What no wagering means
Wagering, or playthrough, is the amount you must bet before bonus money turns into cash. A NZ$100 bonus with 40x wagering means NZ$4,000 of bets. A no wagering bonus skips this step: what you win from it is real money from the start.
Casinos introduced wagering to stop players taking a bonus and withdrawing it at once. No wagering offers come back as a way for new brands to stand out, but they are usually smaller to keep the cost down.
Conditions that still apply
- Minimum deposit to trigger the offer.
- Qualifying payment methods: cards usually count; some e-wallets may be excluded.
- Win cap: for example, a NZ$50 bonus capped at NZ$500 of winnings.
- Maximum bet while the bonus balance is in play.
- Expiry: free spins often lapse within a few days.
How to compare with a standard bonus
A worked example: 50 no wagering free spins at NZ$0.20 on a 96% RTP pokie are worth about NZ$9.60 in expected winnings, paid as cash. A NZ$100 bonus at 40x has an expected cost of about NZ$160 at the same RTP, so its expected value is negative even though the headline is bigger.
If you cannot find a no wagering offer, look for low wagering, ideally below 20x, and a sensible win cap. Our no deposit bonus page and the free spins page list current offers at new casinos.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Winnings are cash straight away | Rare and usually small |
| Easy to value | Often limited to set pokies |
| No max bet chase through wagering | Short expiry and win caps |