Published on 24 March 2026 • Reading time: 8 minutes
A wagering requirement is the price of a bonus, written as a multiplier. Everything else in the terms - game weighting, maximum bet, expiry - exists to make that multiplier harder to reach. This is a guide to reading the four numbers that decide whether a bonus is worth taking, and to the arithmetic that most bonus pages leave out.
Felistra currently offers no bonuses at all, so nothing here describes an offer you can claim there today. We wrote it anyway, because the moment a bonus does appear these are the numbers you will need - and because the same arithmetic applies at every casino you will ever compare it against.
The multiplier is not the whole number
The single most important thing about a wagering requirement is what the multiplier applies to.
| Written as | On a $100 deposit | What you must wager |
|---|---|---|
| 35x bonus | $100 bonus | $3,500 to turn over |
| 35x deposit + bonus | $100 deposit + $100 bonus | $7,000 to turn over |
| 35x deposit | $100 deposit | $3,500, but the bonus is unrestricted |
The middle row is roughly twice as demanding as the top one, and the two are written almost identically in most terms. "35x (D+B)" and "35x B" differ by a single letter and by three and a half thousand dollars of required turnover.
Game weighting quietly changes the multiplier
Not every game contributes equally. A typical weighting table looks like this.
| Game type | Typical weighting | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Slots | 100% | $1 wagered counts as $1 |
| Video poker | 20% | $1 wagered counts as 20 cents |
| Roulette | 10% | $1 wagered counts as 10 cents |
| Blackjack | 5% or excluded | $1 wagered counts as 5 cents, or nothing at all |
| Live dealer | Often 0% | Does not count |
Clearing a 35x requirement on blackjack at 5% weighting is not a 35x requirement. It is a 700x one. This is the mechanism by which a bonus that looks claimable on paper becomes unclearable in practice, and it is why the weighting table matters as much as the headline multiplier.
The maximum bet rule voids more winnings than anything else
Almost every bonus carries a maximum stake while wagering is outstanding, typically between $5 and $10. Exceed it once - including by using a slot feature that raises the effective stake, such as a bonus buy - and the operator is entitled to void the bonus and everything won with it. Players lose more to this clause than to any other, usually without realising they broke it.
- Check the exact figure before your first spin, not after.
- Check whether it applies per spin or per hand.
- Check whether bonus-buy features are excluded outright - they very often are.
- Check whether the rule survives after wagering is complete but before withdrawal.
Expiry decides whether the arithmetic is even possible
A 35x requirement on a $100 bonus is $3,500 of turnover. At $1 a spin that is 3,500 spins. A reasonable pace is 400 to 600 spins an hour, so roughly six to nine hours of continuous play. Given seven days, that is comfortable. Given 24 hours, it is a different proposition entirely, and given three days with a $5 maximum bet it may simply not fit into the time available.
Multiply the bonus by the wagering multiplier, divide by your realistic average stake, divide by 500 spins an hour, and compare the result with the expiry window. If the answer does not fit, the bonus is not a bonus.
When no bonus is the better offer
A casino without bonuses gives up the extra playing time and gives back four things: no playthrough condition, no weighting table, no maximum-bet clause and no expiry. Your deposit is your money from the first spin. Whether that trade favours you depends almost entirely on your stake size - at small stakes the freedom usually wins, at large stakes the advance usually does. Our bonuses page works through that comparison, and the withdrawal limits article covers the other half of the question, which is how easily the money comes back out.
Frequently asked questions
What does 35x wagering actually mean?
It means you must wager 35 times a stated amount before bonus funds convert to withdrawable money. The crucial detail is which amount: 35 times the bonus alone, or 35 times deposit plus bonus, which is roughly twice as demanding.
Why do my bets not count fully towards wagering?
Because of the game-weighting table. Slots usually count at 100%, roulette at around 10% and blackjack at 5% or not at all, so the effective requirement on a table game can be many times the headline multiplier.
Does Felistra have wagering requirements?
No, because Felistra offers no bonuses. With no bonus funds in the account there is no playthrough condition, no weighting table and no maximum-bet rule between a deposit and a withdrawal request.