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Wagering requirement calculator
Enter a bonus and its terms to see how much you have to bet, how long it takes and what the bonus is expected to be worth.
This wagering calculator shows what a casino bonus asks of you before it turns into cash: the total amount you must bet, how many bets that takes at your stake, and what the offer is worth on average once the house edge is paid. Enter the figures exactly as they appear in the bonus terms.
Check two details first: whether the multiplier applies to the bonus alone or to deposit plus bonus, and how much your chosen game counts towards wagering.
How it works
Wagering = bonus (or bonus plus deposit) × requirement. The expected cost of clearing it is the total wagering × the house edge of the games you play. If the expected cost is larger than the bonus, the offer is worth less than nothing on average.
Formula and test case
Total wagering W = base × requirement ÷ weighting. Expected cost = W × (1 − RTP). Expected value = bonus − expected cost.
Test case: bonus 100, requirement 35x on the bonus, RTP 96%, weighting 100% → W = 3,500, expected cost = 140, expected value = −40.
How to use the wagering calculator
The wagering calculator needs seven inputs, all found in the bonus terms or the game’s information screen:
- Bonus amount and deposit.
- Wagering requirement: the multiplier, for example 35x.
- Wagering applies to: bonus only, or bonus plus deposit.
- Game RTP, from the game’s help screen.
- Game weighting: the share of each bet that counts; 100 % if the game counts in full.
- Average bet: your usual stake per spin or hand, which must stay within the max bet in the terms.
How the wagering calculation works
A wagering requirement calculation multiplies the wagering base by the multiplier and divides by game weighting to get turnover; turnover times house edge is the expected cost, and the bonus minus that cost is its expected value.
- Turnover = bonus × multiplier, or (deposit + bonus) × multiplier, divided by game weighting.
- Number of bets = turnover ÷ average bet.
- Expected cost = turnover × house edge, where house edge = 100 % − RTP.
- Expected value = bonus − expected cost.
Worked example
Take a 100 bonus on a 100 deposit, 35x on the bonus only. Turnover is 100 × 35 = 3,500. On a slot with 96 % RTP the house edge is 4 %, so the expected cost is 3,500 × 0.04 = 140 and the bonus is worth 100 − 140 = −40 on average. At an average bet of 1, clearing it takes 3,500 bets.
If the same 35x applies to deposit plus bonus, turnover doubles to 7,000, the expected cost rises to 280 and the expected value falls to −180. At 10x on the bonus only, turnover is 1,000, the cost 40 and the value +60.
Game weighting
Game weighting stretches the turnover. If a game counts 20 %, each 1 you bet clears only 0.20 of the requirement, so 3,500 of wagering needs 17,500 in real bets. The calculator shows the net effect with that game’s house edge.
How to read the result
A positive expected value means the bonus is, on average, worth more than the house edge you pay to clear it; a negative value means you pay for extra playing time. Neither predicts your session.
Use it to compare offers: a small bonus with low wagering can be worth more than a large one with a high multiplier. The number of bets shows whether clearing is realistic before the expiry date. Our low wagering bonuses list collects offers at 10x or less, and the wagering requirements guide explains the terms in detail.
Limits of the wagering calculator
The calculator assumes you complete the full turnover, so it does not reflect variance, losing your balance early, or caps in the terms.
- Max bet: bonus terms often cap the stake while a bonus is active, and breaking the cap can void winnings. UK Gambling Commission guidance says such restrictions may apply to bonus play but not to play with your deposit balance.
- Max cashout: a cap on bonus winnings lowers the real value below the figure shown.
- Sticky bonus: if the bonus amount is removed at withdrawal, the result is too optimistic by that amount.
- Expiry and excluded games are not modelled.
The same guidance states that players must not be made to meet wagering requirements before withdrawing money from their deposit balance, and in Great Britain wagering in promotional offers has been capped at 10 times since 19 January 2026. Treat any bonus as extra playing time with a known average price, and only deposit what you would spend without it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate a wagering requirement?
Multiply the amount the requirement applies to by the multiplier. A 100 bonus with 35x wagering on the bonus means 3,500 in bets; if it applies to a 100 deposit plus the bonus, it means 7,000. If your game counts less than 100 %, divide by the weighting to get the real amount you must bet.
What does 35x wagering mean?
You must place bets worth 35 times the wagering base before bonus funds or winnings become withdrawable. The terms state whether the base is the bonus alone or deposit plus bonus; on a 100 % match, the second doubles the turnover.
Is a casino bonus with wagering worth it?
Only if the bonus is larger than the expected cost of clearing it. That cost is turnover times house edge: 35x on a 100 bonus at 96 % RTP costs about 140 on average, more than the bonus itself. Low multipliers and high-RTP games that count fully make a positive value more likely.
Can I withdraw my deposit before meeting the wagering?
It depends on the licence and the terms. UK Gambling Commission guidance says players must not be made to meet wagering requirements before withdrawing their deposit balance. Other regulators may set different rules, so read the terms; withdrawing before wagering is complete usually forfeits the bonus and its winnings.
Sources: Gambling Commission: fair and transparent terms and practices, Gambling Commission: socially responsible incentives consultation response