21+ Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET. Offers are for new players 21+ (18+ where allowed); terms apply.
Best USACasinosTop casinos

Bonus game weighting explained

Bonus game weighting decides how much of each bet counts toward a bonus's wagering requirement. Slots usually count in full, while blackjack, video poker and roulette count for less or not at all. At the offshore casinos we cover, weighting mostly shows up as excluded-game lists and higher multipliers for table games, so you need to read both.

Key takeaways

  • Weighting is the share of each bet that counts toward playthrough: 100% means a $1 bet clears $1.
  • Partners mostly weight by multiplier: Royal Ace is reported at 30x for slots and 60x for blackjack and video poker, which works out to 50%.
  • Playing an excluded game can void winnings; SlotoCash's own terms say so for its welcome bonus.
  • Low-edge games are weighted down because they would otherwise make bonuses cheap to clear.
  • Partners are offshore and not licensed by any US state, so each casino sets its own weighting rules.

Offers checked October 28, 2026

Top casinos for this page

Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure

  1. Our top pick
    1
    Slots and specialty gamesRoyal Ace CasinoRead Royal Ace review
    Welcome bonus$2,500+ 35 Free Spins
    • Wagering30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported)
    • Min deposit$30 (reported)
    • Withdrawals$2,500 / week (reported)
    Claim bonus21+ · New players · Terms apply
    Key terms, license and regulator notes

    Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews disagree on the package (200% up to $4,000, or 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins); the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and specialty games (reported).

    Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Third parties report it does not accept Ohio players.

    21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

  2. 2
    Slots and kenoSlot Madness CasinoRead Slot Madness review
    Welcome bonus$2,500+ 50 Free Spins
    • Wagering30x deposit + bonus (reported)
    • Min deposit$30 (reported)
    • Withdrawals$2,500 / week (reported)
    Claim bonus21+ · New players · Terms apply
    Key terms, license and regulator notes

    Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).

    Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.

    21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

  3. 3
    Biggest bonus on our listSlotoCash CasinoRead SlotoCash review
    Welcome bonus$6,000+ 60 Free Spins
    • Wagering25x deposit + bonus
    • Min deposit$20 per bonus
    • Withdrawals$5,000 / week
    Claim bonus21+ · New players · Terms apply
    Key terms, license and regulator notes

    Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).

    Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.

    21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

Read before you play: These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews because the casino’s own terms could not be checked; the terms shown at sign-up apply. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET.

Meaning
Share of each bet counted toward wagering
Slots
Usually count in full
Royal Ace (third-party)
30x slots, 60x blackjack/video poker
Silver Oak (casino's terms)
40x slots, 60x table games/video poker
SlotoCash (casino's terms)
Slots, keno, scratch cards only on welcome
Common exclusions
Progressives, roulette, baccarat, craps

What bonus game weighting means

Game weighting, also called game contribution, is the percentage of each bet that a casino counts toward your playthrough. At 100%, a $1 spin reduces your remaining wagering by $1. At 50%, the same bet clears only 50 cents, and at 0% it clears nothing. The short version lives in our game weighting glossary entry.

Weighting matters because it changes how many bets you need, and so how much the house edge costs you, before a bonus can be withdrawn. Two offers with identical bonus wagering requirements can cost very different amounts depending on the games you are allowed to play. The wider picture of bonus types is in our casino bonuses hub.

How game contribution percentages work

The sum is simple: bets needed on a game = remaining wagering ÷ that game's contribution rate. The table below uses a $6,000 requirement to show how quickly lower rates add up. These rates are illustrations of the method, not any partner's published figures.

Bets needed to clear $6,000 of wagering at different weightings
Contribution rateEach $10 bet counts asTotal bets needed
100%$10$6,000
50%$5$12,000
20%$2$30,000
10%$1$60,000
0% (excluded)$0Can't be cleared

Halving the rate doubles the betting. That is why a table game at 10% is rarely a practical way to clear a bonus, even when its house edge is low. Our longer game weighting explainer walks through more mixes of games.

Weighting by multiplier: the RTG casino approach

Many offshore casinos running RealTime Gaming software don't publish contribution percentages at all. Instead, they set a separate multiplier for each game group. The effect is the same, and you can convert it: divide the slot multiplier by the other game's multiplier.

