Turnover meaning in casinos

Turnover meaning: every stake counts

Turnover is the running total of what you stake. Each spin, hand or bet adds its full stake to the figure, whether it wins or loses and whether the money came from a deposit, earlier winnings or a bonus balance. It is not reduced by wins and it is not the same as what you lost.

In bonus terms you will see the same idea called wagering, playthrough or "amount wagered". The Gambling Commission's glossary of terms (opens in a new tab) defines wagering requirements as a condition to place wagers totalling a set value before funds become withdrawable: a turnover target, in other words. It is one of the core entries in our casino bonus glossary.

How £10 becomes £100 of turnover

Because winnings are re-staked, turnover grows much faster than deposits. Here is one illustrative run of 20p spins starting from a £10 deposit, in blocks of 50 spins (£10 staked per block):

After 250 spins the player has staked £50 from a single £10 deposit. The balances are made up to show the pattern; real ones swing differently every time. On average, though, the loss equals turnover × house edge: £50 at 4% is about £2. Turnover is what the edge works on, which is why it matters more than the deposit when you think about cost.

Turnover and wagering requirements

A wagering requirement sets the turnover you must reach before bonus winnings can be withdrawn. Since 19 January 2026, LCCP SR code 5.1.1 (opens in a new tab) caps it at 10 times the bonus. Worked examples from our partners:

• Casumo: a £20 deposit brings a £10 bonus; 10x means £100 of turnover within 7 days, with bets capped at £5.
• Casumo at the cap: a £200 deposit brings £100; the turnover target is £1,000.
• 10bet: a £25 bonus needs £250 of turnover on slots within 3 days; bonus winnings are capped at £1,000.

Our wagering requirements guide covers the rules in full, and how do I check bonus wagering progress? shows where the running total appears in your account. The wagering progress bar is your turnover counter.

Not all turnover counts the same

Bonus terms often apply a contribution percentage to each game. A game counting at 100% adds its full stake to your wagering; one at 10% adds a tenth; an excluded game adds nothing. So £100 of turnover on a slot at 100% clears £100 of wagering, while £100 on a table game at 10% clears £10. Our guide to game weighting explains why casinos do this.

Stakes that break a play restriction, such as a bet above the max bet, may not count and can put the bonus at risk. The Commission's guidance on promotional play restrictions (opens in a new tab) says these restrictions must be clearly set out in advance.

Qualifying turnover: "bet £10" offers

Some welcome offers ask for a small amount of turnover before anything is given. Coral's offer needs you to bet £10 on slots, and Ladbrokes' needs £10 of slots spend. That £10 is turnover, not a deposit. In general a stake is a stake whether it comes from the deposit or from early winnings, but the offer terms decide what counts, so check them for any rule on cash versus bonus funds. Our page on the qualifying bet explains what counts.

1. Deposit with a payment method the offer accepts.
2. Play eligible slots until your stakes reach the required total.
3. Check the promotions area or inbox to accept the spins within the time allowed.
4. Note the expiry date of the spins once credited.

Turnover in industry figures

In business reports, turnover can mean total stakes or a company's revenue, so read the context. For gambling operators the key measure is gross gambling yield (stakes minus winnings paid out), which is what duties and the statutory levy are charged on, not the much larger stake total. For players, the useful meaning is the simple one: how much you have staked. Our remote gaming duty page covers how operators are taxed.

Turnover and the offers we list

Coral and Ladbrokes both set a small turnover target: bet or spend £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at Coral (10p each, valid 7 days) or 50 free spins a day for 10 days at Ladbrokes (up to 500 at 10p). No wagering applies to the spin winnings, so there is no further turnover target. PlayOJO asks only for a first deposit of £10 or more for 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p, again with no wagering. Coral and Ladbrokes exclude e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill and prepaid cards. All offers are 18+, new customers only, and full terms apply; see bet £10 get free spins for a comparison.

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.