Bonus Contribution Calculator
Calculate and optimize your wagering requirements based on game contributions and bet limits.
Australian Gamblers Engine
Results
Number of bets with your current setting
0
bets remaining
With maxed bet size & 100% contribution
0
optimized bets
With maxed bet size & chosen contribution
0
required bets
First, Why Use Our Bonus Contribution Calculator?
Unlike a basic wagering calculator, this is a tool that focuses on efficiency, not just totals. Our goal was to give you answers to three critical questions:
- How much wagering remains?
- How quickly will my current betting strategy clear it?
- How do contribution rates and bet limits change the outcome?
How do we do this? Well, we decided to break down wagering into bet-by-bet progress instead of abstract totals.
So, our goal isn’t in any way to “beat” the bonus, but rather to avoid unintentional mistakes. You can use it to compare game contribution rates, identify when table games are inefficient, and adjust your bet size responsibly.
At the end of the day, if the required number of bets is extreme, declining the bonus may be for the best.
This calculator provides estimates based on the values you provide and common bonus structures used by online casinos. It doesn’t account for game volatility, RTP differences, or individual casino terms.
We suggest you always check the specific bonus terms and conditions at the casino you are playing at. Keep in mind that the results shown by our tool are illustrative only and cannot guarantee wager completion or winnings.
Understanding the Calculator Fields
Each input reflects a real rule that you can find in the casino’s bonus or general terms. Using accurate values here matters more than anything, so it’s important to understand what you’re actually providing.
Your Amount to Wager (A$)
This is the active/remaining wagering requirement you need to clear. If the casino doesn’t show you what that number is, or if you haven’t yet claimed the bonus but you’d like to see what it would take to clear the playthroughs, it’s best to first use our bonus wagering calculator.
Game Contribution (%)
Game contribution determines how much of each bet counts toward wagering. This is set by the casino, and you can find it in the general terms and conditions. This is what they actually mean:
- 100% contribution: Every dollar wagered counts fully
- 50% contribution: Only half of each bet counts
- 10% contribution: Progress is extremely slow
- 0% contribution: Bets do not count at all
In most cases, online pokies are favoured for wagering with 100% contribution, while table games are restricted to 20% or lower or are completely excluded.
Max Bet Allowed (A$)
Most bonuses include a maximum bet limit while wagering is active. Exceeding it will void your winnings, even if you actually complete the wagering requirements. This field ensures calculations stay realistic and compliant with bonus terms.
If you can’t find a maximum bet in the terms, it’s usually set at A$8. If you’re sure that such a restriction doesn’t exist, then you can input the maximum amount you’re willing to bet per hand/spin.
Your Bet (A$)
This is the bet size you plan to use while trying to clear the playthroughs. There are two ways to go about this:
- If you want to auto-bet: You’ll make multiple bets with the same bet size, so use that amount as your bet.
- If you often change your bet size: Add your average bet size in the field, while keeping in mind the max bet allowed. So, if you have a habit of playing with A$1 and A$3 bets, add A$2 as your bet.
What the Results Mean
With Maxed Bet Size & 100% Contribution
This is a theoretical optimisation scenario which assumes:
- You bet the maximum allowed
- The game contributes 100%
This is the fastest possible completion within the bonus rules. Now, we’d like to remind you that this is useful for comparison, not necessarily a recommendation, as it might easily lead to busting your balance before you complete the WR.
Number of Bets With Your Current Setting
This shows how many bets you must place at your chosen bet size and contribution rate to complete wagering. Basically, it answers the question: If I keep playing exactly like this, how long will it take me to be done with the playthroughs?
With Maxed Bet Size & Chosen Contribution
This shows the impact of game choice alone. If this number is dramatically higher than the 100% contribution result, your game selection is slowing wagering far more than the bet size.
Why Game Contribution Exists
The reason game contributions exist is to help casinos apply rules to protect themselves against low-house-edge strategies.
For instance, table games like blackjack and roulette have lower house edges and higher maximum wins per hand, which would make clearing the wagering quite fast. So, if these games contributed 100%, skilled players could easily go through multiple bonuses a day.
In the same manner, you could clear the whole playthrough at once if you hit a progressive jackpot, which explains why these games are almost always excluded.
