How much does it really cost to clear a casino bonus?
The real cost to clear a casino bonus is the expected loss on the wagering it forces: house edge × total amount you must wager. For example, a $100 bonus at 35x wagering on a 96%-RTP slot (4% house edge) means $3,500 of turnover and about $140 in expected losses — so the "$100 bonus" statistically costs you more than it gives.
That flips the way the headline reads. The offer size (the bonus) is the best case; the wagering requirement × the game’s house edge is the expected price you pay to unlock it. Whether a bonus is genuinely +EV depends on four levers: the wagering multiplier, whether it applies to bonus-only or deposit+bonus (which roughly doubles turnover), the house edge of the games you clear it on, and any max-cashout cap that limits the upside. Crypto adds one more drag: the network fee taken from your eventual withdrawal.
The honest rule: a low-multiplier, bonus-only offer cleared on high-RTP games can be worth it; a high-multiplier deposit+bonus offer on average slots usually costs more in expected losses than the bonus is worth. Run your exact numbers through our Bonus Truth Terminal to see the turnover and expected cost before you deposit — that is the number the casino’s headline hides.
Key points
- Real cost ≈ house edge × total wagering required.
- $100 bonus, 35x, 96% RTP → $3,500 turnover, ~$140 expected loss.
- Bonus-only vs deposit+bonus roughly doubles the turnover (and the cost).
- A max-cashout cap limits the upside; crypto network fees add drag.
- Low multiplier + high-RTP games = the only reliably worthwhile bonuses.
FAQ
Is a casino bonus ever free money?
No. Every bonus (except rakeback) carries wagering, and wagering has an expected cost equal to the house edge times the turnover. The bonus is the best case; the expected loss on clearing it is the real price.
How do I calculate the true cost of a bonus?
Multiply the total required wagering by the house edge of the games you clear it on. A $200 bonus at 40x deposit+bonus on 4%-edge slots means ~$16,000+ turnover and several hundred dollars of expected losses. Our Bonus Truth Terminal does this instantly.
What makes a bonus actually worth clearing?
A low wagering multiplier, bonus-only (not deposit+bonus), high-RTP eligible games, no punishing max-cashout cap, and enough time to clear it. Miss those and the expected cost usually exceeds the bonus.
Related
- Wagering calculator (Bonus Truth Terminal)
- What is a wagering requirement?
- What is a max cashout?
- Is a 500% bonus worth it?
- What is house edge?
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