Free tool
Wagering calculator
Enter the terms of a casino bonus: the calculator gives the amount to wager, the requirement converted to the bonus so you can compare two offers, and the expected average loss during wagering.
The result
Offer loaded for ShinyWilds: 100% up to €1,000 + 250 free spins, wagering x30 bonus. Offer spread over 2 deposits: the calculation covers a single deposit. See the ShinyWilds bonus in detail
Bonus received
€100
Amount to wager
€3,000
x30 on the bonus
Requirement converted to the bonus
x30
To compare two offers on equal terms
Expected average loss
€120
RTP of 96%: 4% of every bet lost on average
Theoretical outcome of the bonus
−€20
On average, this bonus costs more than it returns: the expected loss during wagering exceeds the bonus amount.
- Starting balance (deposit + bonus)
- €200
- Minimum bets
- 600 bets of €5
- Deposit that unlocks the full bonus
- €1,000
The calculation in detail
- Bonus: €100 × 100% = €100.
- Wagering basis: the bonus, i.e. €100.
- Amount to wager: €100 × 30 = €3,000.
- Requirement converted to the bonus: €3,000 ÷ €100 = x30.
- Average loss: €3,000 × 4% = €120.
- Theoretical outcome: €100 − €120 = −€20.
- Minimum bets: €3,000 ÷ €5 = 600 bets.
What the calculation does not tell you
- The expected loss is a mathematical average over a very large number of bets: a real session can end up higher or much lower, and the balance can fall to zero before the wagering is complete.
- Also check the validity period, the maximum cashout and the excluded games: they do not change the amount to wager, but they can change what you withdraw.
- A bonus is never a reason to deposit more than planned. Staying in control
How the calculation works
The bonus received is the deposit multiplied by the offer’s percentage, up to the maximum bonus. The amount to wager is then the wagering basis (the bonus alone, the deposit alone, or the deposit plus the bonus) multiplied by the offer’s multiplier.
When a game counts for only part of each bet (a 10% contribution, for example), you have to bet that much more: the amount to wager is divided by the contribution.
The requirement converted to the bonus divides the amount to wager by the bonus amount. It is what lets you compare offers whose wagering applies to different bases, for example “x35 deposit + bonus” and “x40 on the bonus”.
The expected average loss is the amount actually wagered multiplied by the house edge, that is 100% minus the RTP of the games played. It is what meeting the wagering costs, on average.
A worked example
Deposit of €100, 100% bonus, wagering of x35 on the deposit plus the bonus: the bonus is worth €100, the basis is €200, and you have to wager €7,000, or x70 on the bonus. With an RTP of 96%, the expected average loss is €280 (€7,000 × 4%): on average, this bonus costs €180 more than it returns.
The same bonus with wagering of x35 on the bonus alone requires €3,500 in bets, for an expected average loss of €140: the theoretical outcome is −€40. The wagering basis therefore matters as much as the multiplier.
The terms that change everything
- Maximum bet: exceeding it can void the bonus. It also sets the minimum number of bets needed.
- Validity period: the wagering must be completed before the deadline, otherwise the bonus and its winnings are removed.
- Maximum cashout: it caps what you can withdraw, whatever your balance at the end of the wagering.
- Excluded or partly counted games: a reduced contribution increases the amount to wager.
Play responsibly
A bonus does not make gambling profitable: it only changes the conditions in which you play. Set a budget before you deposit and do not exceed it to “unlock” a bonus. If gambling is no longer fun, see the responsible gambling page: it lists helplines for each country.
