A wagering requirement is a condition that makes specified funds withdrawable only after a stated total value of qualifying wagers. It is sometimes called playthrough or rollover. Understanding the term is a matter of understanding a contract and its risks; a promotional balance is not necessarily money that can immediately be withdrawn.
What the multiplier measures
In a simple hypothetical example, a £20 bonus with a 10-times requirement corresponds to £200 of qualifying turnover. That number measures cumulative stakes, not a required profit, a fee paid once, or a guaranteed loss.
The same funds can be counted in turnover more than once if returns are staked again. Consequently, £200 of turnover does not imply that £200 was deposited. It also does not establish how much of an initial balance will remain.
Neither a multiplier nor a progress bar predicts whether the condition will be completed. Funds can be lost before completion. A smaller multiplier does not make gambling safe or guarantee a withdrawal.
The current Great Britain rule
The Gambling Commission’s Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 prohibits wagering requirements on bonus funds above ten times for licences within its scope. It also requires clear, fair and accessible incentive terms and prohibits mixing more than one gambling product type within an incentive.
The Commission’s implementation announcement gives 19 January 2026 as the effective date. Earlier articles describing much higher multipliers as routine Great Britain terms can therefore be out of date.
This is a rule for the relevant Commission licensees. It should not be described as a worldwide rule, or assumed to govern every website that is accessible from Britain. The cap is also not a guarantee that every remaining contract condition is fair.
Bonus funds and a customer’s own money
The Commission’s withdrawal guidance distinguishes the deposit balance from the bonus balance. Players must be able to withdraw their deposit balance without wagering restrictions, including when a bonus is pending or active, subject to general regulatory obligations.
The guidance also requires these balances to be displayed separately. Winnings made with the customer’s own funds should not become trapped merely because a promotional condition remains incomplete.
This does not mean every withdrawal is instant or exempt from legitimate checks. It means that bonus turnover conditions should not be presented as a general requirement to gamble one’s own deposited money before leaving.
Contribution rates and exclusions
A contribution rate is an accounting rule about how much a stake counts towards a promotional condition. In a hypothetical 50% weighting, £10 of stakes contributes £5 of qualifying turnover. This arithmetic explains why a displayed multiplier may not describe the full amount of gambling implied by other terms.
Exclusions, time limits and restrictions can further affect the condition. They are separate from the probability and payout rules of the underlying game. This article does not recommend games or a method for completing a requirement.
A game contributing fully to a progress meter can still have a negative expected return. Progress towards a contractual threshold should not be mistaken for progress towards a financial gain.
What no wagering does and does not establish
No wagering ordinarily describes the absence of a particular turnover condition. The phrase alone does not establish that every balance is withdrawable immediately, that there are no other restrictions, or that the promotion has a guaranteed cash value.
Conversely, a contract cannot make unfair treatment acceptable simply by describing a condition in small print. The Competition and Markets Authority’s guidance on online gambling promotions explains fairness and transparency expectations, including the ability to exit promotions with remaining deposit funds and associated deposit winnings.
A deadline or partially completed meter is not a reason to continue spending beyond one’s intentions. Declining a promotion or stopping gambling remains an option.
Gambling protection and support
Probability does not remove the risk of financial harm. GAMSTOP provides online self-exclusion, and GamCare provides information and support. Self-exclusion protections should be maintained. Seeking a different game or software provider is not a substitute for them.
Reviewed 22 October 2026 against the primary guidance linked above. Examples are illustrative and are not offers.