Work out your playthrough
The expected figures are averages over a very large number of spins. A single session can finish far above or below them. Treat them as a guide to how tough the terms are, not as a prediction.
How the numbers are worked out
A wagering requirement (also called playthrough or rollover) is the amount you must bet before bonus money, and anything won with it, can be withdrawn. The calculator does four sums:
- Bonus: your deposit times the match percentage, cut down to the maximum bonus if there is one.
- Wagering target: the multiplier times the bonus, or times deposit plus bonus if the terms say so. That one word in the T&Cs can double the target.
- Real turnover: the target divided by the game's contribution. Pokies usually count 100%. Table games and live casino often count 10–20% or nothing at all, so the same target needs five to ten times more betting there.
- Expected cost: turnover times the house edge (100% minus RTP). On a 96% RTP pokie, every A$100 you cycle through costs about A$4 on average.
A worked example with A$20
Say you deposit A$20 and get a 100% match with 35x wagering. On the bonus only, that is 35 × A$20 = A$700 to bet. At 20 cents a spin that is 3,500 spins, and at 96% RTP the house edge costs about A$28 on average. You started with A$40, so on average around A$12 is left when you finish.
Now change one setting to "deposit + bonus". The target becomes 35 × A$40 = A$1,400, the expected cost about A$56, and the average player runs out of money before the wagering is done. Same headline offer, very different deal, so always check which of the two the bonus terms use.
Rules the calculator can't see
Some terms decide whether you get paid at all, and they are not about maths:
- Max bet while wagering. Most casinos cap each spin while a bonus is active, often around A$5. Go over it once and the casino can void the bonus and your winnings.
- Time limit. Seven to thirty days is typical. Unfinished wagering usually means the bonus is removed.
- Excluded games. Some high-RTP pokies and jackpot games do not count at all.
- Max cashout. Common on free spins and no-deposit offers: winnings above a fixed amount are simply removed.
- Minimum deposit for the bonus. A casino may take A$10 but only pay a bonus from A$20. Our $10 deposit casinos guide explains how to spot this.
When to say no to a bonus
With a small deposit, playing without a bonus is often the smarter move. Your own money has no wagering attached, so a lucky spin can be withdrawn straight away (after the usual identity check). If the calculator shows an expected end balance of zero, or the time limit is shorter than you would realistically play, tick "no bonus" in the cashier.
Still deciding where to play? Compare casinos by budget on our $5, $10 and $20 deposit pages, or read the PayID and Neosurf guides if you have not picked a payment method yet.