Bonus terms decoded

The phrases in casino small print that decide what an offer is worth, each explained in a sentence or two.

Our five offers come from two operators, and each writes its terms in its own house style. Once you know about ten phrases, you can read either style in a couple of minutes. We've noted where each one appears on our list.

Jump to: Wagering · Credit order · Contribution · Max conversion · Expiry · Voiding · Network limit · Excluded payments · Cancelling

"WR of 10x Bonus amount and Free Spin winnings amount"

Wagering requirement, or playthrough. You bet the bonus plus spin winnings ten times over before they can become cash. At the Skill On Net brands these two are added together and share one 30-day deadline.

On our list: PlayKasino, Swift Casino, Luna Casino.

"10x wager the bonus money within 30 days and 10X wager any winnings from the free spins within 7 days"

The same multiple, split in two. Bonus money and spin winnings are wagered separately, and the spin winnings have a much shorter clock.

On our list: The Online Casino, Vegas Mobile Casino.

"Wager from real balance first" / "Spins must be used and/or Bonus must be claimed before using deposited funds"

Which money gets used first. These two sentences point in opposite directions, and it matters more than it looks.

Real balance first means you play through your own deposit, and the bonus only starts once that's gone. Bonus first means the spins and bonus are used up before you touch your deposit.

Here's what that means for you: with "real balance first", a good early win on your own money is yours to withdraw, but asking to do so cancels the bonus. With "bonus first", your deposit sits untouched while you work through the bonus, and at Luna Casino and PlayKasino the terms confirm the bonus doesn't stop you withdrawing that deposit balance.

"Contribution varies per game" / "only Slots count"

Not every bet counts in full towards the playthrough. "Only slots count" is the simple version: table games and live casino contribute nothing. "Contribution varies" means some games count at a percentage, so a £10 bet might only knock £1 off. The operator's bonus policy lists the rates.

"Max conversion: £50 the bonus amount or from free spins: £20"

The most bonus-related money you can turn into withdrawable cash. Anything above the cap is removed when you finish wagering. This is the single most important number in an offer with a large headline.

On our list: The Online Casino (£50 bonus, £20 spins); Vegas Mobile Casino (£50 bonus, £20 spins).

"Max bet is 10% (min £0.10) of the free spin winnings and bonus amount or £5"

The largest single stake allowed while a bonus is active. Our free spins guide works through three examples.

"Valid for 30 days / 7 days from receipt"

After this, the bonus or spin winnings expire along with anything won from them. The clock starts when they're credited, not when you first use them.

"Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses"

Ask to withdraw and any bonus still being wagered is cancelled, along with its winnings. If you're halfway through a playthrough and want out, that's fine, just know what you're giving up.

"Limited to 5 brands within the network"

One operator can run dozens of casino brands. This line means you can only claim welcome offers at five of them. If you've signed up at several sites run by the same company, check before assuming you qualify.

"Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits"

Deposits with those e-wallets won't trigger the offer. The deposit still goes through; you just don't get the bonus.

"Cancellation can be requested"

You can ask for the bonus to be removed, which also removes its playthrough. Handy if you'd rather play with your own money and no strings.

"Bonus Policy applies" / "Full Terms apply"

The significant terms are the headline rules. There's always a longer document behind them. Every offer box on this site links to it as "Full T&Cs".