How a winover works
A winover sets the balance you must reach before a withdrawal is allowed. The usual wording is a multiple followed by what it applies to, such as “winover x3” or “reach 3x the deposit plus bonus”.
Three things follow from that rule:
- Only your balance counts. Bets do not add up towards a winover. A long session that ends where it started has made no progress.
- Winning is required. The balance has to grow, so the condition is met only if the session runs ahead.
- Running out ends the offer. If the balance reaches zero before the target, nothing can be withdrawn.
Winover and turnover compared
The two terms are often used as if they mean the same thing, and some pages explain a winover as an amount to wager. On the terms we read, they are different rules.
| Winover | Turnover (wagering) |
|---|
| What it measures | Your balance | The total you have bet |
| Do losing bets count? | No | Yes, on eligible games |
| How it clears | The balance reaches the target | Total bets reach the target |
| Your balance at the end | At least the target | Can be anything |
A worked example
Take a hypothetical offer: deposit A$50 and receive a A$50 bonus, with a 3x winover on the deposit plus bonus.
Your starting balance is A$100 and your target is A$300, so the balance has to triple before you can withdraw. If it reaches A$300, you can make a withdrawal, subject to any cap in the terms. If it falls to zero first, the offer is over.
Now compare 3x turnover on the same deposit plus bonus. You would need to place A$300 in total bets. Those bets can win or lose, and you could finish with far less than A$300 and still have met the requirement.
The number printed on the offer is the same in both cases, but the task is not.
Why the wording matters
Pokies pay back less than they take over time, so a target that needs your balance to grow gets harder as the multiple rises. A higher winover means a smaller chance of reaching it, and that matters more than the headline bonus. Our guide to RTP explains how that long-run figure works.
A printed multiple also tells you little until you know what it applies to. Our bonus terms report reads the wording used by every site we track and shows how often the rule is stated plainly. You can test an offer’s cost with our wagering calculator.
What to check before you claim
- Whether the rule is a winover or turnover, and what the multiple applies to.
- Whether there is a maximum withdrawal, and whether the offer is for pokies only.
- Whether you can decline the bonus. If you plan to withdraw soon, playing without one can be simpler.
If gambling is costing more than you planned, Gambling Help Online is free and confidential on 1800 858 858.
