How to Compare Casino Bonuses

Two bonuses can look identical in a headline and behave completely differently once you read the terms. The headline is a marketing number; the terms are the product. This guide sets out a repeatable way to reduce any offer to five numbers, convert those numbers into a single comparable figure, and only then look at the qualitative factors that arithmetic cannot capture.

Why the headline size misleads

A bonus headline usually combines a percentage and a cap — for example "200% up to 500". That phrase tells you the maximum theoretical credit and nothing about the conditions attached to it. The credit is not money you hold; in most cases it is a balance you must turn over a set number of times before any of it can be withdrawn.

Because the turnover requirement scales with the bonus, a larger headline often carries a proportionally larger obligation. Doubling the credit while doubling the wagering multiple leaves you no better off, and can leave you worse off if the deadline stays the same. The size of the number is the least informative part of the offer.

The five numbers to extract

1. Match percentage and cap

The percentage tells you how much bonus credit each unit of deposit generates; the cap tells you where that stops. A "100% up to 200" offer gives you nothing extra for depositing 400 — the cap binds first. Always work out the deposit that exactly reaches the cap, because that is the only deposit size at which the percentage and the cap agree.

2. Wagering multiple and what it applies to

This is the single most decisive number. A multiple of 30× means very different things depending on its base. Applied to the bonus alone, 30× on a 100 bonus is 3,000 in turnover. Applied to deposit plus bonus, the same multiple on a 100 deposit and 100 bonus is 6,000 — double the work for the same headline. Our explainer on wagering requirements covers the mechanics in more depth.

3. Max bet while a bonus is active

Most bonus terms cap the stake you may place until wagering is complete. Exceeding it is one of the most common reasons a withdrawal is refused, and the cap is enforced automatically in many systems. A low max bet combined with a high turnover requirement means a long grind, which matters more than most players expect.

4. Game weighting

Contribution rates decide how fast turnover accrues. Slots typically count in full, while table games and live-dealer titles often count at a reduced rate or not at all. A 20× requirement on a game weighted at 10% is effectively 200× in real stakes. Excluded games may not count at all — and in some terms, playing them voids the bonus outright.

5. Expiry window

Bonus credit and wagering deadlines both expire. A short window turns a large requirement into an unrealistic one, and unfinished wagering usually means the bonus and anything derived from it are removed. Check whether the clock starts at opt-in, at deposit, or at first bonus stake.

Turning five numbers into one

Once you have the five numbers, reduce each offer to turnover per unit of bonus. The arithmetic is deliberately simple:

• Work out the bonus amount at the deposit that hits the cap.
• Multiply the wagering multiple by its base (bonus only, or deposit plus bonus) to get total turnover.
• Divide total turnover by the bonus amount. That ratio is your comparison figure — lower is cheaper.
• Adjust for game weighting by dividing the contribution rate into the ratio if you intend to play a reduced-weight category.

The ratio strips out headline size entirely, which is exactly the point. It lets a small offer and a large one sit on the same scale.

A worked example with round numbers

Offer A: 100% up to 200, wagering 40× the bonus. Deposit 200, receive 200 in bonus credit, and the requirement is 40 × 200 = 8,000 in turnover. The ratio is 8,000 ÷ 200 = 40.

Offer B: 50% up to 100, wagering 20× the bonus. Deposit 200, receive 100, and the requirement is 20 × 100 = 2,000 in turnover. The ratio is 2,000 ÷ 100 = 20. Offer B asks half the work per unit of bonus, despite the smaller headline.

Now change one word in Offer B's terms: wagering applies to deposit plus bonus. The requirement becomes 20 × 300 = 6,000, and the ratio rises to 60 — now the worst of the three. That single clause moves the ranking more than doubling the headline would.

Finally, apply the weighting adjustment. If you plan to play a category that contributes at 20%, Offer A's ratio of 40 becomes an effective 200 in real stakes. Turnover you cannot realistically complete inside the expiry window is not value, however large the credit is.

Qualitative factors the arithmetic misses

Ratios rank offers; they do not tell you whether the operator behind them is worth your time. Before acting on any comparison, check three things that no formula covers:

• Licence. Which regulator supervises the operator, and does it accept players from your country? Terms, dispute routes and player protections all depend on the licence and jurisdiction.
• Payout behaviour. Stated processing times, pending periods and method-specific delays matter more than a few points of ratio. See our notes on deposit and withdrawal times.
• Verification timing. Operators that verify identity at registration rather than at first withdrawal remove the most common source of payout delay.

When a smaller offer wins

Smaller is often better when the requirement is proportionally smaller, when the expiry window is short, when your typical stake is close to the max-bet cap, or when you prefer reduced-weight games. A modest no-deposit offer with a low cash-out limit can also be the more honest comparison, because its ceiling is stated up front rather than buried in a clause.

Using the compare tool step by step

1. Open the compare tool and select two or three offers you are genuinely considering — more than that and the exercise stops being useful.
2. Filter by the factors that are fixed for you: your country, your preferred payment method, your game category.
3. Read the wagering base column, not just the multiple. Confirm whether it says bonus or deposit plus bonus.
4. Note the max bet and expiry side by side, then apply the ratio arithmetic above.
5. Open the full terms for the leader and confirm the numbers match. Our guide on how to read bonus terms shows which clauses are worth a second reading.

Common mistakes

• Comparing multiples without checking their base — the most expensive oversight in bonus comparison.
• Assuming all games contribute equally to wagering.
• Depositing above the cap and receiving no extra credit for it.
• Ignoring maximum cash-out limits, which cap winnings independently of wagering.
• Treating a short expiry window as a minor detail.
• Ranking offers before checking whether the operator's licence covers your jurisdiction.

Comparison is a way of setting expectations, not a strategy for winning. Play only with money you can afford to lose, set deposit and time limits before you start rather than after, use only operators licensed in a jurisdiction that accepts you, and treat every bonus as entertainment with conditions attached. Gambling is restricted to players aged 18 or over, or the higher minimum age set where you live. If it stops feeling like a choice, use the operator's self-exclusion tools and seek support in your country.