Bonus tools
Casino bonus & wagering calculator
A bonus is only as good as the terms attached to it. Enter the numbers from the offer and see how much you would really have to wager — and what the bonus is worth once you have.
Expected value is the bonus you receive minus the expected cost of grinding through the required turnover at the game's house edge (bonus − turnover × edge), adjusted for game contribution. This simplified estimate assumes you complete all the required wagering. It omits the chance of losing the balance before completion, withdrawal caps, excluded games, max-bet rules and expiry. A positive result does not establish that an offer is worth taking. Illustration only — 18+, gamble responsibly.
A 35× wagering requirement, worked through
A hypothetical 100% match on a $100 deposit gives a $100 bonus. At 35× bonus-only wagering, the credited requirement is $3,500. With 100% game contribution and a 3% house edge, the expected wagering cost is $105 and the simplified bonus value is −$5.
At 10% contribution, the same requirement takes $35,000 of actual bets: $1,050 expected cost and −$950 simplified bonus value. If the terms instead apply 35× to deposit plus bonus, the required bets double. These are illustrative inputs, not an operator offer.
How the calculation works
Two figures do all the work. The first is the total turnover the operator requires: the wagering base — the bonus alone, or the deposit plus the bonus, depending on the terms — multiplied by the wagering requirement, divided by the game contribution as a decimal. The second is what that turnover costs you, which is the turnover multiplied by the house edge of whatever you play.
Subtract the second from the bonus and you have the expected value: bonus − (turnover × edge). It is an average over many repetitions, not a prediction of your session — you may finish well ahead or well behind. It assumes the full wagering is completed; losing the balance before completion can change the outcome materially.
Where the estimate is optimistic
- It assumes you can complete all required wagering, without losing the balance first. It does not simulate session outcomes.
- It ignores caps on how much of a bonus win can be withdrawn, which can cut the upside sharply.
- It ignores expiry windows, which can make a requirement impossible to clear at a sane stake.
- It ignores max-bet rules, breaching which can void the bonus entirely.
Related terms are explained in the glossary. Check the operator’s current restrictions before you opt in.
Questions
What does “expected value” mean here?
It is a simplified estimate: bonus received minus required turnover multiplied by the house edge. A $100 bonus with 35× bonus-only wagering, 100% game contribution and a 3% edge requires $3,500 of bets, with an expected wagering cost of $105 and an estimated bonus value of minus $5. The model assumes full completion and excludes bust probability, withdrawal caps, expiry and max-bet restrictions. It is not the expected withdrawable balance or a recommendation to accept an offer.
Does it account for game weighting?
Yes. Enter the percentage stated in the bonus terms. At 100%, each unit wagered counts fully. At 10%, clearing a $3,500 credited requirement takes $35,000 of actual bets. A game that contributes 0% cannot clear the requirement; the calculator shows an error instead of a value.
Should I always take the biggest bonus?
No. The wagering base, contribution percentage, house edge, withdrawal caps and time limit can matter more than the headline match. Compare the terms and this tool's simplified estimate, while accounting for the limitations it does not model.
Why can the expected value be negative?
Because many bonuses are, in expectation, worse than not taking one. The house edge applies to every bet you place to clear the requirement, and once the required turnover is large enough, its expected cost exceeds the bonus. A negative figure is the calculator telling you the offer is a cost rather than a gift.
An estimate, not advice.18+ only. This tool illustrates the mathematics of bonus terms. It cannot change the house edge, does not predict your results, and is not a recommendation to accept any offer.