The decision a bonus page forces
A player who opens Cooked's bonus page is not choosing between gifts. They are choosing between sets of restrictions, because every offer on that page is a contract with conditions attached. The first question is never how much the bonus is worth; it is whether the conditions can be met before the player's own money is locked up. A deposit match that looks generous on the banner may be uncompletable in practice, while a smaller cashback offer with a low wagering multiple may be the only one that leaves the player free to withdraw.
This article explains how to read Cooked's bonus page as a set of mechanisms. It covers the four main offer types, how a wagering requirement is computed and on what basis, which items on the page decide whether an offer can be completed, and what it means when the page does not state one of those items.
What a wagering requirement is
A wagering requirement is a condition on withdrawal, not a gift. It says: before money that arrived as a bonus, or winnings produced by that bonus, may leave the account, the player must stake a stated multiple of a stated base amount. The base is usually the bonus itself, or the bonus plus the deposit that triggered it. The multiple is printed on the promotion page or in the terms linked from it.
The computation is mechanical. If the bonus is B and the multiple is M, the player must place bets totalling B times M before a withdrawal is permitted. If the deposit is included in the base, the total is (deposit plus bonus) times M. The page that states the multiple also states which base applies. A reader who cannot find the base on Cooked's page cannot compute the requirement, and should treat the offer as undefined until the base is located.
Not all bets count equally toward the requirement. Many operators exclude low-house-edge bets, or count them at a reduced rate, because those bets give the player a better chance of surviving the wagering. The bonus page or its terms should state which games contribute, and at what rate. If Cooked's page does not state contribution rates, the reader cannot know whether the offer can be completed on the games they intended to play.
The four offer types and what each one costs
Bonus pages across operators typically carry four kinds of offer. Each has a different cost structure, and the cost is always in the conditions, not in the headline amount.
| Offer type | What it costs the reader | Where Cooked's page states it |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit match | The player's own deposit is locked together with the bonus until wagering is complete; the multiple is applied to a base that usually includes the deposit | The promotion card and the linked terms; the base and multiple are printed together |
| Free spins | Winnings from spins are usually credited as bonus funds, so they inherit a wagering multiple; the spins themselves may be restricted to one game | The promotion card for the eligible game; the terms for the multiple on winnings |
| Cashback | Cashback is paid on losses, so the player must first lose a stated amount; the cashback may arrive as real money or as bonus funds with a multiple | The promotion page for the qualifying period and the loss base; the terms for whether cashback is withdrawable |
| No-deposit bonus | No deposit is required, but the wagering multiple is usually higher, and a maximum withdrawal cap on winnings is common | The promotion card for the multiple and the cap; the terms for game restrictions |
A deposit match is the most common offer, and the one most often misread. The reader sees a headline percentage, but the percentage is meaningless without the base and the multiple. A match that doubles the deposit is only as good as the wagering multiple attached to the combined sum. If the multiple is high and the contribution rate on the reader's preferred game is low, the offer may be mathematically impossible to complete before the balance reaches zero.
Free spins are frequently presented as a standalone gift, but the spins themselves are rarely the point. The point is the wagering multiple attached to whatever the spins win. A set of free spins on a high-variance slot can produce nothing, in which case the offer costs nothing but also delivers nothing. If the spins do produce winnings, those winnings are usually bonus funds, and the reader is back inside the wagering mechanism.
Cashback is the only offer type that is paid on losses rather than on deposits. The reader must first lose a stated amount over a stated period, and the cashback is then credited as a percentage of that loss. The critical question is whether the cashback arrives as withdrawable money or as bonus funds. If it arrives as bonus funds, the reader must wager it before withdrawing, which means the cashback is not a refund but another entry into the wagering cycle.
A no-deposit bonus is the only offer that requires no deposit, but it is also the offer with the tightest withdrawal conditions. The wagering multiple is commonly higher than on deposit offers, and a cap on the maximum amount that may be withdrawn from winnings is standard. The reader should read the cap first, because it determines whether the offer is worth the time at all.
