Game contribution to wagering

Game contribution to wagering (also called game weighting) is a percentage showing what share of a bet placed on a particular game counts towards a bonus's wagering requirement. If the game's contribution is 100 per cent, the whole bet counts. If it is lower, the requirement moves more slowly, and if it is zero, it does not move at all.

What game contribution to wagering is

The casino sets contributions so that clearing a bonus is balanced against the games' house edge and volatility. In games where the house edge is small or bets can easily be covered with little risk, clearing a bonus would otherwise be too easy. That is why the following general pattern usually applies:

• most slot games count in full;
• table games such as blackjack and roulette often count only partly or not at all;
• live casino games and game shows often have a low contribution or are excluded;
• some high-RTP slots may be prohibited while a bonus is active.

These are general tendencies, not rules. Every casino publishes its own table in the bonus terms.

How this affects your withdrawal

The game contribution determines how long it takes to reach the point where bonus money becomes withdrawable. Sample calculation: if you place a 10-euro bet on a game with a 10 per cent contribution, only 1 euro counts towards the requirement. The same bet on a 100 per cent slot would count the full 10 euros. So meeting the requirement on a low-contribution game can take ten times as many bets.

If you play a game with zero contribution or one that is prohibited while a bonus is active, winnings may not count or the casino may void them. This is one of the main reasons a withdrawal is rejected when playing with a bonus. You must also respect the maximum bet, which applies across all games while the bonus is active. A more thorough explanation is on the page bonuses and withdrawals.

Note also that the contribution affects only the progress of the requirement, not the size of a win. On a low-contribution game you can win as much as on a slot, but the bonus money becomes withdrawable only once the whole requirement has been met. Until then both the bonus and the winnings from it are conditional and are usually shown separately in the account.

What to check

• Do the bonus terms include a separate table of game contributions?
• Are your favourite games allowed while the bonus is active?
• Does the contribution still apply if you play with a mix of real money and bonus money?
• Does the casino count all bets towards the requirement or only lost bets?
• Where in the account view can you see how much of the requirement has been met?

All these terms are set out in the bonus's specific terms and the casino's terms and conditions. If you cannot find the table, ask customer support before playing.

Common problems

The most common mistake is playing a table game or live game with a bonus on the assumption that the requirement moves as fast as on a slot. Another mistake is not noticing that a particular slot is excluded from bonus play. A third is thinking that the turnover requirement and the contribution are the same thing: the turnover requirement says how much must be wagered in total, while the contribution says what share of each bet counts.

How to take contribution into account sensibly?

If you mainly enjoy table games or live casino, a bonus is often worth less to you than it seems at first glance. In that case playing with real money may be simpler and lets you withdraw a win right away. Remember that it is not worth betting more than you are prepared to lose just to clear a bonus. You will find help and advice on the responsible gambling page and from the helpline 15410.