Sports Betting Site Playthrough Conditions Explained
With sports betting booming online, bonuses are a big player. At any top-tier US sportsbook, you'll get promo offers and optional bonuses to help boost your bankroll. But remember, bonus cash isn't free money – it's locked cash until you clear playthrough requirements. Whatever's left after meeting the requirements becomes your real money to keep.
Bonus Terms and Conditions
All bonuses come with terms and conditions, even at the best US online sportsbooks. Bonus conditions vary, depending on factors like the bonus value and which sports or bet types it can be used for. Bonuses can start as low as a $10 bonus bet and go up to a whopping $1,000 welcome bonus, with lots more in between. Generally, signing-up bonuses offer the biggest deals, and after that, you'll get recurring offers.
Single-event bonuses often pop up near major events like the World Series, Super Bowl, or NBA Finals, tempting bettors to spend more on the big games. Bonuses also exist for regular sports seasons, like the NFL and NBA, and many other important events.
Bonuses unrelated to specific events can be used on any game or sports event you want to bet on. These are cool for bettors dabbling in niche sports or creating inter-sports parlays combining games from different sports.
Playthrough Requirements Explained
Also known as wagering requirements, these are the number of times you need to wager your bonus to make it unlocked cash. Common playthrough requirements range from 1x to 40x, with lower requirements making it easier to turn that bonus cash into real money.
Playthrough requirements don't sound too bad at 1x or 3x, as you only need to wager your bonus money once or a few times. However, when they shoot up to 30x or higher, it's way harder to turn that bonus into real money. Usually, sports betting sites keep playthrough requirements relatively low. Stricter playthroughs are common at online casinos, and they're different at social casinos (sweepstakes casinos).
Typical Playthrough Requirements
- Sports Bonuses: 1x
- Social Casinos/Sweepstakes Casino Bonuses: 3x, 5x
- Online Casino Bonuses: 30x, 35x, 40x
In the realm of casino cash bonuses, if you have a 30x playthrough requirement, you'll need to spend the equivalent of 30 times the bonus cash. So, if you receive a $100 bonus with a 30x playthrough requirement, you'll need to spend $3,000 before meeting requirements. Just win plenty and keep betting until you've staked $3,000 with your bonus cash. Keep in mind, these requirements are easier to meet in casino games and are more straightforward at sportsbooks, with different wagering requirements based on bet types, odds, and other conditions.
Typical Wagering Requirements
Sports bonuses generally have similar terms at top US sportsbooks. Playthrough requirements aren't usually applied (1x means you only need to bet the money once). Still, your bet must meet requirements for the bonus to be applied. If your bet doesn't comply with the requirements, the bonus won't be applied, and it could be rescinded – unless it's already expired.
These wagering requirements apply to various aspects of your bet:
- The bonus stake isn't yours to keep
- Limited time the bonus is valid for
- Minimum odds/maximum payout
- Limits on parlay/round robin/system bets
- Restricted betting markets
- Hedge betting is forbidden
- Cashed-out bets are invalid
- Voided bets don't qualify
- Pushed bets don't qualify (your bonus could be lost in some cases)
- Only pregame bets are allowed (no outrights or live bets)
Remember, the bonus bet itself isn't yours to keep. When you receive a sports bonus bet, your sportsbook funds the stake on your chosen wager. When the bet settles, the stake returns to the sportsbook, and you keep the winnings – if your bet wins. Sportsbooks typically offer bonus bets, and casinos provide bonus cash or bonus slots spins.
Be sure to quickly check how long your bonus is valid for. Some bonuses expire after just a week, so weekend NFL games or the next round of English Premier League soccer fixtures may be too far in the future. Play the short game here to claim your reward early.
In terms of odds, sportsbooks generally require your wager to be at least -200 or longer. There may also be maximum constraints on the amount of money you can win. Ensure your bet meets these requirements. This leads to discussing parlay or other multiple leg bets. In some cases, parlay bets may be allowed, but sportsbooks may restrict round robins, teasers, system bets, and other betting combinations.
Matched betting, where you place a hedge bet against your bonus bet to guarantee profit regardless of the outcome, is strictly forbidden. If any sportsbook suspects matched betting or arbitrage betting, they could rescind your bonus and even suspend or ban your account. Never place a contrasting bet on the same line when you receive a bonus bet. Lastly, don't cash out your bonus bet. Cashed-out bets are invalid, and your bonus will be rescinded.
Rescinded bonuses are usually given back to you (unless they've expired).
How to Calculate Your Wagering Requirements
One of the best things any bettor can do is calculate the wagering requirements associated with their sports betting bonuses. It might look complicated, but it quickly becomes a straightforward process once you get the hang of it.
For example, a 10x wagering requirement means you need to bet ten times the bonus the sportsbook has given you. The same applies for 25x, 30x, and so on.
- Bonus terms and conditions vary at top-tier US sportsbooks and can affect the utility of bonuses, with factors like the bonus value, sports, and bet types playing a role.
- Bonuses can range from small $10 bonus bets to substantial $1,000 welcome bonuses, with numerous options in between.
- Regardless of the sports or events, some bonuses can be used interchangeably, offering bettors flexibility in their sports-betting choices.
- Playthrough requirements, or wagering requirements, dictate the number of times a bonus must be wagered before it becomes unlocked cash, with common ranges between 1x to 40x. At sportsbooks, playthrough requirements are typically lower, unlike online casinos, which may have stricter requirements.
