Game weighting meaning

Game weighting meaning in bonus terms

When a bonus has a wagering requirement, the casino needs to say which bets count and by how much. Game weighting is that rule. Each game category gets a percentage, and only that share of every stake is taken off the remaining target. Our in-depth guide, game weighting explained, covers how operators set the tables; this glossary entry keeps to the definition and the sums.

The game weighting formula with pound examples

Two short formulas cover every case:

• Wagering cleared by one bet = stake × weighting. A £2 blackjack hand at 10% clears 20p.
• Total play needed on one game type = remaining target ÷ weighting. £150 left at 20% means £750 of bets.

The table uses a hypothetical £20 bonus with 10x wagering, a £200 target, and shows how the workload changes with weighting. The percentages are examples of patterns seen in bonus terms, not fixed rules.

Our wagering calculation guide adds examples where you split play across several game types.

Why casinos weight games differently

Weighting follows the house edge. A game with a low edge returns more of each stake on average, so a bonus cleared on it at full weighting would cost the casino more in expected terms. Lower weighting removes that advantage, and often more than removes it. Clearing £200 on a slot with a 96% RTP has an expected cost of about £8. Clearing the same target on European roulette at 10% weighting means £2,000 of bets, with an expected cost of about £54 at a 2.70% edge. Low-edge blackjack at 5% would need £4,000 of hands, about £20 at a 0.5% edge. In both cases the table player ends up with a higher expected cost than the slots player.

That is also why some terms exclude particular high-RTP slots or ‘low-risk’ betting patterns. Our answer on why some games are excluded from bonuses goes through the common reasons.

How to find a bonus’s weighting table

1. Open the promotion’s full terms, not just the summary.
2. Search for ‘contribution’, ‘weighting’ or ‘count towards’.
3. Note each category’s percentage and any named excluded games.
4. Check whether live dealer games are listed separately from RNG table games.
5. Look at your account’s bonus tracker after a few bets to confirm play is counting as expected.

Game weighting and the UK’s 10x wagering cap

Since 19 January 2026, LCCP social responsibility code 5.1.1 (opens in a new tab) caps how many times bonus funds can be played through at 10. The headline multiple is capped; weighting is a separate term that decides which bets count. A 10x target with a 10% weighting on roulette still means 100 times the bonus in roulette bets, so read both together. The same code requires bonus terms to be clear and fair, and the ASA’s guidance on stating significant conditions (opens in a new tab) explains what must be visible in ads. See our 10x wagering cap page for the rule’s background.

Common game weighting mistakes

• Playing a 0% game while the bonus is live. Bets don’t count and may breach the terms.
• Assuming live games count like RNG games. They are often listed separately, sometimes lower.
• Raising stakes to clear a low weighting faster. A maximum bet rule usually applies, and breaking it can void winnings; see what happens if I break bonus terms.
• Ignoring the deadline. £4,000 of blackjack hands in 3 days is a lot of play; consider whether you want the bonus at all.

What game weighting means for table and live players

If you mainly play online roulette or online blackjack, a slots-weighted bonus is usually a poor fit, because the workload multiplies. Bonuses built for table games, where they exist, state their own weighting; see our pages on roulette bonuses and live casino bonuses. Choosing no bonus at all is often the simplest option.

Offers where weighting doesn’t come into it

Spins with no wagering on the winnings sidestep weighting entirely. With Coral, new customers aged 18+ get 100 free spins at 10p on selected slots after depositing (certain methods don’t count) and wagering £10 or more on slots; spins must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, and spin winnings have no wagering. Leave out PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafe, prepaid cards and certain debit cards, which the terms exclude; the promotion runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Check the latest Coral offer before you deposit.

Over at PlayOJO, new UK customers aged 18+ (not Northern Ireland) receive 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each for a first deposit of £10 or more; winnings are cash with nothing to wager, and the deal can’t be paired with another offer. The latest PlayOJO offer page keeps the terms current. Both were rechecked on 5 October 2026; full terms apply.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.