A player opens the Freerolls Database bonus page expecting a list of rewards. The page usually delivers that list, but the list is not the offer. The offer is the set of conditions attached to each reward, and the reader who stops at the headline has not yet read the document that decides whether any of it is withdrawable.
The four offer types and what each one costs
Bonus pages across operators tend to group offers into four mechanical types. Each type moves money differently, and each has a different point where the reader's own funds become entangled with the operator's conditions.
| Offer type | What the reader receives | What it costs in conditions | Where Freerolls Database states it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit match | Bonus funds added when the reader deposits | The bonus is locked until wagering is met; the deposit itself may also be locked depending on the rule | Promotions terms, usually under a heading for the specific match |
| Free spins | A fixed number of spins on named games | Winnings from spins commonly convert to bonus funds, which then carry their own wagering | The offer detail block and the general bonus terms |
| Cashback | A return of a portion of losses over a set period | Cashback is often paid as bonus funds with wagering, not as withdrawable cash | The cashback section of the promotions page |
| No-deposit | Bonus funds or spins without a deposit | Usually the strictest wagering and a low maximum withdrawal, which is the real limit | The no-deposit offer terms, often a separate clause block |
The deposit match is the most common and the most misunderstood. The reader deposits, the operator adds bonus funds, and from that moment the reader's balance contains two kinds of money that look identical in the cashier. The conditions decide which part is withdrawable and when. A match that sounds generous on the bonus page can be uncompletable if the wagering applies to the deposit plus the bonus, because the required turnover is then much larger than the headline suggests.
Free spins look like the simplest offer, but they carry a hidden conversion step. The spins themselves produce winnings on the game, and those winnings usually become bonus funds, not cash. The wagering requirement then applies to the winnings, and the reader must check whether the spins are limited to one game. A game with a low return to player makes the wagering harder to complete, and the reader cannot tell from the bonus page alone which game is attached.
Cashback is often described as a refund, which is misleading. A refund returns the reader's own money. Cashback is usually paid as bonus funds, which means it is subject to wagering before withdrawal. The reader who expects cashback to appear as withdrawable balance will find it in the bonus wallet instead, and the conditions on that wallet are the real cost of the offer.
No-deposit offers are the strictest of the four. The reader receives something without depositing, so the operator protects itself with two devices that matter more than the headline: a wagering requirement that is commonly higher than on deposit offers, and a maximum withdrawal cap. The cap is the binding number. Even if the reader completes wagering, only the capped amount is ever withdrawable, and anything above it is removed. The cap is on the bonus page or in the no-deposit terms, and it is the first number a reader should look for.
How a wagering requirement is computed
A wagering requirement is a turnover condition. It states how many times a sum of money must be staked before bonus funds convert to withdrawable cash. The reader's first job is to identify the base to which the multiple applies, because the base changes the size of the task dramatically.
Three bases are common. The requirement may apply to the bonus only, to the deposit plus the bonus, or to the winnings from free spins. The bonus page usually states the multiple but may not state the base in the same sentence. The base is in the full terms, and it is the difference between a requirement that is merely large and one that is effectively impossible to complete within the time limit.
The computation itself is simple multiplication. The reader takes the base amount, multiplies it by the wagering multiple, and the result is the total amount that must be staked. That total is the turnover, not the amount the reader must lose. A reader can complete a wagering requirement and still have money left, or lose everything before completing it. The requirement is a condition on activity, not a fee.
The reader should also check what counts toward the requirement. Most operators exclude certain games or count them at a reduced rate. Table games commonly contribute less than slots, and some games contribute nothing. If the reader intends to wager on blackjack, and blackjack contributes nothing, the requirement cannot be met on that game at all. The contribution rates are in the bonus terms, usually in a table separate from the headline offer.
The four conditions that decide whether an offer is completable
Every bonus page carries four conditions that determine whether the reader can finish the offer. Missing any one of them turns a generous-looking bonus into a trap.
| Condition | What it controls | Why it can change | Where Freerolls Database states it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wagering multiple and base | How much must be staked before withdrawal | Operators adjust the multiple and the base between offers, and the base is often buried in a clause | Full bonus terms, under the specific offer heading |
| Time limit | How long the reader has to complete wagering | Limits commonly range from a day to a month, and the clock starts at crediting, not at first bet | The offer terms, often in a line separate from the multiple |
| Game contribution | Which games count and at what rate | Contribution tables change between offers and between game categories | A contribution table inside the bonus policy |
| Maximum bet during wagering | The largest single stake allowed while a bonus is active | Exceeding it usually voids the bonus and any winnings, and the limit is not on the bonus page | The general bonus terms, under a rule about bet limits |
The time limit is the condition most readers overlook. A wagering requirement that is mathematically completable in theory may be impossible in the time allowed, especially if the reader plays short sessions. The clock usually starts when the bonus is credited, not when the reader first logs in to use it. A bonus that sits unclaimed for a week may already be half expired.
