Wagering Requirement Calculator
Realistic value: EUR -40.00 of a EUR 100.00 bonus
Negative expected value — on average, clearing it costs more than the bonus is worth.
- Total turnover required
- EUR 3,500.00
- Expected loss clearing it
- EUR 140.00
- Realistic bonus value
- EUR -40.00
- Rounds at max bet
- 700
- Minimum time (at max bet)
- 1 h 10 min
Turnover and time assume every round is played at the max bet, the fastest legal way to clear. Expected loss is the house edge applied to that turnover; real outcomes vary with variance. Not a prediction of any single session.
How the calculation works
Most wagering calculators stop at the turnover: bonus multiplied by the requirement. That number tells you how much you have to bet, but not what it costs you to bet it. This tool takes four more steps.
First, turnover. A requirement of 35x on a 100 bonus means 3,500 in wagering credit to clear.
Second, game contribution. If the game you play counts at 100% (most slots), 3,500 in credit means 3,500 in real stakes. If it counts at 10% (most table games), you have to wager ten times as much — 35,000 — to earn the same credit. The tool divides the required wagering by the contribution to get your actual turnover.
Third, the house edge. Over that turnover, the game keeps its edge: actual turnover multiplied by (1 minus RTP). At 96% RTP and 3,500 in turnover, that expected loss is 140.
Fourth, expected value. Subtract the expected loss from the bonus. If the bonus is 100 and you expect to lose 140 clearing it, its realistic value is minus 40 — the offer is expected to cost you money. That is the number the headline turnover hides, and the one this tool puts first.
Three worked examples
Standard slots welcome bonus. A 100 bonus at 35x on 96% slots, 100% contribution: 3,500 turnover, an expected loss of 140, and a realistic value of minus 40. The requirement is too high for the edge — clearing it is negative expected value.
A fair reload offer. A 50 bonus at 20x on the same slots: 1,000 turnover, an expected loss of 40, and a realistic value of plus 10. Lower wagering flips the same game to positive expected value — worth claiming.
Low-contribution table play. A 100 bonus at 30x cleared on blackjack (99.5% RTP) that counts at 10%: the required 3,000 in credit becomes 30,000 in real stakes, and even a razor-thin 0.5% edge over that turnover is an expected loss of 150 — a realistic value of minus 50. A low house edge does not rescue a bonus when the game barely counts toward it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this say my bonus is negative value?
Because the expected loss from the turnover is larger than the bonus. A 35x requirement on a 96% game means roughly 3,500 in stakes per 100 of bonus, and 4% of 3,500 is 140 — more than the 100 you were given. Most slots welcome bonuses clear at a loss in expectation; that is why operators can afford to offer them.
What game contribution should I enter?
Use the figure in the bonus terms, not a guess. Slots usually count at 100%, while table games, video poker and live games often count at 10% or are excluded entirely. The presets fill in typical values, but contribution is set per operator and per game — check your own terms before relying on the result.
Does a negative value mean I am guaranteed to lose?
No. Expected value is the long-run average, not a prediction of one session. You can clear a negative-value bonus and walk away ahead through variance, or lose more than the average. The number tells you which side of the bet the maths is on, so you can decide whether the variance is worth it.
Why does blackjack score badly when it has a low house edge?
Because contribution usually outweighs edge. If blackjack counts at 10%, you must wager ten times the bonus credit to clear it, and even a 0.5% edge applied to ten times the turnover adds up. A low-edge game only helps if it also contributes fully — and it rarely does.
Is the time estimate realistic?
It is a floor, not an average. The estimate assumes every round is played at the maximum allowed bet — the fastest legal way to clear — at roughly 600 rounds an hour. Bet smaller, or below the cap, and it takes longer. Bet above the cap and most terms void the bonus entirely.