You have filled in the sign-up form, ticked the box for the welcome offer, and a bonus balance now sits beside your own deposit. The condition most new players misread is the playthrough requirement attached to that bonus. It decides whether the extra money ever becomes yours, so the number on the bonus screen deserves a second look before you stake anything.
Activating the Bonus
The offer is claimed through the account rather than sitting on the site for anyone to pick up. Follow the order below so the bonus lands in the right place.
- Open the sign-up form and enter your real details exactly as they appear on your ID. A mismatch here can stall the bonus before it is credited.
- Choose a password you will remember and keep it private. You will reuse it at the Pointsbet login screen every time you return.
- Enter any promotion code the offer asks for, in the exact format shown. A typo means the system ignores the code and the bonus does not attach.
- Complete the bonus opt-in during registration or from the promotions area straight after. Skipping this step usually means no bonus is added later.
- Make your first deposit with a method the offer accepts. Other funding routes may pay in fine but leave the bonus uncredited.
- Go through any identity step the account asks for before you play. Left unfinished, it can block a withdrawal even when the playthrough is complete.
- Confirm the bonus balance appears next to your cash balance. If it is missing, contact support before you start wagering.
Bonus Terms Explained
The table below sets out the terms that decide what happens to the bonus money once it is in your account.
| Term | What it means for you | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Playthrough requirement | The total you must stake before bonus winnings can be withdrawn | The multiplier and the base it applies to |
| Eligible games | Only some games count toward the playthrough | That your usual games are on the list |
| Game contribution | Different games move the counter by different shares | The share for each game you plan to play |
| Stake cap | A limit on how much each bet may be while the bonus is active | That your bet size stays under it |
| Expiry | The bonus and its winnings are removed after a set window | How long you have from the moment of credit |
The term most players misread is playthrough, because they assume it applies to the bonus alone. Many offers count the deposit plus the bonus, so the target is larger than the bonus figure suggests. Reading the base correctly changes how long the task really takes.
The stake cap causes the second most frequent problem. A single bet above the limit can void the bonus, even if every other rule was followed. Keeping to small, steady stakes protects the balance while you work through the requirement.
Eligible games matter as much as the multiplier. Progress on a game outside the list may count for nothing at all. Choosing eligible titles from the first spin avoids wasted effort.
Expiry runs from the moment the bonus is credited, not from your first spin. A short window turns the playthrough into a sprint rather than a stroll. Planning your sessions around that clock keeps the winnings reachable.
How the Maths Works
Playthrough is simply the base amount multiplied by the wagering figure in the terms. The base is usually the deposit, the bonus, or both together. Which base applies changes the target a great deal.
Take an illustrative example only: a player deposits 50 and receives a bonus, with a wagering requirement of 40 times the bonus. That means the player must stake 2,000 in total before anything is withdrawable. These numbers are invented to show the method, not the offer’s actual terms.
If the base were deposit plus bonus instead, the target would grow well beyond the bonus figure. That is why the base line in the terms is the first thing to settle. A small difference in wording here moves the finish line a long way.
Progress only builds from stakes that count, at the contribution rate of the game you play. Stake at full contribution on eligible games and the counter moves as expected. Stake on a game outside the list and the effort leaves no trace.
How Free Spins Work
Free spins usually arrive as a separate bundle from the cash bonus, with their own rules attached. They land on a set of games chosen by the operator, so not every slot will use them. Treat them as a distinct task rather than free extra play.
Spins often expire faster than the main bonus, sometimes within days of credit. Using them early avoids losing them unused. The spin screen shows the remaining count, so a quick glance keeps you on track.
Winnings from spins can arrive as bonus money with their own playthrough requirement. That means a second round of staking before the winnings become cash. The terms state which requirement applies to spin winnings, so the two targets stay separate in your mind.
Reaching the spins is the same whether you play through Pointsbet sign up on a phone browser or a desktop. Mobile play runs in the phone browser and needs no download. The spin balance and its rules appear in the same promotions area, so the picture stays consistent.
Game Contribution
Not every game moves your playthrough counter at the same speed. Slots typically count in full, while table games contribute only a fraction of each stake. Some games may not count at all.
A low contribution means you must stake far more to clear the same target. That stretch can exhaust the bonus window before the requirement is met. Choosing high-contribution games shortens the task considerably.
The Pointsbet casino app runs through the phone browser, and the contribution rules apply the same way there. The label on each game tells you how it counts. Check it before you settle into a session.
Mixing games without checking the list is a common way to waste progress. Decide which eligible titles you will play first, then stay with them. The counter only rewards the games the terms name.
Common Mistakes
Most bonus problems come from small slips made in the first few minutes rather than from the offer itself. The list below covers the ones that cost players the most.
- Betting above the stake cap: One large bet can void the bonus. Keep every stake modest and consistent until the playthrough is done.
- Playing games outside the eligible list: Those stakes may count for nothing. Choose titles from the list before your first spin.
- Reading playthrough as bonus only: The base may include the deposit too. Identify the base in the terms so the target is realistic.
- Ignoring the expiry clock: The window starts at credit, not first play. Plan sessions so the requirement is met in time.
- Withdrawing cash before the requirement is met: This usually cancels the bonus and its winnings. Finish the playthrough first, then request the withdrawal.
- Skipping the opt-in or mistyping the code: The bonus never attaches. Confirm the balance is credited before you start wagering.
- Running two accounts to claim the offer again: Duplicate accounts break the rules. Keep to one account and one claim per player.