A bonus with generous terms and a low wagering multiplier can still turn out worthless if the expiry window catches you off guard. Here’s how expiry actually works, and what happens when it runs out.
Typical expiry windows
Most casino bonuses expire somewhere between 7 and 30 days after being credited to your account, though the exact window varies by operator and offer type. No-deposit bonuses tend to sit at the shorter end (often 7 days); larger welcome packages sometimes run the full 30. The expiry clock generally starts the moment the bonus lands in your account, not the moment you first play with it — so a bonus claimed but not used immediately loses days before you even start.
What happens to unfinished wagering at expiry
If wagering isn’t fully cleared by the expiry date, the standard outcome across most licensed operators is straightforward: the bonus amount is removed from your balance, and any winnings generated from it while wagering was still in progress are voided along with it. Your original deposit (if the bonus was non-sticky) typically remains untouched and withdrawable — it’s specifically the bonus and its associated winnings that expire, not your own money.
A 95%-cleared bonus that hits its expiry date is treated the same as a 5%-cleared one: both forfeit the full remaining bonus and winnings. There’s no partial credit for wagering that was almost, but not quite, finished.
How to avoid losing a bonus to expiry
Check the expiry window before claiming, alongside the wagering multiplier and max cashout — treat it as an equally important number, not a footnote. Once claimed, track your actual turnover against both your target and the calendar, not just the target alone (see how to check your bonus turnover for the full method). If your typical playing pace can’t realistically clear the required turnover within the window, that’s a sign the offer isn’t a good fit for you regardless of how attractive the headline percentage looks.
Run the multiplier and your intended pace through the Wagering Calculator to estimate how many sessions you’d realistically need, and compare expiry windows across operators on the Bonus Review page before committing to one.