How To Quickly Calculate The Value of Any Casino Bonus

Casino bonuses are enticing incentives for engaging with various gaming platforms in the dynamic online gambling world. However, understanding the actual value of a casino bonus requires more than just looking at the glitzy headline figures. This comprehensive guide will equip you with all you need to make informed decisions and maximise your gaming rewards.
- Clear insights into win limits, cash-out possibilities, and match percentages.
- Understanding the relevance of eligible games and the impact of game weighting.
- Expert advice on assessing the total value of bonuses after scrutinising all terms and conditions.
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✖How We Rank Casino Bonuses using BonusRank
Not just any online casino makes the grade. We have a strict process for testing online casinos to determine whether we even list them.
Once we approve a casino, our team of experts starts the real work. And it's thorough. Our unique BonusRank algorithm considers all the important aspects of a bonus and calculates a score that allows meaningful and direct comparison between bonuses. You don't have to guess, our rating scale will clearly show you if a bonus is great, good enough, or should be avoided.
Read more about our BonusRank system and how we make bonus comparisons.
✖Different Types of Casino Bonuses
Understanding the different types of casino bonuses is essential before you can begin working out the value of any offers.
Casinos offer the following bonuses to appeal to a broader range of players:
- No deposit free spins - get free spins just for signing up with a casino, no deposit required.
- No deposit cash bonus - get bonus cash credited to your account casino just for signing up.
- Deposit match bonus - the casino matches your deposit to a specified percentage.
- Free spins deposit bonus - you get a specified quantity of free spins when you deposit.
- Casino welcome bonus - any combination of the above bonuses in a new player package.
Our Top 10 Free No Deposit Bonuses
Understanding The Basics of Casino Bonuses
Before delving into the nitty-gritty of bonus calculations, it's essential that you first get a handle on the fundamental concepts that underpin the promotions mentioned above. Each type of bonus may have its own terms and conditions, wagering requirements, and eligibility criteria.
Familiarising yourself with these essential terms will lay the groundwork for evaluating the true value of any casino bonus you encounter.
Let’s take a look at these terms individually to uncover precisely what they mean and how to handle them:
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements represent the number of times you must wager a bonus amount or the winnings from the bonus before you can withdraw your winnings. This is expressed as a multiplier, i.e. 20x.
Here’s a typical example: if a deposit bonus comes with a 30x wagering requirement and you receive a $100 bonus, you would need to wager $3,000 before cashing out any winnings.
You will typically find higher wagering requirements on a no deposit casino bonus applied to any winnings generated. Casinos do this to mitigate the risk of giving away bonus funds or free spins without taking any of your money first.
Understanding the wagering requirements is crucial for assessing the overall value of a bonus, as lower requirements typically translate to higher value. For more details, see our comprehensive guide to wagering requirements.
Game Contributions
Not all casino games contribute equally towards meeting your bonus wagering requirements. Most slot games usually contribute 100% of each wager, but table games may only contribute 10% or less.
Knowing which games contribute will help you decide if a bonus represents good value. If you like playing blackjack but only 5% of each bet counts towards your wagering requirement, it’s highly likely you’ll wager the bonus.
Check the bonus terms in detail to ensure the game contribution rates are correct when calculating the value of a bonus. Playing games with higher contribution rates will help you fulfil the requirements way more efficiently. See our expert article on game weighting to learn more.
Maximum Bet Limits
Many bonuses come with restrictions on the maximum bet amount allowed per hand or spin. This stops you from placing a few massive bets to fulfil the wagering requirements quickly. If you exceed the limit, your bonus and any associated winnings will be forfeited. Therefore, you should check the bet limit from the start to avoid your bonus funds are not voided.
Win and Cash Out Limts
It is common for casinos to add a win limit on no deposit bonuses. This limit reduces the total amount you can cash out from such offers. If a win limit is set at $100, you can't cash out more no matter how much you win and successfully wager.
Bonus Time Limits
Most casino bonuses have a time limit attached within which they must be claimed, wagered, and completed. You must meet these deadlines to avoid forfeiting the bonus and any winnings earned from it.
