Wagering Requirements
If you play at an online casino, or even if you are just considering it, you may have heard about wagering requirements. Don't be dissuaded from trying online casinos -- you won't be forced to bet anything you don't want. Wagering requirements refer specifically to online bonuses.
Online Bonuses and Wagering Requirements
An online casino bonus is money added to a player's online casino account, most often for signing up with a new site. In some cases, the bonus amount can be equal to the deposit. However, the site cannot allow you to receive your bonus right away, or else you might simply withdraw it without ever playing. This is the purpose of wagering requirements.
How Wagering Requirements Work
Wagering requirements are the amount you have to wager in order to "clear" your bonus. Note that it is not necessary to lose the amount of the wagering requirement -- you are only required to put it in play.
If you have a wagering requirement of 10x your bonus and your bonus is $50, you will have to play $500 before receiving your bonus. You don't have to play it all at once and you can usually play it at any game. Once you have played $500, no matter how much you have won or lost, the $50 goes into your account.
Notes on Wagering Requirements
There may be a time limit for when you must clear your bonus or else it will be lost, so make a note of this. Games like Pai Gow Poker are good for clearing bonuses -- there are often ties with the dealer and you can put a lot of money on play with minimal risk.