Game weighting (also called contribution rate or wagering contribution) determines what percentage of each bet counts toward fulfilling a wagering requirement. Slots typically contribute 100% — every 1-unit bet counts as 1 unit toward wagering. Table games and live casino usually contribute 10–20% or nothing at all, meaning you need to wager 5–10× more on those games to clear the same requirement. Most casinos restrict bonus wagering to slots or heavily penalise other game types.
What Is Game Weighting?
When you accept a casino bonus with a wagering requirement, each bet you place is multiplied by the contribution rate for that game before being added to your wagering total. A 10-unit bet on a slot (100% contribution) adds 10 units to wagering. A 10-unit bet on roulette (20% contribution) adds only 2 units.
This means the effective wagering requirement varies significantly depending on which games you play. A 30× wagering requirement becomes 150× in real terms if you play exclusively on a 20%-weighted game.
Standard Contribution Rates by Game Type
| Game type | Typical contribution | Effective wagering on 30× requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Video slots | 100% | 30× (as stated) |
| Classic / 3-reel slots | 50–100% | 30×–60× |
| Live slots / gameshows | 50–100% | 30×–60× |
| Roulette (RNG) | 10–25% | 120×–300× |
| Blackjack (RNG) | 5–20% | 150×–600× |
| Live roulette | 0–10% | 300×–∞ |
| Live blackjack | 0–10% | 300×–∞ |
| Video poker | 10–20% | 150×–300× |
| Scratch cards | 50–100% | 30×–60× |
| Excluded games | 0% | Bets don't count — bonus may be voided |
These are typical industry ranges — every casino sets its own rates. Always read the specific bonus T&Cs for the exact contribution rates before choosing which game to play.
Why Game Weighting Exists
Casinos apply game weighting because different games have different house edges:
- Slots — house edge typically 2–5% (96–98% RTP). Casinos expect to retain 2–5% of every pound wagered through slots.
- Blackjack with basic strategy — house edge as low as 0.3–0.5%. At this edge, a player clearing bonus wagering on blackjack would cost the casino significantly more in expected value per pound cleared.
- Roulette (European) — house edge ~2.7%. Lower than slots but typically weighted down anyway due to the simple mechanics making it easy to hedge bets.
If all games contributed equally, players could clear wagering on low-house-edge games like blackjack, turning bonuses into near-guaranteed positive EV. Game weighting closes this arbitrage.
How to Calculate Effective Wagering After Weighting
Effective wagering requirement = Stated requirement ÷ Contribution rate
| Stated wagering | Game | Contribution rate | Effective wagering (on 100 bonus) | Expected clearing cost (96% RTP slot) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30× | Slots (100%) | 100% | 3,000 | 120 (4% × 3,000) |
| 30× | Roulette (20%) | 20% | 15,000 | 405 (2.7% × 15,000) |
| 30× | Blackjack (10%) | 10% | 30,000 | 150 (0.5% × 30,000) |
This example shows why casinos reduce table game weighting: even at 10% contribution, blackjack clears wagering at lower cost than slots due to its near-zero house edge — which is why many casinos reduce it further or exclude it entirely.
Excluded Games: What Happens If You Play Them
Some games are listed as "excluded" in bonus T&Cs — 0% contribution. Playing excluded games while a bonus is active can result in:
- Bets on those games not counting toward wagering (you're essentially playing with your own deposited money, but the wagering clock doesn't advance)
- At some casinos: bonus voiding if excluded games are played during the wagering period
Always check the excluded games list before accepting a bonus. Commonly excluded: specific high-RTP slots (98%+ RTP titles), progressive jackpot slots, and certain live dealer games.
Which Games to Play When Clearing a Bonus
For speed and simplicity: play the highest-RTP slot that contributes 100%. The formula for minimum expected clearing cost:
Expected cost = Bonus amount × Wagering × (1 − RTP)
- Higher RTP → lower clearing cost
- Lower wagering → lower clearing cost
- 100% contribution game → no inflator on effective wagering
On a 98% RTP slot vs a 96% RTP slot at 30× wagering on a 100 bonus: clearing cost is 60 vs 120. RTP selection halves the expected cost here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is game weighting in casino bonuses?
Game weighting is the percentage of each bet that counts toward completing a wagering requirement. Slots typically count 100% — every 1-unit bet adds 1 unit to wagering. Table games typically count 10–25%, requiring proportionally more play to clear the same requirement.
Do table games count toward wagering requirements?
Usually yes, but at a reduced rate — typically 10–25% for RNG table games. Some casinos exclude live dealer table games entirely (0% contribution). Check the specific T&Cs: even a 10% contribution means you need to bet 10× more than on a 100%-weighted slot.
Why do slots count more than blackjack for wagering?
Slots have a higher house edge (typically 2–5%) than blackjack with basic strategy (0.3–0.5%). The casino needs players to generate proportionally more losses to cover the cost of the bonus — requiring more volume on low-edge games is how they balance the bonus EV.
What happens if I play an excluded game during wagering?
At minimum, bets on excluded games don't count toward your wagering total. At some casinos, playing excluded games while a bonus is active voids the bonus entirely. Check the T&Cs — excluded games are usually listed explicitly.
Which slots have the highest RTP for clearing wagering?
Look for slots above 97% RTP — titles like Blood Suckers (NetEnt, 98%), Jokerizer (Yggdrasil, 98%), or White Rabbit (BTG, 97.3%). Check that the specific slot isn't on the excluded games list before playing it for wagering clearance. See our highest RTP slots guide →
FAQ
- What does game weighting mean in a casino bonus?
- Game weighting (also called game contribution) is the percentage of each bet that counts toward clearing a wagering requirement. A 100% contribution means every 1 wagered counts as 1 toward the requirement. A 10% contribution means you need to wager 10 to clear 1 of your bonus.
- Why do table games have a low bonus contribution rate?
- Blackjack, roulette, and baccarat have a low house edge (0.5–2.7%), so casinos apply a lower contribution rate (often 0–10%) to prevent players from using basic strategy to clear bonuses at minimal risk. Slots carry a higher house edge and therefore usually contribute 100%.
- What is the typical game contribution for live casino?
- Live casino usually contributes 0–10% toward wagering requirements, and many casinos exclude it entirely from bonus play. Even when permitted, the low contribution rate makes live casino an inefficient way to meet wagering targets compared to slots.
- Do Megaways slots count toward wagering at the same rate as regular slots?
- Generally yes — slots contribute 100% regardless of mechanic (Megaways, cluster pays, paylines). However, individual casinos can specify exclusions for particular game titles. High-RTP slots (97%+) are sometimes individually excluded from bonus play, which is worth checking in the full T&Cs.
- How do I calculate how much I need to wager to clear a bonus?
- Divide the bonus amount by the game weighting percentage and multiply by the wagering requirement. Example: 50 bonus with 30× requirement on slots (100% contribution) = 50 × 30 = 1,500 total wager needed. If you play roulette at 10% contribution the same 1,500 becomes 15,000 in actual bets.