Quick answer: a casino bonus is only worth taking if the money you can expect to lose while meeting the wagering requirement is smaller than the bonus itself. On a 96% RTP slot, a 100% bonus on a €100 deposit breaks even at about 25x wagering on the bonus. Anything higher means the bonus costs you money on average. Use the calculator below to check any offer in seconds.
This is an average over many players, not a prediction. Your own result will vary a lot, and you can lose your whole deposit. 18+. Check your local laws.
What are wagering requirements?
A wagering requirement is the number of times you must bet a bonus (or your deposit plus the bonus) before you can withdraw it or anything you win with it. A €100 bonus with 35x wagering on the bonus means €3,500 of bets; if the 35x applies to deposit plus bonus, it is €7,000. On a 96% RTP slot, betting €3,500 costs about €140 on average, which is more than the €100 bonus, and that is exactly what the calculator above checks.
| Term | What is typical |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus wagering | About 20x to 50x; 30x or less counts as low |
| No-deposit bonus wagering | Often around 60x, sometimes higher |
| Applied to | The bonus only, or the deposit plus the bonus (twice as much betting) |
| Game contribution | Slots usually 100%; table games often 0% to 20% |
| UK-licensed casinos | Bonus wagering capped at 10x from 19 January 2026 (UK Gambling Commission, OLBG) |
How the calculator works
The calculator uses the standard expected value method for casino bonuses:
- Total wagering = wagering requirement × bonus (or × deposit + bonus, if the terms say so).
- Adjusted for game contribution: if a game only counts 10% towards wagering, you must bet ten times as much on it.
- Expected loss = total amount bet × house edge (100% − RTP).
- Bonus value = bonus − expected loss.
Break-even wagering is the requirement at which the expected loss equals the bonus. Below it, the bonus is worth something on average; above it, it costs you.
Worked examples: €100 deposit with a 100% bonus
| Terms | You must bet | Expected loss | Bonus value on average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x bonus, slots (96%) | €1,000 | €40 | +€60 |
| 25x bonus, slots (96%) | €2,500 | €100 | €0 |
| 35x bonus, slots (96%) | €3,500 | €140 | -€40 |
| 35x deposit + bonus, slots (96%) | €7,000 | €280 | -€180 |
| 40x bonus, slots (96%) | €4,000 | €160 | -€60 |
| 35x bonus, European roulette (97.3%) | €3,500 | €95 | +€5 |
The roulette example assumes roulette counts 100% towards wagering. Many casinos count it at 10% to 20% or exclude it completely, which makes the bonus far worse, so always check the game contribution table in the terms.
What is the break-even wagering for each game?
Break-even is the wagering at which the expected loss equals the bonus. Start from bonus = wagering × amount it applies to × house edge ÷ game contribution, then solve for the wagering. For a 100% match with wagering on the bonus only, it comes down to: break-even = game contribution ÷ house edge.
Step by step for a 96% slot: the house edge is 100% − 96% = 4%, and slots usually count 100%, so break-even is 1 ÷ 0.04 = 25x. If the wagering is on deposit plus bonus, a 100% match doubles the amount you must bet, so break-even halves to 12.5x.
| Game RTP | House edge | Break-even, bonus only | Break-even, deposit + bonus (100% match) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94% slot | 6% | 16.7x | 8.3x |
| 96% slot | 4% | 25x | 12.5x |
| 97% game | 3% | 33.3x | 16.7x |
| European roulette (97.3%), counting 100% | 2.7% | 37x | 18.5x |
| 99.5% game, counting 100% | 0.5% | 200x | 100x |
| 99.5% game, counting 10% | 0.5% | 20x | 10x |
The last two rows show why game contribution matters so much. A game with a tiny house edge looks ideal, but if it only counts 10% towards wagering, it breaks even at 20x, which is worse than a 96% slot.
Worked example with a capped bonus: you deposit €200 for a 100% match capped at €100, with 35x wagering on deposit plus bonus. The bonus is €100, but you must bet 35 × (€200 + €100) = €10,500. On a 96% slot that costs €10,500 × 0.04 = €420 on average, so the bonus is worth about −€320. Enter these terms in the calculator (deposit 200, max bonus 100, 35x, deposit + bonus) to see the same result.
What does the wagering requirement really cost?
