The decision a bonus page forces on you
A player looking at a bonus page is not choosing between free money and no free money. They are choosing between one set of withdrawal conditions and another, and the page exists to let them read those conditions before they deposit. The offer itself is only the headline; the binding part is the terms that say what must happen before any winnings from it can leave the account.
Monero publishes its bonus offers on a dedicated promotions page, and that page is the only place the conditions are binding. A summary seen elsewhere, including this one, is never a substitute for reading the page itself. What follows explains how to read it.
What a bonus is
A bonus is a conditional credit or play opportunity attached to a deposit, a game, or an account event. The operator grants it, and in return the player accepts restrictions that do not apply to ordinary deposited funds. Those restrictions are the product. A player who ignores them has not claimed a gift; they have accepted a contract whose main terms they have not read.
Across operators, a bonus is typically structured as one of four types. Each type costs the reader something different, and each answers a different question about whether the offer is worth taking.
| Bonus type | What it gives | What it costs the player | Where the cost is stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit match | Extra funds credited after a deposit | A wagering requirement on the combined deposit and bonus, and usually a cap on how much can be withdrawn | Promotions page, under the offer's terms |
| Free spins | A fixed number of spins on named games | Winnings from the spins are usually bonus funds, subject to wagering before withdrawal | Offer terms, and the game's own contribution rate |
| Cashback | A return of a portion of losses over a period | Often credited as bonus funds with wagering, not as withdrawable cash | Cashback section of the promotions page |
| No-deposit | Credit or spins without a deposit | The strictest wagering, the lowest withdrawal cap, and often a maximum win limit | Offer terms, frequently in a separate no-deposit section |
The wagering requirement is the real price
A wagering requirement is the number of times a bonus amount, or a bonus plus deposit amount, must be staked before the player may withdraw any winnings derived from it. The page states the multiple and the basis. Those two figures together, not the headline amount, determine whether the offer can be completed.
The basis matters more than most players assume. If the requirement applies to the bonus alone, the total staking needed is the bonus multiplied by the requirement. If it applies to deposit plus bonus, the total is the sum multiplied by the requirement. The difference is not small, and the promotions page states which basis applies. A player who cannot find the basis on the page has not found the offer's price.
Monero's promotions page states the wagering multiple for each offer on that offer's own terms block. The reader should look for the words that say what the multiple applies to, because that sentence, not the multiple alone, determines the work required.
Game contribution rates
Not all staking counts toward the wagering requirement at the same rate. Across operators, slots commonly contribute at the full rate, while table games and live games contribute at a reduced rate or not at all. The contribution table is part of the bonus terms, and it is the single most common reason a player fails to complete a requirement in the time allowed.
The reader should check three things on the promotions page: which games contribute, at what proportion of each stake, and whether any games are excluded entirely. A game that is excluded contributes nothing, and staking on it while a bonus is active may even void the bonus under some terms. The page states the exclusions.
Time limits and maximum bets
A bonus is not open-ended. Most offers carry a time limit within which the wagering must be completed, and a maximum stake that may be placed per spin or hand while the bonus is active. Both are stated on the promotions page, and both are enforced mechanically: when the time expires, the bonus and any winnings from it are typically removed.
The maximum bet rule is easy to miss because it is usually printed separately from the wagering requirement. A player who bets above the stated maximum while a bonus is active may have the bonus voided even if they complete the wagering. The promotions page states this limit in the offer terms, and the reader should treat it as a hard condition, not a guideline.
Withdrawal caps and forfeiture
Many bonuses carry a maximum amount that can be withdrawn from winnings, regardless of how much the player wins. This cap is stated on the promotions page, and it is separate from any withdrawal limit that applies to ordinary deposits. A player who wins more than the cap forfeits the excess when the bonus is completed.
Forfeiture works in both directions. If the player withdraws deposited funds before completing the wagering, the bonus and any winnings from it are usually removed. If the player cancels the bonus, the same applies. The promotions page states the forfeiture rule, and the reader should read it before depositing, because it determines whether the bonus can be abandoned without losing the deposit itself.
What the page does not state
A promotions page that does not state the wagering basis, the contribution rates, the time limit, the maximum bet, or the withdrawal cap is not offering a better deal. It is offering an incomplete one. The absence of any of these items means the player cannot compute the cost of the offer, and a player who cannot compute the cost should treat the offer as unclaimable.
If Monero's promotions page does not name a contribution rate for a game category, the reader cannot assume that category counts at all. If it does not state a maximum bet, the reader cannot assume there is none. The page is the only source for these terms, and what it omits is as binding as what it prints.
Reading the page in order
A practical reading order for any bonus page is: find the offer, read the wagering multiple and its basis, read the contribution table, read the time limit, read the maximum bet, read the withdrawal cap, then decide. That order follows the sequence in which each term can destroy the value of the offer.
The player who reads the wagering requirement first and the withdrawal cap last has read the two terms that most often turn a headline offer into a net loss. The player who reads only the headline amount has read nothing that matters.
FAQ
What does a wagering requirement mean?
It means the bonus amount, or the bonus plus deposit amount, must be staked a stated number of times before any winnings from the bonus can be withdrawn. The promotions page states the multiple and what it applies to. Until that staking is complete, the winnings are conditional.
Can a player withdraw the bonus itself?
No. A bonus is a conditional credit, not cash. Only winnings derived from it can be withdrawn, and only after the wagering requirement is met and any withdrawal cap is applied. The bonus amount itself is removed when the offer is completed or expires.
What happens if the wagering is not completed in time?
The bonus and any winnings from it are typically removed when the time limit expires. The promotions page states the time limit for each offer. A player who cannot complete the wagering in that time should not claim the offer.
Why do some games not count toward wagering?
Because the operator sets contribution rates by game category, and some games carry a lower house edge or a different risk profile. The promotions page states which games contribute and at what rate. A game that is excluded contributes nothing, and staking on it may void the bonus.
This page is an independent summary of how bonus offers work as a class and what a reader should look for on an operator's promotions page; it is not published by Monero, and it states no figure or status for that operator, whose own promotions page is the only binding source for its offers.
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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.