The offer that looks like a doubling is really a set of conditions
A 100 bonus on a sportsbook app is almost always a matched deposit offer: the operator credits an amount equal to what you deposit, up to a ceiling that appears in the promotion's own terms. The word that matters is credited. The bonus amount is not added to your withdrawable balance in the same way a deposit is. It sits in a separate promotional wallet, and it only crosses into cash under conditions the operator writes into the offer.
Before you opt in, read the promotion as a contract with four moving parts: how much you must wager before the bonus can leave, which games or bets count toward that total and at what rate, how much of the resulting balance can ever be withdrawn, and how long you have to meet the terms before the credit disappears. Each part is set by the operator, and each one changes what the offer is worth to you.
Wagering requirement: the multiplier that locks the credit
The wagering requirement, sometimes called playthrough, is a multiplier stating how much must be wagered before bonus-related funds can be withdrawn. The arithmetic is simple, and the operator states the multiplier in the promotion terms. If a 30x requirement applies to a 50-unit bonus, then 1,500 units must be wagered before the bonus portion can be withdrawn. That is example arithmetic only; your offer will carry its own multiplier and its own bonus amount, both printed on the promotion page.
What the multiplier does not tell you is how much of your own money you will put through the same wagers. On most apps, your deposit is also locked into the playthrough alongside the bonus, or your cash balance is used first while the bonus sits behind it. The practical effect is that the wagering requirement measures turnover, not profit. You can meet the full requirement and still have nothing left to withdraw, because the underlying bets lost more than the bonus was worth.
Game weighting: not every wager counts equally
A wagering requirement is rarely a flat meter. Operators assign different games different contribution rates, a system called game weighting. A slot spin might count in full toward the requirement, while a table game wager might count at a small fraction of its face value, and some games might count not at all. The weighting table is part of the bonus terms, and it changes the effective size of the requirement.
This matters because the games that count fully are often the games with the highest built-in edge against you. The games where a skilled decision can reduce the expected loss are often weighted down or excluded. The weighting table is not a neutral convenience; it is a second multiplier sitting on top of the first, and it is the first thing to read after the headline requirement.
| Bonus element | What it controls | Where to find your figure |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering multiplier | Total turnover required before withdrawal | Promotion terms, usually beside the bonus amount |
| Game weighting | How much each wager counts toward that turnover | Bonus terms, often a table by game category |
| Maximum cashout cap | Ceiling on how much of the final balance can be withdrawn | Promotion terms, sometimes in the FAQ |
| Expiry window | Time allowed to complete the wagering | Promotion terms, stated in days or hours |
| Qualifying deposit | Minimum deposit that activates the offer | Promotion page or cashier screen |
Maximum cashout: the ceiling that redefines the prize
Even after you meet the wagering requirement, the operator may cap how much of the resulting balance can be withdrawn. A cap is a fixed ceiling written into the promotion. If your playthrough ends with a balance above the cap, the excess is removed and only the capped amount moves to your withdrawable balance. The cap is not hidden; it is in the terms, but it is often the last figure a player looks for, and it is the one that most changes whether the offer is worth taking.
Read the cap alongside the wagering requirement. A generous-looking multiplier with a low cashout cap is a different offer from a high multiplier with no cap at all. The two figures work together: the multiplier sets how much risk you must take, and the cap sets the ceiling on what survives that risk.
Expiry windows: the clock that turns the credit back to zero
Every bonus carries a time limit. The expiry window is the period in which you must complete the wagering requirement, and it is stated in the terms. If the window closes before the playthrough is finished, the promotional balance and any winnings derived from it are typically removed. The clock usually starts when the bonus is credited, not when you first log in to use it.
An expiry window interacts with the wagering requirement to create a pace. A high multiplier with a short window demands a high volume of wagers per day, which increases the total amount put at risk over a fixed period. A longer window spreads the same requirement thinner. Neither changes the underlying edge on the bets, but the window changes how much of your own money you must cycle through before the deadline.
How loyalty and comp programmes value your play
Separate from a one-off bonus, sportsbook and casino loyalty programmes track your play and convert it into points, tiers or comps. The operator's calculation starts from a concept called theoretical loss. It is not what you lost; it is an estimate of what the house expects to keep from your action over time, built from three inputs: your average bet, the number of decisions you make per hour, and the house edge on the specific bet or game you are playing.
As a labelled example, suppose a player makes an average bet of 10 units, plays 60 decisions per hour, and the game carries a house edge of 2%. The theoretical loss is 10 times 60 times 0.02, or 12 units per hour. The operator then assigns a comp value as a fraction of that theoretical loss. The fraction is set by the operator, it is not published as a universal rule, and it varies by venue and programme. The point is the direction of the calculation: the programme values you by the expected loss your play generates, not by the amount you happen to win or lose on a given night.
| Input | What it measures | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| Average bet | Typical wager size per decision | You, by how you bet |
| Decisions per hour | Game speed and your pace of play | Game rules and your tempo |
| House edge | Mathematical advantage on the specific bet | Game rules, not the operator's mood |
| Comp fraction | Share of theoretical loss returned as value | Operator or venue programme |
Reading the offer before you opt in
A 100 bonus is a structured liability, not a gift. The operator is not giving you money; it is giving you a conditional credit that can only become money by passing through a series of gates, each of which is designed to keep the expected value on the operator's side. That does not make the offer dishonest. It makes it a promotional instrument whose value depends entirely on the terms.
Before you accept, write down four numbers from the promotion page: the wagering multiplier, the game weighting table, the maximum cashout cap, and the expiry window. Then ask one question: if I wager the full requirement and lose at the rate the house edge implies, what will be left? The answer is almost always less than the headline bonus amount. Sometimes it is zero. The promotion is still playable if you want the extra turnover and understand the cost; the point is to know the cost before the clock starts.
FAQ
Does the 100 bonus get added to my withdrawable balance immediately?
No. The bonus is credited to a promotional balance and remains locked behind the wagering requirement. Only after the requirement is met, and only up to any cashout cap, does the surviving amount move to a withdrawable balance.
Can I withdraw my original deposit before finishing the wagering?
On most sportsbook apps, withdrawing your deposit before the wagering requirement is complete forfeits the bonus and any winnings tied to it. The exact rule is in the promotion terms, and it is one of the first clauses to check before you deposit.
Are all games counted equally toward the wagering requirement?
No. Game weighting assigns different contribution rates to different game categories. Slots often count fully, while table games and some sports bets may count at a reduced rate or not at all. The weighting table is in the bonus terms and changes the effective size of the requirement.
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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.