If you only look at the headline number on a welcome deal, you’ll often overpay in time and bankroll. The trick is turning any offer into three numbers you can compare quickly: expected wagering, expected cost, and volatility. Here’s a practical, step-by-step way to do that—useful on mid-sized sites like casino B7, and equally valid elsewhere.

Before You Deposit: 90-Second Precheck

• License and KYC: Confirm where the site is licensed and read the KYC list (ID, proof of address). Start verification early to avoid cashout delays.
• Payment rails: Look for deposit and withdrawal methods you actually use, plus fees and posted timelines.
• Withdrawal rules: Check minimum and maximum withdrawals and any weekly caps. Large wins plus small caps can trap funds.
• Game availability: Verify studios you want (e.g., Pragmatic, Play’n GO) and whether bonus play excludes certain providers.
• RTP disclosure: Some casinos let you choose 96% RTP versions; some hide 94% variants behind bonuses.
• Bonus T&Cs: Weightings, max bet during wagering, time limits, and restricted games are the big four.

Bonus Math You Actually Need

Most of the value (or lack of it) lives in three parameters:

1. Wagering requirement (WR): How much you must bet before withdrawing bonus-linked funds.
2. Contribution rate: What counts toward WR (e.g., slots 100%, blackjack 10%).
3. Max bet and time limit: These shape volatility and your chance of busting before you finish WR.

Fast EV estimate: expected cost ≈ (1 − RTP) × total wagering. If RTP is 96%, the house edge is roughly 4% on slots. Multiply that by the WR volume to get your expected loss, then compare it with the bonus amount and any real-money play you’d do anyway.

Concrete Example

Suppose you get 100% up to $200, WR = 35× bonus, slots 100% weight, max bet $5, RTP ~96%.

• Total wagering = 35 × 200 = $7,000
• Expected cost = 4% × $7,000 = $280
• Net value versus bonus = $200 − $280 = −$80 (negative EV before considering entertainment value)

Now compare with a softer offer: 100% up to $200, WR = 20× bonus, same assumptions.

• Total wagering = 20 × 200 = $4,000
• Expected cost = 4% × $4,000 = $160
• Net value = $200 − $160 = +$40 (modest positive EV)

Sticky vs. cashable matters too. If a bonus is “sticky,” you can’t withdraw it—only winnings after WR. That effectively reduces the net value compared with a fully cashable bonus of the same headline size.

Quick Visual Refresher

Short on time? This brief explainer video reinforces the key checks and the math behind them:

Control Volatility to Reach the Finish Line

WR is a marathon. You don’t need to crawl, but you can’t sprint every mile. To stretch your bankroll through the full wagering distance:

• Use medium-volatility slots with 96%+ RTP. They still pay enough to keep you engaged without endless cold streaks.
• Target a spin size around 0.25%–0.4% of your total balance (bankroll ÷ 250–400). If you deposit $200 and have a $200 bonus, you’re working with $400; spin size ~$1 to $1.60.
• Avoid bonus-restricted features (buy bonuses, jackpots) when T&Cs prohibit them; violations can void winnings.
• Stick to the max bet rule. Even one over-bet can give the operator grounds to confiscate bonus-derived funds.

Leaderboards and Tournaments: Worth It?

Tournaments can be great value or a rake trap. Use this back-of-the-napkin check:

1. Estimate your expected loss per $1,000 of wagering from the house edge (e.g., ~$40 at 96% RTP).
2. Look at the prize pool and likely participants. If a $10,000 pool draws ~1,000 players, average prize per player is $10.
3. Compare your expected loss from the extra spins needed to place on the board with your realistic prize equity. If rebuys are allowed, cap yourself; chasing late rarely pays.

Also check scoring rules (win multipliers vs. coin totals). Multiplier-based boards sometimes favor lower-stake spins, which can reduce your variance and cost per attempt.

Cashout Hygiene: Protect Your Winnings

• Complete KYC before or right after your first deposit; fixes 80% of last-minute withdrawal headaches.
• Don’t mix bonus play with excluded games, even briefly. Keep a clean activity pattern until WR is complete.
• As soon as WR clears, scale down bet size and request a withdrawal. Don’t give back edge on victory laps.
• Know max cashout rules for free spins or no-deposit offers; plan your stake sizing accordingly.

Bottom Line

Speed-run the precheck, run the three-number EV test, then manage volatility to survive WR. If the math looks thin, skip the offer and just play your favorite 96%+ slots with a clear stop-loss. You’ll spend fewer hours grinding and keep more of your bankroll over the long run.

Play responsibly. Set time and deposit limits, and use self-exclusion tools when needed.