Casino bonus wagering calculator
Reviewed by Robert Sciberras · Updated
Work out the bets needed to cash out a casino bonus, what that betting costs on average, and what the offer is really worth. Presets for every casino we list in Canada.
Enter a welcome offer's terms, or start from one of the casinos we list in Canada, to see how much you'd have to bet before the bonus becomes cash, what that betting costs on average, and what the bonus is really worth. On a slot that returns 96%, every C$100 you bet costs about C$4 on average, so a big wagering multiple can cost more than the bonus itself.
What is a bonus really worth?
Pick one of 17 casinos or type in any offer. The results update as you go.
1The offer
2The wagering
3Limits optional
On average the wagering costs C$40 more than the C$100 bonus is worth.
For information only. These figures are estimates based on averages over a very large number of bets. They don’t predict what will happen in any session, and they aren’t financial advice. They leave out caps on winnings, excluded games and other bonus terms. Presets use the first-deposit terms we checked on each casino’s own pages on 22 Oct 2026; terms change, so check the casino’s current terms before you deposit. 19+ (18+ in Manitoba and Quebec) only. Gambling can cost you money: set a limit and only bet what you can afford to lose. Get help with gambling.
How to use it
- Pick a casino to load its first-deposit offer, or type in the terms of any offer.
- Enter your deposit. The bonus is your deposit times the match, up to the cap.
- Check what the wagering is on. “35x the bonus” and “35x the deposit plus bonus” are very different amounts of betting.
- Set the game. Slots usually count 100% and return about 96%. If you'd play games that count less, lower “Game counts”.
The results update as you type. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
How the sums work
- Bonus = deposit × match %, up to the cap.
- Bets needed = wagering × the bonus (or deposit plus bonus) ÷ how much your game counts.
- Average cost = bets needed × (100% − the game's RTP).
- Average value = bonus − average cost. Below zero means that, on average, clearing the bonus costs more than it gives you.
A worked example
A C$100 deposit with a 100% match gives a C$100 bonus. Here is what three different wagering terms mean on a slot returning 96%.
| Wagering | Bets needed | Average cost | Average value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x the bonus | C$1,000 | C$40 | +C$60 |
| 35x the bonus | C$3,500 | C$140 | −C$40 |
| 35x deposit plus bonus | C$7,000 | C$280 | −C$180 |
The same headline offer can be worth something or cost you, depending on one line in the terms.
What the calculator leaves out
- Luck. The figures are averages over a very large number of bets. A single session can go much better or worse.
- Caps on winnings. Some bonuses limit what you can withdraw from them. Anything above the cap is removed.
- Max bet and excluded games. Betting over the limit, or on a game the terms exclude, can cancel the bonus and its winnings.
- Withdrawing early. Asking for a payout before wagering is finished usually cancels the bonus.
- Bonus spins. For winnings from spins, enter the winnings as the deposit with a 100% match and wagering on the bonus only.
You don't have to take a bonus
If the average value is below zero, or you can't realistically finish the wagering in time, you can decline the bonus and play with your own money, which you can withdraw at any time. If gambling is costing you more than you want, see our gambling help page.
Questions people ask
Is a 35x wagering bonus worth it?
Often not. On a C$100 bonus, 35x the bonus means C$3,500 in bets, which costs about C$140 on average on a 96% slot: more than the bonus. Lower wagering, or wagering on the bonus only, changes that.
What's the difference between bonus and deposit-plus-bonus wagering?
With a C$100 deposit and C$100 bonus at 35x, “bonus only” means C$3,500 in bets; “deposit plus bonus” means C$7,000. The second costs twice as much on average.
What does game contribution mean?
It's how much of each bet counts towards wagering. Slots usually count 100%. If a table game counts 10%, every bet counts for a tenth, so you'd need ten times the betting.
Why does the calculator show a negative value?
Because the average cost of the betting you must do is higher than the bonus. You can still win, but on average you'd end up with less than if you'd declined it.
Are the casino presets up to date?
They use the first-deposit terms we checked on each casino's own pages, shown on each casino's bonus page with the date we checked. Always read the casino's current terms before you deposit.
Related guides
Recent updates
- First published, with a preset for every casino we list whose first-deposit terms we've checked.
