Game contribution to wagering, by game type
Reference · Last updated: 2026-07-13
Not every game clears a wagering requirement at the same rate. "Game contribution" is the percentage of each bet that counts toward it — and it's why $100 wagered on blackjack can move the needle far less than $100 on slots. These are the ranges you'll commonly see; the exact figures vary by casino, so always check the specific bonus terms.
| Game type | Typical contribution | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Slots (most) | 100% | Higher house edge, so casinos want you to play them — every $1 bet counts fully. |
| Progressive jackpot slots | 0–100% | Sometimes excluded or reduced — check the terms. |
| Roulette | 10–25% (or 0%) | Lower edge than slots; often weighted down or excluded. |
| Baccarat | 10–25% (or 0%) | Low house edge (~1%) — heavily weighted or barred. |
| Blackjack | 0–10% | Very low edge (~0.5%) with good strategy — usually the least, or excluded. |
| Video poker | 0–10% | Low edge like blackjack — minimal contribution or none. |
| Live dealer games | 0–20% | Live blackjack/roulette/baccarat mirror their table-game rates, and are often excluded entirely. |
What it means for you
A "30x" wagering requirement isn't really 30x if you play a game that contributes 10% — you'd need to stake ten times as much to clear the same amount. A $2,000 playthrough on slots (100%) becomes a $20,000 one on 10% blackjack. That's the single most overlooked reason a bonus is harder to clear than it looks. See the full worked example in our game contribution & RTP guide, and what counts as a fair multiple in what's a good wagering requirement.
The honest takeaway
If a bonus lets you clear wagering on slots at 100%, that's the easiest path — but slots also carry the highest house edge, so you'll lose more on average while clearing it. Low-contribution games are cheaper to play but barely dent the requirement. There's no free lunch; the calculator below folds contribution into the real value. Run any offer through the Bonus Value Calculator — it factors game contribution into the 0–100 score.