A player opens Cheatsmarket's promotions page and sees a welcome package, a list of free spins, a VIP cashback tier. The first thing to understand is that none of those are payments. They are offers, and every offer is a set of conditions that decide whether the headline figure ever becomes withdrawable money. Reading the page means finding those conditions, because the headline is the one part that does not bind anything.
The headline is a condition, not a payment
What a promotions page shows first is almost never what the player receives. A percentage, a number of spins, a cashback rate - these are the maximum possible value under conditions the page states elsewhere. The actual value is what remains after the wagering requirement, the eligible games, the time limit and the maximum cashout have all been applied. A reader who stops at the headline has read an advertisement, not an offer.
On Cheatsmarket's promotions page, as on any operator's, the binding terms sit in a dedicated promotions terms document, in the footer of each individual offer, or in a collapsible section under the offer itself. The headline and the terms are two different documents, and only the second one governs.
The five items that decide whether an offer is worth anything
Across operators, five items on a promotions page determine what a bonus is worth. They are the wagering multiple, the basis on which that multiple is calculated, the games that count toward it, the time limit, and the maximum cashout. A reader who cannot find all five has not finished reading the offer.
| Item to confirm | Why it can change | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering multiple | Operators adjust it per offer, per season, and per player tier; a multiple read last month may not be the one applying today. | In the individual offer's terms, usually under a heading such as "Wagering requirements" or "Playthrough". |
| Basis of the multiple | Some offers apply the multiple to the bonus only; others apply it to the deposit plus the bonus, which multiplies the total playthrough several times over. | In the same terms section, in a sentence stating whether the requirement is calculated on "bonus amount" or on "deposit plus bonus". |
| Eligible games | Slots commonly count fully, table games partially, and some games not at all; the list changes between offers. | In a game weighting table or a list of excluded games, often linked from the offer terms. |
| Time limit | A bonus expires if the wagering is not completed within the stated window; the window varies by offer. | In the offer terms, under "Validity" or "Time to complete wagering". |
| Maximum cashout | Even after wagering is met, the amount withdrawable is often capped; the cap is specific to each offer. | In the offer terms, under "Maximum withdrawal" or "Cashout limit". |
Each of these five items is a condition the reader must confirm on Cheatsmarket's own page. None of them can be assumed from the headline, and none of them is the same across all offers on the same page.
Wagering multiple and its basis: the two numbers that do the real work
The wagering multiple is the number of times the bonus amount - or the deposit plus the bonus - must be staked before any withdrawal is possible. It is a condition on the player's money, not a feature of the bonus. A high multiple on a small bonus can require more total staking than a lower multiple on a larger bonus, which is why the multiple alone is not enough; the basis matters equally.
The basis is stated in one sentence, and it changes everything. If the multiple applies to the bonus only, the required staking is a fixed multiple of the bonus. If it applies to deposit plus bonus, the required staking is that same multiple applied to a larger number. The reader must find that sentence and read it as part of the calculation, not as a footnote.
Where the page does not state the basis, the offer is unreadable in the only sense that matters. A reader who cannot tell whether the multiple applies to the bonus or to the deposit plus the bonus cannot calculate the cost of the offer, and should treat the offer as not fully specified.
Eligible games and the weighting table
Not all games count toward wagering, and among those that do, not all count equally. A promotions page usually links to a game weighting table or a list of excluded titles. Slots commonly count at a higher weighting than table games, and some games - often live dealer games, or specific progressive titles - count at zero, meaning staking on them does not reduce the wagering requirement at all.
The reader's task is to match the games they intend to play against that table. A bonus that looks generous on the headline becomes expensive if the player's preferred game contributes nothing toward the requirement. The table is part of the offer, and it is read on the operator's page, not inferred from general practice.
Time limits and maximum cashout: the two silent conditions
A wagering requirement is not open-ended. Most offers state a window - commonly a number of days from activation - within which the playthrough must be completed. If the window closes before the requirement is met, the bonus and any winnings derived from it are typically removed. The time limit is a condition on the player's schedule, and it is stated in the offer terms.
The maximum cashout is the cap on what can be withdrawn even after the wagering is complete. A player who meets the requirement and wins more than the cap does not receive the excess. The cap is a ceiling on the value of the offer, and it is stated in the same terms. Where the page does not state a maximum cashout, the reader cannot know the upper bound of the offer, and that absence is itself information.
VIP cashback and free spins: the same five items in different clothing
VIP cashback is not a refund. It is a percentage of losses or stakes returned as bonus funds, and those bonus funds carry their own wagering requirement, eligible game list, time limit and cashout cap. The cashback rate is the headline; the conditions are the offer. A reader looking at a VIP tier on Cheatsmarket's promotions page must read the tier's terms with the same five-item checklist as any other bonus.
Free spins are the same structure in miniature. The number of spins is the headline; the value of each spin, the games on which the spins may be used, the wagering applied to winnings from the spins, and the cashout cap on those winnings are the conditions. A free spins offer with a low per-spin value and a high wagering multiple on winnings can be worth less than no offer at all, which is why the terms matter more than the count.
What it means when one of the five items is missing
If the promotions page or its linked terms do not state the wagering multiple, the basis, the eligible games, the time limit or the maximum cashout, the offer is incomplete. That absence is not a minor omission; it is the answer to the question of whether the offer can be evaluated. A reader cannot calculate the cost or the ceiling of an offer whose conditions are not stated, and should treat any unstated item as unknown rather than assume a favorable value.
This applies to every offer on the page, including the welcome package. A welcome package is several bonuses stacked together, and each bonus within it may carry its own multiple, basis, game list, window and cap. The reader's job is to read each one separately, because the conditions of the first deposit bonus do not automatically apply to the second.
FAQ: Reading Cheatsmarket Promotions
Where are the wagering requirements stated?
In the individual offer's terms, usually under a heading such as "Wagering requirements" or "Playthrough". The headline on the promotions page does not state them, and the reader must open the terms for each offer separately.
Does the wagering multiple apply to the bonus or to the deposit plus bonus?
The terms state the basis in a single sentence. If the sentence says the requirement is calculated on the bonus amount, only the bonus is multiplied. If it says deposit plus bonus, both are multiplied. The reader must find that sentence, because it changes the total staking required several times over.
Do all games count toward the wagering requirement?
No. The offer terms link to a game weighting table or a list of excluded games. Some games count fully, some partially, and some not at all. The reader must check the table against the games they intend to play.
What happens if the wagering is not completed in time?
The bonus and any winnings derived from it are typically removed when the stated window closes. The time limit is a condition of the offer, and it is stated in the terms under a heading such as "Validity" or "Time to complete wagering".
This page is an independent summary of what a promotions page covers and how its conditions are read; it is not published by Cheatsmarket, and it states no figure or status for them - the operator's own promotions page and its linked terms are the only binding source for every multiple, basis, game list, time limit and cashout cap.
Play responsibly
Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, never as a way to earn income or recover losses. 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
18+ or 21+ depending on where you are; follow the minimum age that applies to you.
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.
