Pokies Wagering & Bonus Value Calculator
A casino bonus is only worth what you can clear. Put in the offer you are looking at and this works out how much you actually have to bet, then shows how that lines up with the real terms at the 18 Australian-facing pokies sites we read and date. The maths is the same at any casino — no sign-up needed.
To unlock A$50 in bonus funds you have to place A$1,750 in bets. That multiple is higher than any of the 18 Australian-facing sites we track (their multiples run 2x–6x). At one site in 2 the base is spelled out — 12 of the 18 we read print a multiple without saying whether it is on the bonus alone or on deposit plus bonus, which doubles the real cost when it turns out to be the latter.
*Rough expected loss clearing the turnover on a 96% RTP pokie (4% house edge). One session can land anywhere; this is the long-run average, not a prediction.
The number that actually bites: the base
The multiple — 35x, 40x — is the figure every site advertises, and it is rarely the problem. The problem is what it multiplies. Thirty-five times a A$50 bonus is A$1,750 in bets. Thirty-five times a A$50 deposit plus a A$50 bonus is A$3,500. Same headline, double the work. A lower multiple on deposit-plus-bonus can be worse than a higher one on the bonus alone, which is why the advertised number on its own tells you very little.
The honest question is whether the site even tells you which basis applies. When we read the welcome-bonus terms at the 18 sites on this market, the answer was usually no:
- 12 of 18 print a multiple with no base stated at all.
- 3 of 18 name an amount but not whether it is a betting target or a balance you have to reach.
- 2 of 18 use a balance target (a "winover"), where betting alone cannot clear it.
- Only 1 of 18 says plainly that the multiple is in bets and on what.
So when an offer is silent, set the calculator's toggle to deposit + bonus and treat that as the real cost. The method, each site's verbatim wording and a CSV are in the bonus-terms report; the figures update when a site changes its terms, which we re-read every week (last on 26 October 2026).
Game weighting and the fine print
Pokies usually count 100% toward wagering, but not every bet is equal. Table games and live dealer games often count 10% or less, so if you drift off the pokies the same multiple suddenly needs many times more turnover — the calculator divides your target by the weighting so the figure stays real. Two more clauses decide whether a bonus is clearable at all: a maximum bet while a bonus is active (often around A$5–A$8 a spin), which caps how fast you can turn it over, and a time limit, after which the bonus and anything won from it are removed. A generous-looking multiple with a tight bet cap and a seven-day clock can be mathematically impossible to finish.
No-deposit offers work differently
A no-deposit sign-up credit — free chips or free spins you get without funding the account — is not really a wagering problem. Its sting is the cash-out cap: a limit on what you can withdraw no matter how much the credit wins, often with the capped amount turned into a deposit rather than paid out. The advertised credit and the amount you can actually take home are rarely the same number. We read those caps across this market separately in the sign-up credit report.
How to read any offer in a minute
- Find the multiple and, more importantly, what it applies to. If it is not stated, assume deposit plus bonus.
- Check the game weighting for the games you play, and whether there is a maximum bet while the bonus is live.
- Note the time limit and, for a no-deposit credit, the cash-out cap.
- Then put the numbers in above to see the bets you are really signing up for before you deposit.
This tool is general information, not advice, and the result is arithmetic on the terms you enter — always read the operator's own T&Cs, which can change without notice. If gambling is costing more than you planned, Gambling Help Online is free on 1800 858 858.
Wagering, explained
What does a wagering requirement actually mean?
It is how much you must bet before bonus money (and winnings from it) can be withdrawn, written as a multiple such as 35x. The trap is what the multiple applies to: the bonus alone, or your deposit plus the bonus. The same multiple costs twice as much on the second basis.
Does the multiple apply to my deposit too?
It depends on the site, and most do not say. Of the 18 Australian-facing sites we read, 12 print a multiple with no base stated at all, 3 name an amount without saying whether it is a betting target or a balance target, 2 use a balance target, and only 1 spells the base out plainly. Set the "applies to" toggle to match the wording in the offer you are looking at — and if it is silent, assume the worse case.See the full bonus-terms report →
What about a no-deposit sign-up bonus?
A no-deposit credit is different again: the risk is not the turnover but the cash-out cap, which quietly limits what you can withdraw no matter how much the credit wins. We read those caps separately.See the sign-up credit report →
Why does game weighting matter?
Only a share of each bet counts toward the requirement. Pokies usually count 100%, but table and live games often count 10% or less, so clearing the same multiple on them takes far more turnover. The calculator divides the target by your weighting so the "you must bet" figure stays honest.
Is a lower multiple always better?
Not on its own. A lower multiple on deposit plus bonus can cost more than a higher one on the bonus alone, and a bet cap or short time limit can make an easy-looking multiple unclearable. Across the sites we track the multiple runs 2x to 6x, but the basis and the fine print decide the real cost.