Wagering and Game Contribution: Why Slots, Live Dealer and Table Games Count Differently

In 2026, most casino bonuses still come with a wagering requirement (also called playthrough): you must place a certain total amount of bets before any bonus-related winnings can be withdrawn. What surprises many players is that the same £10 wager does not always “count” as £10 towards that target. Casinos apply game contribution rates, meaning different game categories credit different percentages of your stake to the wagering total.

What “game contribution” actually means in wagering terms

Game contribution is a percentage that tells you how much of each bet is credited towards the wagering requirement. If slots contribute 100%, then a £10 spin credits the full £10. If roulette contributes 10%, then the same £10 bet credits only £1, even though you still risked the full £10 on the table.

This is why two bonuses with the same headline “30x wagering” can feel wildly different in practice. The multiplier sets the size of the target, while contribution rates decide how quickly your real play gets you there. Without checking both, it’s easy to underestimate how long a bonus will take to clear.

In day-to-day terms, you can treat contribution like a conversion rate. A low contribution game is not “forbidden”, but it is inefficient for clearing wagering. If you mix games without understanding the percentages, you might play for hours and still see little progress on the wagering meter.

A simple way to calculate what your bets are really doing

The quickest method is: credited wagering = stake × contribution rate. If your wagering target is (deposit + bonus) × multiplier, then you can estimate how many bets you need by dividing the target by the credited amount per bet. This is not perfect (because stake sizes change), but it gives you a realistic sense of scale.

Example: you deposit £100 and get a £100 bonus with 30x wagering on deposit + bonus. Your target is (£100 + £100) × 30 = £6,000. If you bet £10 a spin on slots at 100%, you credit £10 per spin, so roughly 600 spins credit the full £6,000. If you bet £10 per round on a table game at 20%, you credit £2 per round, so you would need about 3,000 rounds to credit the same £6,000.

Always check whether the casino applies a maximum bet rule while a bonus is active. If you accidentally exceed it, some operators void winnings, reset the bonus, or remove the offer entirely. From a practical standpoint, a “generous” bonus can become a bad deal if the terms are easy to breach.

Why slots often count 100%, while blackjack and roulette may count far less

The main reason is risk control. Many table games have a lower house edge and allow strategies that reduce volatility. From the operator’s side, letting 100% of low-edge, strategic wagers count toward a bonus can increase the chance that the bonus is converted into withdrawable cash with limited expected loss for the player.

Slots are usually higher volatility and have a built-in edge that is more consistent from bet to bet. That makes them “safer” for casinos to include at 100% contribution, because the bonus is statistically more likely to be recycled through the game before becoming withdrawable.

Roulette and blackjack are often the first categories to be reduced, sometimes drastically. It is common to see reduced rates like 5–20% for certain table games, and in some sets of terms, specific variants (or live dealer versions) can be excluded from wagering entirely, even if other table games are not.

Common contribution patterns you’ll still see in 2026

While every operator sets its own percentages, a typical pattern is: slots at or near 100%; selected table games at a reduced rate; and certain low-volatility or exploitable bets at 0%. The more a game allows low-risk cycling of money (especially with hedging or near-even outcomes), the more likely it is to be restricted.

Another common nuance is that “table games” is not one bucket. Blackjack, roulette, baccarat, video poker, and variants like single-zero roulette may all be treated differently. Some terms also reduce contribution further for specific rule sets, such as double-deck or other blackjack variants.

Finally, casinos sometimes add a second layer: not only a reduced contribution rate, but also a maximum allowed stake for those games while the bonus is active. That combination prevents a player from placing a few large low-edge wagers and clearing a bonus too quickly.

Live dealer games: why they may be treated differently from RNG tables

Live dealer games sit between slots and classic table games in how operators manage risk. The rules often mirror traditional table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat), but the gameplay is streamed and typically slower. That slower pace can reduce how quickly a bonus is cleared, yet it doesn’t automatically mean live dealer is “better” for wagering.

Many operators apply stricter bonus rules to live dealer because it’s easier to place conservative, low-volatility bets for extended periods. Some terms exclude live dealer entirely from wagering, while others allow it at a reduced percentage. The practical effect is that a live blackjack session can feel like it is barely moving the wagering counter.

There is also an operational angle: live dealer tables may have different cost structures and game availability. Because the operator pays for studio and staffing, live products can be managed differently, including in promotions. That’s why you should never assume a “blackjack contribution rate” automatically applies to live blackjack as well.

How to compare bonuses fairly if you prefer live or table play

First, compare the effective wagering speed rather than the headline multiplier. Take the bonus target and translate your preferred game’s contribution into “credited wagering per £1 staked”. If your favourite game is 10% contribution, you effectively need ten times more real staking to clear the same target than you would on a 100% contribution slot.

Second, check for exclusions and game lists. Some casinos provide a clear table of what counts and what doesn’t; others hide it in general terms. If the wording says “selected games may contribute 0%”, treat that as a red flag until you find the actual list.

Third, remember that regulation and market rules can affect promotions. For example, UK-facing offers have been moving towards simpler, safer bonus mechanics and limits on excessive playthrough, which changes how “big” and “hard” bonuses can be. Even outside the UK, many reputable brands have shifted towards clearer terms in 2025–2026, but the safest habit is still the same: read the contribution table before you opt in.