You deposited cash, but the balance shows two numbers
Most online casino accounts split your balance into at least two buckets: withdrawable cash and bonus funds. The cash came from your deposit or from winnings that have cleared every condition. The bonus funds came from a promotion, and they are not yet yours to take out. They are a conditional credit that the operator lets you play with, subject to rules that decide whether any of it ever becomes withdrawable.
This distinction matters because the two balances behave differently at the cashier. A withdrawal request draws on cash first in most systems. Bonus funds sit behind a set of conditions, and those conditions are the real substance of any offer. The size of the bonus tells you almost nothing on its own; the terms attached to it determine what it is worth.
How bonus funds become withdrawable
Bonus funds start as a locked balance. To convert them into cash, you generally have to satisfy a wagering requirement, also called playthrough. This is a multiplier that states how much must be wagered before bonus-related funds can be withdrawn. The arithmetic is simple to set up, but the details around it change the outcome.
As an example, suppose a promotion grants 50 units of bonus funds with a 30x wagering requirement. That means 1,500 units must be wagered before the bonus-related balance can be withdrawn. The example is arithmetic only; the actual multiplier on any given offer is printed in the promotion's terms.
Three things complicate that simple multiplication:
- Game weighting. Not every wager counts equally toward the requirement. A slot spin might count fully, while a blackjack hand or roulette spin might count at a fraction, or not at all. The terms list a weighting table, and it changes how much real wagering the requirement represents.
- Which balance is used first. Some systems wager cash before bonus funds, others the reverse. The order affects when the requirement starts being worked down.
- What happens when you withdraw early. Requesting a withdrawal before the requirement is met usually forfeits the bonus funds and any winnings derived from them.
What the terms control
A promotion is best read as a set of restrictions rather than a gift. The headline number is the least informative part. The terms page, usually linked from the promotion or the cashier, carries the rules that decide whether the offer has any value for you.
| Term | What it controls | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering requirement | Total amount that must be wagered before withdrawal | Promotion terms, usually as a multiplier like 30x |
| Game weighting | How much each wager counts by game type | Terms page, often a table by category |
| Maximum cashout cap | The ceiling on how much can be withdrawn from bonus winnings | Terms page, stated as a fixed amount |
| Expiry window | How long you have to meet the requirement before funds lapse | Terms page, stated in days or hours |
| Eligible games | Which titles may be played with bonus funds | Terms page or the game lobby filter |
Maximum-cashout caps deserve particular attention. A no-deposit bonus, for instance, may let you win more than the cap while playing, but only the capped amount can ever be withdrawn. The rest is removed when the bonus is cleared. This is not a hidden trick; it is a stated condition, and it is the single most important number to find before you opt in.
Expiry windows work the same way. If the requirement must be met within a set number of days, the clock starts when the bonus is credited, not when you first play. A player who accepts a bonus and then does not play for a week may find the funds gone before they placed a single wager.
No-deposit bonuses and free spins
Two common formats illustrate how the same conditions appear in different clothes. A no-deposit bonus is a promotional credit granted without a deposit. It is normally subject to wagering requirements, maximum-cashout caps, game restrictions and expiry windows, which determine whether any of it can become withdrawable. The absence of a deposit does not mean the absence of conditions; in fact, no-deposit offers often carry the strictest caps because the operator is extending credit with no cash commitment from the player.
Free spins are spins granted at a fixed stake on specified slot titles. Winnings are commonly credited as bonus funds subject to wagering requirements rather than as withdrawable cash. The stake is fixed by the promotion, the games are specified, and the winnings land in the bonus bucket, not the cash bucket. A batch of free spins is therefore a route into the same wagering-requirement system, not a way around it.
Where loyalty and comp value comes from
Loyalty programmes and comps operate on a different principle from bonus funds, though both are promotional value. A comp is not a fixed credit with a stated multiplier; it is a return calculated from your tracked play. The underlying concept is theoretical loss, sometimes called theo.
The calculation is arithmetic you can set up for yourself. Suppose a player averages 10 units per hand, plays 60 hands per hour, and the game carries a house edge that the operator uses for its calculation. The expected loss per hour is the product of those three numbers: average bet times decisions per hour times house edge. As an example, 10 units times 60 hands times a 2% edge would be 12 units of theoretical loss per hour. The operator then returns some fraction of that theoretical loss as comps, points, or tier progress. The fraction is not published in most programmes, and it varies by venue and by player tier.
This explains why table-game players and slot players earn comps at different rates. The calculation depends on the game's edge and the speed of play, both of which differ materially between games. It also explains why a loyalty point balance is not the same as cash: it is a derivative of tracked play, with its own redemption rules, expiry terms, and restrictions.
What you can and cannot control
You cannot change the house edge on a given bet. You cannot change the wagering multiplier once you have accepted the bonus. What you can control is whether you opt in at all, and on what terms.
Before accepting any promotion, read the terms page and answer four questions. First, what is the wagering multiplier, and how much real wagering does it represent after game weighting? Second, is there a maximum cashout cap, and what is it? Third, how long do you have to meet the requirement? Fourth, which games count, and at what weighting?
If any of those four answers is missing from the terms, treat the offer as unreadable and decline it. A promotion whose conditions are not stated clearly is not more generous; it is just less knowable. The value of bonus funds is not the number on the banner. It is what remains after every condition has been applied.
FAQ
Can I withdraw bonus funds immediately?
No. Bonus funds are locked until the wagering requirement and any other conditions are met. Requesting a withdrawal before that point typically forfeits the bonus balance and any winnings derived from it.
Do all games count equally toward wagering?
No. Most operators apply game weighting, meaning slots may count fully while table games count at a fraction or not at all. The weighting table is in the promotion terms, and it changes how much real wagering the requirement represents.
What happens if a bonus expires before I finish the playthrough?
The bonus funds and any associated winnings are usually removed from the account. The expiry window starts when the bonus is credited, not when you first play, so the clock can run down before you place a single wager.
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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.