If you’ve ever claimed a casino bonus, played craps, and then been told you can’t withdraw — this page is why. Wagering requirements are the single most misunderstood part of any casino bonus, and they hit craps players harder than any other group. This guide breaks down what wagering requirements are, how the math actually works, why craps is nearly always excluded, and exactly how to read the fine print in under 60 seconds.
All figures on this page verified directly from each casino’s own Bonus Terms pages in April 2026.
What Is a Wagering Requirement?
A wagering requirement (also called rollover, playthrough, or turnover) is a number that tells you how much you have to bet before you can withdraw a bonus — or any winnings from it.
It’s expressed as a multiple with an “x” after it, like 30x, 40x, or 50x. The multiplier applies to one of three things, depending on the casino:
- Bonus only — e.g. “40x the bonus.” A $100 bonus at 40x = $4,000 of betting required.
- Bonus + deposit — e.g. “40x the bonus + deposit.” A $100 deposit + $100 bonus at 40x = $8,000 of betting required. This version is roughly twice as hard as bonus-only.
- Deposit only (rare, and usually a good sign) — e.g. “10x the deposit.”
Until you hit that betting threshold with qualifying bets, the bonus money is locked. Try to withdraw before clearing it and the casino will either deny the request or — worse — void the bonus and any winnings attached to it.
How Wagering Math Actually Works: Worked Examples
Forget marketing headlines. Here’s what the numbers really mean for a player who wants to play craps.
Example 1: A “good” welcome bonus on slots
CasinoMAX 100% up to $1,000 table-games bonus (code MAX100). Wagering: 40x bonus + deposit. You deposit $100, get $100 bonus.
- Wagering threshold: ($100 + $100) × 40 = $8,000 of qualifying bets.
- Playing blackjack (eligible): clears at roughly expected-value loss of about $32 (0.4% house edge × $8,000).
- Playing craps: doesn’t clear at all — craps is on the excluded-games list for this bonus.
Example 2: The only craps-friendly bonus on our list
BitStarz welcome bonus: 100% match up to $500 + 180 free spins. Wagering: 40x bonus. Craps contribution: 5%.
- You deposit $100, get $100 bonus.
- Wagering threshold: $100 × 40 = $4,000 in effective bonus-eligible action.
- Because craps contributes 5%, every $1 on craps counts as $0.05. So to clear the bonus playing only craps: $4,000 ÷ 0.05 = $80,000 in craps action.
- At a $10 pass line + $20 odds, you cycle roughly $500/hour — about 160 hours of play.
- Expected statistical loss over that action: ~$600 (at roughly 0.75% effective edge across line + odds).
Verdict: clearable if you’re a regular, but only realistic at larger bankrolls. For casual players, even BitStarz’s 5% contribution is borderline.
Example 3: The “typical” trap
A 400% welcome bonus up to $500, 50x bonus + deposit, craps excluded. You deposit $100, get $400 bonus.
- Wagering: ($100 + $400) × 50 = $25,000 required.
- Craps contribution: 0%. So wagering at craps is mathematically impossible regardless of bankroll.
- Your options: play slots (which you didn’t sign up for), play craps and forfeit the bonus, or — best — never claim the bonus in the first place and deposit normally.
Several of the casinos in our main bonus guide follow this last pattern, which is why we recommend most craps players skip welcome bonuses altogether.
Game Contribution: The Hidden Deal-Breaker
Every casino bonus has a “game weighting” or “contribution” table buried in its Terms & Conditions. This table tells you what percentage of each $1 wagered actually counts toward clearing the bonus. It’s where craps players get ambushed.
Typical game weightings across the industry:
| Game | Typical contribution | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Slots (non-progressive) | 100% | High house edge (4–10%). Casino safely profits while you clear. |
| Keno, Scratch Cards, Bingo | 100% | Similar high-edge games to slots. |
| Progressive slots | 0% or excluded | Jackpot prevents casino from exposing bonus to progressive risk. |
| Video Poker | 0–10% | Full-pay variants have edges below 1%. |
| Roulette (American) | 20–50% | 5.26% edge — decent casino margin. |
| Blackjack (standard) | 5–10% | Basic strategy reduces edge to ~0.5%, so casinos weight it down. |
| Craps (pass line + odds) | 0% (most casinos) 5% (BitStarz) |
House edge under 1% — casino can’t recover bonus cost, so usually excluded. |
| Baccarat, Sic Bo, Red Dog | 0% | Same low-edge reason as craps. |
| Live Dealer (any game) | 0% (usually) | Operational cost; casino doesn’t want bonus funds at live tables. |
The rule of thumb: if a game has a house edge under ~2%, expect it to be excluded or heavily weighted down in any welcome bonus. That’s why pass-line-plus-odds craps — the most mathematically efficient bet in the casino — is the worst game to try to clear a bonus with.