Time limits vary widely depending on the casino and the specific promotion. It's essential that you always read the terms and conditions carefully and plan your gaming around any limits.
Eligible Games
Many bonuses restrict which games can be played using bonus funds. Equally, casino free spins bonuses are often eligible for just a handful of titles, sometimes even just a single slot.
Always review the list of eligible games and choose ones with favourable odds and high RTP rates where possible to increase the chances of winning and maximise your bonus value.
Calculate The True Value of Different Types of Bonuses
Now that we've broken down the various components of a casino bonus, it will be much easier for you to assess its value quickly. As there are two main types of bonuses commonly offered by online casinos, free spins and cash bonuses, we’ll look at each separately.
How to Calculate The True Value Of A Casino Bonus
- Confirm Cash Bonus Amount: Let’s start by figuring out how much bonus cash you're actually getting. This could be a straight-up cash bonus, a match based on your deposit, or a mix of both.
- Check Wagering Requirements: As explained above, this tells you how many times you need to play through the bonus before you can cash out any winnings. Simply multiply your bonus cash by the wagering requirement to see how much action is needed.
Example: $200 Bonus Cash with a 30x Wagering Requirement is $6,000 (200x30=$6,000) - Confirm The Win Cap: Find out the maximum you can win from the bonus funds. This is often low on a no deposit bonus but can be unlimited on a deposit match deal.
- Check Eligible Game RTP: You want to know the games you can play using the bonus offer good value. The industry standard RTP (Return To Player) is around 96%; anything below this should make you think twice. See our article on RTP and volatility for a detailed breakdown of how RTP affects your chances of winning real money with a bonus.
- Combine Your Findings: Add up the above calculations for any casino cash bonus, and you can quickly determine its true value.
How to Calculate The True Value of a Free Spins Bonus
- Confirm The Free Spins’ Value: Not all free spins are created equal. Look closely at the bonus terms to see the monetary value per spin. This usually ranges between $0.5 and $0.50, occasionally more.
Multiply the number of spins by their value, i.e. 20 x $0.10 = $2.00. - Check the Wagering Requirements: Check the terms to get the wagering amount. This applies to any winnings that you generate from the spins and must be fulfilled before you can make a withdrawal.
Example: $10 Won from your spins that have a 30x Wagering Requirement is $300 (10x30=$300). - Confirm The Win Cap: Find out the maximum you can win from each spin. This is often very low on a no deposit free spins and higher on a free spins deposit bonus.
- Check Eligible Game RTP: Free spins bonuses are usually only valid on a few select slots, sometimes just the one title. Check the RTP (Return To Player) on those games. Anything below 96% should make you pause.
- Combine Your Figures: Combine the above stats to get the true value of a free spins bonus. Doing this with several offers will allow you to weigh up quickly if they are worth your time and potential money.
In Summary
Understanding the actual worth of any casino bonus is vital for getting the most out of your casino gaming adventure. Every aspect counts, from understanding win limits to knowing which games give you the best bang for your buck.
Using our handy guide, you'll be able to quickly figure out the value of any casino bonus that catches your eye. A closer look at the bonus terms will help you make smarter choices, whether free spins or bonus cash.
Frequently Asked Questions About Calculating Casino Bonus Value
A casino bonus is an incentive offered by online casinos to attract you to play there. It can come in various forms, such as free spins, bonus cash, or deposit matches. Some bonuses will require a deposit, and others won’t.
To calculate a bonus's value, first closely examine its terms and conditions. Note down the wagering requirements, game contributions, their RTPs, and maximum win limits, then weigh them against potential winnings. Use the guide above to help with this.
Wagering requirements tell you the number of times you must bet the bonus amount before you can withdraw winnings. They're a key factor in assessing bonus value and can have a significant impact on how rewarding it will be.
Casino games contribute differently; slots usually count 100%, while table games and live casino titles may contribute less, sometimes nothing. Check the bonus terms for specific game contribution rates.
Whether a casino bonus is worth it depends on factors like the wagering requirements, game contributions, and gaming preferences. You’ll quickly be able to decide if a bonus is worth taking on once armed with the knowledge on this page.