The headline percentage matters much less than the wagering. A 500% bonus with high wagering can be worth less than a 100% bonus with low wagering. Two terms make the biggest difference:
- Bonus only vs deposit + bonus: 35x deposit + bonus means twice as much betting as 35x bonus only on a 100% match. In the examples above, that doubles the expected loss from €140 to €280.
- RTP of the games you play: every percentage point of house edge counts. Wagering €3,500 on a 94% slot costs about €210 on average, against €140 on a 96% slot. See our highest RTP slots.
Why can a casino remove your bonus winnings?
Because of terms the calculator can’t see, and the max bet rule is the one that catches most players. A cap of around €5 per bet is common, though each casino sets its own and some use a share of the bonus instead. If your winnings were removed or a withdrawal was refused, our guide to casino withdrawal problems explains what to do next.
- Max bet rule: most bonuses cap your stake while you wager, often at a few euros or dollars per bet. Breaking it can void the bonus and any winnings.
- Time limit: you may have only a few days to finish wagering. Check the number of bets the calculator shows against the time you have, or see the hours it takes with our bonus time and stakes checker. For sports bonuses with minimum odds, the odds calculator converts fractional and American prices to decimal.
- Excluded games: some games don’t count at all, and playing them can break the terms.
- Sticky bonuses: if the bonus is removed when you withdraw, it is worth less than the calculator shows. See the FAQ below.
Our welcome bonus guide explains every bonus term in plain English.
Low-wagering bonuses worth a look
Low wagering is the easiest way to get real value from a bonus. At FortuneJack, each welcome deposit only has to be wagered 10x to unlock its free spins (sources differ on whether the spin winnings carry wagering too, so check the terms shown with your spins), and Immerion pays 10% daily cashback on losses; our list of no wagering and low wagering casinos has the rest. Compare every offer, or spin our bonus wheel, on our best casino bonus offers page. Our top-rated casino is 1win (9.9/10); use promo code Ultragambler for its 500% package over four deposits.
How we checked this
- Total wagering is the bonus (or deposit plus bonus) times the requirement, and a bonus is worth roughly the bonus minus total wagered × house edge: DeucesCracked and Casino Guru (35x on 100 means 3,500 of bets).
- Slots usually count 100% towards wagering and roulette or other table games often 10% to 20%, and max bet caps of around €5 are common: DeucesCracked and Casino Guru.
- UK bonus wagering is capped at 10x from 19 January 2026: UK Gambling Commission and OLBG.
- FortuneJack’s welcome deposits must be wagered 10x to unlock their spins: CryptoSlate and VIP-Grinders. Immerion pays 10% daily cashback: VIP-Grinders and Gambling.com.
- Our maths: the worked examples, the break-even table and the capped bonus example are our own calculations, and they match what the calculator shows.
Last checked: 13 October 2026, when we worked out the examples on this page ourselves and checked the formulas against at least two independent sources.
Wagering requirement calculator FAQ
How do you calculate a wagering requirement?
Multiply the bonus by the wagering requirement. A €100 bonus with 35x wagering means betting €3,500 in total. If the requirement applies to the deposit plus bonus, multiply that total instead: (€100 + €100) × 35 = €7,000.
What is a good wagering requirement?
On a 96% RTP slot, anything under about 25x the bonus gives the bonus a positive value on average. 10x or lower is very good. 40x or more usually means the bonus costs you money on average.
Is a bonus with 35x wagering worth it?
On a 96% slot with wagering on the bonus only, a €100 bonus has an expected loss of €140 while wagering, so on average it costs about €40. Take it for the extra playtime if you like, but not to make money.
Why does game contribution matter?
If a game counts only 10% towards wagering, every €10 you bet clears just €1 of the requirement. You must bet ten times as much, so the expected loss is ten times bigger.
What is a sticky bonus?
A sticky bonus can be played with but is removed when you withdraw, so you can only cash out winnings above it. It is worth less than a cashable bonus with the same terms, and the calculator’s result is best treated as an upper limit.
Can a bonus make online gambling profitable?
Not reliably. Even a good-value bonus only improves your average result, and short-term results swing a lot. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose; our responsible gambling page has tools and support.
Check your local laws before you play
Online gambling laws differ from country to country, and in some places it is restricted or not permitted. Check that online gambling is legal where you live and that the casino accepts players from your country. You must be 18 or older (or the legal age where you live, if higher).
