How to read a bonus offer in ten minutes
Before you accept a bonus, spend ten minutes mapping each clause to a number you can type — or to a limitation the calculators do not model. This checklist is the operating manual for the bonus true-value calculator and the wagering requirement calculator. It is about comprehension, not a nudge to deposit.
Why ten minutes is worth it
Brochure headlines lead with match percentage. The cost lives in the multiple, what that multiple applies to, contribution weights, bet caps, expiry, and rules about what can be withdrawn. Ten focused minutes with the terms open next to a calculator usually beats discovering those clauses after money is already in play. If a line is unclear, stop — unclear terms are not a puzzle to solve with a larger stake.
Depth on individual clauses: what wagering requirements actually mean, game contribution rates, and bonus mechanics without the brochure language.
The checklist, clause by clause
Work top to bottom. For each step, note where the clause usually sits in an offer’s terms document, which calculator field it feeds (labels match the tools on this site), and what to do if the clause is outside the model.
1. Match percentage and maximum bonus
Where it lives: near the top of the promotion page or in the “bonus amount” / “match” section of the terms.
Calculator fields: Bonus match (%) and Maximum bonus (units, optional) on the bonus true-value calculator; Bonus amount (units) on the wagering calculator if the offer states a fixed credit instead of a match.
Also note: deposit size you would actually use — field Deposit amount (units) on both tools.
2. Wagering multiple and what it applies to
Where it lives: “wagering,” “playthrough,” or “rollover” sections — often a short paragraph that names bonus only or deposit plus bonus.
Calculator fields: Wagering multiple (x) and The multiple applies to (Bonus only or Deposit + bonus) on both calculators.
Same multiple on deposit + bonus roughly doubles the stake volume versus bonus only. See the wagering guide before you treat the headline “35x” as enough information.
3. Game contribution table
Where it lives: a table or list by game type — sometimes titled “contribution,” “weighting,” or “eligible games.”
Calculator field: Game contribution (%) on both tools. Use the rate for the games you would actually play, not the most generous line in the table.
Zero or excluded games never reduce the remaining requirement. Mixed rates need a range, not a single average — contribution guide.
4. Max bet while wagering
Where it lives: often beside the wagering section, or under “restricted play” / “maximum stake.”
Calculator fields: Max bet while wagering (units, optional) on both tools — feasibility arithmetic (minimum number of bets), not a compliance check. Depth: max-bet rules during wagering.
If the cap is below the stake you already planned, the offer does not fit your limits. Walk away or recalculate at a stake you can sustain inside the cap.
5. Bonus expiry
Where it lives: “validity,” “expiry,” or “must be claimed / cleared within” language.
Calculator field: Bonus expiry (days, optional) on both tools — turns remaining playthrough into an average stake-per-day figure for explanation only.
A short window plus a large effective turnover is a pace problem. If that pace breaks your time or money limits, the honest outcome is walk away. Depth: bonus expiry: the deadline math nobody does.
6. Sticky status, max cashout, win caps, payment rules, release order
Where they live: “withdrawal,” “cashout,” “bonus funds,” “payment methods,” or “general bonus terms” — often separate from the wagering paragraph.
Calculator fields: none. These clauses are outside both models. After you run the numbers, lower your expectations for every one you find. Direction of effect: bonus mechanics without the brochure language; ceilings in depth: max cashout and sticky bonuses.
7. Assumed game RTP (true-value only)
Where it lives: not in the bonus terms — in the game information / help screen for the version you would play.
Calculator field: Assumed game RTP (%) on the bonus true-value calculator. Copy the published figure; do not invent one.
Running the two calculators
- Enter deposit, bonus (or match + cap), multiple, applies-to, contribution, and optional max bet / expiry in the wagering requirement calculator. Read the effective playthrough total.
- Enter the same arithmetic plus Assumed game RTP (%) in the bonus true-value calculator. Read the estimated theoretical value as a long-run average under your assumptions — not a session forecast.
- Mentally reduce further for sticky, cashout, win-cap, payment, and release clauses from step 6.
Three honest outcomes
Every path below is about understanding and limits — never a recommendation to gamble or to “make the bonus work.”
- Walk away: effective turnover, expiry pace, max bet, or unmodeled clauses do not fit money and time limits you already set — or terms are incomplete.
- Recalculate: you found a different contribution, applies-to base, or RTP than you first assumed. Change the fields and run both tools again before any deposit.
- Accept with limits: only if you understand the stake volume, the average cost estimate, and the clauses the model ignores — and only with pre-set money and time limits you can lose in full. Limits are not targets. Stopping when a limit is hit is part of the decision, not an afterthought.
Keep a record of the terms you accepted
If you proceed under “accept with limits,” save or screenshot the version of the terms you read (date, multiple, contribution lines, caps, sticky language). Offers change. Your memory of a brochure headline is not a substitute for the document that applied when you opted in. This site does not store offers or operator pages for you.
A safer-play note
A completed checklist is not permission to chase losses or raise stakes to clear faster. Set limits before any deposit, treat calculator outputs as models — not predictions — and stop when a limit is hit. Independent help resources are on the responsible gambling page. The sourcing contract for every calculator is on the methodology page. 18+ only.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both calculators every time?
Use the wagering requirement calculator when you only need the stake volume. Use the bonus true-value calculator when you also want the long-run cost of that volume under an RTP you typed. Many readers run wagering first, then true-value.
What if a clause is missing from the terms I was shown?
Treat it as incomplete. Do not invent a multiple, contribution rate, or cashout rule from another offer or this page. Missing terms are a reason to walk away or ask the operator for the full document — not a reason to assume 100% contribution.
Does “accept with limits” mean the bonus is a good deal?
No. It only means you understand the arithmetic and the unmodeled clauses, and you already set money and time limits you can lose in full. It is never a recommendation to deposit or play.
Where do sticky and max-cashout rules go in the calculator?
Nowhere — those fields do not exist. After you run the estimate, lower your expectations for every sticky, cashout, win-cap, payment, or release clause you found. The companion on bonus mechanics explains each direction of effect.
Can I skip the contribution table if I only play slots?
Only if the offer’s own table shows the rate for the exact games you would play. Category labels differ between offers. Copy the percentage from the terms, not from memory.
Sources
Every figure on this page is a definition or a worked arithmetic example with its formula shown — no external factual claims are made, so no external sources are cited.
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