Bonus terms explained: max bet, max win and expiry rules

Most bonus disputes aren't about wagering. They're about three short bonus terms most people never read: the max bet, the max win and the expiry date. Each one can void a bonus, or the winnings from it, even if you did everything else right.

1. Max bet while wagering

While you're clearing a bonus, there's usually a cap on each bet, often around $5, or a percentage of your balance. Go over it once, even by accident, and the casino can cancel the bonus and everything you won with it.

How the max bet catches people out

• Bet-size creep. A run of wins tempts you to raise the stake. One $6 spin under a $5 cap can be enough to breach the rule.
• Bonus-buy and gamble features. Buying a feature or using a "double up" button can count as a single large bet. Some terms exclude these features entirely.
• Sports minimum odds. The sports version is a minimum price. A bet below the stated odds simply doesn't count towards rollover.

The fix is simple: write the max bet down before you start and set your stake below it.

2. Max win (or max cash-out)

Some bonuses limit how much you can withdraw from them, for example 5× or 10× the bonus. Win $2,000 on a $50 no-deposit bonus with a $100 cap, and $1,900 vanishes.

Why a cap matters more than it looks

A cap barely changes the average value of a bonus, because huge wins are rare. What it changes is the shape of the outcome: it removes the upside that makes a bonus worth playing. Caps are most common on no-deposit bonuses and on free spin winnings.

A $20 bonus with a 5× cap: $20 × 5 = $100 at most, however well it goes.

3. Bonus expiry

Bonuses usually have a deadline: 7, 14 or 30 days. Wagering $4,500 in 7 days means about $640 of bets every single day.

The same $4,500 over 30 days is $150 a day. At $1 a spin that's still around 150 spins every day for a month. If that doesn't fit how you normally play, the bonus will push you to play more than you planned, which is a good reason to skip it. Our wagering requirements guide shows how the total is worked out.

Other terms worth a quick look

• Game restrictions and weighting. Some games are excluded or count only a fraction towards wagering.
• Withdrawing early. Requesting a withdrawal before wagering is finished often forfeits the bonus.
• Payment methods. Some offers exclude certain deposit methods, so check before you pay in.
• One offer per person or household. A second account to claim a bonus twice can void both.

Once you've found the numbers, put them in the bet calculator to see whether the bonus is worth it, and read how bonus value is calculated to see what the result means.