Definition
Bonus Expiry
Also known as Expiry Period, Bonus Expiration, Validity Period
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
Bonus expiry is the deadline for meeting wagering requirements. Unfinished bonuses are removed at expiry along with any winnings derived from them, regardless of how close you were.
Every bonus has a deadline. Fail to complete the wagering requirement in time and the bonus is removed, along with anything you won using it.
Typical periods
| Bonus type | Common expiry |
|---|---|
| Casino deposit bonus | 7–30 days |
| Free spins | 24–72 hours |
| No deposit bonus | 24–72 hours |
| Free bets | 7 days |
| Bet credits | 30 days |
| Cashback | 3–7 days |
Free spins expire fastest, and they frequently have a second deadline: the spins must be used within one window, and the winnings from them wagered within another.
Running the numbers before accepting
This is the calculation most people skip, and it decides whether an offer is usable at all.
A £100 bonus at 35x requires £3,500 of turnover. With a 7-day expiry, that is £500 per day.
At £1 per spin that is 500 spins daily for a week. Whether that is realistic depends entirely on how you actually play, and for most people it is not, which means the bonus was never going to clear regardless of its terms.
Dividing the required turnover by the days available is a thirty-second check that tells you more than any review.
What happens at expiry
The bonus balance is removed. Winnings attributable to it are removed. Your original deposit and any withdrawable cash remain.
Partial progress counts for nothing. Clearing 95% of a requirement and running out of time produces the same outcome as clearing none of it.
Practical points
- The clock usually starts at credit, not at first use. A bonus sitting untouched is still expiring
- Cancelling early is often possible. Most operators let you forfeit a bonus, which releases your remaining real balance for withdrawal. If a bonus is clearly not going to clear, cancelling is better than letting it expire
- One bonus at a time. Most operators queue bonuses rather than running them concurrently, and a queued bonus may be expiring while you clear the first
- Check before depositing again: a new deposit can trigger a second bonus while the first is still active, which some operators handle badly
Common questions
How long do casino bonuses last?
Typically 7 to 30 days for deposit bonuses, 24 to 72 hours for free spins and no deposit bonuses, and 7 days for free bets. Free spins often have two deadlines, one to use them and another to wager the winnings.
What happens if my bonus expires before I clear it?
The bonus and any winnings from it are removed, regardless of how close you were. Partial progress counts for nothing, so cancelling early to release your real balance is usually better than letting it lapse.