While exact numbers can vary by casino, our experience shows that most of the operators follow this pattern:
- Pokies: 100% contribution with exceptions
- Live Casino Games: Between 0–20% contribution
- Blackjack: Between 0–10% contribution
- Roulette: Between 10–20% contribution
- Instant games: Between 0-5% contribution
- Baccarat: Often excluded
- Progressive jackpots: Almost always excluded
A 10% contribution rate doesn’t mean wagering is 10% slower. In reality, it means it’s 10 times harder. Let’s explain this with an actual example:
- Wagering required: A$5,000
- Bet size: A$5
- Contribution: 10%
In this case, each bet only counts as A$0.50 toward wagering, meaning you now need 10,000 bets instead of 1,000. This is why contribution rates are often more important than wagering multipliers themselves.
Different Examples: Seeing Contribution and Bet Limits in Real Numbers
As a team of expert gamblers, we’re aware that abstract explanations only go so far. The real “aha” moment comes when players see how contribution rates and bet limits change wagering outcomes in practice. Below are some realistic scenarios based on our actual experience.
Scenario
- Remaining wagering: A$3,500
- Game contribution: 100%
- Max bet allowed: A$5
- Chosen bet size: A$5
Calculation
- Each bet contributes: A$5
- Required bets: 3,500 ÷ 5 = 700 bets
This is the most straightforward case. Every spin moves wagering forward at full speed, and the only variables left are volatility and luck. In other words, when the contribution is 100%, the bet size is the main factor controlling wagering speed.
Scenario
- Remaining wagering: A$3,500
- Game contribution: 100%
- Bet size: A$1
Calculation
- Each bet contributes: A$1
- Required bets: 3,500 ÷ 1 = 3,500 bets
As you can see, nothing else changed, but wagering now takes five times longer. The takeaway here is that smaller bets reduce variance, but dramatically increase exposure to the house edge over time. If you’re unsure what this means, just think that a game’s RTP is calculated over millions of spins. So the longer you play, the more likely you are to experience the actual RTP.
Scenario
- Remaining wagering: A$3,500
- Game contribution: 10%
- Bet size: A$5
Calculation
- Each bet contributes: A$0.5
- Required bets: 3,500 ÷ 0.5 = 7,000 bets
This is where some players get stuck without understanding why wagering feels endless. It’s essential to know that low contribution doesn’t slow wagering slightly, but it multiplies difficulty, and then some.
Scenario
- Remaining wagering: A$5,000
- Contribution: 100%
- Max bet allowed: A$2
- Desired bet size: A$5 (not allowed)
Calculation
- Each bet contributes: A$2
- Required bets: 5,000 ÷ 2 = 2,500 bets
Even with full contribution, max bet limits alone can turn wagering into quite the grind. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that bet limits matter as much as contribution rates, sometimes even more.
Responsible Gambling
We feel the need to emphasise responsible gambling, especially when it comes to clearing playthroughs. We want to make sure that you understand that the Australian Gamblers’ tools are designed to help you visualise how these things work and help you play more responsibly, rather than encourage reckless play.
Wagering calculators and contribution tools certainly don’t improve odds or guarantee outcomes. They simply make bonus costs transparent so players can decide whether participation aligns with their risk tolerance.
Players could run into trouble not because they gamble irresponsibly, but because they misunderstand bonus mechanics. This could then lead to longer play sessions than intended and frustration. We do believe that clear information reduces these risks.
Before engaging with any bonus, you should decide how much you’re prepared to lose, understand the max bet rules, and know whether wagering is realistically achievable. If the calculator shows thousands of required maxed-out bets, walking away is the better thing to do.
Check Out The Rest Of Our Tools
FAQ
Game contribution determines how much of each bet counts toward wagering requirements. You can now use it to calculate and plan out the clearing of your playthroughs.
Our casino tool accurately reflects betting volume and contribution effects. Naturally, outcomes very much depend on variance, RTP, and luck.
Lower-house-edge games could lead to ridiculously easy clearing of the WR or even bonus abuse, so they’re restricted during wagering.
Yes, you can play different games with active playthroughs, but our advice is to only stick to games that contribute 100%.
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Disclaimer: Gambling in Australia is strictly for individuals aged 18+. Our editorial team adheres to a strict policy to ensure that our reviews, recommendations, and content remain objective and free from external influence. We strongly encourage responsible gambling at all times. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, visit the following gambling resources:
- https://responsiblewagering.com.au/
- https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/
- https://gamblershelp.com.au/get-help/
