Bonus terms, translated from A to Z
In short
- Plain-language meanings for 30-plus bonus terms you will meet in casino offers.
- The terms that cost players most: max bet, max cashout, game weighting and expiry.
- Worked examples use plain numbers so you can check any offer yourself.
Casino bonus terms are written to be precise, not readable. This glossary translates the words you will meet on offer pages and in terms and conditions. Where a term has its own guide, the entry links to it. The core sum behind most of these is in our wagering requirements guide, so it isn’t repeated here.
A to D
Active bonus. A bonus you have accepted and not yet finished or forfeited. While one is active, extra rules such as the max bet apply.
Bonus abuse. A broad clause that lets the casino void a bonus for play it considers unfair: duplicate accounts, betting patterns that avoid risk, or breaking other bonus rules.
Bonus balance. Money credited as a bonus, kept separate from your own deposit. It can’t be withdrawn until wagering is complete.
Bonus buy. Paying a fixed price to jump straight to a slot’s bonus round. Often banned while a bonus is active.
Bonus code. A word or string you enter to claim a specific offer. Missing it at deposit can mean missing the offer.
Cashback. A share of your net losses returned over a set period, often with light or no wagering. See our cashback bonuses guide.
Contribution. See game weighting.
Deposit + bonus. Wagering applied to your deposit and bonus together rather than the bonus alone. On a 100% match of 100, 35x becomes 7,000 in bets instead of 3,500.
E to M
Eligible games. The games you can use a bonus or free spins on. Playing others may not count or may void the bonus.
Excluded games. Games that count 0% toward wagering, often high-RTP slots, jackpots and some table games.
Expiry. The deadline to claim, use or finish a bonus. A bonus and free spins can have separate expiries.
Free spins. Spins on a set slot at a fixed stake. Winnings often become bonus money with their own wagering. See our free spins guide.
Game weighting. How much a bet on each game counts toward wagering. At 10%, a bet of 10 counts as 1. See our game weighting guide.
Match bonus. A bonus worth a percentage of your deposit, up to a limit. A 100% match on 50 adds 50.
Max bet. The largest stake allowed per spin or round while a bonus is active. Breaking it once can void the bonus and its winnings. See our max bet rule guide.
Max cashout. A cap on what you can withdraw from a bonus, whatever you win. Common on no-deposit offers. If the cap is 100 and you win 400, 300 is removed.
Minimum deposit. The smallest deposit that qualifies for an offer. Depositing less usually means no bonus.
N to R
No-deposit bonus. A small bonus or spins given without a deposit, usually with tight caps and higher wagering. See our no-deposit bonuses guide.
Non-sticky bonus. Your own deposit is played first. If you win before touching the bonus, you can withdraw and give up the bonus. Also called a parachute bonus. Compare in sticky vs non-sticky bonuses.
Opt-in. Some offers must be actively chosen, by ticking a box or pressing a button, before the qualifying deposit.
Playthrough. Another word for wagering.
Pending period. The time a withdrawal waits before the casino processes it. Not strictly a bonus term, but it decides how soon winnings arrive.
Real money balance. Your own deposited money and anything already released from a bonus.
Reload bonus. A deposit bonus for existing players, often weekly or tied to set days.
Rollover. Another word for wagering.
RTP. Return to player: the long-run share of bets a game pays back. See our RTP and volatility guide.
S to Z
Sticky bonus. The bonus itself can never be withdrawn. Only winnings above it can, once wagering is done.
Time limit. See expiry.
Wager-free. No wagering on winnings: what you win is withdrawable at once, subject to any other terms. See our wager-free bonuses guide.
Wagering requirement. The multiple of a bonus (or deposit + bonus) you must bet before withdrawing. A 100 bonus at 30x means 3,000 in bets.
Welcome package. A welcome offer spread across several deposits, each with its own match, spins and terms.
Win cap. A limit on winnings from free spins or a bonus. Similar to max cashout.
Which terms to check first
| Term | Why it matters | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering and what it applies to | Sets how much betting the bonus needs | Offer card, bonus terms |
| Max bet | Most common reason a bonus is voided | Bonus terms, general section |
| Game weighting | Decides if your games help at all | Bonus terms, contribution table |
| Max cashout | Caps what a lucky run can pay | Bonus terms, often near the end |
| Expiry | Short windows force bigger bets | Offer card, bonus terms |
On every offer card on LocoBonus, the key terms sit under “Full terms”. Try any offer in the wagering calculator before you claim it.
Questions players ask
What is the most important bonus term to read?
Wagering sets the size of the job, but the max bet rule causes the most voided bonuses. Read both, plus any max cashout cap, before claiming.
What is the difference between playthrough, rollover and wagering?
Nothing. They are three names for the same requirement: the total amount you must bet before a bonus becomes withdrawable. Our wagering requirements guide shows the maths.
What does bonus abuse mean in casino terms?
It is the clause casinos use to void bonuses for play they consider unfair, such as multiple accounts, very low-risk betting patterns or breaking the max bet. The wording is often broad, which is why the other terms are worth following closely.
Are wager-free bonuses really free of conditions?
They have no wagering, so winnings are withdrawable straight away, but other terms can still apply: expiry, eligible games, a max win or a minimum deposit. Read the short list of terms anyway.