- Wagering Requirement (Playthrough)
- The number of times you must bet the bonus amount before you can withdraw any bonus winnings. A 30x requirement on a $500 bonus means you must place $15,000 in total bets. This is the single most important factor in determining True Bonus Value.
- True Bonus Value (TBV)
- Our proprietary metric representing the expected withdrawable cash value of a casino bonus after all wagering requirements, house edge losses, and restrictions are factored in. Expressed as a dollar amount — the higher, the better.
- Return to Player (RTP)
- The theoretical percentage of wagered money that a game returns to players over time. A 96.5% RTP means the game returns $96.50 for every $100 wagered on average. Higher RTP games preserve more of your bankroll during bonus clearing.
- House Edge
- The mathematical advantage the casino holds over the player, expressed as a percentage. It is the inverse of RTP: a game with 96.5% RTP has a 3.5% house edge. This is the cost of playing, and it compounds significantly during bonus wagering.
- Game Contribution (Game Weighting)
- The percentage of each bet that counts toward the wagering requirement. Pokies typically contribute 100%, table games 5-10%, and live dealer games 0%. Playing low-contribution games means slower progress toward clearing the bonus.
- Deposit Match
- A bonus type where the casino matches your deposit by a percentage. A 100% match up to $500 means depositing $500 gives you $500 in bonus funds. A 150% match on the same deposit would give $750 in bonus funds.
- Welcome Bonus (Welcome Package)
- The bonus offered to new players upon registration and first deposit. May include deposit matches, free spins, or both. Usually the most generous bonus a casino offers and the primary subject of our analysis.
- Free Spins
- Complimentary spins on designated pokie games, typically valued at $0.20 to $0.50 each. Winnings from free spins usually carry their own wagering requirements. A component of many welcome packages but rarely the primary driver of value.
- Bonus Expiry (Time Limit)
- The period within which you must complete the wagering requirement. Ranges from 7 to 30 days across most casinos. If the requirement is not met by the expiry date, the bonus and associated winnings are forfeited.
- Maximum Bet (Max Bet)
- The maximum wager size permitted while playing with active bonus funds. Exceeding this limit can void the bonus entirely. Typically ranges from $5 to $7.50 per spin. Essential to know and respect during bonus clearing.
- Withdrawal Cap (Win Cap)
- The maximum amount you can withdraw from bonus winnings. A $5,000 cap means that even if your bonus play generates $10,000 in winnings, only $5,000 is withdrawable. The remainder is forfeited.
- Bonus Abuse
- Patterns of play that casinos consider exploitative, such as low-risk betting strategies, multiple account creation, or systematic bonus harvesting across casinos. Casinos reserve the right to void bonuses and winnings if bonus abuse is detected.
- Sticky Bonus
- A bonus type where the bonus funds themselves cannot be withdrawn — only winnings from playing with the bonus can be cashed out. Less common than non-sticky bonuses but still encountered. The True Bonus Value of a sticky bonus is typically lower.
- Non-Sticky Bonus (Parachute Bonus)
- A bonus structure where your own deposited funds are played first. The bonus funds are only used after your deposit is exhausted, and you can withdraw at any time before touching the bonus (forfeiting the bonus but keeping your remaining deposit). This is the more player-friendly structure.
- Cashable Bonus
- A bonus where the bonus amount itself can be withdrawn after the wagering requirement is met, in addition to any winnings. Most welcome bonuses at the casinos we rank are cashable, which is factored into our True Bonus Value calculation.
- No-Deposit Bonus
- A small bonus offered without requiring any deposit. Typically ranges from $5 to $25 with very high wagering requirements (80x to 100x). The True Bonus Value of no-deposit bonuses is usually negligible, which is why we focus on deposit-matched welcome bonuses.
- Reload Bonus
- A bonus offered on subsequent deposits after the welcome bonus has been claimed. Usually smaller (25% to 50% match) with similar wagering requirements. Available to existing players as ongoing incentives.
