What a bonus really costs
A "€500 welcome bonus" means nothing until you decode the wagering. Enter the offer's terms below and the instrument shows the total playthrough, the statistical cost of clearing it, and whether the offer holds real value — the same maths behind our trust scores.
STATISTICAL ESTIMATE ONLY — VARIANCE IS REAL, OPERATOR TERMS PREVAIL, AND MAX-BET / MAX-CASHOUT RULES CAN CHANGE THE PICTURE. 18+ · PLAY RESPONSIBLY.
What is a wagering requirement?
A wagering (or playthrough) requirement is how many times you must bet a bonus before it can be withdrawn. A €100 bonus at 35× wagering means placing €3,500 in total bets. Some operators apply the multiplier to deposit + bonus, which roughly doubles the requirement — always check which base applies.
What does game contribution mean?
Not every game counts fully toward wagering. Slots usually contribute 100%, table games often 10–20%, and some games nothing at all. At 20% contribution you must place five times more in bets to clear the same requirement.
How is the expected cost of a bonus calculated?
Every bet loses the house edge on average (a 96% RTP slot keeps 4% of each bet over time). Multiply your total required bets by the house edge to estimate what clearing the wagering will cost — if that cost exceeds the bonus amount, the offer has negative expected value.
Worked example
Deposit €100 on a 100% match up to €500 and you receive a €100 bonus. At 35× wagering on the bonus you must stake €3,500. On slots at 96% RTP the house keeps about 4% of every bet, so clearing costs roughly €140 on average — €40 more than the bonus is worth. The same offer at 25× wagering costs about €100 to clear: break-even, and any lower wagering is genuine value. This is why the wagering line on every SlotVault card matters more than the headline number.
Estimates assume you play until the requirement is met. Variance means individual results differ widely, and operator rules (max bet while wagering, max cashout, excluded games) can reduce a bonus's value further. Always read the full terms. 18+ — if gambling stops being fun, see our responsible gambling resources.