A bonus is a loan of playing time, priced in turnover. This page prices a few common offers in dollars so you can see what you are agreeing to before you click accept.
The Arithmetic, Worked Through
Take a 100% match up to AU$500 with 40× wagering on the bonus, and deposit AU$200.
- Bonus credited: AU$200. Playable balance: AU$400.
- Wagering: AU$200 × 40 = AU$8,000 of turnover before a withdrawal unlocks.
- At 96% RTP, AU$8,000 of turnover carries a theoretical cost of AU$320.
The bonus is worth AU$200. Clearing it costs AU$320 in expected value. That gap is not a scandal — it is how every match bonus in the market works, and it is why "up to AU$7,500" headlines mean far less than the multiplier printed beside them.
| Wagering | Turnover required | Expected cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20× | AU$4,000 | AU$160 | Genuinely good |
| 30× | AU$6,000 | AU$240 | Reasonable |
| 40× | AU$8,000 | AU$320 | Market standard, marginal |
| 50× | AU$10,000 | AU$400 | Costs double the bonus |
| 60×+ | AU$12,000+ | AU$480+ | Avoid |
One thing to check before applying any of this: whether wagering runs on the bonus alone or on deposit plus bonus. The same 40× on deposit+bonus doubles the turnover to AU$16,000 and the cost to AU$640. It is one phrase in the terms and it changes the offer completely.
The Five Terms That Decide Everything
Wagering multiple and base
The headline number, plus whether it applies to bonus only or deposit + bonus. Everything else is secondary to this.
Max bet while active
Usually AU$5 to AU$10 per spin. Exceeding it once voids the bonus and everything won from it. This is the most common way a balance disappears.
Game contribution
Pokies typically count 100%. Table games, video poker and live dealer count little or nothing, so clearing wagering there is not realistic.
Max cashout
Winnings from bonus funds are often capped at a multiple of the bonus. A cap makes the theoretical upside far smaller than the headline suggests.
Expiry
Commonly 7 to 30 days. A short window on a large requirement forces a pace of play that is its own problem.
Free Spins Are the Better Offer
Spins with no wagering attached are the one promotion that is straightforwardly good: whatever they win is cash immediately. They are usually capped — AU$100 to AU$200 in converted winnings is typical — but within that cap there is no catch.
Spins with wagering are a different product. Winnings become bonus funds subject to the same playthrough, so the same arithmetic above applies. Check which kind you are being offered, because the marketing rarely distinguishes them.
No-Deposit Offers
A small bonus or a handful of spins for registering, with no deposit required. They are genuinely free to take, and they are also the most heavily conditioned promotions in the market: high wagering, low cashout caps — often AU$50 to AU$100 — and full identity verification before anything is released.
Treat them as a free look at the lobby rather than a route to a payout. The expected value is positive because you risked nothing, but it is small.
Sticky bonuses. Some offers, particularly on crypto deposits, are non-cashable: the bonus amount is stripped from your balance when you withdraw, and only winnings above it are paid. The terms may call this "non-withdrawable" or "sticky". It is not necessarily a bad deal, but it is a different one, and it is worth knowing which you hold.
When to Take One, When to Skip
Take it when you intend to play through that turnover anyway, the multiple is 30× or lower on bonus only, and the max-bet cap is comfortable for your normal stake.
Skip it when you want a short session, when you might want to withdraw at any moment, when the multiple is 50× or more, or when the max cashout cap is small relative to the deposit. Playing with unencumbered money and being free to stop is worth more than most match offers on the market.
Bonus Questions
What is a good wagering requirement?
30× on the bonus amount or lower is genuinely reasonable. 40× is the market standard and marginal value. 50× or more costs roughly double the bonus in expected value and is usually not worth taking.
Does wagering apply to the deposit too?
It depends on the offer, and it matters enormously. 40× on bonus only means AU$8,000 turnover on a AU$200 bonus; 40× on deposit plus bonus means AU$16,000. Check that phrase before accepting.
Why did I lose my bonus?
Most often for exceeding the maximum bet while bonus funds were active. Other common causes are letting the expiry lapse and requesting a withdrawal before wagering was complete.
Are no-deposit bonuses worth claiming?
As a free look at a lobby, yes. As a route to a payout, rarely — they carry high wagering and low cashout caps, typically AU$50 to AU$100, plus full identity verification before release.
What is a sticky bonus?
A non-cashable bonus. The bonus amount is removed from your balance when you withdraw, and only winnings above it are paid out. Common on crypto deposit offers.