Bonus Terms Explained
Wagering, max bet, game contribution and expiry, explained with real pound figures for UK players. Includes the 10x rule for UK-licensed casinos and how offshore offers like Kinghills compare.
On this page
Bonus terms in 40 words
A casino bonus is money you can play with but not withdraw until you have bet a set multiple of it, on games that count, below a stake limit, before a deadline. Break any one of those rules and the bonus goes.
Everything else in a bonus policy is detail around those four levers: multiple, games, stake, time. Once you can read them, you can size up any offer in about two minutes, whether it is from a UK-licensed brand or an offshore one like Kinghills.
How it works, with numbers
Let's use the Kinghills first-deposit offer, because the figures are big enough to show the effect. You deposit £100 and get a 100% match, so there is £100 of bonus money in your account. Wagering is 35x on the bonus.
- Wagering total. £100 × 35 = £3,500 of bets before the bonus converts to cash.
- Game contribution. On a slot that counts 100%, a £1 spin knocks £1 off. On a table game counting 10%, the same £1 bet only clears 10p, so you would need £35,000 of blackjack to finish.
- Stake cap. Say the limit is £5 a spin. That stops you firing through the wagering with a few £50 spins, which is exactly what it is designed to do.
- Deadline. Seven days. £3,500 over a week is £500 a day, around 500 spins at £1.
- The house edge. A slot with 96% RTP holds about 4% of what you stake on average. 4% of £3,500 is £140.
So on paper you start with £200 and, on average, finish the wagering with about £60 left. Some players will hit a feature early and walk away with far more, many will bust out halfway. That spread is the whole game. A bonus doesn't change the odds of any single spin; it changes how many spins you get and on what conditions.
Now compare a UK-licensed casino. Since 19 January 2026 the Gambling Commission caps wagering at 10x. A £20 bonus at 10x needs £200 of bets, which costs about £8 on average at 96% RTP. The bonus is smaller, but you keep most of it. That is the trade-off in a sentence: offshore offers are bigger and harder, UK offers are smaller and easier.
Try your own numbers
Move the sliders to match any offer you are looking at. The results update as you go.
- Wagering on paper
- Bets needed at this contribution
- Spins at your stake
- Time at ~10 spins a minute
- Average cost of the wagering
- Bonus left on average
Averages only. Try setting 10x to see a UK-style offer, then 35x for a typical offshore one.
Why this matters to you
Nearly every bonus complaint we come across starts with a term the player didn't read. The sad pattern goes like this: someone clears half the wagering, lands a decent win, raises the stake to £10 to "lock it in", and the casino voids the lot for breaking the max-bet rule. The casino is within its rights, and the player loses a win they genuinely hit.
The other common one is withdrawing mid-wagering. At most offshore casinos, a withdrawal request cancels an active bonus and any winnings attached to it. If you want out, it is usually better to finish or forfeit the bonus deliberately than to let the cashier do it for you.
Reading the terms also tells you whether an offer suits the way you play. A bonus built for slots is close to useless to a roulette player, and a 7-day window is tough if you only play at weekends. Two minutes with the policy saves both money and irritation.
Definitions
Wagering requirement
The total you must bet before bonus money becomes cash, written as a multiple (35x) of the bonus, or of deposit plus bonus.
Game contribution
The percentage of each bet that counts towards wagering. Slots are usually 100%; tables and live games much lower or 0%.
Max bet
The largest single stake allowed while a bonus is active. Going over it, once, can void the bonus.
Expiry
How long you have to finish wagering. Kinghills gives 7 days on its welcome offer.
Max cashout
A cap on what you can withdraw from a bonus, common on free spins and no-deposit offers.
Sticky vs non-sticky
A non-sticky bonus lets you play your own cash first and walk away with a win before touching the bonus. A sticky one mixes the two from the start.
Myths
"Low-volatility slots are the trick"
They make the balance last longer, which helps you finish, but they don't change the house edge. The average cost of the wagering is the same.
"Bigger bonus, better deal"
A £500 bonus at 35x can be worth less to you than £20 at 10x. Run both through the sliders above.
"Casinos hide the terms"
Reputable ones don't, including Kinghills: the bonus policy is linked from the promotions page. The problem is that nobody opens it.
"The 10x rule covers every site"
Only UKGC licensees. Offshore casinos set their own multiples, and that is legal where they are licensed.
Who a bonus doesn't suit
- Table and live dealer players. Low or zero contribution makes the wagering close to impossible.
- High-stakes players. A £5 max bet is a real limit if you normally stake £20 a spin.
- Occasional players. Seven days goes quickly if you play once a week.
- Anyone who wants quick withdrawals. Cash play without a bonus can be withdrawn whenever you like.
- Anyone chasing losses. A bonus that "gets it back" is the wrong reason to deposit. Take a break instead and, if it keeps happening, talk to BeGambleAware.
If you still want to take an offer, our page on the Kinghills 100% welcome bonus applies all of this to a real one, and the guides section covers the cashier side.
FAQ
What does 35x wagering mean?
You have to place bets worth 35 times the bonus before it turns into withdrawable cash. A £50 bonus at 35x needs £1,750 of bets. It is the total amount staked, not the amount you have to lose.
Is wagering calculated on the bonus or on deposit plus bonus?
It depends on the casino, and the difference is large. 35x on a £100 bonus is £3,500; 35x on £100 deposit plus £100 bonus is £7,000. The terms say which one applies, usually in the first few clauses.
What is the maximum wagering a UK casino can set?
Since 19 January 2026, casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission cannot set wagering above 10x on a bonus. Offshore casinos such as Kinghills are not bound by that rule, which is why you still see 35x or 40x there.
Why did my bonus get cancelled?
The usual reasons are a bet above the max-bet limit, playing an excluded game, missing the expiry deadline, or a withdrawal request while the bonus was active. Ask support which clause was applied and to show you the bet in question.
Do free spin winnings have wagering too?
Usually yes. Winnings from free spins are normally added as bonus money with their own wagering and sometimes a cap on how much can be withdrawn. No-wagering spins exist, but the offer will say so clearly.
Can I play live casino with a bonus?
You can often play, but live and table games tend to count 0% to 20% towards wagering, and some terms ban them outright while a bonus is active. Slots are the only games that reliably count in full.
Read the terms, then decide
Kinghills lists its bonus policy on the promotions page. Open it before you tick the box.
18+ only. Gamble responsibly. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org.
By Michael Roberts, Bonus & Promotions Expert