Some online sportsbooks have deposit bonus offers, and each one is tied to a playthrough requirement, or how much you need to wager before you can withdraw funds.
Playthrough requirements are a standard stipulation in a promotion’s terms and conditions. The point is to prevent players from simply withdrawing bonus money without actually placing a bet.
However, there’s a bit more to it than that.
What Is A Sportsbook Bonus Playthrough Requirement?
Also known as a rollover requirement or wagering requirement, a playthrough requirement is how many times you have to wager the bonus amount before you can withdraw funds. This requirement is presented as a multiplier, so the amount of your bonus affects how much you’re required to bet.
For example, a 5x playthrough on $200 would be $1,000. The same playthrough on $20 would be $100.
For a deposit bonus, the playthrough requirement often applies to both the deposit and bonus money. However, some online sportsbooks and casinos have rollovers that only apply to the bonus amount, not the deposit.
It’s important to carefully read all terms and conditions before you take advantage of any online betting promotion.
For bonus credits, such as a refund on a first bet offer or a no-deposit signup bonus, the rollover requirement applies to just the bonus funds.
Some betting credits, such as those earned via loyalty points, may not have rollover requirements. That would mean you could withdraw the funds without wagering at all.
Examples Of Common Playthrough Requirements
Deposit-match welcome bonuses are most common at online casinos. At online sportsbooks, deposit bonuses are most commonly offered to existing members in the form of “reload bonuses.”
However, some sportsbooks do offer deposit-match welcome bonuses, such as BetRivers and DraftKings Sportsbook.
Let’s say you have a 100% deposit bonus up to $500 with a 5x rollover requirement. If you deposit $500 for the maximum value, you would have $1,000 in your account ($500 real-money and $500 bonus money).
The 5x rollover requirement means you’ll need to wager $5,000 before you can withdraw. That certainly seems like a lot compared to the initial deposit, but it’s approachable for bettors who plan on wagering that much anyway.
If you lose all the funds, that eliminates the rollover requirement. So if you bet the full $1,000 amount on one bet and it loses, you can deposit more funds, and that won’t be tied to the same rollover requirement (or any unless you opt-in for another bonus).
DraftKings Sportsbook Playthrough Requirement
One of the most popular online sportsbook welcome bonuses is the DraftKings Sportsbook signup offer. New players can receive a 20% bonus up to $1,000 (at the time of writing this article). That would mean a $100 deposit would grant you $20 in bonus cash.
However, rather than immediately credit your account with the bonus money, DraftKings Sportsbook unlocks $1 in site credits for every $25 wagered. You then need to bet the site credits 1x to withdraw the remaining funds. This is essentially a 6x playthrough requirement.
Our guess is that DraftKings releases the funds incrementally to avoid confusion about the promotion, as most players haven’t taken the time to learn about playthrough requirements.
The Magic Of 1x Playthrough At BetRivers
At BetRivers Sportsbook, the welcome bonus is 100% up to $250. The bonus funds are also immediately credited to your account.
But the best part isn’t instantly doubling your funds, it’s the 1x playthrough requirement. That means you only need to bet the bonus and deposit amount one time before withdrawal.
Not only is that the lowest in the industry, but it’s also the bare minimum amount to avoid bettors simply withdrawing the bonus cash without wagering.
DraftKings Sportsbook may have the better iOS app, but the BetRivers welcome bonus, thanks in large part to the 1x playthrough, is second to none.
Important Terms That Affect Playthrough
At online casinos, playthrough requirements can change based on the game you’re playing. For example, it might be 5x for slots but 50x for table games.
But deposit bonuses at sportsbooks also have some additional terms that affect the playthrough requirement. That’s why it’s so important to really read the terms and conditions of a promotion before tying your funds to it.
Common terms that affect playthrough requirements at sportsbooks include:
- Limits on type of bets (parlays or boosted odds may not apply)
- Minimum and maximum odds (usually between -300 and +10,000)
- Minimum deposit (usually $10 to $20)
- Time limits (you may have to meet playthrough within 90 days or fewer)
At legally licensed online sportsbooks, you can usually choose to opt-out of the promotion after you’ve participated. You will want to check with customer support beforehand to make sure.
But if it is an option, the sportsbook will simply void the remaining bonus balance and applicable funds related to bonus winnings. So don’t immediately assume you’re stuck with the bonus if you regret participating.
Bonuses Are Not An Obligation
Bonuses at online sportsbooks can be great. Some of our favorites include parlay profit boosters, free tournaments, no-deposit signup bonuses, and beyond. But you can simply deposit money, place regular bets, and withdraw funds without playthrough restrictions.
At the same time, if you’re in a state with legal online sports betting, there’s no law against taking advantage of as many bonus offers as you want. If you’re okay with the terms and conditions and bet responsibly, there’s nothing stopping you from getting as much free money as possible.
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