Wagering requirements, worked out step by step
The wagering requirement — also called rollover or playthrough — is the total amount you must bet before bonus money becomes withdrawable. It is the single clause that decides whether an offer is worth anything. This page takes you from the multiplier to the expected cost in units, using invented numbers and the verified RTPs of two slots in the 389win lobby.
Wagering explained in one paragraph
You receive promotional balance with a rule: bet X times this amount before cashing out. Each qualifying bet reduces the remaining requirement by its value multiplied by the game's contribution rate. When the requirement reaches zero inside the time limit, the remaining balance converts into withdrawable money. If the balance hits zero first, or time runs out, the bonus and any winnings tied to it usually disappear.
Step 1 — find the base
| Scenario | Base | Turnover required |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit 100, bonus 100, 30x bonus | 100 | 3,000 |
| Deposit 100, bonus 100, 30x deposit + bonus | 200 | 6,000 |
| Free-spin winnings of 15, 20x winnings | 15 | 300 |
Illustrative example, not a 389win term. "30x" is meaningless until you know what it multiplies.
Step 2 — convert turnover into expected cost
| Turnover | At 96.75% RTP | At 94.03% RTP |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | 9.75 | 17.91 |
| 3,000 | 97.50 | 179.10 |
| 6,000 | 195.00 | 358.20 |
Illustrative example, not a 389win term. With a 100-unit bonus and 3,000 units of turnover, expected value is about +2.5 units at 96.75% RTP and about −79 units at 94.03%. On the deposit-plus-bonus base, both are negative. That is the single most useful comparison on this site: the RTP of the game you clear on matters as much as the headline percentage.
Step 3 — game contribution
Across the industry, slots commonly contribute 100% while table games, roulette and live casino contribute a fraction or are excluded. A 10% contribution means 10 units of bets clear only 1 unit of the requirement — the real turnover is ten times higher. Some terms also exclude specific titles or bonus-buy features. The contribution table lives in the promotion terms; without it you cannot price the offer.
Step 4 — max bet and time limit
Many offers cap the stake per round while a bonus is active. With a cap of 5 units and 3,000 units of turnover, you need at least 600 rounds; with a 7-day limit that is about 86 rounds a day. Illustrative example, not a 389win term. Exceeding the cap even once can let the operator void winnings — one of the most common reasons bonus withdrawals are refused.
Volatility and the risk of busting
Expected cost assumes you finish. On high-volatility slots — both Zombie Blasters and Piggy Brick Bonanza are classed that way by our sources — most rounds pay little or nothing and the return arrives in rare bursts. A balance of 200 units at 2 units a spin can easily vanish in a hundred spins. For clearing, smaller stakes give more rounds; for chasing a big hit, accept that the bonus will usually be lost first.
Sticky and non-sticky bonuses
With a non-sticky bonus, your deposit is played first; if you win before touching the bonus, you can usually forfeit the offer and withdraw. With a sticky bonus, the bonus amount itself is never withdrawable — it is removed at cashout. Same percentage, very different value. Details in bonus terms.
A two-minute checklist
- Write down the multiplier and the base.
- Turnover = base × multiplier.
- Open the slot's info panel and note the RTP shown for your account.
- Expected cost = turnover × (1 − RTP). Compare with the bonus.
- Check max bet, time limit and contribution. If any does not fit how you play, decline.
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