The moment a promotions page shows a welcome package or a set of free spins, the reader is not looking at a payment. They are looking at a conditional contract whose headline number is the least informative thing on the screen. The five items that decide whether the offer is worth anything are the wagering multiple, its basis, the eligible games, the time limit, and the maximum cashout. Canadians Online publishes its promotions terms on a dedicated page, and that page is the only place those five items are binding.
The headline is a condition, not a payment
A promotions page leads with a percentage or a number of spins because that is what attracts attention. But the headline figure describes the size of the bonus, not the amount the reader can withdraw. Across operators, the difference between the two is governed by a wagering requirement: the player must stake a multiple of the bonus before any winnings derived from it can leave the account. The multiple is stated in the terms, not in the banner. A reader who stops at the banner has read an advertisement, not an offer.
What a wagering requirement does mechanically is simple. The operator credits a bonus amount to the account. That amount is not withdrawable. The player places bets with it, and those bets generate a turnover figure. Only when the turnover figure reaches the required multiple does the operator convert the remaining bonus balance, or the winnings it produced, into withdrawable cash. Until that moment, the bonus is a liability to the operator and an unfulfilled condition to the player.
The five items that decide whether an offer is worth anything
Every promotions page, however it is designed, ultimately rests on five variables. The reader should treat these as a checklist and read each one off the operator's own terms before accepting anything.
| Item to confirm | Why it can change | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering multiple | Operators adjust the multiple between campaigns, between player tiers, and between bonus types. A free-spin offer commonly carries a different multiple from a deposit-match offer. | The promotions terms page, usually under a heading such as "Wagering requirements" or "Playthrough". |
| Basis of the multiple | The multiple may apply to the bonus only, or to the deposit plus the bonus. The difference doubles or triples the actual turnover required for the same headline figure. | The same terms page, in the sentence that defines what the multiple multiplies. |
| Eligible games | Not all games count toward the requirement at the same rate. Slots commonly count fully; table games and live dealer games often count at a reduced rate or not at all. | A game contribution table or weighting list, usually linked from the promotions terms. |
| Time limit | A bonus that must be wagered within a short window is worth less than one with a longer window, even if every other figure is identical. | The promotions terms, under "Validity" or "Expiry". |
| Maximum cashout | Many offers cap the amount that can be withdrawn from bonus winnings, regardless of how much was won. | The promotions terms, under "Maximum cashout" or "Withdrawal restrictions". |
If the promotions page does not state one of these items, that absence is itself the answer to the reader's question. An offer without a stated wagering multiple has no defined path to withdrawal. An offer without a game contribution table leaves the player unable to calculate how much turnover any given session produces. The reader cannot assume a missing item defaults to a favourable value; across operators, missing terms usually mean the operator retains discretion, and discretion is not a condition the player can plan around.
Where the wagering basis changes the arithmetic
The single most consequential line on a promotions page is the one that defines what the wagering multiple multiplies. A multiple applied to the bonus only produces one turnover figure. The same multiple applied to the deposit plus the bonus produces a much larger figure. Both are legitimate designs, and both appear across operators. The reader's task is not to judge which is fair but to know which one governs the offer they are reading.
The basis is normally stated in the same paragraph as the multiple itself. A sentence such as "the wagering requirement applies to the bonus amount" means one thing; a sentence such as "the wagering requirement applies to the deposit and bonus combined" means another. The difference is not a detail. It is the largest single variable in whether the offer can be completed before the time limit expires.
Game contribution rates and why they matter
A wagering requirement is not fulfilled by betting on anything the casino offers. Each game category contributes to the turnover figure at a rate the operator sets. Slots commonly contribute at the full rate, meaning every unit staked counts as one unit of turnover. Table games, video poker, and live dealer games commonly contribute at a reduced rate, meaning only a fraction of each stake counts. Some games are excluded entirely.
The contribution table is the document that makes this concrete. It lists game categories and the percentage of each stake that counts toward the requirement. A reader who intends to wager a bonus on blackjack must read that table before depositing, because the effective wagering requirement for blackjack may be several times the headline multiple. If the promotions page does not link to a contribution table, the reader should treat the offer as unquantifiable.