The Verified Contribution Rates at 8 Major Casinos (April 2026)
We checked each casino’s live Terms & Conditions in April 2026. Here’s exactly how craps is treated in each one’s welcome bonus:
| Casino | Wagering | Craps contribution | What happens if you play craps with the bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| BitStarz | 40x bonus | 5% | Bets count at 5%. Clearable if you’re a regular craps player. |
| CasinoMAX | 40x bonus + deposit | 0% | Excluded from both slot and table welcome bonuses. |
| Sloto’Cash | 25–30x | 0% | Playing craps while bonus is active can void all winnings. |
| Lucky Red | 50x bonus + deposit | 0% | Excluded on slot bonus; also on “table games” alternative. |
| Sun Palace | 50x bonus + deposit | 0% | Craps wagers don’t count and can void the bonus. |
| Vegas Casino Online | 40–50x | 0% | Bonus only clears on slots, keno, scratch cards. |
| Betway (UK) | 50x bonus | 0% | Craps is explicitly listed under “excluded games.” |
| Jackpot City | 35–50x | 0% | In 0% bucket with baccarat, sic bo, red dog, progressives. |
Why Casinos Exclude Craps: The House-Edge Math
Casinos don’t exclude craps out of spite. It’s pure arithmetic. The casino’s goal with any bonus is to break even or slightly profit on average, after paying out the bonus, given the wagering requirement.
Simple model: if you wager $W at a game with house edge E, your expected loss is W × E. For the casino to avoid losing money on a $100 bonus, your expected loss across the wagering volume must be at least $100.
- Slots at 5% edge, 40x bonus, $100 bonus: $4,000 × 5% = $200 expected loss. Casino profits.
- Craps (pass + odds) at 0.75% edge, 40x bonus, $100 bonus: $4,000 × 0.75% = $30 expected loss. Casino loses $70 on the bonus on average.
Multiply that by thousands of bonus-claimants per month and the casino goes broke offering welcome bonuses to craps players. Exclusion is the math protecting their business.
The implication for you: any casino that does let craps contribute (even at 5%) is giving up margin to keep you on the platform. That’s why it’s rare — and why when you find it, it’s usually worth taking advantage of.
The 60-Second Terms & Conditions Checklist
Before you claim any bonus, scan the T&Cs for these five things in order. If any red-flag appears, don’t claim.
- Game contribution / eligible games list. Find “craps” in the table. If it says “0%,” “excluded,” or “voids bonus,” stop. The bonus is useless to you as a craps player.
- Wagering multiplier. Anything over 50x is aggressive. Anything over 60x is a warning. Also check whether it’s “bonus only” or “bonus + deposit” — the latter is roughly twice as hard to clear.
- Max bet while wagering. Almost always $5–$10. Exceed it once and the bonus voids. A $10 pass line + $20 odds is a $30 single bet — over the limit at most casinos.
- Time limit. Many bonuses expire within 7–30 days. If you can’t realistically clear the wagering in that window, don’t claim.
- Max cashout. Especially on no-deposit offers. A “$25 free chip, $100 max cashout” means whatever you win above $100 is forfeited.
If any of these five aren’t clearly stated in the bonus’s terms, assume the worst version. Reputable casinos — BitStarz, CasinoMAX, and a handful of others — spell all five out explicitly. Sketchy ones bury them.
Strategies for Clearing Wagering (When You Have To)
Sometimes you’ll claim a bonus anyway — maybe you play multiple games, or the bonus is too good to skip, or you got caught out by the fine print. Here’s how to give yourself the best chance.
Strategy 1: Use 100%-contribution games, not craps
If craps is excluded or weighted at 5%, clear the bonus on slots (or blackjack if it’s weighted at least 10%), then switch to craps after the bonus is cleared or forfeited. This is the most efficient approach if you want to retain bonus value.
Strategy 2: Play low-volatility slots
If you’re forced onto slots to clear a bonus, pick high-RTP, low-volatility slots. They give you the most spins per dollar, keep variance manageable, and lose the bonus money more slowly than high-volatility titles. Target slots with RTP above 96%.
Strategy 3: Play within the max-bet limit
Never test the max-bet rule. Casinos’ anti-fraud systems flag bets over the limit automatically. On craps specifically, remember that odds bets are part of the total bet for max-bet rule purposes at many casinos — a $5 pass line with $25 in odds is a $30 bet, not $5.
Strategy 4: Track your wagering manually
Don’t trust the casino’s wagering meter. Keep a spreadsheet of total bets placed while the bonus is active. If there’s a dispute later, your log is the evidence.
