Guide · Updated July 2026
General casino terms and conditions are dense enough on their own, but the bonus-specific section of any offer introduces an entirely separate layer of jargon that rarely gets defined in plain language anywhere on the page. Words like "sticky," "contribution" and "playthrough" get used as though every reader already knows exactly what they mean, when in practice most players — even experienced ones — have picked up a rough intuition rather than a precise understanding of what each term actually changes about their bonus.
That gap matters because these terms aren't interchangeable synonyms for "conditions attached to your bonus." Each one describes a specific mechanical rule that affects how much of your winnings you actually get to keep, in a different way. This glossary works through the terms you're most likely to encounter, grouped roughly by theme, so you can look up exactly what a clause means the moment you spot it in a real bonus offer. For the broader skill of reading a full terms page efficiently, pair this with our how to read casino terms and conditions guide.
The total amount you must bet (not win — bet, cumulatively across all wagers) before bonus funds convert into withdrawable cash. Usually expressed as a multiplier, such as "35x." A 35x wagering requirement on a R500 bonus means R17,500 in total wagers before that bonus becomes real money. "Wagering requirement" and "playthrough requirement" are used interchangeably across the industry — they mean the same thing. See our wagering requirements explained guide for full worked examples.
Determines what number the wagering multiplier is actually applied to. "Bonus-only" applies the multiplier just to the bonus amount; "bonus-plus-deposit" applies it to your deposit and bonus combined, which roughly doubles the effective wagering total on a 100% match bonus. This single distinction is one of the most consequential — and most overlooked — details in any bonus offer.
The percentage of a given wager that counts toward clearing your wagering requirement. Slots typically contribute 100%; table games like blackjack and roulette often contribute far less, sometimes 0%. See our guide on why some games are excluded from bonus wagering for the reasoning behind this.
A more granular version of the above, where different game categories carry different specific percentages rather than a flat "slots vs everything else" split — for example, video poker at 20%, live dealer blackjack at 10%, jackpot slots sometimes excluded entirely.
A bonus that stays merged with your account balance and can't be withdrawn separately — if you try to cash out before wagering is complete, you forfeit the bonus portion entirely, keeping only your original deposit and any winnings clearly attributable to it. "Sticky" refers to the bonus sticking to your balance rather than being withdrawable in isolation.
A bonus used only to generate wagering activity but removed from your balance the moment you attempt a withdrawal, before the withdrawal amount is calculated. Functionally, this means the bonus itself is never directly cashed out — only genuine winnings generated while it was active are. Non-sticky structures are generally considered more transparent, since they don't require you to fully clear wagering before seeing any withdrawable funds.
A bonus calculated as a percentage of your deposit amount — a "100% match up to R5,000" means the operator adds an amount equal to your deposit, capped at R5,000. See our deposit match bonuses guide.
Bonus funds or free spins credited without requiring any deposit at all — typically the smallest bonus amounts on offer, and usually carrying the tightest maximum cashout caps. See our no-deposit bonuses guide.
A partial refund, usually a percentage, of net losses over a given period, credited back as bonus funds or occasionally as withdrawable cash depending on the operator. See our cashback bonuses guide.
A ceiling on how much you're allowed to withdraw from winnings generated using bonus funds, regardless of how much you actually won. Common on no-deposit and free-spin offers. See our dedicated maximum cashout limits guide for a full worked example of how this plays out.
A cap on the size of any single wager while bonus funds or bonus-derived wagering is in progress — commonly R5 to R50 depending on the operator. Exceeding it can void the entire bonus under most operators' terms, even if unintentional.
The highest bonus value obtainable from a given promotion, regardless of your deposit size — a "100% match up to R5,000" caps the bonus at R5,000 even if you deposit R10,000.
The smallest deposit required to qualify for a given bonus offer. Some sportsbook-linked casino bonuses also carry minimum odds requirements on any sports bets used toward wagering, though this applies less often to pure casino bonuses.
The window — commonly 7, 14 or 30 days — within which wagering must be completed before unused bonus funds and any related winnings are forfeited automatically.
Operator language for patterns of claiming bonuses in ways that violate the spirit of the offer — creating multiple accounts, betting on both outcomes of a table game to minimise risk while clearing wagering, or coordinating with others. Detected bonus abuse typically voids the bonus and can lead to account restrictions.
Some bonuses aren't applied automatically and require you to actively activate them from a promotions page or account dashboard before depositing — missing this step means depositing without receiving the bonus at all.
Specific games or entire categories explicitly barred from contributing to wagering, or from being played at all while a bonus is active. Jackpot slots are commonly excluded given their higher volatility and payout structure.
Mzansi Pro-Tip
When comparing two bonus offers, don't just compare headline amounts — compare the full combination of wagering multiplier, whether it's bonus-only or bonus-plus-deposit, and the maximum cashout cap together. A smaller bonus with 20x bonus-only wagering and a generous cashout cap is very often better value in practice than a larger bonus with 40x bonus-plus-deposit wagering and a tight cap, even though the second looks more impressive on the promotional banner.
The real value of knowing this vocabulary shows up the moment you're comparing two live offers side by side, or reading a specific casino's promotions page and trying to work out whether a bonus is genuinely good value or simply well marketed. Pantherbet's welcome package, for instance, is structured across three separate deposits totalling up to R15,000 plus 450 free spins — understanding that "across 3 deposits" changes how contribution and wagering apply compared to a single lump-sum bonus is exactly the kind of detail this glossary equips you to interpret correctly. Similarly, 10bet's 100% match up to R5,000 and Hollywoodbets' R25 no-deposit plus 50 free spins are structured differently enough that the underlying terms — not just the headline figures — determine which is the better fit for how you actually plan to play.
For the full walkthrough of how to systematically check a terms page using this vocabulary, see our companion how to read casino terms and conditions guide. And for every other piece of terminology used across this site — RTP, volatility, house edge, FICA and more — our comprehensive glossary of casino terms A-Z is the central reference point.
Common questions
A sticky bonus stays merged with your balance and is forfeited if you withdraw before wagering completes. A non-sticky ("phantom") bonus is removed from your balance at withdrawal time, so only genuine winnings generated while it was active are paid out — it's never directly cashed out itself.
It's the percentage of a wager on a specific game that counts toward clearing a wagering requirement. Slots typically contribute 100%, while table games often contribute far less or nothing at all.
A cap on the size of any single wager while bonus wagering is in progress, commonly R5 to R50. Exceeding it can void the entire bonus under most operators' terms.
Bonus-only wagering applies the multiplier to the bonus amount alone. Bonus-plus-deposit applies it to your deposit and bonus combined, which roughly doubles the effective wagering total on a 100% match bonus.
It refers to patterns like multi-accounting or hedged betting designed to clear wagering with minimal risk. Ordinary play at a single account rarely triggers it, but it's worth understanding the term since detected abuse can void bonuses and restrict accounts.
Unused bonus funds and any winnings still tied to unmet wagering are typically forfeited automatically once the expiry window — commonly 7 to 30 days — passes.
It depends on the operator and offer. Some bonuses apply automatically on deposit; others require active opt-in from a promotions page beforehand. Always check before depositing if you specifically want a bonus applied.
See our companion guide on how to read online casino terms and conditions, which covers the six clauses worth checking beyond bonus-specific jargon, including withdrawal limits and dormant account fees.