Time limits and the pace of play
Every bonus has a validity period, and the period is part of the offer's value. A wagering requirement that must be met within a short window imposes a pace of play that some readers cannot sustain. The same requirement spread over a longer window is more achievable, even though the headline figures are identical.
The time limit is stated on the promotions terms page, usually near the wagering requirement. It may be expressed in days from the moment the bonus is credited, or in days from the deposit. The distinction matters: a limit that begins at crediting runs from a moment the player may not control precisely, while a limit that begins at deposit runs from a moment the player does control. The reader should note which trigger starts the clock.
Maximum cashout and the ceiling on winnings
A maximum cashout clause caps the amount that can be withdrawn from bonus winnings, regardless of how much the player wins. The cap is stated as a figure on the promotions terms page. It applies after the wagering requirement is met, not before. A player who completes a wagering requirement and has a balance above the cap forfeits the excess.
The cap is not always present. Some offers carry no maximum cashout, and that absence is a meaningful difference. But the reader cannot assume its absence from a summary or a banner means the cap does not exist. The only place the cap is binding is the promotions terms page itself. If the page states a cap, the offer's value is capped. If the page does not state a cap, the reader should still confirm that absence in the full terms rather than in a promotional summary.
Free spins as a separate set of conditions
Free spins are often presented as a simple gift, but they carry their own conditions. The spins themselves have a value per spin, a set of eligible games, and an expiry. The winnings from the spins are then subject to a wagering requirement of their own, which may differ from the deposit-match requirement. The reader must read the free-spin terms as a separate offer, even when the promotions page bundles them with a deposit match.
The value per spin is stated on the promotions page or in the free-spin terms. The eligible game is stated in the same place. The wagering requirement on spin winnings is stated separately from the deposit-match requirement. A reader who treats free spins as a single bundle with the deposit match will misread the total turnover required.
VIP cashback and its own arithmetic
Cashback offers work differently from deposit matches. A cashback offer returns a percentage of losses over a period, and the returned amount is usually credited as bonus funds with its own wagering requirement. The percentage, the period, the loss basis, and the wagering requirement on the returned amount are four separate items, each stated on the promotions page or in the VIP terms.
The loss basis is the item most often misread. Cashback may be calculated on net losses, on total stakes, or on losses in a specific game category. Each basis produces a different returned amount from the same play history. The reader must confirm which basis applies before treating a cashback percentage as meaningful.
What the promotions page cannot tell the reader
A promotions page states conditions. It does not state outcomes. No reader can know from the page whether they will complete a wagering requirement, whether a game will pay, or whether a cashback offer will return more than it costs in losses. The page's job is to make the conditions legible so the reader can decide whether to accept them. The outcome remains uncertain, and the house retains its edge on every bet placed with bonus funds, exactly as it does on every bet placed with cash.
The promotions page also does not state the operator's regulatory status, its payment processing times, or its verification requirements. Those items live on other pages. A reader who needs them should read those pages separately, because a promotions page is not a substitute for the terms and conditions, the payment policy, or the account verification policy.
FAQ
Does the wagering multiple apply to the bonus only or to the deposit plus the bonus?
The promotions terms page states the basis in the same paragraph as the multiple. The reader must read that sentence, because the difference between the two bases changes the total turnover required by a factor that can be large. The banner does not state the basis.
Do all games count toward the wagering requirement?
No. Each game category contributes at a rate the operator sets, and some games are excluded. The contribution table is the only place the rates are stated. A reader who intends to play table games must read that table before accepting the bonus.
What happens if the wagering requirement is not met before the time limit?
The bonus and any winnings derived from it are typically forfeited. The time limit is stated on the promotions terms page, and the trigger that starts the clock is stated alongside it. The reader should note both.
Is there a cap on how much can be withdrawn from bonus winnings?
Many offers carry a maximum cashout clause, stated on the promotions terms page. If the page states a cap, the cap applies after the wagering requirement is met. If the page does not state a cap, the reader should confirm that absence in the full terms.
This page is an independent summary of what a promotions page covers, it is not published by the operator, and it states no figure or status for them; the operator's own promotions terms page is the only binding source for every item discussed here.
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This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.
