Bonuses

Effective RTP: what wagering costs in each game

Effective RTP under wagering is the share a player keeps on average for every euro credited towards wagering, taking the game's contribution into account. It shows in which game wagering is cheapest.

Yevhen SychovOctober 2026

Formula and example

Effective RTP = 100% minus (100% minus RTP) / game contributionRoulette with 97.3% RTP and 10% contribution: 100% minus 2.7% / 0.1 = 73%. A slot with 96% RTP and 100% contribution: the same 96%.

How to read it

The lower the effective RTP, the more it costs the player to get each euro of wagering counted. In the example, €100 of wagering costs €4 on average in the slot and €27 in roulette.

If a game has a higher effective RTP than the main slots, it becomes the cheapest way to clear the bonus. For the casino this means the bonus will cost more than you calculated.

Expected loss on wagering

Expected loss = wagering amount x (100% minus effective RTP)A €100 bonus, x40, a 96% slot: €4,000 x 4% = €160.

If the expected loss is bigger than the bonus, on average the player does not reach withdrawal. But that is an average. Some lose their balance early in wagering, others land a big win and withdraw. That is why the real cost of a bonus is calculated with a model of player behaviour, not a single formula. This is how the bonus cost calculator works.

How to apply it

  • Calculate the effective RTP for every game allowed for wagering.
  • If it is higher than for the main slots: lower the game contribution or exclude the game from wagering.
  • Recalculate after adding each new provider.
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