- Bonus Code
- An alphanumeric code entered during deposit to activate a specific bonus offer. Not all bonuses require codes — many are automatically applied. Always check whether a code is needed before depositing to avoid missing the bonus entirely.
- Turnover
- The total amount of money wagered during the bonus period. If you bet $5 per spin across 2,500 spins, your turnover is $12,500. Turnover must meet or exceed the wagering requirement for the bonus to become withdrawable.
- Variance (Volatility)
- A measure of how much a game's results fluctuate from the expected average. High-variance pokies produce bigger wins less frequently; low-variance pokies produce smaller wins more often. During bonus clearing, lower variance is generally safer as it reduces the risk of depleting your bankroll before completing the wagering.
- Progressive Jackpot
- A jackpot that increases with every bet placed on connected games. Progressive pokies typically have lower base RTPs (below 94%) because a portion of each bet contributes to the jackpot pool. These games are often excluded from bonus play or are inefficient for wagering clearance.
- Pokie (Slot)
- An electronic gambling machine, referred to as "pokies" in Australian English and "slots" in other markets. The primary game type for bonus clearing due to their 100% wagering contribution at virtually all casinos.
- KYC (Know Your Customer)
- Identity verification required by casinos before processing withdrawals. Typically involves submitting government-issued identification and proof of address. Completing KYC early avoids delays when you are ready to cash out your bonus winnings.
- Pending Period (Reverse Withdrawal)
- The time between requesting a withdrawal and the casino processing it. During this period, some casinos allow you to cancel the withdrawal and continue playing — a feature designed to tempt you into giving back your winnings. Resist the temptation.
- Self-Exclusion
- A voluntary restriction that prevents you from accessing a casino for a specified period. Available at all reputable casinos and an important responsible gambling tool. Self-exclusion during an active bonus will forfeit the bonus.
- Expected Value (EV)
- The average outcome of a bet or decision over a large number of repetitions. A positive expected value (+EV) means you expect to gain money on average; negative expected value (-EV) means you expect to lose. All casino games have negative EV for the player, but bonuses can create +EV situations.
- Bankroll
- The total amount of money you have available for gambling. Effective bankroll management is critical during bonus clearing — you need enough buffer to absorb variance while working through the wagering requirement.
- Contribution Rate Table
- A document (usually in the bonus terms and conditions) that specifies what percentage each game type contributes toward the wagering requirement. Always consult this table before starting to clear a bonus.
- Minimum Deposit
- The smallest deposit amount accepted by the casino to qualify for the bonus. Typically $10 to $20 at Australian casinos. Note that depositing the minimum will only give you a small bonus — depositing the maximum qualifying amount yields the full bonus value.
- Multi-Deposit Bonus
- A welcome package spread across two or more deposits. Each deposit triggers a separate bonus tier with its own wagering requirement. This structure allows players to evaluate the casino before committing additional funds.
- Bonus Forfeiture
- The involuntary removal of bonus funds and associated winnings. Forfeiture can be triggered by: bonus expiry, exceeding the maximum bet, playing excluded games, attempting early withdrawal, or violating any bonus term.
- Wagering Progress
- The percentage of the total wagering requirement that has been completed. Most casinos display this in the player account or bonus dashboard. Tracking your progress helps you assess whether you are on pace to clear the bonus before expiry.
- Cents Per Bonus Dollar
- A Bonus Hunter AU metric showing how efficiently a bonus converts to True Value. Calculated as True Bonus Value divided by Headline Bonus. For example, $187.40 True Value on a $500 bonus = 37.5 cents per bonus dollar. Higher is better.
- Time-Completion Discount
- An adjustment we apply in our True Bonus Value calculation to account for the probability that a player may not complete the wagering requirement within the allotted time. Applied when the combination of wagering load and expiry period creates unrealistic clearing demands for an average player.