A “100% up to $250 bonus” sounds like $250. It isn’t, because you have to bet it through before any of it is yours, and betting costs money. This works out what’s left.
What the calculator is doing. Three numbers decide whether a bonus is worth taking: how much you get, how much you have to wager, and what wagering costs. The first is on the banner. The second is the multiplier buried in the terms. The third is the house edge, which nobody mentions at all.
Take a $250 bonus with 45× wagering on a 96% RTP slot. You must bet $11,250. At a 4% house edge, that turnover has an expected cost of $450. The bonus is worth $250. On average, you are paying about $200 for a longer session.
This is not a reason to never take a bonus. It’s a reason to know what you’re taking. A longer session for $200 may be exactly what you want — that’s entertainment spending, and there’s nothing wrong with it. What you shouldn’t do is believe you’ve been handed $250.
The two things that move the answer most are the multiplier and whether wagering applies to the bonus alone or to your deposit as well. The second one silently doubles the requirement, and it’s a single word in the terms. Our wagering calculator shows both side by side.
What this doesn’t model: running out of money before you finish. The figure above assumes you complete the wagering. In practice, a good share of attempts end early — the variance simulator shows how often.
FAQ
Are casino bonuses ever worth it?
Sometimes. A bonus is worth taking when the bonus amount exceeds the expected cost of clearing it — low wagering on a high-RTP game. A 20× requirement on a 97% slot is usually positive; a 45× requirement on a 94% slot usually isn’t. The calculator does the comparison for the exact offer in front of you.
How do I calculate the real value of a deposit bonus?
Multiply the wagering basis by the multiplier to get your required turnover, multiply that by the house edge (100% minus RTP) to get the expected cost, then subtract it from the bonus. A $250 bonus at 45× on 96% RTP means $11,250 turnover, $450 expected cost, and a net expected value of minus $200.
Can I withdraw a casino bonus straight away?
No. Deposit-match bonuses carry wagering requirements, and withdrawing before you meet them normally forfeits the bonus and often any winnings from it. Free spins are sometimes wager-free, which is different — see the free spins calculator.
