The three numbers that actually matter
Playthrough (or wagering requirement) is the multiplier applied to either the bonus amount or your deposit plus bonus combined — read the fine print, because 40x on C$200 (deposit+bonus) is a very different ask than 40x on C$100 (bonus only). Max bet is usually C$5 to C$8 while a bonus is live; go over it on a single spin and some operators void the whole bonus, not just that wager. Expiry windows run 7 to 30 days, and unused bonus funds plus any winnings tied to them vanish at the deadline.
Game weighting quietly changes everything
Slots typically count 100% toward clearing a bonus. Blackjack, baccarat and roulette are usually weighted at 5% to 10%, and some titles are excluded entirely. A C$300 bonus at 35x wagering means C$10,500 in qualifying wagers — if you’re playing blackjack at 10% weighting, you’d need C$105,000 in actual bets to hit that number, which is why nobody clears a slots bonus at the blackjack table.
| Term | What it means | Typical Canadian range |
|---|---|---|
| Playthrough | Multiplier on bonus or deposit+bonus | 30x–50x |
| Max bet | Ceiling per wager while bonus is active | C$5–C$8 |
| Expiry | Days to clear before funds are removed | 7–30 days |
| Slots weighting | Share of bet that counts toward wagering | 100% |
| Table game weighting | Share of bet that counts toward wagering | 5%–10% or 0% |
What Ontario changed
Since AGCO’s advertising standards took hold in the regulated Ontario market conducted by iGaming Ontario, operators there can’t blast “free money” style inducement ads at the general public the way offshore sites still do. Bonuses still exist in Ontario — they’re just presented with clearer terms up front rather than buried three clicks deep, and you won’t see the same “no wagering, guaranteed win” language you’d find on a Curaçao-licensed site. If you’re in Ontario, our Ontario online casinos page walks through what a compliant bonus actually looks like.
What works
- Small, low-multiple bonuses clear fast and rarely hit the max-bet trap
- Slots-only wagering is straightforward to track
- Regulated Ontario terms are easier to read than most offshore ones
What does not
- Large percentage-match bonuses with 45x+ wagering rarely get cleared
- Mixed deposit+bonus wagering formulas inflate the real target
- Short 7-day expiries punish anyone who doesn’t play daily
I’ve had a C$50 no-deposit spin package clear in under an hour and a C$500 match bonus expire untouched because I didn’t notice the 10-day window. Read the clock before you read the headline number.
Where to look next
- Compare offers with tighter multiples on our low wagering bonuses page
- See how free spin offers price out on our free spins hub
- Check payout speed before you chase any bonus at all on fastest payout casinos
Is a 50x wagering bonus ever worth claiming?
Only if the bonus amount is small and the max bet lets you play your normal stakes without tripping the ceiling — a C$500 bonus at 50x is a C$25,000 target most players never reach.
Do winnings from a bonus get taxed in Canada?
Recreational winnings are generally not taxable in Canada, bonus-derived or not, though you should still keep your own records.
Why did my bonus get cancelled mid-session?
Almost always a max-bet violation — one wager over the C$5–C$8 ceiling while a bonus balance is active is enough for most operators to void it under their terms.
Are Ontario bonuses smaller than offshore ones?
Not necessarily smaller, just advertised differently — AGCO’s rules limit how inducements are marketed to the public, not the size of the offer itself.
