What Does Rollover Mean in Betting?
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Last Updated: 15 July, 2025
In sports betting, a rollover is the amount of money you need to bet before you can withdraw bonus funds or winnings from a promotion.
Sportsbooks use rollover rules to make sure players actually place bets before cashing out.
If you claim a bonus, you’ll need to meet the rollover terms before you can turn that bonus into real money.
How rollover betting works
Let’s say a sports betting site gives you a $100 bonus when you deposit $100.
That sounds like free money, but there’s a catch.
The bonus comes with a rollover requirement.
Example 1: 5x rollover
You deposit $100 and get a $100 bonus.
The rollover is 5x the bonus amount.
That means: ($100 deposit + $100 bonus) × 5 = $1,000.
You’ll need to place $1,000 worth of bets before you can withdraw any bonus-related winnings.
Example 2: 1x rollover
This is much more favorable.
Using the same numbers: ($100 + $100) × 1 = $200.
You only need to bet $200 total before withdrawing.
Example 3: Bonus only rollover
Some sportsbooks only apply the rollover to the bonus itself, not your deposit.
If you get a $50 bonus with a 10x rollover, that’s: $50 × 10 = $500.
You’d need to bet $500 before you could cash out bonus-related funds.
Not every bet you place will count toward a rollover.
Sportsbooks set rules on what qualifies, and these can vary.
Most books require you to bet on events with minimum odds, usually around -200 or higher (like -150, +100, or +200).
Bets on heavy favorites like -500 often won’t count.
This is a common rule in rollover sports betting.
Some books only count straight bets toward your betting rollover.
Others might include select props or major league games, but parlays, teasers, or live bets are often excluded.
Even if you're using a betting rollover calculator to keep track, it won’t help if you’re placing bets that don’t qualify.
Always check the terms. Some books only count winning bets, others count total amount risked.
If you’re unsure how your bet rollover is tracked, contact support before placing wagers.
Understanding which bets qualify is a key part of mastering rollover in betting.
It’s easy to miss details that could delay your payout.
Why do sportsbooks use rollovers?
Sportsbooks use rollover rules to protect themselves from bonus abuse.
Without them, players could deposit money, grab a bonus, place one bet, and withdraw everything, bonus included.
That’s not good for business.
The rollover in betting ensures that players actually use the bonus to place real bets.
It creates a buffer that gives the book a fair chance to earn some of that bonus money back.
Think of it like this:
A bonus is a reward, not a free payout.
The betting rollover keeps things balanced by requiring bettors to stay active for a while before cashing out.
Most legit sportsbooks offer fair rollover terms, usually between 1x and 5x.
Offshore sites, on the other hand, may set sky-high rollovers to make withdrawals nearly impossible.
How to check rollover progress
Most sports betting sites let you track your rollover progress in your account.
Some show a simple percentage or status bar, like “60% complete.”
Others may list exact numbers, like how much you’ve wagered and how much is left.
Look for tabs labeled “Bonuses,” “Promotions,” or “My Rewards.”
Some sites call it a play-through or wagering requirement instead of rollover, but it means the same thing.
If the site doesn’t show your rollover status clearly, reach out to customer support.
You don’t want to guess and risk losing the bonus by making a withdrawal too early.
Using a betting rollover calculator can also help.
It’s a simple way to track how much you need to bet to unlock the bonus.
Just plug in your deposit, bonus amount, and rollover requirement.
A fair rollover usually falls between 1x and 5x. That means you’ll need to bet one to five times your deposit and bonus before you can withdraw.
For example, a $100 deposit with a $100 bonus at 3x rollover means you’d need to bet $600 total. That’s doable for most bettors.
Once you get above 10x, the risk climbs fast. You could end up betting thousands just to unlock a few hundred dollars, and may lose money along the way.
Before you accept a bonus, check the rollover. If it feels too high, it probably is.
Top rollover betting tips
Before you claim a bonus, follow these tips to avoid problems later:
Frequently asked questions
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Josh Miller
Author
Josh Miller, Sporting Post’s Sports & Casino Editor, brings over five years of experience in feature writing, blogging, and SEO.
With a strong background in football coverage and sports betting, his work has been featured in VAVEL.
Josh also writes extensively about online casinos, providing expert insights into games, bonuses, and gambling trends.
His engaging and informative content makes him a reliable resource for Sporting Post readers.
Bradley Gibbs
Reviewed By
With over 12 years of experience, Bradley Gibbs is a seasoned sports betting writer and analyst specializing in uncovering value bets across football, horse racing, tennis, and golf.
His extensive coverage of these sports has been featured on numerous websites and in The Racing & Football Outlook, a renowned UK betting publication.
Bradley's expertise lies in identifying betting edges and delivering insightful, data-driven content for informed wagering.