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Wagering requirement

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The best online sportsbooks in the US are known to offer different kinds of bonuses. Most of these bonuses come with terms and conditions that players need to consider to make the most from them. One of these terms and conditions is the wagering requirement. You should check the wagering requirement and understand how it works.

This comprehensive guide will discuss all the essential things you need to know about wagering requirements. We will highlight the different types of bonuses with the requirements and cite some examples. Besides, we will discuss why betting sites have these requirements and what players can do to improve their chances of winning from bonuses. If you’re thrilled to learn that and more, keep reading.

What is a wagering requirement?

A wagering requirement refers to the number of times a betting site in the USA requires players to bet its bonus before they can withdraw winnings made from it. For example, if you claim a betting bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, you must bet the offer at least 30 times to collect the winnings.

From the definition above, you can deduce that the lower the wagering, playthrough, or rollover requirement, the better it is for players. This explains why most US bettors prefer bonuses with low playthrough requirements. In fact, some sportsbooks offer wager-free bonuses that only need players to wager the offers once to collect the winnings.

Types of bonuses that come with wagering requirements

Most types of bonuses come with wagering requirements. From bonuses meant for new players to those for existing bettors, US online sportsbooks specify the rollover requirements of a bonus in its bonus terms and conditions. Over the next few sub-sections, we will discuss some popular bonuses with wagering requirements.

  • Signup bonus – Sports betting platforms in the US often offer newbies a signup bonus, also called a welcome bonus. This bonus can take different forms, but it is specific to only new players when creating an account with a betting site and making their first deposit. The idea behind a signup bonus is to welcome the new bettors and give them a chance to familiarize themselves with the sportsbooks.
  • Free bet bonus – A free bet is a bonus that usually has a wagering requirement. As the name implies, free bets are free betting credits that a sportsbook offers players. However, to claim the bonus, you are usually required to perform an action. This could be to deposit a particular amount or place a certain bet on a match.
  • No-risk bet bonus – Also called a risk-free bet, a no risk betting bonus is similar to free bets, but the main difference is that it is only triggered when a player is in a hole. For example, a gambling site can offer players a risk-free bet of $50 on a particular game. If you wager on the game and lose, you will get a percentage of your wager amount back as free betting credit. The goal is to give you another chance at winning with the betting credit. However, if the original bet wins, you won’t get the bonus.
  • Matched deposit bonus – Many sports wagering platforms in the US also offer players matched deposit bonuses. In this bonus type, you must deposit a minimum amount called the qualifying deposit. The gambling site will then match the amount by a percentage and reward it as a bonus. For instance, if you claim a 100% bonus and deposit $100, you will receive an extra $100 as bonus money, bringing your total bankroll to $200. Nevertheless, be aware that there is usually a cap on the bonus amount, and you cannot get more than that amount. So in the example, if the bonus is limited to $200, you will get only $200 even if you deposit $1,000.
  • Matched bet bonus – A matched bet bonus is pretty similar to the matched deposit bonus. The only difference is that the US gambling site is not matching the amount you deposited but the amount you wagered. In a matched bet bonus, you will get a percentage of the amount you wager on a particular game specified by the betting site offering it. So if the bonus is a 50% matched bet offer, and you placed a bet of $100, you will get $50 as the bonus amount.
  • Boosted odds bonus – The best online sports wagering sites understands how important good odds are to players. So apart from offering highly competitive odds, they also offer boosted odds bonus, subject to wagering requirements. In this bonus, the operator boosts the regular odds of a specific event to give players a chance to win more. For instance, say the regular odds for an NCAA game is +100, a betting site can boost it to +150.
  • Other bonuses – Apart from the bonuses discussed so far, wagering requirements also apply to most other bonuses. These include cashback bonuses, Acca bonuses, and reload bonuses. You should always take your time to read the terms and conditions of a betting offer to know the playthrough requirement to fulfill.

Examples of wagering requirements

While we have explained the different types of bonuses that may have a wagering requirement, let’s expand on the examples and limitations that may come with the requirement. The basic form of a wagering requirement is where players are required to bet a bonus multiple times before they can withdraw the winnings made from it. But apart from that, there are other conditions that you must be well aware of. Online sportsbooks in the US may limit the games you can play with a bonus or games that count toward the playthrough requirements. For example, you may only be allowed to place bets on NFL games with some bonuses.

Likewise, the bet options may be limited to only markets specified by the operator. For free bets and risk-free bets, it is common to see operators limiting the markets to Moneylines. Another common restriction on betting bonuses and wagering requirements is the bet amount with bonus money. Most sportsbooks limit the amount you can wager per bet using bonus money. For instance, you may claim a bonus of $100 but only be allowed to wager a max of $5 at once.

Finally, bonuses and wagering requirements have an expiration time. An operator may require that you fulfill the playthrough requirement of a bonus within a few days, weeks, or months. If you fail to fulfill the requirement before the set time, you will lose the offer and any winnings made from it so far.

Here is a quick recap of some common wagering requirements and conditions.

  • Multiple bonuses must be won before you can withdraw
  • Limited game selection
  • Limited bet option
  • Capped bet amount
  • Limited time

Why do betting sites have wagering requirements?

Betting sites have wagering requirements as it’s a way that sportsbooks protect themselves from having to pay huge amounts as winnings from bonuses. Remember that these gambling platforms are in it to make money, and you cannot expect them to dash out money for free.

By requiring that players must wager a bonus many times, betting sites know that not all bettors will be able to get real money from bonuses. So you need to know how to beat wagering requirements. Start by calculating the requirements. You can use a wagering requirements calculator to determine how to fulfill the condition, considering the game contribution and other factors. It is best to always stick to games that count 100% towards the wagering requirement. But the good news is that at most sportsbooks, all sporting games count 100% towards the requirement.

FAQ

Do all betting bonuses come with wagering requirements?

Yes, almost all betting bonuses come with wagering requirements. Although, while most betting bonuses have a wagering requirement that players must fulfill, some bonuses do not. These bonuses are called wager-free bonuses. You need to read through the terms and conditions of a bonus offer to know whether a wagering requirement applies or not. If it applies, you must fulfill the requirement before you can be allowed to withdraw winnings made from the bonus.

Can I get a bonus without wagering requirements?

Yes, you can get a bonus without wagering requirements. Some top sportsbooks in the US offer wager-free betting bonuses to bettors. In this bonus type, you only need to bet the offer once, and you are free to withdraw the winnings. You can check the promotions section of your betting site to see if such an offer is available to claim.

Are wagering requirements fair?

Whether wagering requirements are fair depends on the sportsbook and promotion. Some betting platforms are generous and reasonable, setting low wagering requirements for their bonuses. Yet still, you will find gambling sites with higher rollover requirements. Although these requirements aren't fun, they are fixed and apply to all bettors. You will have a better chance of winning from a bonus with a low playthrough requirement than from one with a high rollover requirement.