Wagering calculator: what a bonus really costs
Put in the terms from any bonus card and the calculator shows the total you must bet, how many bets that is at your stake, and what the bonus is worth on average once the house edge has taken its share.
- Bets at your average stake
- 3,500
- Expected loss while wagering
- 140
- Bonus value after expected loss
- -40
On average this bonus costs more to clear than it is worth.
An average over many players, not a forecast for one session. Results vary a lot either way.
What each input means
- Bonus amount: the bonus money credited, not your deposit.
- Your deposit: only used when the wagering counts deposit plus bonus.
- Wagering (times): the multiple from the terms, such as 35.
- Bonus only or deposit + bonus: what the multiple counts on. The second can double the work.
- Game counts toward wagering (%): slots usually count in full. Table games often count far less, which multiplies the betting needed.
- Average bet: your usual stake per spin or hand. Keep it under the max bet in the terms.
- Game RTP (%): the game’s published return to player. 96 is a common slot figure.
Reading the result
“You must bet” is the total turnover. “Expected loss while wagering” is that turnover times the house edge: the average cost across many players. “Bonus value after expected loss” subtracts that cost from the bonus. Positive means some value survives on average. Negative means the bonus costs more to clear than it is worth, so treat it as extra playtime, not money.
A worked example
Take a bonus of 100 on a deposit of 100, 35x on the bonus only, slots counting in full and an RTP of 96. You must bet 3,500. A house edge of 4% makes the expected loss 140, so the bonus is worth minus 40 on average. Switch the same offer to deposit plus bonus and the turnover doubles to 7,000, with an expected loss of 280. Cut the wagering to 20x at an RTP of 97 instead: turnover 2,000, expected loss 60, and the bonus keeps 40 of its value.
It is an average, not a forecast, and single sessions swing widely either way. Our wagering guide explains the maths, and game weighting covers the contribution rules. Compare real offers on the bonus list.
Questions players ask
Does the calculator work for free spins?
Yes. Enter the spin winnings as the bonus amount, the wagering on winnings as the multiple, and choose bonus only.
Why is the result negative for most bonuses?
Because every bet carries a house edge. At 35x and an RTP of 96, wagering costs more on average than the bonus adds. Lighter wagering or a higher RTP flips the result.
What if a game counts only 10% toward wagering?
Enter 10 in the weighting box. The betting needed rises tenfold, so the expected loss usually swamps the bonus.