Calculator · Updated 22.08.2026
Bonus calculator: what a welcome bonus really costs
Casinos advertise the bonus. They do not advertise the turnover it takes to withdraw it, or what that turnover is expected to cost you. This works out both.
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Or enter your own numbers below.
- Bonus credited
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- Wagering base
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- Turnover required
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- Actual stakes neededat your game contribution
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- Per day to finish in time
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- Effective multiplier on the bonus
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- Expected cost of clearing itturnover × house edge
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- Bonus minus that cost
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- RTP you would need to break even
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- Expected free spin winnings
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- Extra turnover they create
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How this is calculated
Turnover
(deposit + bonus) × multiplier when the requirement applies to deposit and bonus, or bonus × multiplier when it applies to the bonus alone. Which one a casino uses matters more than the multiplier itself.
Actual stakes
Turnover divided by the game's contribution rate. Slots normally count 100%, live dealer games often 10% — which multiplies the real work by ten.
Expected cost
actual stakes × (1 − RTP). Every euro you stake returns, on average, the game's RTP. Staking €7,000 on a 96% game is expected to cost €280 regardless of how the individual spins land.
Break-even RTP
The return-to-player a game would need for the expected cost to equal the bonus. If that number is above about 98%, no ordinary slot reaches it.
Frequently asked
Does this mean casino bonuses are always bad?
Not always, but far more often than the marketing suggests. A bonus is worth taking when the expected cost of clearing it is less than the bonus itself — which usually needs a low multiplier, a requirement that applies to the bonus alone, and a high-RTP game.
The common combination of 35× applied to deposit plus bonus is very hard to beat, because it commits you to 70× the bonus in turnover.
Why does the expected cost matter if I was going to play anyway?
If you were going to stake that amount regardless, the bonus is free money and the expected cost is not an extra loss. The calculation matters when the wagering requirement makes you play far more than you otherwise would — which is exactly what it is designed to do.
What RTP should I enter?
Most modern slots sit between 94% and 97%. The slot's RTP is usually shown in its info panel. Some casinos run lower-RTP versions of the same game, so check inside the casino rather than trusting a review.
Why is the contribution rate so important?
Because it multiplies everything. A €7,000 requirement cleared on live blackjack at 10% contribution means €70,000 of actual stakes. This single setting changes the result more than any other.
Are the presets accurate?
They are the terms we verified on each operator's own bonus pages in August 2026. Casinos change offers without notice, so treat them as a starting point and confirm the current terms before depositing.
