Game weighting and wagering contribution

A wagering requirement tells you how much you must bet before a bonus turns into cash. Game weighting tells you how much of each bet actually counts. Get it wrong and a 35x bonus that looked manageable on slots turns into a job 12.5 times bigger on blackjack. This guide shows real contribution tables from casinos serving Canadian players, explains why they are set the way they are, and works out what clearing a bonus costs on each game type.

How weighting works

• Counted toward wagering = stake x contribution %

At 100%, a C$2 spin counts as C$2. At 8%, a C$2 roulette bet counts as C$0.16. To clear the same requirement on an 8% game you need 12.5 times as much in bets (100 / 8).

Real contribution tables

From the casinos' published bonus terms, as read in October 2026:

Two things stand out. Exceptions inside "slots" matter: some studios' slots count only half, and re-spin titles a tenth. And tables differ between casinos owned by the same group, so check the terms of the exact casino, not a sister site. Jackpot City and Grizzly's Quest also list Casino War both as excluded and at 8%; when terms contradict themselves, assume the stricter reading.

Why casinos weight games

Weighting tracks house edge. A slot at about 96% RTP keeps about 4% of what you bet; European roulette keeps 2.70%; blackjack with good rules and correct play typically keeps under 1%; baccarat's banker bet keeps 1.06%. If every game counted 100%, players would clear bonuses on the lowest-edge games at little cost. Weighting, or exclusion, closes that gap.

What clearing costs on each game

The lower edge of table games does not make up for the weighting. That is by design. Run your own numbers in the wagering calculator, and see the wagering requirements guide for how the multiplier itself is applied.

Weighting and the wagering base

Weighting stacks on top of the wagering base. A deposit-plus-bonus requirement already doubles the turnover compared with bonus-only, and weighting multiplies it again.

Check on the second row: (100 + 100) x 35 = C$7,000; 7,000 / 0.08 = C$87,500. At those figures, clearing on table games is not a realistic plan. The bonus types guide explains how the base is written in the terms.

Irregular play rules

Weighting is the visible rule. The terms around it go further. From the same four casinos' terms:

• Max bet while a bonus is active: Jackpot City caps bets per round; V.Vegas caps each spin, and counts a bonus-buy as a spin. See the max bet rule.
• Low-risk betting: covering both sides of a bet, equal or zero-margin bets, and even-money bets on roulette, craps or Sic Bo can be treated as "irregular play".
• Oversized single bets: Jackpot City flags a single bet of 30% or more of the bonus; Casino Classic names irregular play without a figure.
• Gamble and autoplay features: double-up features and autoplay can be excluded or counted against you.
• 0% games before the playthrough is done: can void winnings at Jackpot City.

Breaking any of these can cancel the bonus and its winnings, even after the wagering is met.

How to use weighting in practice

1. Read the contribution table before claiming. If your favourite game counts 0% or 2%, the bonus is not for you.
2. Pick a 100% slot with a high RTP if you do take the bonus, and check the RTP in the game's info screen; see RTP and volatility.
3. Avoid the slot exceptions: re-spin titles, certain studios, progressives.
4. Play table and live games with cash, outside the bonus. The live casino guide and blackjack guide cover those games on their own terms.
5. Consider a wager-free offer instead: no weighting to worry about. See wager-free bonuses and the current list on wager-free bonuses.

Weighting and free spins

Free spins winnings usually carry their own wagering, and the same weighting table applies when you clear them. Spins are often locked to one slot, but the winnings can be played elsewhere, subject to the table. The free spins guide covers the details.

Keep bonus play inside a budget you set beforehand; our responsible gambling page has limits tools and the helpline for your province.