You claim a bonus with 35x wagering, sit down at blackjack, and bet $2,000 over an evening. You check your progress and find you’ve cleared $200 of the requirement.
That’s game weighting, and it’s the most under-read line in any bonus’s terms.
What game weighting is
Weighting determines how much each dollar you bet counts toward clearing a wagering requirement. It varies by game type, and the differences are large.
| Game | Typical weighting | $100 bet counts as |
|---|---|---|
| Slots | 100% | $100 |
| Video poker | 10–20% | $10–20 |
| Roulette | 10–20% | $10–20 |
| Baccarat | 10% | $10 |
| Blackjack | 5–10% | $5–10 |
| Live dealer tables | 5–10% | $5–10 |
| Sports betting | 0% | $0 |
Weightings differ between operators. Always read the specific table, not a general one.
Why the differences exist
Weighting tracks house edge. Slots typically run a 3–6% edge. Blackjack played reasonably runs under 1%.
If blackjack counted at 100%, a player could clear a wagering requirement while losing very little, and the bonus would cost the operator money. Weighting equalises the operator’s expected take across game types.
The rule of thumb: the better the game is for you, the less it counts toward your wagering. That’s not a coincidence — it’s the mechanism.
What this does to your real requirement
A $100 bonus with 35x wagering means $3,500 of weighted turnover. What that costs in actual betting volume:
Real betting volume by game
At 5% weighting, a 35x bonus is effectively a 700x bonus. For a table-games player, that offer is not worth claiming under any circumstances.
Excluded games
Separate from weighting, most operators exclude certain games from bonus play entirely. Commonly:
- High-RTP slots — anything above roughly 97%
- Jackpot slots
- Certain live dealer variants
- Any game with a bonus-buy feature
Playing an excluded game with bonus funds active can void the bonus entirely — not just fail to count. Check the excluded list before you start, not after.
Bonus buys: the most common voiding
Many slots offer a “bonus buy” — pay 100x your stake to jump straight into the free spins round. Almost every operator prohibits this during wagering.
Using it once can forfeit your bonus and any winnings from it. It’s the single most common way players void a bonus without realising they’ve broken a rule.
Check the weighting table before depositing
Our offer pages link straight to each operator’s full bonus terms.
How to read the terms properly
- Find the weighting table — usually in bonus terms, sometimes a separate page
- Check what your preferred games count as
- Multiply the wagering requirement by (100 ÷ weighting) to get real volume
- Check the excluded games list
- Confirm whether bonus buys are prohibited
If the weighting table isn’t findable, that’s a signal about the operator. Reputable ones publish it clearly.
Practical conclusions
- Slots player: weighting is mostly irrelevant to you. Focus on the multiplier.
- Table games player: most casino bonuses are not designed for you. Consider declining and playing with your own funds, which carries no restrictions.
- Sports bettor: casino bonuses usually count 0% on sports. Look for sportsbook-specific offers instead.
- Mixed player: clear on slots, then play tables afterwards with cleared funds.
Weighting isn’t a trick — it’s disclosed and it’s logical. But it’s disclosed in a table most people skip, and skipping it is how a bonus that looked good turns into an evening of turnover that goes nowhere.
Related: wagering requirements explained and RTP and house edge.
18+. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. Support is available on our responsible gambling page.