You are on the bonus screen, reading how much you must play before withdrawing the extra funds. That play-through requirement applies to your bonus money, not just your deposit. The figure that matters is the multiplier on the bonus amount, so a small bonus can still demand a large turnover.
How to Claim the Offer
Claiming starts with the account you already use at Poker Stars. The steps below show the order players usually follow.
- Open the operator’s site on your phone browser or computer and find the bonuses section in your account. The welcome offer is shown there for new players.
- Create a new account if you do not have one, using your real name and address. The details must match your payment method later.
- Complete the registration form and confirm your email. A verified account is needed before any bonus can be credited.
- Make your first deposit on the same account. The offer is usually tied to this first payment and not to later top-ups.
- Enter the bonus code if one is displayed with the offer. Without it the credit may not attach to your deposit.
- Use the Poker Stars casino login with the same details to reach the bonus page. The welcome credit may appear there or in your balance.
- Start playing the qualifying games before the offer expires. The clock on the wagering period begins when the bonus is credited.
The steps above work the same for any poker-stars.it.com offer you claim later. Keep the receipt of your first deposit, because support may ask for it. If the bonus does not appear, the missing step is usually the bonus code or the email confirmation. The order of these steps matters more than the speed at which you complete them.
Conditions to Check
The table below lists the conditions that decide whether your bonus can be withdrawn.
| Term | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering requirement | The total you must play before withdrawing bonus winnings | Whether the multiplier applies to the bonus alone or to the deposit as well |
| Game contribution | How much of each game’s stakes counts toward the requirement | Which games count fully and which count partly or not at all |
| Time limit | The period in which the wagering must be finished | When the clock starts and what happens to unused funds at the end |
| Maximum bet | The stake cap while a bonus is active | The exact cap and whether it applies per game or per spin |
| Withdrawal cap | The most you may withdraw from bonus winnings | Whether the cap applies to the whole bonus or to each win |
Players most often misread the game contribution rule. A game that looks like it belongs to the casino may count only a share of your stakes, so your progress is slower than expected. A smaller share means more play before the condition is met. The second most misread condition is the maximum bet. Exceeding it can void the bonus even when your other play is clean. Treat both rules as limits on how you play, not as suggestions. They are the two reasons bonus balances are cancelled most often.
A Worked Example
This example uses illustrative numbers only. It is not the operator’s actual terms.
Assume you deposit 100 and receive a bonus of the same size. Assume the wagering requirement is 25 times the bonus. The turnover needed is the bonus multiplied by that multiplier.
Here the calculation gives 2,500 in total stakes. That figure is the amount you must play through, not the amount you must lose. Your winnings along the way do not reduce it directly.
If every game contributed fully, the whole of each stake would count. With only partial contribution, you need more stakes to reach the same figure. The gap between the two is what surprises most players.
The time limit adds pressure to the calculation. Divide the turnover by the days you realistically play to see whether the pace suits you. If it does not, the bonus is not worth claiming.
Which Games Count
The bonus terms divide games into groups by contribution. Some games count fully, others partly, and some not at all. Placing the wrong game first can waste the early part of your wagering period.
Slots usually carry the highest contribution at Poker Stars casino. Table games often count less, and live dealer games may be excluded. The exact shares sit in the bonus terms for each offer.
A common mistake is to spend most of the period on a game that counts only a fraction. The progress bar moves, but far slower than your balance falls. Choosing a fully counting game from the start keeps both in step.
The contribution rule also applies to free spin winnings in many offers. Winnings from spins on excluded games may not count at all. Reading which games count before you play saves the whole period.
Progress is easier to track when you stay on one counting game. Switching between games with different shares makes the target harder to judge. Keep a note of your stakes and compare them with the total required.
How Free Spins Work
Free spins are credited as a set of spins on named games. The terms state which game and how many spins, and both details are fixed. You cannot swap the spins to another title.
Spin winnings usually arrive as bonus money rather than cash. That means the wagering requirement applies to them too. The timetable for using the spins is separate from the main bonus period.
Unused spins can expire at the end of their own window. The value is lost without a further reminder beyond the bonus page. Diarise the end date when the spins appear.
Winnings from spins are often capped, which limits what you can withdraw from them. The cap is stated with the spins, not with the deposit bonus. Two offers can carry different caps on the same account.
Spins that arrive in batches need each batch played within its window. A batch left unplayed is removed and does not return. Playing them on the named game only is the simplest habit.
What Voids a Bonus
Most cancellations come from a short list of actions. Avoiding them protects both the bonus and your own deposit.
- Betting above the cap while the bonus is active. Keep every stake at or below the stated maximum, including single spins.
- Playing excluded games before the wagering is complete. Stick to games that count fully, and check the list for each offer.
- Opening a second account to claim the offer again. Use one account only, in your own name and with your own details.
- Using more than one bonus at the same time. Finish or decline one offer before claiming the next.
- Withdrawing before the wagering is finished. Wait until the requirement is met, or the bonus and its winnings are removed.
- Letting another person play on your account. Keep your Poker Stars casino login private and log out on shared devices.
- Ignoring the time limit on the offer. Note the end date when the bonus is credited and plan your play around it.
Each of these mistakes is avoidable with a quick check before you play. The maximum bet rule catches players most often, because it applies to every stake. A single oversized spin can cancel the bonus even after hours of play. Reading the conditions once at the start is cheaper than losing the bonus at the end.