Wagering Requirements: How to Know if a Bonus Is Worth It
The formula casinos hope you never run. Plus a calculator that runs it for you.
Key takeaways
- Turnover = bonus × wagering ÷ game contribution
- Expected cost = turnover × house edge
- Above about 25× on a 96% slot, clearing the bonus costs more than it gives
The formula
A $100 bonus with 35× wagering means $3,500 of bets before withdrawal. If the wagering applies to deposit plus bonus, and you deposited $100, it becomes $7,000.
Expected cost of wagering = turnover × (1 − RTP). At 96% RTP, $3,500 of turnover costs about $140 on average, more than the $100 bonus itself.
Game contribution
Slots usually count 100%. Table games count 10% or less, so $1 on blackjack clears only $0.10 of wagering. Live games are often excluded entirely.
Rules that void winnings
Read these three lines before accepting any bonus:
- Maximum bet while wagering, often $5
- Excluded games list
- Time limit, often 7 to 30 days
Run the numbers
Our wagering calculator takes a bonus, its wagering, the game RTP and your bet size, and tells you the turnover, the expected cost and how long it will take.
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