Converting game multipliers to a weighting
CasinoSlotsBlackjack / video pokerEffective weightingSource type
Royal Ace30x (b+d)60x (b+d)30 ÷ 60 = 50%Third-party (LCB)
Silver Oak (terms)40x60x40 ÷ 60 ≈ 67%Casino's terms
Silver Oak (offer page)30x60x30 ÷ 60 = 50%Casino's page
Planet 7 free chip30x60x (table and video poker)50%Third-party (Blockonomi)

Silver Oak shows why the source matters: its new-member page says 30x and its terms and conditions (opens in a new tab) say 40x for slots, keno, bingo and scratch cards, with 60x for table games and video poker in both. Ask which applies to your bonus. Royal Ace's rates come from LCB's Royal Ace listing (opens in a new tab), which also lists "parlor games" at the slot rate.

Excluded games: when weighting drops to zero

Exclusion is the strictest form of bonus game weighting. At some casinos an excluded game simply doesn't count; at others, playing it voids the bonus and its winnings. The partner terms we could read take the stricter line.

  • SlotoCash: its welcome bonus terms (opens in a new tab) allow slots, Real-Series video slots (not progressive jackpot slots), keno and scratch cards, and say play on other games voids promotion winnings. Its general terms exclude progressive jackpots, video poker, table games and specialty games by default.
  • Silver Oak: the casino's terms exclude baccarat, craps, crash games, Henferno, pai gow poker, Pontoon 21, roulette, shooting games, sic bo, war, tournaments, live dealer games and progressives.
  • Planet 7: LCB reports that Banana Jones and Fish Catch can't be played with coupon-code funds and that winnings are void; Blockonomi says baccarat, roulette and craps don't count toward its free chip.
  • Slot Madness: third-party listings put the MAD275 welcome on slots, with esports.gg adding keno.

"Doesn't count" and "voids winnings" are very different penalties. If the terms aren't clear which applies, assume the stricter one and ask support.

Bonus game weighting at our partner casinos

This table brings the published and reported rules together for the three partners featured below, plus the others we cover. Third-party entries are reports and may not match the terms you receive.

Eligible games on welcome bonuses, checked October 28, 2026
CasinoCounts in fullCounts lessExcluded or voidsSource type
Royal AceSlots, parlor games (30x)Blackjack, video poker (60x)Not listedThird-party
Slot MadnessSlots (30x); keno per one reviewNot reportedNot listedThird-party
SlotoCashSlots, Real-Series slots, keno, scratch cardsNoneProgressives, video poker, table, specialtyCasino's terms
Silver OakSlots, keno, bingo, scratch (40x)Table games, video poker (60x)Roulette, baccarat, craps and moreCasino's terms
Planet 7Slots (30x)Table, video poker on free chip (60x)Banana Jones, Fish CatchThird-party
Miami ClubRegular slots, keno, scratch cards (100%)Video poker 10%, blackjack 5%Roulette forbidden with an active bonusCasino's terms

Slot Madness's weighting is the least documented, since its official site couldn't be read and reviewers give only the slot rate. esports.gg's Slot Madness review (opens in a new tab) also describes a MAD125 code covering table games and video poker at 40x; that is a third-party report, so confirm it in the casino's terms before relying on it.

What weighting does to the cost of clearing a bonus

Bonus game weighting and house edge pull in opposite directions. Here is the expected cost of clearing a $100 deposit plus $200 bonus at the rates reported for Royal Ace, using third-party RTP figures for RealTime Gaming games. These are long-run averages, not predictions for one session.

Expected cost of clearing $300 at 30x slots / 60x video poker
Game (RTP, third-party)MultiplierTotal betsHouse edgeExpected cost
Slot at 96.25% (e.g. Sweet 16)30x$9,0003.75%$337.50
Slot at 97.5% (e.g. Pay Dirt!)30x$9,0002.5%$225
Jacks or Better at 99.54%60x$18,0000.46%$82.80
European Roulette at 97.3%Usually excludedn/a2.7%n/a

The video poker line assumes perfect strategy and a game that is actually allowed under your bonus, which SlotoCash and others exclude by default. It shows why casinos weight low-edge games down: at full weighting, Jacks or Better would make bonuses cheap to clear. Our guide to house edge explains the RTP figures, and GamesHub's RTG list (opens in a new tab) is the third-party source for the table and video poker numbers.

