On a short session before work, you tap the bonus button and start playing. The condition most players misread is whether their own deposit or the bonus itself must be played through, and that choice decides how much of your own money stays locked. Getting it right means you know when the bonus turns into withdrawable cash; getting it wrong means you keep playing long after you thought you were done.
Activating the Bonus
Claiming the offer starts with a clear sequence, and each step leaves a record you can act on.
- Open the cashier area in your account and find the bonus section. The offer appears there once your account is eligible.
- Choose the bonus from the list before you make a deposit. Selecting it first ties the offer to the payment that follows.
- Make a deposit that qualifies for the offer. The bonus is added to your balance automatically after the deposit clears.
- Note whether the bonus arrives as a separate balance or mixed with your cash. A separate balance keeps your own funds distinct until playthrough ends.
- Start playing eligible games right away, because some offers carry a use-by point. Missing it removes the bonus without warning.
- Track your progress in the bonus details page. The remaining playthrough figure updates as you play.
- Finish the playthrough before requesting a withdrawal. Asking earlier can cancel the bonus and any winnings tied to it.
Key Terms in Plain Words
The table below shows the terms that shape how the bonus behaves and what each one asks of you.
| Term | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Playthrough requirement | How much you must stake before bonus winnings become cash | Whether the figure applies to the bonus alone or to deposit plus bonus |
| Eligible game | A game that counts toward playthrough | Which game categories are excluded from counting |
| Game contribution | The share of each stake that counts toward playthrough | How much of a stake on your favourite game actually counts |
| Maximum bet | The largest stake allowed while a bonus is active | The cap that applies during bonus play |
| Expiry | The point after which the bonus is removed | How long the offer stays in your account |
Players misread the playthrough requirement more than any other term. Many assume it applies only to the bonus amount, when it can apply to the deposit as well. That difference changes how much you must stake before anything is withdrawable. A bonus tied to deposit plus bonus takes far longer to clear than one tied to the bonus alone. Reading that single line before you deposit tells you whether the offer suits a short session or a long one. It also tells you how much of your own money is committed, not just the bonus.
Wagering in Numbers
Wagering works through a simple formula: the base amount multiplied by the playthrough factor gives the total you must stake. The base is either the bonus alone or deposit plus bonus, depending on the offer. The factor is the multiplier stated in the terms. The result is the total stake needed before winnings become cash.
Here is an example, not the actual terms of Casinodemontreal.eu.com. Suppose you deposit 10 and receive a bonus of 10, with a playthrough factor of 25 on the bonus alone. The base is 10, so the total stake is 10 times 25, which equals 250. That is the amount you must wager before any bonus winnings can be withdrawn.
Now suppose the same deposit and bonus, but the factor applies to deposit plus bonus. The base becomes 20, and the total stake is 20 times 25, which equals 500. The difference between the two readings is the whole point: the same headline factor doubles your required play. This is why the base amount matters as much as the multiplier.
A third example shows how game contribution changes the picture. If only half of each stake on your favourite game counts, then 250 of counted play needs 500 of actual stakes. If only a quarter counts, you need 1000. Before you start, compare the total stake with the time you have and the games you enjoy.
How Free Spins Work
Free spins usually arrive as a set number of spins on named games, not as cash. Each spin places a fixed bet on your behalf, so the stake size is set by the offer. Winnings from those spins typically land in a bonus balance rather than your cash balance. That balance then follows its own playthrough before it can be withdrawn.
The spins often carry their own expiry, separate from the main bonus. If you do not use them within that window, they disappear without converting to anything. Some offers release spins in batches over several days rather than all at once. Knowing the release pattern stops you from expecting spins that have not arrived yet.
Not every game accepts free spins, even when the game looks similar to the named one. The spins are tied to a specific title, and using them elsewhere is not possible. Winnings from spins may also face a cap on how much can be converted. That cap is separate from the playthrough requirement and applies on top of it.
Track the spin winnings as a bonus balance and treat them like any other bonus funds. They cannot be withdrawn until their playthrough is finished. If you have both a main bonus and spin winnings active, each may carry its own conditions. Finishing one does not automatically finish the other.
Game Contribution
Each game type counts a different share of your stake toward playthrough. Slots usually count in full, while table games and live dealer titles often count at a reduced rate or not at all. That means the same total stake can move your progress at very different speeds. Choosing games without checking contribution is the fastest way to stall your playthrough.
At casinodemontreal.eu.com, the contribution rules follow the same pattern: the games you enjoy most may be the ones that count least. A player who spends a weekend on table games can wager a large sum and see little progress. The fix is to mix in games that count in full for part of each session. That keeps progress moving without giving up the games you came for.
Contribution rates apply per stake, not per win, so a losing streak still advances your playthrough. The counted amount is based on what you bet, not on what comes back. This is why low-stake, high-volume play can clear a bonus steadily. It is also why chasing big wins on excluded games does nothing for your progress.
Some games are excluded entirely, and stakes on them do not count at all. Playing them while a bonus is active is allowed, but it does not help you finish. Check the contribution list before you settle into a session on one game type. A quick switch at the start saves hours of misdirected play later.
Common Mistakes
Most bonus problems come from a handful of habits, and each one has a simple fix.
- Assuming the playthrough applies only to the bonus. Check whether the base is deposit plus bonus before you deposit, because that reading can double your required play.
- Playing only excluded games and wondering why progress stalls. Mix in titles that count in full so each session moves the figure forward.
- Requesting a withdrawal before playthrough ends. Finish the requirement first, or the bonus and its winnings can be removed.
- Ignoring the maximum bet while a bonus is active. Keep stakes within the cap, since exceeding it can void the bonus.
- Letting the bonus or free spins expire unused. Note the expiry when the offer lands and plan sessions that fit inside it.
- Treating free spin winnings as cash. They arrive as bonus funds, so they follow their own playthrough and any conversion cap.
- Missing the bonus selection step at deposit. Choose the offer in the cashier before paying, or the deposit may not trigger it.