Wagering requirements explained
Reviewed by Danielle Tremblay, Editor
A wagering requirement, also called playthrough, is the total amount you must stake before bonus funds and anything won with them become withdrawable. It is expressed as a multiple: a thirty times requirement on a bonus means staking thirty times that bonus amount, counted as turnover rather than as losses. That distinction is where most confusion starts. Staking a dollar and winning it back still counts a dollar of turnover, so you can meet a large requirement without losing the equivalent — but you will lose the house edge on every dollar of that turnover, which is the real cost. This page shows the arithmetic step by step, explains how game weighting inflates the requirement, and gives you a way to estimate what any offer will actually cost you before you accept it. Our wagering calculator lets you run your own numbers.
Licensed casinos for this category
-
★ TOP PICK · wagering explained
1
PlayOJO
Skill On Net Ltd.
iGO licensedClear, straightforward bonus terms and a huge slots lobby
Payout: Interac 2–24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracLive dealerSlots9.4/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- Skill On Net Ltd.
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino
- Payout times
- Interac 2–24 hours, card 1–3 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Apple Pay
- Game count
- 3,000
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Bonus terms are the plainest of any casino we cover
- Very large slot library with strong filtering
- Cashback-style rewards apply to ordinary play, not just big spends
Cons
- Casino only, so no poker or sports betting
- Fewer live tables than BetMGM
Why it’s ranked #1 for wagering explained
Clear terms and a broad slots catalogue distinguish this casino in our comparison. Its casino-only focus is a useful fit for readers who do not need poker or sports betting.
-
#2 PICK · wagering explained
2
BetMGM Casino
BetMGM Canada Inc.
iGO licensedBig-brand casino, poker and sportsbook in one Ontario account
Payout: Interac 1–24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracLive dealerSportsbook+19.6/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- BetMGM Canada Inc.
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino · Poker · Sports Betting
- Payout times
- Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Apple Pay · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,300
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Casino, poker and sports betting in one Ontario account
- Large live dealer floor with Ontario-only tables
- Interac withdrawals normally land the same day once verified
Cons
- The lobby takes a little learning because of its size
- Live chat can be slow on weekend evenings
Why it’s ranked #2 for wagering explained
Its breadth across casino, poker and sports places it first in our overall comparison. Our criteria balance the registered operator, game selection and published payment information rather than relying on a single feature.
-
#3 PICK · wagering explained
3
LeoVegas
TigerGen Limited
iGO licensedSmoothest phone experience, casino and sports in one wallet
Payout: Interac 1–24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracMobile appSportsbook9.2/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- TigerGen Limited
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino · Sports Betting
- Payout times
- Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · Apple Pay · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,500
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- The best phone experience of the five sites
- Casino and sports betting share one Ontario wallet
- Fast, reliable Interac withdrawals
Cons
- Desktop layout feels secondary to the mobile design
- Slot catalogue is mid-sized rather than huge
Why it’s ranked #3 for wagering explained
Mobile navigation and the combined casino and sports offering are its distinguishing features in our comparison. Readers should still check device compatibility and the current cashier conditions before choosing it.
-
#4 PICK · wagering explained
4
Jackpot City
Cadtree Limited
iGO licensedDeep progressive jackpot section, long-running Ontario brand
Payout: Interac 24–48h · Min deposit: $10
InteracJackpotsSlots9.2/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- Cadtree Limited
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino
- Payout times
- Interac 24–48 hours, card 2–4 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,600
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Deep progressive jackpot section
- Registration reference published openly in the site footer
- Long-running brand with a stable Ontario product
Cons
- Withdrawals are a little slower than the fastest sites here
- Fewer table game variants than BetMGM or 888casino
Why it’s ranked #4 for wagering explained
The progressive jackpot selection is its main strength in our editorial criteria. The published withdrawal window is longer than some of the other casinos listed here, which weighs against it in an overall comparison.
-
#5 PICK · wagering explained
5
888casino
VHL Ontario Limited
iGO licensedExclusive in-house live tables, plus poker and sport
Payout: Interac 24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracLive dealerPoker9.0/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- VHL Ontario Limited
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino · Poker · Sports Betting
- Payout times
- Interac 24 hours, card 2–4 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,100
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Exclusive in-house live dealer tables
- Casino, poker and sports betting under one account
- Strong blackjack and roulette variety
Cons
- Slot catalogue is the smallest of the five
- Interface design is dated in places
Why it’s ranked #5 for wagering explained
Live tables and the wider poker and sports offering give this casino a distinct place in our comparison. Our overall order also considers the smaller slots catalogue and published withdrawal conditions.
19+ · Play responsibly · ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 · We may earn a commission from links on this page. Affiliate disclosure
Compared side by sideShow table
| Casino | Registered operator | Score | Min. deposit | Payout time | Live dealer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlayOJO | Skill On Net Ltd. | 9.4 / 10 | $10 | Interac 2–24 hours, card 1–3 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| BetMGM Casino | BetMGM Canada Inc. | 9.6 / 10 | $10 | Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| LeoVegas | TigerGen Limited | 9.2 / 10 | $10 | Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| Jackpot City | Cadtree Limited | 9.2 / 10 | $10 | Interac 24–48 hours, card 2–4 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| 888casino | VHL Ontario Limited | 9.0 / 10 | $10 | Interac 24 hours, card 2–4 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
The basic calculation
Required turnover equals the bonus multiplied by the playthrough multiple. Some operators apply the multiple to deposit plus bonus instead, which doubles the work for the same headline number — always check which. Turnover is cumulative across qualifying spins and hands; it is not a target you have to reach in one session unless expiry forces it.
How weighting changes the maths
If slots count fully and blackjack counts ten per cent, then a dollar staked at blackjack contributes ten cents of turnover. Clearing a requirement at the tables therefore takes ten times the staking. This is why low-edge games are weighted down: they would otherwise be an efficient way to clear a bonus cheaply.
Estimating the true cost
Multiply required turnover by the house edge of the game you will use. Thirty times a fifty dollar bonus is fifteen hundred dollars of turnover; at a four per cent slot edge that is roughly sixty dollars of expected loss to unlock fifty dollars of bonus. Run that calculation before accepting an offer and the marginal ones become obvious.
Practical rules
Stay under the maximum stake while a bonus is active, because breaching it can void everything. Play the weighted games, not the ones you would prefer, or decline the offer. Watch the expiry. And remember that declining a bonus entirely is always available and keeps your deposit fully withdrawable — sometimes the best use of an offer is to say no.