How Bonus Structures Really Work: A Technical Breakdown of Playthrough Rules
Promo banners make casino bonuses look straightforward: deposit, claim, win, withdraw. In reality, the terms decide what you can cash out and how long it takes. Playthrough multipliers, contribution rates, wallet logic, bet caps, and timers interact like gears. Once you see how those gears mesh, you can decide whether an offer fits your plan – or skip it.
The Building Blocks of a Bonus
Most promos fit into two buckets. With cashable (non-sticky) deals, finishing the wagering turns the bonus into withdrawable money. With sticky (parachute) deals, the bonus itself never cashes out – you can withdraw the winnings after meeting the rules, but the bonus portion is removed. That one difference changes both value and risk.
Wagering is set with a multiplier:
Required turnover = amount × multiplier.
If the terms say “30× bonus,” a $100 bonus requires $3,000 in qualifying bets. Some promos apply the multiplier to bonus + deposit. In that case, a $100 deposit with a $100 bonus at 30× becomes $6,000 in turnover. Same headline, very different workload.
For a game-level look at how bonus terms translate into session flow, you can read more and compare how titles treat contribution and pacing.
Contribution rates decide how fast the counter moves. Slots usually count 100%. Table games, video poker, and live titles might count 10–50%, or be excluded. A $10 bet on a 20% table advances wagering by $2. If you split play across low-contribution games, you’re effectively increasing the multiplier without realizing it.
How Balances and Bets Interact
Most sites run two wallets – cash and bonus – and route bets through one of these models:
- Cash-first (common with parachute). Wagers come from cash until it’s gone or a trigger is met; only then does the bonus activate. If you catch an early uptick while still on cash, you can usually withdraw without touching the bonus.
- Proportional. Each bet pulls from cash and bonus in the same ratio as your balances. Wins are often split back the same way, which ties your progress to the bonus pool and reduces early exit options.
Also confirm how winnings are credited (to cash, to the bonus wallet, or split), whether a win cap applies (e.g., 10× the bonus), and the bonus’s expiry window.
Limits That Shape the Ride
Max bet clauses – often $5 per spin/hand, or 10% of the bonus – control variance during wagering. Exceed the cap, and the operator can void the offer along with related wins. Time limits are typically 7–30 days. Tight windows encourage lower variance so you can keep the counter moving without stall-outs. Expect exclusions: some promos block bonus buys, progressive jackpots, or specific high-volatility titles that concentrate too much value in rare outcomes.
Turning Terms Into Numbers: A Quick Scenario
You deposit $100 and receive a $100 non-sticky bonus at 30× bonus, $5 max bet, 100% slots, no bonus buys.
- Target turnover: $100 × 30 = $3,000.
- Stake sizing: Keep at or below $5 to stay compliant; variance and RTP determine how many spins you can fund.
- Conversion: Clear the $3,000 in valid wagers; remaining bonus converts to cash, and any winnings stay cashable.
Change one line – say, contribution 50% – and your effective target becomes $6,000 in slot-equivalent turnover. Change another – 30× (deposit + bonus) – and the starting target itself becomes $6,000 before contribution. Small clauses carry big consequences.
Common Frictions You’ll See (one concise list)
- Partial contribution: Table, live, or video poker bets often count at a fraction – or 0%.
- Game blocks: Jackpots, certain features, or entire titles may be off-limits during wagering.
- Max bet enforcement: A single over-cap wager can void the promo.
- Win/convert caps: Some deals cap total cashable winnings or convert only part of the bonus at the end.
- Expiry: Bonuses and progress meters can time out; check the clock before you start.
Strategy: Matching the Offer to Your Goal
If your goal is clearance – finishing wagering with a steady bankroll – stick to titles that count 100%, keep stakes safely under the cap, and schedule shorter sessions that chip away at the counter. Medium volatility often fits this plan: enough bonus-round pop to move the needle, without long dead zones that waste calendar days.
If you’re aiming for a high-variance shot, size down the stake so you can buy time for features to appear and still respect the cap. If the site supports cash-first, consider a few test sessions from the cash wallet before activating the bonus; an early win could be withdrawable immediately, avoiding the constraints of bonus mode.
Above all, translate the headline into effective turnover after contribution and into real constraints (caps, expiry, exclusions). A smaller, clean offer that counts fully on the games you play often beats a larger promo that buries progress in rare features or punishes normal stake sizes.
Bottom Line
Bonuses are tools, not shortcuts. The outcome you feel comes from how the multiplier is applied, which games actually count, how wallets interact, and where limits sit. Do the two-minute math, pick titles that move the meter, and set stakes that keep you compliant. When terms, game choice, and bankroll plan line up, the bonus works for you – whether your aim is steady clearance, a calculated swing at upside, or a measured mix of both.
