What a wagering requirement really costs
A "200% up to CA$1,000" offer is not CA$1,000. It is CA$1,000 of bonus balance you can only withdraw after wagering some multiple of the deposit plus bonus — usually 40× — through games that each take a cut. The expected cost of that turnover is turnover × house edge, and the value of the offer is the bonus minus that cost.
The default inputs are Shuffle's SHFLVIP offer on a CA$500 deposit: CA$1,000 bonus, 40× on CA$1,500 = CA$60,000 of turnover. On Plinko at 1% that costs about CA$600 in expectation — the offer is +CA$400. On a 4% slot it costs CA$2,400 and the offer is −CA$1,400. Same bonus, opposite sign. This is why we keep saying clear bonuses on originals.
Things the calculator cannot see
- Game weighting: many sites count originals at less than 100% towards wagering, or exclude them. Set the contribution field to the figure in the terms.
- Max bet while a bonus is active — usually a few CA$ — which stretches the time needed.
- Variance: a positive expected value does not stop you busting before the requirement is cleared. Run the same figures through the bankroll calculator.
- Expiry: most bonuses lapse after 7–30 days.
For Rainbet's BOOST20 the 40× applies to the match portion only — choose "Bonus only" — and the rakeback component needs no clearing at all.