Strategy 5 (often the best): Skip the bonus entirely
As a craps player, declining the welcome bonus and depositing normally is frequently the best financial choice. You keep every cent you deposit, you can play craps with no restrictions, and you can withdraw whenever you want. No wagering requirement = no trap. If the casino lets you play your game of choice without strings, that’s worth more than a $500 “bonus” you can’t clear.
Craps Bonuses That Don’t Have Wagering Problems
Not every casino promotion is a wagering trap. Certain bonus types are designed to be craps-friendly or have no wagering at all. If you’re going to spend time claiming bonuses as a craps player, these are the ones to target:
- Cashback bonuses — typically 10–25% of net losses back as real cash, usually with zero or 1x wagering. Craps losses count because the rebate is based on losses, not on game type. See our ranked craps bonuses page for cashback-focused options.
- No-wager free spins & chips — small promotions where winnings are yours to keep immediately. See our no-deposit craps bonus guide.
- VIP / loyalty programs — earn comp points by playing craps (where allowed), convert them to cash or perks with minimal playthrough.
- Reduced-contribution welcome bonuses — rare, but they exist. BitStarz is the prime example at 5% craps contribution. Worth claiming if you have the bankroll and patience to clear. See our craps welcome bonus comparison.
Where This Leaves You: Two Recommendations
After working the math above on every major casino welcome bonus, there are really only two offers a dedicated craps player should consider claiming.
BitStarz — The Only Welcome Bonus You Can Actually Use on Craps
Why it’s on this list: BitStarz is the single major casino where craps contributes to wagering at all (5% per their official bonus terms). Everyone welcome, use crypto or fiat, 180 free spins included, plus a 50 free-spins no-deposit trial to test first. Not available in the US or UK.
CasinoMAX — Best USA Option (Skip the Welcome, Take the Cashback)
Why it’s on this list: The welcome bonus excludes craps (as do all RTG casinos), but CasinoMAX’s 10% automatic cashback has no wagering attached and applies to craps losses. Skip the match bonus, deposit normally, play craps with no strings. A $20 no-deposit chip (code C20BONUS) lets you test the lobby risk-free.
Wagering Requirements FAQ
What does “wagering requirement” actually mean?
It’s the amount you must bet in qualifying games before a bonus (and any winnings from it) becomes cashable. Expressed as a multiple like 40x. If the multiple applies to “bonus + deposit” instead of “bonus only,” the actual required play is roughly double.
Is 30x wagering good?
Relatively — for slots. 30x bonus on a $100 bonus = $3,000 of slot action, very clearable. But for craps players it’s irrelevant if craps is excluded or weighted down to 5%. Always check game contribution before celebrating a low wagering multiplier.
What’s considered a high wagering requirement?
Anything 50x or above on “bonus + deposit” is aggressive. 60x+ is a red flag. No-deposit bonuses often have 60–70x wagering to offset the zero risk — that’s normal there, but keep expectations low on cashout.
Can I withdraw my original deposit before clearing the wagering?
At most casinos, yes — but forfeiting the bonus and any winnings tied to it. Some casinos call this “Flexi Bonus” or similar. Check the terms.
Do withdrawals reset my wagering progress?
No, but withdrawing usually forfeits any unclaimed bonus. Wagering progress is tracked automatically by the casino.
What happens if I exceed the max-bet limit by accident?
Most casinos will either (a) void the bonus entirely, (b) void any winnings from that session, or (c) freeze your account pending review. Even a single oversized bet can trigger this. Stay well under the limit — if it says $10, bet $8.
Do odds bets count toward “max bet” on craps?
At many casinos, yes — the line bet and the odds bet together count as a single bet for max-bet purposes. A $5 pass line with 3x–4x–5x odds on the 6/8 can be a $25+ bet. Call or chat with the casino to confirm before placing it if you’re wagering under a bonus.
Why is the wagering higher on no-deposit bonuses?
Because the casino has zero skin in the game — you haven’t deposited. They compensate by setting 60–70x wagering and tight cashout caps ($50–$200 typical). That’s fair exchange for being able to try the casino risk-free.
Related Reading at CrapsPit
- Online Casino Bonuses: Full Craps-Focused Guide
- Best Craps Bonuses (Ranked for Craps Players)
- Craps Welcome Bonus Comparison
- No Deposit Craps Bonuses
- All Casino Reviews
- Craps Math & House Edge
- Craps Money Management
Disclaimer: Bonus terms change frequently. Every figure on this page was verified from each casino’s own Terms & Conditions in April 2026 but can be amended at the operator’s discretion. Always read the current Terms & Conditions in the casino’s cashier before depositing. Gamble responsibly; only bet money you can afford to lose. 18+ (or the legal age in your jurisdiction).