Casino Wagering Requirements Explained (UK, 2026): The 10x Cap and What It Means for You
Wagering requirements decide whether a welcome bonus is worth anything. Here is how they work, what the UK's 10x cap does (and doesn't) cover, and how to read them in the small print.
A wagering requirement (sometimes "playthrough" or "rollover") is the number of times you must bet a bonus before the winnings from it become withdrawable cash. It is the single most important line in any casino welcome offer, and since 19 January 2026 it is also the most regulated: UK-licensed casinos can no longer attach more than 10x wagering to bonus funds.
How a wagering requirement works
Say a casino offers "100% up to £50, 10x wagering". You deposit £50 and receive a £50 bonus. To release the bonus you must place £500 of qualifying bets (10 × £50). Every spin counts towards that total whether it wins or loses, so it is a measure of total stake, not of money lost. Once the £500 is reached, whatever is left of the bonus balance becomes real money.
Before the cap, 35x and 40x were common. A £50 bonus at 40x meant £2,000 of play, which few people completed. The cap exists because the Gambling Commission found that high requirements encouraged people to play longer and faster than they intended.
Bonus-only vs "deposit + bonus"
The base matters as much as the multiplier. "10x bonus" on a £50 bonus is £500 of play. "10x deposit + bonus" on a £50 deposit and £50 bonus is £1,000. Always check which base the terms use. The UK cap is written around bonus funds; if an offer is still expressed as deposit-plus-bonus, work out the real multiple before you judge it.
What the January 2026 cap does, and does not, cover
- It caps the multiplier at 10x of the bonus amount for any incentive offered by a UK-licensed operator, including deposit matches, reloads and winnings from bonus spins.
- It bans mixed-product promotions: one promotion can no longer require you to bet on sport to unlock a casino bonus, or the reverse.
- It does not cap maximum-bet rules, time limits, maximum-win (cashout) caps or game contribution weighting. Those still decide how much an offer is really worth.
- It does not apply to sites that are not licensed in Great Britain. Offers on crypto or offshore casinos may still carry 35x–45x requirements, and those sites are not legal to use from the UK.
The rule lives in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice, Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1. You can read the Commission's own summary on gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
Game contribution weighting
Not every game counts equally. A typical table reads: slots 100%, scratchcards 100%, roulette 10%, blackjack 5–10%, live dealer 0–10%, and a list of excluded slots. If you bet £10 on roulette at a 10% weighting, only £1 counts. A £500 requirement played on roulette would therefore need £5,000 of bets. Our separate guide on game contribution percentages goes through the common traps.
Time limits and maximum bets
Most offers give 7–30 days. Most also cap the stake while a bonus is active, usually £2–£5 per spin or hand, or a percentage of the bonus. Exceeding the max bet is the most common reason winnings are voided. Both terms are "significant conditions" under the CAP Code and should appear next to the offer, not buried in the full terms.
How to read the requirement in the terms
- Find the multiplier and the base ("10x the bonus amount").
- Find the game contribution table and check the games you actually play.
- Find the expiry and the maximum bet.
- Look for a maximum withdrawal from the bonus ("max cashout £100"): a low cap can make even a 1x offer poor value.
- Check which deposit methods qualify. PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are sometimes excluded.
Try it on a real offer: our casino bonus calculator works out the total stake, the expected cost and the value of any welcome offer in seconds.
Is a lower requirement always better?
Usually, but not on its own. A 1x offer with a £50 max cashout is worse than a 10x offer with no cap for most players. The guide Is a casino bonus worth it? shows how to combine the multiplier, the game's RTP and the cap into one number.
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, never a way to make money. Set a budget, never chase losses, and take breaks. If gambling stops being enjoyable, free, confidential help is available at BeGambleAware.org, via GAMSTOP self-exclusion, or the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does 10x wagering mean?
You must place bets totalling ten times the bonus amount before bonus winnings can be withdrawn. A £20 bonus at 10x needs £200 of qualifying bets. Since 19 January 2026, UK-licensed casinos cannot set the requirement on bonus funds above 10x.
Is wagering calculated on the bonus or on deposit plus bonus?
Check the terms. Most UK offers now apply the multiplier to the bonus only. Some overseas sites apply it to deposit plus bonus, which doubles or more the real turnover. The UKGC cap limits the multiplier applied to bonus funds; read the wording to see what base is used.
Do all games count towards wagering?
No. Slots usually count 100%. Roulette, blackjack and live games often count 0–20%, and some high-RTP slots are excluded entirely. The contribution table is in the bonus terms.
How long do I have to complete wagering?
Typically 7 to 30 days from when the bonus is credited. Unmet wagering at expiry usually means the bonus and any winnings from it are removed.
Can I withdraw my own deposit while a bonus is active?
At most UK casinos you can request a withdrawal of your cash balance at any time, but doing so normally forfeits the active bonus and its winnings. Non-sticky offers make this clearer because your cash is played first.
Does the 10x cap apply to free spins?
Yes where the spins are a bonus: winnings from free spins can carry at most 10x wagering at a UK-licensed casino. Many operators now offer wager-free spins instead.