Bonus-EV calculators
What is a crypto casino bonus really worth?
Headline offers — “200% up to $1,000”, “10% cashback”, “VIP rewards” — are designed to look bigger than they are. These calculators strip out the wagering and show the real, after-cost value.
Top pick for real value
Bonuses look big but cost you in wagering. Zero-edge value and fast payouts beat a padded headline offer — which is why Duel is our default pick.
Deposit-match bonus calculator
Enter the offer's terms — the calculator estimates what the bonus is actually worth after wagering. Nothing leaves your browser.
All four calculators
Deposit-match EV
What a welcome/reload match is worth after wagering and game contribution.
Cashback simulator
How much really comes back — on losses vs on turnover, with caps.
VIP grind cost
How long (and how much wagered) to reach a tier — and whether it pays.
Faucet reality
Real dollars per day from a faucet, before the wagering catch.
Why a bonus costs money to clear
The reason a headline number overstates value comes from one fact: the house edge. The edge is the built-in margin that makes the average return on a wager less than the stake. It is a property of the game's rules, confirmed by the regulators and test labs that certify return-to-player figures — not something this site or an operator can wish away.
A wagering requirement forces a fixed amount of turnover before a bonus can be withdrawn. Because every wager in that turnover is exposed to the edge, the expected cost of clearing the bonus is turnover × house edge. The bonus is only worth claiming when its size beats that expected loss. Game contribution makes it worse: if a game counts for less than 100% toward the requirement, you must wager proportionally more to clear it, so the expected loss scales up with it.
Worked example (illustrative figures): suppose a “100% up to $200” bonus comes with 35× wagering on the bonus amount, on slots with a 4% house edge that contribute 100%. Turnover needed = $200 × 35 = $7,000. Expected cost = $7,000 × 4% = $280. The expected cost of clearing ($280) exceeds the $200 bonus, so on average the offer is worth less than nothing at those terms. Drop the wagering to 20× and the turnover falls to $4,000, expected cost $160, and the bonus turns positive. Swap to a game contributing 20% at the original 35× and effective turnover jumps to $35,000 — the bonus is deeply negative. The deposit-match calculator runs your own terms through exactly this logic.
Bonus value FAQ
How do I value a deposit-match bonus?
Real value ≈ bonus × (1 − house edge × effective wagering). Effective wagering rises when games contribute under 100%. The calculator does it for you.
Cashback vs deposit bonus?
Real cashback on net losses has no wagering and is easy to value; just confirm it's on losses (not turnover) and check the cap.
Are faucets worth it?
Usually pocket change, and the balance carries wagering. The faucet tool shows the gross daily figure.
Should bonus value change how much I gamble?
No. A bonus only changes the cost of play you were already going to do — it is never a reason to stake more than you can afford to lose. If a bonus or VIP tier is nudging your stakes up, treat that as a signal to stop. Free, confidential help is at BeGambleAware and GamCare.