Wagering requirements: the turnover math behind every bonus
A wagering requirement, also called playthrough or rollover, is the amount you must stake before bonus funds become withdrawable. It is the single most important number in any casino offer, and it is easy to calculate once you know three inputs: the multiplier, what it is applied to and how much your games count. This guide does the calculation step by step and then goes one step further — to the expected cost of all that play.
Whether Garage runs a given offer for your account, and on what terms, is shown on the operator’s promotions page. Amounts, percentages and wagering are set by Garage; the bonus terms on the operator’s site are final.
Go to the offerThe basic formula
Required turnover = wagering base × multiplier ÷ game weighting.
- Wagering base: the bonus alone, or deposit plus bonus — the terms say which.
- Multiplier: the number of times the base must be staked, for example 30x.
- Game weighting: the share of each stake that counts, for example 100% for slots or 10% for blackjack.
Hypothetical example: a €100 bonus, 30x on the bonus, played on a game weighted at 100%: €100 × 30 ÷ 1.00 = €3,000. The same offer played on a game weighted at 20%: €100 × 30 ÷ 0.20 = €15,000.
From turnover to expected cost
Turnover is not lost money, but every euro staked carries the game’s house edge. Multiplying the required turnover by the house edge gives the long-run expected cost of clearing the bonus. If that cost is close to or above the bonus, the offer is unattractive on average.
| Game (example weighting) | Required turnover for €100 at 30x | Approx. house edge | Expected cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slot at 96% RTP (100%) | €3,000 | 4% | about €120 |
| European roulette (20%) | €15,000 | 2.70% | about €405 |
| Blackjack, basic strategy (10%) | €30,000 | around 0.5%, rules-dependent | about €150 |
The figures are illustrations, not promises: short-term results swing widely, and real table rules change the blackjack edge. The pattern, though, is stable — reduced weighting multiplies turnover, and turnover multiplies cost. European roulette’s 2.70% comes from the single zero: one pocket out of 37. More on the rules of each game is in the table games guide.
Tracking your progress
- Note the required turnover on the day you accept the offer.
- Check the progress counter in your account after each session.
- Keep every stake at or below the maximum bet stated in the terms.
- Watch the deadline; plan sessions so you are not forced into a last-minute rush.
Mistakes that void bonuses
- Placing a stake above the maximum bet, even once.
- Playing excluded games and assuming they count.
- Low-risk patterns such as covering red and black or both sides in baccarat.
- Requesting a withdrawal before the requirement is complete.
Wagering versus rebates
Do not confuse a wagering requirement with a turnover rebate. The first is a condition you must fulfil before withdrawing; the second is a reward paid on stakes you have already placed. A cashback offer can itself carry wagering, usually lower than a deposit bonus.
Bonus wagering explained step by step
Find the base, apply the multiplier, divide by the weighting of the game you play, then multiply by the house edge to see the expected cost. Four steps, two minutes, and you know whether a bonus is worth the play it demands — before you have deposited a single euro.