Online Casino Bonus Calculator
Type the offer in exactly as the casino states it. We translate it into dollars you must bet, what clearing will likely cost, and whether it's worth taking.
By Tum
Last updated
Where these numbers come from
No secrets: four lines of arithmetic. You can check every result on the back of an envelope.
A “100% up to $100” match on a $100 deposit gives $100 in bonus funds. Deposit $250 and the cap still pays $100.
40x on a $100 bonus means $4,000 in bets. If the terms say “bonus and deposit”, the same 40x means $8,000: read that phrase carefully, it doubles the grind.
If your game only counts 20% toward wagering, every $1 bet moves the counter by 20 cents, so you must bet five times more in real money.
A 96% RTP slot keeps about 4 cents of every dollar bet. Bet $4,000 through it and the expected toll is about $160. That toll is what you pay for the bonus.
Where to find each number in the terms
Bonus terms all read alike once you know the shapes. Here’s a typical clause with the four numbers that matter highlighted; everything else is furniture.
7.2. The bonus is subject to 35× wagering requirements calculated on the sum of deposit and bonus before any withdrawal can be made. Wagers on selected slot games contribute 100% towards the requirement; table games and video poker contribute 10%. Unless otherwise stated, the maximum amount that can be won and withdrawn from this promotion is 5× the bonus amount; residual balances are removed at withdrawal.
Is that wagering requirement normal?
Judged on the bonus-only basis. If the terms use bonus + deposit, mentally double the number before comparing.
- 20x or less
- Genuinely player-friendly. Uncommon; usually on smaller bonus amounts.
- 25x to 40x
- The industry’s standard range. Clearable, but the math above still usually favors the house.
- 45x to 60x
- Steep. The bonus needs to be large, or the RTP high, for this to be worth your time.
- Above 60x
- Marketing, not money. At these multiples the expected cost of clearing almost always exceeds the bonus.
Four clauses that quietly ruin good-looking bonuses
Max cashout on a deposit bonus. Normal on free no-deposit offers, a red flag on offers you paid to enter. If you deposit real money and your winnings are capped, the upside is theirs and the downside is yours.
A maximum bet while wagering. Usually $5 or less per spin or hand. Exceed it, even accidentally, and the standard penalty is voiding the bonus and all winnings. Find the number before your first bet.
Short expiry windows. $4,000 in turnover inside 7 days is a part-time job. Divide the turnover by the days: if the daily number doesn’t fit your actual play, the bonus was never real for you.
“Bonus and deposit” wagering. The same headline “40x” costs exactly twice as much under this basis. It’s the single most common way two identical-looking offers differ in true cost.
Bonus math questions
What is a wagering requirement?
The total amount you must bet before bonus money (or winnings from it) becomes withdrawable cash, written as a multiple like 40x. A $100 bonus at 40x requires $4,000 in bets. Until it’s met, the bonus and its winnings are locked.
Can a casino bonus actually be worth money?
Sometimes. The bonus has positive expected value when the bonus amount exceeds the likely cost of clearing it (real bets times house edge). Low wagering multiples, high-RTP eligible games, and no win caps are what tip it. The calculator above does exactly this comparison.
Why does my game only count 10% toward wagering?
Casinos weight games by how hard they are to grind value from. Low-house-edge games typically contribute 5% to 20%, which multiplies the real betting you must do. Check the weighting table in the terms for your game before you commit.
Is a “sticky” bonus different?
Yes. A sticky (non-cashable) bonus can never be withdrawn itself: only winnings above it can. The calculator above assumes a standard cashable bonus; if the terms say the bonus is removed at withdrawal, subtract the bonus amount from what it’s really worth.
Should I take a bonus at all?
If you were going to deposit and play anyway, a fair bonus is extra playtime and a real subsidy. If you’re depositing only to chase the bonus, run the numbers first: at typical terms, clearing costs more than the bonus is worth.
Done with the math? Our casino bonus list shows current offers with the wagering, basis, and caps already extracted from the terms.
Tum
Administrator/moderator and fixer of things that break on blackjackinfo.com. Tum has contributed to the LCB network for over 10 years working with numerous casino, poker and sports affiliate websites.