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Bonus Buy and Wagering Terms Explained: How They Change the Maths
A glossary of bonus buy, wagering requirement, max bet and game weighting, and how each term changes turnover, variance and the expected cost of play.
By Casino Software Hub Editorial Team · Reviewed by Casino Software Hub Editorial Team · Published Oct 30, 2026 · Updated Oct 30, 2026 · 4 min read
Key takeaways
- Bonus buy sells entry to a slot’s bonus round at a fixed price. It changes variance and speed of play, not the existence of the house edge.
- A wagering requirement is a turnover target. Because every bet carries a house edge, more turnover means more expected loss against the bonus balance.
- Max bet rules and game weighting restrict how the turnover can be reached. Breaking them can void winnings.
This page explains terms. It does not describe, rate or recommend any offer. The figures below are examples chosen to show the arithmetic.
Bonus buy
A bonus buy (or feature buy) is a game option that lets a player pay a set multiple of the base stake and jump straight into the bonus round, usually the free spins. The multiple is fixed by the game’s designer and often ranges widely between titles.
What it changes:
- Variance. The bonus round is where most of a slot’s large wins sit, so buying it repeatedly concentrates results into fewer, bigger swings.
- Speed. The money is staked faster, because each purchase is a large bet.
- RTP. The game’s published RTP can differ between buying and playing the base game, and some studios publish both figures. The house edge still applies to every purchase.
Some jurisdictions and operators restrict or disable the feature. For how RTP and volatility are measured, see our slot guide.
Wagering requirement
A wagering requirement (also called playthrough or rollover) is the total amount that must be staked before bonus funds can be withdrawn. It is expressed as a multiple.
For example, a 30x requirement on a bonus of 100 units means 3,000 units of stakes. Some terms apply the multiple to the bonus only, others to the bonus plus the deposit, which raises the total.
The maths behind it is simple. Each bet has an expected loss equal to the stake times the house edge. A game with 96% RTP has a 4% edge, so 3,000 units of turnover carries an expected loss of 120 units, which is more than the example bonus. The actual result varies around that average and the requirement can be cleared with a profit or a loss. The expected value is the point to understand, not a promise of any outcome.
Game weighting
Game weighting sets how much of each stake counts toward the requirement. Slots are commonly weighted at 100%, while table games and live games are often weighted lower or at zero, because their house edge is lower.
| Weighting | A 10-unit bet counts as | Effect on the 3,000-unit example |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 10 units | 3,000 units of staking |
| 10% | 1 unit | 30,000 units of staking |
| 0% | 0 units | Never completes |
Lower weighting means more total play for the same requirement, and so more expected loss. Weightings are stated in the terms of each offer and differ between operators.
Max bet rules
A max bet rule caps the size of a single stake while a bonus is active. Operators use it to stop players from clearing a requirement in a few high-variance bets. A typical rule is a fixed amount per spin or a percentage of the bonus.
It matters for two reasons. It lengthens the time needed to reach turnover, and breaching it, even by accident, can lead to the bonus and winnings being removed under the terms. Bonus buy purchases may count as a single stake against the limit, so they can breach it on their own. Terms often list them as excluded.
Other terms that interact
- Time limit. The period in which the requirement must be met, after which the bonus expires.
- Maximum cashout. A cap on what can be withdrawn from bonus winnings.
- Excluded games. Titles that do not count at all, often high-RTP or low-edge games.
- Sticky and non-sticky bonuses. A sticky bonus cannot be withdrawn itself, only winnings above it. With a non-sticky bonus, cash balance is typically played first.
- Contribution of cryptocurrency balances. Where terms are set in a fiat value, a coin’s price change during the period can alter the real value of both the bonus and the turnover.
Why the terms matter
Terms turn a headline number into a different product. A requirement that looks small can still demand many times the bonus in staking, and restrictions on bet size and games decide how that staking can be done. The house edge never switches off during this process.
Reading any terms in full before accepting them is the practical lesson. If a limit on spending is needed, the tools in our responsible gambling guide apply to any form of play, bonus or not.
This article is information, not advice to gamble. You must be 18 or older.
FAQ
What is a wagering requirement?
It is the total amount a player must stake before bonus funds, or winnings from them, can be withdrawn. It is usually written as a multiple of the bonus, or of the bonus plus the deposit.
What is a bonus buy feature?
A bonus buy lets a player pay a fixed multiple of the stake to enter a slot's bonus round directly instead of waiting for it to trigger. The price is set by the game.
What is game weighting?
Game weighting sets the percentage of each stake that counts towards the wagering requirement. A game weighted at 10% needs ten times as much staking as one weighted at 100%.
Does a wagering requirement change the RTP of a game?
No. The game's RTP is unchanged. The requirement changes how much must be staked before withdrawal, which changes how much of the bonus is likely to remain, on average.