The maximum bet rule is the one that voids the most bonuses. During wagering, the reader is usually forbidden from placing a single bet above a fixed amount. The limit is not on the bonus page; it is in the general terms. A reader who deposits a large sum and plays at their usual stake can exceed the limit on the first spin and lose the entire bonus and all winnings from it. The rule exists to stop a reader from completing wagering with a few large bets, but it is enforced by voiding, not by warning.
Game contribution is the third trap. A reader who plans to wager on a game with a low contribution rate will need to stake far more than the headline multiple suggests. A contribution table that lists slots at full contribution and table games at a fraction means the reader must stake several times more on table games to reach the same turnover. If the reader's preferred game is excluded, the offer is simply not for them.
Reading the Freerolls Database bonus page in order
The reader should read the page in a fixed order, because the page is arranged for marketing, not for decision-making. The headline comes first, but it is the last thing to trust.
First, identify the offer type. A deposit match, free spins, cashback and no-deposit offer each have different failure points, and the reader needs to know which one they are looking at before any other condition makes sense.
Second, find the wagering base. The bonus page may state the multiple, but the base is in the full terms. The reader should look for the sentence that says what the multiple applies to: bonus only, deposit plus bonus, or winnings. That sentence is usually in the same clause block as the offer, but it is rarely in the headline.
Third, find the time limit and the maximum bet. Both are usually in the general bonus terms, not in the offer-specific block. The reader should treat the general terms as part of the offer, not as a separate document. The offer-specific block and the general terms together are the offer.
Fourth, check the game contribution table. If the reader's intended game is not listed, or is listed at a reduced rate, the offer is different from what the headline suggests. The reader should compute the effective turnover for their game before accepting the bonus.
Fifth, check the maximum withdrawal cap, especially on no-deposit offers. The cap is the ceiling on what the reader can ever withdraw from the bonus, regardless of how well the wagering goes. A no-deposit offer with a low cap is a small fixed prize dressed as a bonus, and the reader should see it that way.
What it means when the page does not state a condition
Absence on a bonus page is itself information. If the page does not state a wagering multiple, the reader cannot compute the turnover, and the offer is not fully described. If the page does not state the base, the multiple is meaningless. If the page does not state a time limit, the reader should assume the limit is in the general terms and find it before accepting. If the page does not state a maximum bet, the reader should not assume there is none; the rule is usually in the general terms and applies whether or not the bonus page mentions it.
The operator's own bonus page is the only binding source for every one of these numbers. A reader who finds a figure on a third-party site has found a copy, not a term. The copy may be outdated, and the operator is not bound by it. The reader should treat any figure not on the operator's own page as a pointer to where to look, not as the number itself.
Worked example: testing an offer without any operator figure
The reader can test any offer with a simple procedure that requires no numbers from this article. The reader takes the bonus amount from the operator's page, takes the wagering multiple from the same page or the terms, and multiplies them. That product is the turnover. The reader then divides the turnover by the amount they are willing to stake per session, and the result is the number of sessions required. If that number of sessions cannot fit in the time limit, the offer is not completable for that reader.
This test works for every offer type. For a deposit match, the reader uses the bonus amount or the deposit plus bonus, whichever the terms specify. For free spins, the reader uses the winnings, which are unknown until the spins are played, so the test is less precise but still useful as a ceiling. For cashback, the reader uses the cashback amount. For no-deposit, the reader uses the bonus amount and then applies the withdrawal cap at the end.
The test does not require the reader to know the house edge or the return to player of any game. It requires only the numbers on the operator's page and the reader's own session habits. A reader who cannot complete the turnover in the time limit should not accept the offer, regardless of how the headline reads.
FAQ
What is the difference between a deposit match and a no-deposit bonus?
A deposit match requires the reader to deposit before receiving bonus funds, and the wagering base may include the deposit. A no-deposit bonus requires no deposit, but it usually carries stricter wagering and a maximum withdrawal cap. The cap is the key difference in what the reader can ever walk away with.
Does a wagering requirement mean I have to lose money?
No. A wagering requirement means the reader must stake a total amount before withdrawing bonus funds. The reader can complete it and still have a balance, or lose the balance before completing it. The requirement is a condition on turnover, not a fee.
Why would a bonus be voided after I have already started playing?
The most common reason is a bet above the maximum allowed during wagering. The limit is in the general bonus terms, not usually on the bonus page, and exceeding it voids the bonus and any winnings. Game exclusions and time expiry are other common voiding events.
Where do I find the game contribution rates for Freerolls Database bonuses?
The contribution rates are in the bonus terms, usually in a table separate from the offer headline. The reader should look for a section that lists game categories and the percentage of each stake that counts toward wagering. If the table is absent, the reader cannot know whether their intended game counts.
This page is an independent summary of what a casino bonus page covers, it is not published by Freerolls Database, and it states no figure or status for them; the operator's own bonus page and full terms are the only binding source for every number that decides an offer.
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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.