Wagering Requirements on Slot Bonuses — UK Guide

Wagering requirements are the most misunderstood part of any slot bonus. They determine whether an offer is genuinely worth claiming — and since January 2026 the UKGC caps them at 10x.

What "wagering" means

A £50 bonus at 10x means you must place £500 in total bets (10 × £50) before bonus funds — and any winnings from them — become withdrawable. Every qualifying bet counts towards that total. The bonus is not "free money" until the wagering is cleared.

Game contribution rates

Not every game counts equally. Slots usually contribute 100%, but table games and live casino often count 10% or less — meaning £1 wagered on roulette might only reduce your requirement by 10p. Always check the contribution table before trying to clear a bonus on anything other than slots.

The 2026 cap and expected value

Before 2026, 35x–65x wagering was common and made most bonuses negative value. Under the 10x cap, a £100 bonus needs £1,000 wagered; at a typical 4% house edge the expected cost is about £40, leaving roughly £60 of expected value. Use our bonus EV guide to calculate any offer, and check the maximum-bet rule (often £5 while wagering) — exceeding it can void the bonus.