A playthrough requirement (also called rollover or wagering requirement) is the amount you must wager before promotional funds can be withdrawn. If an offer says "5x playthrough" on a $100 credit, that means $500 in qualifying wagers first. The number matters less than the surrounding details: what counts, how fast, and what is actually locked.
Ohio Administrative Code rule 3775-16-09 says promotion rules must be "clear and unambiguous" and must include the dates the promotion is active, eligibility limits and any wagering and redemption requirements. It also says promotions can require bonus funds to be played through before withdrawal, but cannot restrict you from withdrawing your own funds or winnings from wagers placed with them. The rule text was read on codes.ohio.gov in October 2026.
What Playthrough Actually Means
Think of playthrough as a handling fee paid in action rather than in money. The sportsbook gives you something of value, and in exchange you agree to put a certain amount through the betting system before cashing out the promotional portion. Playthrough is measured in total amount wagered, not in profit. Losing a bet can still count toward it, and winning does not count extra.
It applies to promotional funds, not to your own deposit. Your own money and winnings from it are a separate bucket under Ohio's rule, even though some bonus structures blur the line on screen.
A Worked Example (Made-Up Numbers)
The offer below is hypothetical, with round numbers chosen for the math. It is not a real promotion from any sportsbook. Always use the actual terms in the offer you are looking at.
Imagine an offer that adds a $100 promotional credit with a 5x playthrough that must be finished within 30 days.
| Step | Math | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Required wagering | $100 x 5 | $500 in qualifying bets |
| Average bet size | $25 | 20 bets to reach $500 |
| Time limit | 30 days | About 2 bets a week would not be enough; roughly 5 a week would |
| If a bet pushes or is voided | Depends on terms | Often does not count toward the total |
The example shows why playthrough has a behavior cost: the structure of the offer pushes you to place a minimum number of bets in a limited time. If you would not normally bet that often or that much, the offer is not "free." Our bonus bets guide covers how different promotional credits pay out, and the promo stacking guide looks at offers across apps.
The Fine Print Questions to Answer
Before you opt in, find the answer to each of these in the offer's terms:
- What multiple applies? Is it 1x, 5x or something else, and is it applied to the bonus alone or to the bonus plus a deposit?
- What counts toward it? Some terms credit only certain bet types, minimum odds or markets. Others count different bets at different rates. See minimum odds on promos.
- How much of the balance is restricted? Promotional funds, your deposit and winnings can sit in separate buckets.
- When does it expire? Ohio's rule requires the date and time a promotion is active and expires to be stated.
- What happens to unused credit? It may simply disappear at the end of the window.
- Are there caps? Maximum bet size, maximum winnings from bonus funds or maximum withdrawal limits may apply.
- Is opt-in required? Some offers apply only if you opt in before placing the qualifying bet.
- Can you withdraw before finishing? If you do, you may forfeit the remaining promotional funds. Ask support what happens before you act.
Where to Find the Terms
Look for a "Terms and Conditions," "Promotion Rules" or "Details" link on the offer page, in the promotions tab of the app, or in the promotion's confirmation message. Screenshot the terms when you opt in, because pages change and your screenshot shows what applied on the day you claimed it. If a term is not in the published rules, ask support to point you to where it is written. Ohio's rule requires terms to be full, accurate, concise, transparent and not misleading, so a missing or confusing term is something to raise with the operator.
Playthrough and Withdrawals: Why Payouts Get Held
One of the most common reasons a withdrawal gets held is a promotion that is still in progress. If your withdrawal is pending while a promotion is active, check whether the hold applies to bonus funds (which can be restricted) or your own money (which Ohio's rule says the terms cannot restrict). Our article on pending withdrawals walks through this and the other common causes.
Staying Responsible While You Meet a Playthrough
Playthrough can create pressure to bet more, more often, or on markets you would not choose. A few guardrails help:
- Decide your own budget first, and treat the promotion as a bonus on top of what you planned to bet anyway.
- Never raise your stake sizes just to hit the number. The 1% rule still applies.
- If a promotion's terms would make you bet more than you are comfortable with, skip the promotion. You are allowed to pass.
- Use deposit and time limits, as covered in our responsible gaming tools guide.
The Bottom Line
Before you opt in, multiply the bonus by the playthrough number, then ask whether you would place that much betting action in that time anyway. Check what counts, what expires and what is locked. If the numbers only work when you bet more than planned, the offer is costing you something. See what is currently on offer on our Ohio promos page, and read each operator's current terms before you claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 1x playthrough mean?
It means you must wager the promotional amount once before the promotional funds become withdrawable. A $50 credit with a 1x playthrough would require $50 in qualifying wagers. The terms may also set limits on what counts.
Does playthrough count my winnings or just my stake?
Playthrough is usually measured by the amount wagered rather than the profit. The exact method is set out in the offer terms, so confirm how your sportsbook counts it.
Can a sportsbook stop me from withdrawing my own deposit because of a bonus?
Under Ohio rule 3775-16-09, promotion terms must not restrict a patron from withdrawing their own funds or winnings from wagers placed using them. Promotional funds can have playthrough conditions. If you think your own money is being held, ask support to cite the term.
Do pushed or voided bets count toward playthrough?
It depends on the terms. Many offers do not count them, so read the section on qualifying wagers.
Is a promotion with playthrough worth claiming?
Only you can decide that. Work out the total required wagering, the time limit and the restrictions, and claim it only if you would bet that amount anyway.
Sources and Verification
Rule text from Ohio Adm.Code 3775-16-09, Promotions and bonuses (effective October 26, 2024) as published on codes.ohio.gov and read in October 2026. The worked example uses invented round numbers and is labeled as an illustration. Playthrough multiples, time limits and counting rules differ by operator and offer, and none of the figures in the example come from a real promotion. Always read the live terms.
Sports betting in Ohio is for adults 21 and older, and it should be entertainment you can afford to lose. Nothing here is a pick or a promise of profit. If betting stops being fun, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 (free, confidential, 24/7) or see our responsible gaming tools guide.
Check What Counts Before You Bet
Minimum odds and excluded markets can make a qualifying bet fail.