Rakeback, cashback and bonus wagering calculator
Rakeback pays back part of what you are expected to lose, not part of what you bet. 10% rakeback on $15,000 wagered on American roulette returns $79 against an expected loss of $789, leaving −$711. Enter your own casino's rate below.
Checked 2026-11-07. Source: formulas and table below.
18+ (19+ in most of Canada). Rakeback and VIP rewards return a small part of what you are expected to lose; they never make wagering profitable on average. Help by country: where to get help.
How rakeback and cashback are worked out
expected loss = amount wagered × house edge
rakeback (on the edge) = expected loss × rakeback % · rakeback (on wagers) = amount wagered × rakeback %
cashback = net loss × cashback %, up to any cap, minus the expected cost of any wagering requirement on it.
Worked example: $5 bets, 300 an hour for 10 hours is $15,000 wagered. On American roulette (5.26% edge) the expected loss is $789; 10% rakeback on that pays $79. The effective house edge drops from 5.26% to 4.74%, still well above zero.
Programmes describe their rate in different ways: a share of the house edge ("theoretical loss"), a share of the amount wagered, or VIP points converted to cash. Read your casino's terms and pick the matching option.
Rakeback or cashback: which is worth more?
One session of 200 bets of $10 ($2,000 wagered), counted exactly over every possible result. Cashback is paid only when the session ends down, so it pays more on volatile bets.
| Bet | Expected loss | 10% rakeback (on the edge) | 10% cashback (on net loss) | Sessions that end down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat, banker | $21 | $2.12 | $6.36 | 56.0% |
| Craps, pass line | $28 | $2.83 | $7.16 | 55.2% |
| European roulette, red | $54 | $5.41 | $8.74 | 62.3% |
| American roulette, red | $105 | $10.53 | $12.39 | 75.0% |
| American roulette, one number | $105 | $10.53 | $38.60 | 56.9% |
Blackjack is left out because its result per hand depends on doubles and splits; the other games have fixed payouts. Rates of 10% are examples.
On a single number at American roulette, 10% cashback is worth $39 per session against $11 for rakeback: the swings are large, so losing sessions lose more. Either way it is a fraction of the $105 expected loss.
When would rakeback cancel the house edge?
| Game | House edge | Rakeback on wagers needed to break even | Rakeback on the edge needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack, basic strategy | 0.57% | 0.57% of every bet | 100% |
| Baccarat, banker | 1.06% | 1.06% of every bet | 100% |
| Craps, pass line | 1.41% | 1.41% of every bet | 100% |
| European roulette | 2.70% | 2.70% of every bet | 100% |
| American roulette | 5.26% | 5.26% of every bet | 100% |
| Slot with 96% RTP | 4.00% | 4.00% of every bet | 100% |
A programme that pays a share of the house edge can never reach break-even unless it pays all of it. One that pays a share of the amount wagered breaks even only at a rate equal to the edge, far above what casinos offer on most games.
Deposit bonus wagering
amount to wager = requirement × (bonus, or deposit + bonus) ÷ game contribution · bonus worth = bonus − amount to wager × house edge
Worked example: a 100% match on a $100 deposit gives a $100 bonus. At 35× the bonus on slots with a 96% RTP you must wager $3,500, which costs about $140, so the bonus is worth −$40. At 10× it would be worth $60. Played on blackjack counting 10%, the same 35× needs $35,000 of bets and costs $200.
The formula assumes you keep playing until the requirement is met. Real terms add maximum bets, excluded games and time limits; read them before you accept a bonus.
Rakeback on $10,000 wagered
| Game | House edge | Expected loss | 10% rakeback | 25% rakeback | Net at 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack, basic strategy | 0.57% | $57 | $6 | $14 | −$43 |
| Baccarat, banker | 1.06% | $106 | $11 | $26 | −$79 |
| Craps, pass line | 1.41% | $141 | $14 | $35 | −$106 |
| European roulette | 2.70% | $270 | $27 | $68 | −$203 |
| American roulette | 5.26% | $526 | $53 | $132 | −$395 |
| Slot with 96% RTP | 4.00% | $400 | $40 | $100 | −$300 |
House edges from our house edge page; the slot line uses an example RTP of 96%. Rates of 10% and 25% are examples, not any casino's offer.
Questions
Is cashback or rakeback better?
At the same rate, cashback on net losses is usually worth more, because it pays on every losing session in full. Over 200 bets of $10 on red at American roulette, 10% cashback is worth $12 on average against $11 for 10% rakeback on the house edge. The more volatile the bet, the bigger the gap.
Can rakeback make me break even?
Only rakeback paid on the amount wagered, at a rate equal to the house edge or higher: 0.57% for blackjack with basic strategy, 5.26% for American roulette. Rakeback paid as a share of the house edge would need to be 100%.
How do I work out a wagering requirement?
Multiply the requirement by the bonus (or deposit plus bonus) and divide by the game's contribution. A $100 bonus at 35× on slots is $3,500 to wager; at a 96% RTP that costs about $140, so the bonus is worth −$40.
What is rakeback?
A share of what the casino expects to win from your bets, paid back to you. With 10% rakeback, $15,000 wagered on American roulette (expected loss $789) returns $79, so you are still down $711 on average.
Does rakeback make gambling profitable?
No. Rakeback paid on the house edge is always a fraction of your expected loss. Only a reward paid on the amount wagered at a rate higher than the house edge would cover it, and casinos set rates well below that.
How does casino cashback work?
You get a percentage of your net losses over a period back, sometimes with a cap or a wagering requirement. 10% cashback on a $400 loss is $40; if it must be wagered once on a slot with a 4% edge, it is worth about $38.
What is the difference between rakeback and cashback?
Rakeback is paid on how much you bet, win or lose. Cashback is paid only on net losses. Both are set by the casino's own terms, which this calculator never assumes: enter the rate from your casino.