How to read a casino bonus offer before you accept it
Percentage, maximum, wagering, game weighting, expiry, maximum bet: what each part of a casino bonus means, and a checklist of questions to ask before you say yes.
A casino bonus looks simple: "500% up to ₹3,000". The headline is the smallest part of the offer. The rules underneath decide what the bonus is actually worth, and they are worth reading before you deposit. This guide explains the common terms. It is general information, not a review of any operator.
The parts of an offer
Percentage and maximum bonus
The percentage tells you how much bonus is added to your deposit. A 100% bonus on ₹1,000 adds ₹1,000. The maximum bonus caps the amount: with a "500% up to ₹3,000" offer, the bonus never exceeds ₹3,000, however large the percentage sounds.
Minimum deposit
The smallest deposit that qualifies. If your deposit is below it, you get no bonus at all.
Wagering (rollover) requirement
The most important term. A multiplier such as 20x or 40x means you must place bets totalling that many times a certain amount before the bonus, and usually any winnings from it, can be withdrawn. The size of the multiplier matters a great deal. The wagering examples guide shows the arithmetic.
What the multiplier applies to
Two offers with the same "20x" can be very different:
- Bonus only: 20x applies to the bonus amount.
- Deposit plus bonus: 20x applies to the two added together, which roughly doubles the betting needed on a 100% offer.
Bonus wallet and real cash
Many sites keep a separate bonus wallet next to your real cash. Check which one is used first when you bet, and whether bonus money disappears if you withdraw your cash before finishing the wagering.
Game weighting
Not every bet counts equally towards wagering. Slots may count 100%, while table games or live dealer games may count 10% or nothing at all. The terms list the weights, and some games may be excluded.
Expiry
Bonuses usually come with a time limit, for example a number of days to complete the wagering. Miss it and the bonus and any winnings from it can be removed.
Maximum bet while wagering
Many terms set a top bet size while a bonus is active. Going over it, even once, can void the bonus and winnings.
Withdrawal conditions
Look for a cap on the amount you can withdraw from bonus winnings, any verification (KYC) you need to complete, and the payment methods that are allowed.
A checklist before you accept
- What is the bonus percentage and the maximum in rupees?
- What is the minimum deposit?
- What is the wagering multiplier, and does it apply to the bonus only or to deposit plus bonus?
- How much total betting is that in rupees? (Multiply it out, or use our bonus calculator.)
- Which games count, and at what percentage?
- How long do I have?
- Is there a maximum bet while the bonus is active?
- Can I withdraw at any point, and what happens to the bonus if I do?
- Is there a cap on winnings from the bonus?
- Can I decline the bonus? Is there a way to opt out before I deposit?
Keep this in mind
- A bonus is marketing. It is designed to bring you in, and it is never free money. You pay for it with the betting you must do to release it, and every bet has a house edge.
- Only the operator's own terms count. A summary on a website like this one, an affiliate page or a social-media post can be out of date or wrong. Read the current terms and conditions on the operator's own site before you deposit.
- A bonus is never a reason to gamble more than you planned. If an offer pushes you to deposit more than your budget, decline it. See setting limits.
For information only. 18+.
18+ only. This article is for information, not advice to gamble. Responsible gambling.