Which items on the page decide the outcome
Every bonus page contains a small set of items that determine whether the reader can ever see the money. These items are not decorative; they are the contract.
| Item to confirm | Why it can change | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| The wagering multiple | Operators adjust multiples per promotion, per season, and per player segment; a multiple read last month may not be the multiple in force today | On the promotion card itself, and repeated in the linked terms |
| The base amount | Whether the deposit is included in the wagering base changes the total stake required by a factor that can double the workload | In the terms, usually in the same clause as the multiple |
| Game contribution rates | Slots often contribute fully, while table games and live games may contribute a fraction or nothing; the rates are per game category | In a contribution table inside the terms, or on a separate bonus rules page |
| Time limit | Most bonuses expire if wagering is not completed within a stated window; the window is per offer and can be short | On the promotion card or in the terms under a heading such as validity or expiry |
| Maximum bet during wagering | Many operators cap the stake per round while a bonus is active; exceeding the cap can void the bonus and its winnings | In the terms, often under a heading such as bonus abuse or wagering rules |
| Maximum withdrawal from bonus winnings | No-deposit offers and some free spins carry a cap on how much of the winnings may be withdrawn; the cap is per offer | On the promotion card for no-deposit offers, or in the terms for free spins |
| Eligible games | Free spins are usually locked to one game; deposit bonuses may exclude certain titles or entire categories | On the promotion card for the game name, and in the terms for exclusions |
The time limit is the item most often overlooked. A wagering requirement that is mathematically completable within a month may be impossible within seven days, because the reader cannot place enough qualifying bets in the available time without taking risks that destroy the balance. The reader should compute the total stake required and compare it with the time limit before accepting the offer.
The maximum bet during wagering is the item that voids the most bonuses. A player who has accepted a bonus and then places a single large bet may find the bonus and all winnings removed, even if the bet was placed in good faith. The cap is stated in the terms, and the reader should read it before playing a single round.
What it means when the page does not state an item
The absence of an item on Cooked's bonus page is itself information. If the page does not state the wagering multiple, the offer is undefined, and the reader should not accept it on the assumption that the multiple will be reasonable. If the page does not state the base amount, the reader cannot compute the total stake required. If the page does not state game contribution rates, the reader cannot know whether their preferred game counts toward the requirement at all.
In each of these cases, the absence is the answer to the question. A bonus page that omits the multiple is not offering a better deal; it is offering an unreadable deal. The reader's correct move is to treat the offer as unavailable until the missing item is found, either on a linked terms page or through the operator's support channel.
The same applies to the maximum withdrawal cap on no-deposit offers. If the page does not state a cap, the reader should not assume there is none. The cap may be stated in the terms, or it may be applied at withdrawal time. A reader who cannot find the cap should ask before playing, because the cap determines whether the offer is worth the time.
How to work out whether an offer can be completed
The reader can work out whether an offer can be completed by walking through four steps, in order, using only the items stated on Cooked's page.
First, identify the base amount and the multiple. Multiply them to get the total stake required. This is the workload.
Second, identify the game contribution rates. Divide the total stake required by the contribution rate of the game the reader intends to play. If the reader intends to play a game that contributes at half rate, the effective workload doubles.
Third, compare the effective workload with the time limit. If the reader cannot place that much in qualifying bets within the window without taking risks that destroy the balance, the offer cannot be completed in practice.
Fourth, check the maximum bet during wagering. If the reader's normal bet size exceeds the cap, the reader must either reduce the bet size or decline the offer, because a single breach voids the bonus.
These four steps require no figures beyond those stated on the page. The reader performs the computation with the page's own numbers. The article's job is to show the reader which numbers to look for and how to combine them.
FAQ
What is the difference between a deposit match and a no-deposit bonus?
A deposit match requires the player to deposit first, and the bonus is added to that deposit. A no-deposit bonus requires no deposit, but it usually carries a higher wagering multiple and a cap on the maximum amount that may be withdrawn from winnings. The deposit match locks the player's own money together with the bonus; the no-deposit bonus locks only the bonus and its winnings.
Why do free spins have a wagering requirement?
The spins themselves are free, but the winnings they produce are usually credited as bonus funds. Those bonus funds inherit a wagering multiple before they may be withdrawn. The multiple is stated in the terms linked from the promotion, and it applies to the winnings, not to the spins.
What happens if I exceed the maximum bet during wagering?
Most operators state in the terms that exceeding the maximum bet during wagering voids the bonus and any winnings produced by it. The cap is per round, and it applies from the moment the bonus is credited until the wagering requirement is complete. The reader should read the cap before playing a single round.
Where do I find the wagering multiple for a specific offer?
The wagering multiple is stated on the promotion card itself, and it is repeated in the terms linked from that card. If the multiple is not on the card, the reader should open the terms and search for the clause that states the multiple and the base amount together. If neither location states the multiple, the offer is undefined and should not be accepted.
This page is an independent summary of what a bonus page covers, it is not published by Cooked, and it states no figure or status for them; Cooked's own bonus page and its linked terms are the only binding source for every amount, multiple and condition.
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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.