The page that decides what a headline is worth
A promotions page is where an operator puts its most attractive numbers in the largest type. The reader's job is not to read the number and feel lucky; it is to find the five items that turn the number into a set of obligations. A headline percentage is a condition, not a payment. Until the reader has found the wagering multiple, its basis, the eligible games, the time limit and the maximum cashout, the offer has no value that can be compared with anything.
Paddy Power publishes its promotions on a dedicated page, and that page is the only place the conditions are binding. What appears in an advertisement, an email or a social post is a summary. The page itself carries the full set of rules, usually behind a link labelled with words like "terms", "full terms" or "promotional terms". The reader who stops at the headline has read an invitation; the reader who opens the terms has read the offer.
The five items that decide an offer
Across operators, almost every casino promotion is governed by the same five items. They are not always printed in the same order, and Paddy Power's page may use its own labels, but the items themselves are constant.
| Item to confirm | Why it can change | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering multiple | The multiple applied to a bonus is a commercial decision, and operators adjust it between campaigns or between player groups. | In the promotional terms, usually under a heading such as "wagering" or "playthrough". |
| Basis of the multiple | Whether the multiple applies to the bonus alone or to the deposit plus bonus changes the total playthrough by a large margin. | In the same terms section, often in a sentence beginning "The bonus and deposit must be wagered..." or "The bonus amount must be wagered..." |
| Eligible games | Not all games contribute equally to wagering; slots, table games and live games commonly carry different contribution rates, and some games are excluded entirely. | In a list or table within the terms, sometimes linked as "game weighting" or "excluded games". |
| Time limit | The period in which wagering must be completed varies by campaign, and an expired offer cannot usually be revived. | In the terms under "validity" or "offer period", and sometimes on the promotion card itself. |
| Maximum cashout | A cap on winnings from bonus play is a common condition, and it is often lower than the player expects. | In the terms under "maximum winnings" or "cashout limit". |
Each of these items is a lever the operator can move without changing the headline. A promotion that looks identical from one week to the next may carry a different multiple, a shorter window or a lower cap. That is why the reader must confirm all five on the page itself, not from memory of a previous offer.
The wagering multiple and its basis
The wagering multiple is the number of times the bonus, or the bonus plus deposit, must be staked before any withdrawal of bonus-related winnings is allowed. It is the single most important number on the page, and it is meaningless without its basis.
When the multiple applies to the bonus alone, the total playthrough is smaller. When it applies to the deposit plus bonus, the total is larger by exactly the amount of the deposit multiplied by the multiple. The difference is not a rounding error; it can change an offer from achievable to effectively unreachable within the time limit. Paddy Power's terms state the basis in the sentence that defines the wagering requirement. The reader should read that sentence as a formula: identify the number, then identify what the number multiplies.
If the page does not state the basis, there is no way to calculate the playthrough, and the offer cannot be evaluated. That absence is itself the answer to the question of whether the offer is worth pursuing.
Eligible games and contribution rates
A wagering requirement is only as achievable as the games it can be met on. Most operators assign different contribution rates to different game categories. Slots commonly contribute at the full rate, while table games and live dealer games commonly contribute at a reduced rate, and some games contribute nothing at all. The terms page usually carries a table or list that sets out these rates.
A player who intends to meet the wagering on blackjack but finds that blackjack contributes at a reduced rate must wager a larger total amount to clear the same requirement. The page that lists contribution rates is therefore as important as the page that lists the multiple. Paddy Power's promotions page states these rates in the terms for each offer, and the reader should treat any game not listed as excluded unless the terms say otherwise.
Time limits and maximum cashout
Every promotion carries a window. The time limit is the period within which the wagering must be completed, and it usually begins when the bonus is credited. A player who does not complete the wagering within the window commonly forfeits the bonus and any winnings derived from it. The time limit is stated on the promotion card or in the first lines of the terms, and it is one of the items most likely to change between campaigns.
