Bonus Only Versus Bonus + Deposit Wagering Requirements Explained

A confusing topic for beginners to casino bonuses solved! Understand the pros & cons of ‘bonus only’ wagering Vs ‘deposit + bonus’ wagering.! (Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash)

There are several reasons casino players claim deposit match or no deposit bonuses. You can play real games for longer, you have a hedge against losses, and you can convert free bonus money into real money.

This bonus guide aims to help those new to bonuses or online casino gaming understand the key differences between how casinos explain their wagering requirements in the bonus terms.

Right off the bat, the title of this article will attract players new to live casinos or those new to online casino bonuses. I say this because experienced players will already understand the concept of ‘Bonus Only’ wagering versus ‘Deposit + Bonus’ wagering.

Some of us, like me, learned the hard way. I have to admit, when I started playing online poker and casino games 20+ years ago, I fell for the Bonus Only Versus Bonus + Deposit saga. It took me a while before the penny dropped, and I finally understood the differences in how wagering requirements work after about a year of changing sites. Of course, after more than 20 years of playing at online gambling sites, I am now a bonus expert.

Learn more about live casino bonuses: For a run down of live casino bonuses with a step-by-step guide covering all the rules involved, take a look at our guide that covers bonuses for live casino players. There is also a list of casinos offering live dealer promo and bonus deals, and plenty of bonus advice.

Bonus Balance Vs Real Money Balance

Just to get you started, when you claim a bonus, you receive 2 balances. If you are new to casino bonuses, then it is important to understand the concept of these balances. It is easy to get to grips with.

• Real Money Balance: This is the cash or crypto value of the amount you deposited.
• Bonus Money Balance: This is the balance showing the bonus money you received.

Once you understand these balances, you will then understand the ‘Bonus Only’ versus ‘Deposit + Bonus’ balances which I will cover in the section below as clearly as possible.

How do Wagering Requirements Work?

Another point I’d like to make before we get into the ‘Bonus Only’ Vs ‘Bonus + Deposit Wagering Requirements’ is how wagering requirements work. This is purely for those of you new to casino bonus deals.

Here is a wagering requirement explained:

• €-£ 20 or ₹ 800: The amount you need to playthrough to convert to real money using the wagering requirement.
• Wagering Requirement: 30x
• Conversion to Real Money: 30 (wagering) X €-£ 20 or ₹ 800 = €-£ 600 or ₹ 24,000
• Scenario Explained: From your balance of €-£ 20 or ₹ 800, you would need to win another €-£ 580 or ₹ 23,200. You would need to bet the winnings plus the wagering requirement amount to meet the €-£ 600 or ₹ 24,000.

Anything you win after you play through the wagering requirement amount credits your real money balance. You will have until the bonus expires to win as much real money as possible.

Comparing Bonus Only Vs Bonus + Deposit Turnover Requirements

Now you understand the difference between a bonus balance and real money balance, and how wagering requirements work, we can look at the differences between the Bonus Only Versus Bonus + Deposit Wagering.

What is a ‘Bonus Only’ Wagering Requirement?

To put it simply, a wagering requirement that states ‘Bonus Only’ you only need to play through the bonus amount.

• If you deposit ‘€-£ 20’ or ‘₹ 800’ with a 100% deposit match, your bonus balance will be ‘€-£ 20 or ₹ 800’.
• To convert that bonus balance into real money, you must play through the €-£ 20 or ₹ 800 bonus balance only.

What is a ‘Deposit + Bonus’ Wagering Requirement?

A wagering requirement that states ‘Deposit + Bonus’ means you need to play through the amount your deposited + the bonus amount the casino credits into your bonus money balance. Essentially, the casino combines the total of your ‘Real Money Balance’ and your ‘Bonus Balance’ for the wagering requirement.

• If you deposit ‘€-£ 20’ or ‘₹ 800’ with a 100% deposit match, your bonus balance will be ‘€-£ 20 or ₹ 800’.
• Your real money balance will also be ‘€-£ 20 or ₹ 800’ and you will also need to play through this amount.
• The casino then combines these balances for the wagering requirements.
• ‘€-£ 20 or ₹ 800’ + ‘€-£ 20 or ₹ 800’ = ‘€-£ 40 or ₹ 1,600’.
• To convert that bonus balance into real money, you would need to play through ‘€-£ 20 or ₹ 800’.

‘Deposit + Bonus’ Wagering Sometimes Offers Better Value than ‘Bonus Only’

Now you know how the ‘Bonus Only’ versus ‘Bonus + Deposit’ wagering requirement works, there is another caveat to these rules. Sometimes, a casino offering  ‘Bonus + Deposit’ wagering requirement on its bonus can provide better value than a ‘Bonus Only’ wagering requirement offer. However, a ‘Deposit + Bonus’ turnover rarely offers better value than a ‘Bonus Only’ offer.

For example…

• A 25x ‘Deposit + Bonus’ turnover offers the same value as a 50x ‘Bonus Only’ turnover if the bonuses have the same deposit match percentage.
• A 25x ‘Deposit + Bonus’ turnover offers better value than a 60x ‘Bonus Only’ turnover if the bonuses have the same deposit match percentage.

Other Bonus Rules to Look Out For:

• How much do bonus bets on live dealer games count towards the wagering requirement?
• What is the maximum bet allowed using bonus money?
• When does the bonus expire?
• What is the maximum bonus money to real money conversion?

Real-Life Examples of Live Casino Bonuses

More value saving tips for live casino players: Recently I published an article as to why it is important to play at casino using your domestic currency. It tells you exactly how much you will lose if you use a different fiat currency. Check it out. It could save you a lot of money, and if you follow the advice, you will certainly get better value for money when playing at live casinos – Deposit Tips to Maximise Your Live Casino Finances.