal to beat Chelsea at William Hill and laying it on Betfair.
▶ 1:36How an each-way bet works as two bets in one, the standard UK place terms, and a worked example at 10/1 showing what you get back if your horse wins, places or loses.
▶ 1:24What fractional and decimal odds mean, how to convert between them, what evens is, and how implied probability reveals the bookmaker’s margin.
▶ 1:39What RTP (return to player) and the house edge really mean, why short sessions can go either way, and how volatility changes how a slot pays out.
▶ 1:01A narrated walkthrough of the matched betting calculator: choosing the bet type, entering back and lay odds and commission, and reading the lay stake, liability and profit.
18+ only. Gambling can be addictive; please play responsibly. Free, confidential help: BeGambleAware.org or the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.