The maximum cashout is the cap on how much of the bonus-related winnings can be withdrawn. It is not a cap on the bonus itself; it is a cap on what the player keeps after the wagering is done. A player who wins more than the cap keeps only the cap. The cap is stated in the terms, and it is often the last item a reader checks. It should be the first, because a low cap makes every other condition irrelevant: no multiple, no game weighting, no time limit matters if the ceiling is already fixed.
Where each item is stated on the page
The promotions page itself usually shows the headline offer and a short description. The full terms sit behind a link, and that linked page is the binding document. The reader should expect to find the wagering multiple and its basis in a section labelled "wagering" or "playthrough"; the eligible games and contribution rates in a table or list; the time limit under "validity" or "offer period"; and the maximum cashout under "maximum winnings" or "cashout limit".
When any of these items is missing from the page, the reader cannot assume a standard value. There is no default multiple, no default basis, no default time limit and no default cap that applies across all operators. An offer with a missing item is an offer that cannot be evaluated, and the only safe reading is that the item is absent until the operator's own page states it.
What changes and what stays fixed
Some parts of a promotion are structural and change rarely; others are commercial and change often. The reader who knows which is which can read a new offer faster and with fewer mistakes.
| Element | How often it changes | What the reader should do |
|---|---|---|
| Headline percentage or free spins count | Changes between campaigns, sometimes weekly | Treat as an invitation, not a term; open the full terms |
| Wagering multiple and basis | Can change between campaigns and player groups | Confirm on the page for every offer, every time |
| Eligible games and contribution rates | Usually stable within a campaign, but can differ by game category | Check the list or table in the terms |
| Time limit | Changes frequently; often shorter for free spins than for deposit bonuses | Note the start and end, and the wagering window |
| Maximum cashout | Changes between campaigns; sometimes absent for no-deposit offers | Read the terms before depositing, not after winning |
The headline is the most visible and least stable part of the offer. The terms are the least visible and most stable within a campaign. The reader's attention should be allocated in exactly that proportion.
Reading a free spins offer
Free spins promotions are common on casino pages, and they carry the same five items in a slightly different shape. The spins themselves have no deposit value, but any winnings from them are usually credited as bonus funds, and those funds carry a wagering multiple. The basis of that multiple is usually the winnings only, not a deposit, but the reader must confirm this on the page. The eligible games are usually fixed to a single slot title, and the time limit is often shorter than for a deposit bonus. The maximum cashout is frequently lower, and it is the item most often missed.
A free spins offer that looks generous can be reduced to very little by a short window and a low cap. The reader should read the terms for the spins exactly as carefully as for a deposit bonus, and should not assume that because no deposit was required, no conditions apply.
When the page does not state an item
An operator's promotions page is a legal document in effect, and it should be complete. When it is not, the absence is information. If the page does not state the wagering multiple, the reader cannot know how much play is required. If it does not state the basis, the reader cannot calculate the total. If it does not list eligible games, the reader cannot know whether the games they play count. If it does not state the time limit, the reader cannot know whether the offer is still live. If it does not state the maximum cashout, the reader cannot know what they are playing for.
In each case, the correct action is the same: do not deposit, do not claim the offer, and do not assume a standard value. The operator's own page is the only binding source, and a page that is silent on an item has not agreed to anything about that item.
FAQ
What is the most important number on a promotions page?
The wagering multiple and its basis. The headline percentage means nothing until the reader knows what the multiple applies to and how many times it must be staked. The multiple and its basis are stated in the promotional terms.
Do all games count toward wagering?
No. Most operators assign different contribution rates to different game categories, and some games are excluded entirely. The eligible games and their rates are listed in the terms for each offer.
Can a player withdraw winnings before the wagering is complete?
Generally not. Bonus-related winnings are usually locked until the wagering requirement is met, and an attempt to withdraw before then commonly forfeits the bonus and any winnings from it. The terms state the exact rule.
What happens if the time limit expires?
The bonus and any winnings derived from it are usually forfeited. The time limit is stated in the terms, and it is one of the items most likely to change between campaigns.
This page is an independent summary of what a promotions page covers, it is not published by Paddy Power, and it states no figure or status for the operator; Paddy Power's own promotions page is the only binding source for any 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.
