Bonuses

Bonus cost: what a bonus really costs the casino

Bonus cost (promo cost) is the money a casino gave away through promotions: bonuses and free spin winnings that became real money, plus cashback. Not the credited amount, but what players were able to withdraw or bet as real money.

Yevhen SychovOctober 2026

Formula and example

Bonus cost = bonus money that became real + cashback€100,000 in bonuses was credited, €12,000 became real money after wagering, and cashback was €8,000: the cost is €20,000.

Credited vs converted to real money

A credited bonus is a promise. Most players do not complete the wagering requirement: they lose the balance or abandon wagering. Only what reaches the real balance costs the casino real money.

That is why Bonus Rate and NGR deduct the amount that became real money, not the amount credited. Counted on the credited amount, bonuses look several times more expensive than they are.

Why the rule-of-thumb formula is wrong

A common spreadsheet formula: the bonus minus the casino's margin on wagering. It assumes everyone plays through to the end. In reality most players lose their balance during wagering, while the few who finish win big.

The cost depends on the wagering requirement, bet size, game volatility, the cap on winnings and player patience. The bonus cost calculator handles this: thousands of sessions with player behaviour, not a single formula.

How to use it

  • Keep the cost of all bonuses within your Bonus Rate of GGR.
  • Calculate the cost per offer and per segment: the overall number hides loss-making offers.
  • Judge an offer on NGR: the GGR it brought in minus its cost.
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