Playthrough meaning

Playthrough meaning: the plain-English definition

Playthrough is the amount of betting a casino asks you to do with a bonus before any winnings tied to it can be taken out as cash. The term is mostly used on American and international sites; UK terms usually say wagering requirements, and some say rollover. All three describe the same thing.

It is written as a multiplier. "10x playthrough" on a £15 bonus means you need to place £150 of bets. Each spin or hand counts at its full stake, so a £1 spin adds £1 to your progress whether it wins or loses. The figure is a measure of turnover, not of losses or profit.

Playthrough sits alongside other limits in the same offer: an expiry date, a max bet while the bonus is active, a list of games that count and sometimes a cap on winnings. Reading the multiplier on its own tells you only part of what a bonus will ask of you.

How playthrough works on a UK casino bonus

When you opt in and the bonus lands, the casino starts a counter. Every qualifying bet adds to it until it reaches the target. Most sites show this in a progress bar in the account area, and our guide on how to track bonus progress explains where to look.

While the counter is running, the money is often held in a separate bonus balance. Once the target is met in time, the remaining bonus funds and winnings move into your cash balance. If the time runs out first, the bonus and anything won with it are normally removed.

Games don't all count the same. Slots usually count in full, while roulette, blackjack and live tables often count at a lower rate or not at all. That rate is called the contribution percentage, and it can stretch a 10x requirement a long way if you play a game that only counts at 10%.

Playthrough example with real numbers

Take a 50% deposit match. You pay in £100 and get a £50 bonus with 10x playthrough on the bonus only. The target is 10 × £50 = £500 of bets. At 50p a spin that is 1,000 spins; at £1 a spin it is 500.

Slots return less than they take over time. On a game with 96% RTP, the house edge is about 4%, so £500 of bets costs about £20 on average. That leaves an expected £30 from the £50 bonus. Any one session can land far above or below that figure, and you can lose your whole deposit.

These are long-run averages. A bonus doesn't change a game's odds, and losses over time are likely.

The UK 10x cap on playthrough since January 2026

Under LCCP social responsibility code 5.1.1 (opens in a new tab), bonus funds can't be required to be played through more than 10 times. The rule took effect on 19 January 2026 and is covered in our page on the 10x wagering cap.

The Gambling Commission's own example, in its announcement of the promotions changes (opens in a new tab), was a £10 bonus with 50x wagering, which would have meant £500 of play. Under the cap the most that bonus can ask is £100. The same rules banned offers that mix products, such as a sports bet that releases casino spins.

Before the cap, multipliers far above 10x were allowed, as the Commission's 50x example shows, and some terms applied the multiplier to deposit plus bonus. If you see a playthrough figure on an older review that runs past 10x, it no longer describes a UK-licensed offer.

Where playthrough appears in bonus terms

Look for phrases like "wager the bonus 10x", "10x playthrough", "rollover requirement" or "bonus must be turned over". Under ASA and CAP guidance on significant conditions in promotions (opens in a new tab), a requirement like this should be clear before you sign up, not buried several clicks away.

• The multiplier: how many times the bonus must be staked.
• What it applies to: bonus only is normal now; check the wording.
• Time limit: for example 3 or 7 days to finish.
• Counting games: which games count and at what percentage.
• Max bet: the largest stake allowed while the bonus is active.

Our checklist of bonus terms that matter runs through each of these clauses in turn.

Terms related to playthrough

• Wagering progress: how far through the playthrough you are.
• Bonus conversion: the moment bonus funds become withdrawable cash.
• Maximum withdrawal cap: a limit on what you can withdraw from bonus play.
• Expected value: the average worth of a bonus after its playthrough cost.
• Locked funds: money you can't withdraw until conditions are met.

The full A to Z is in our casino bonus glossary.

Partner offers with no playthrough at all

Three of our partners skip playthrough on their welcome spins. 18+, new customers only, and terms apply to each. Coral's offer gives 100 free spins at 10p each after you deposit and bet £10 on slots; the spins are valid for 7 days and their winnings carry no wagering. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.

Ladbrokes pays 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500 at 10p) after you deposit and spend £10 on slots, with no wagering; each day's spins must be claimed before 23:59. PlayOJO gives 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each on a first deposit of £10 or more, with winnings paid as cash; it excludes Northern Ireland. See no wagering bonuses for how these compare.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.