Why casinos weight games differently

A bonus is a cost to the casino, and the house edge is how it recovers that cost. That is the job bonus game weighting does. Slots carry a larger edge than well-played blackjack or video poker, so slot bets recover the bonus faster. Weighting down or excluding low-edge games keeps the casino's cost predictable.

Volatility plays a part too. Games like roulette allow near-even bets on red or black, which would let a balance move through wagering with smaller swings than most slots. Excluding them, as Silver Oak's terms do, closes that route. None of this is a loophole for players; it is simply how the terms are built, and our table games bonus page explains why table-game offers are rare.

How to check game weighting before you play

  1. Open the bonus terms and find the eligible-games or contribution section.
  2. Write down which games count in full, which count less and which are excluded.
  3. Check whether excluded play just doesn't count or voids winnings.
  4. Convert any separate multipliers into a weighting (slot multiplier ÷ other multiplier).
  5. Plan to play only fully weighted games until wagering is complete, or decline the bonus.
  6. If a game isn't named either way, ask live chat before playing it and save the reply.

Wagering progress not moving? Check the game weighting

If your wagering counter barely moves, or doesn't move at all, the game you're playing is probably weighted low or excluded. Work through these checks before you place more bets.

  1. Compare the game with the eligible list. At SlotoCash, video poker and table games are excluded by default, so they clear nothing.
  2. Check for a lower rate. At Miami Club, a $10 blackjack hand clears just 50 cents of wagering, and a $10 video poker hand clears $1.
  3. Look for a separate multiplier. At Silver Oak and Royal Ace, blackjack and video poker run on 60x, so progress looks slower than on slots.
  4. Stop and ask live chat if the game should count, and save the answer before you play on.

More on which games usually count is in what games count toward wagering, and how to clear a casino bonus sets out a routine that keeps you on fully weighted games.

Progressive jackpots, keno and specialty games

Progressive jackpot slots are commonly excluded because a jackpot win under a bonus creates a large liability. SlotoCash's welcome terms leave them out, and Silver Oak's terms exclude progressives. The RTG progressive jackpot system page explains how those prizes are funded.

Keno and scratch cards often count alongside slots at RTG casinos; SlotoCash's terms and Silver Oak's terms both include keno. Specialty games such as fish shooters are a different story: Silver Oak's terms exclude shooting games, and Planet 7 is reported to bar Fish Catch.

Bonus game weighting rules at offshore casinos

All of the partners on this page are offshore casinos that no US state licenses or regulates. Their weighting rules aren't filed with a regulator, can change without notice, and are interpreted by the casino if there is a dispute. Our page on player protections offshore vs licensed explains what state licensing adds.

State law decides whether online casino play is allowed where you live. Check your state's page before depositing anywhere.

Slot-focused partner offers and their game rules

These partners' bonuses are built around slots, which count in full under every rule set above. They are offshore and not licensed by any US state, so check your state's law first. Offers are for new players, 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

  • Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party listings report 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots, 60x on blackjack and video poker, a max cashout of 10x the deposit, and $30 card or $5 Lightning Bitcoin minimums.
  • Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party listings report 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots, a $30 minimum deposit and no max cashout.
  • SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's terms say 25x (deposit + bonus), $20 minimum per bonus, no max cashout, and only slots, keno and scratch cards count.

The casinos' own sites may show packages that differ from our link, and the terms at sign-up are the ones that apply. Michigan's Gaming Control Board has named Slot Madness (August 14, 2025) and SlotoCash (October 8, 2026) in cease-and-desist actions against illegal offshore operators. Read the Royal Ace review, Slot Madness review and SlotoCash review for the full picture, and keep in mind that the house edge makes losses likely over time.

Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure

Eligible games and wagering rates below are from the casinos' terms or third-party listings, as labeled. Check the terms shown when you sign up.

Royal Ace Casino #6 on our listSlots and specialty games

$2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins

  • Wagering30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported)
  • Min deposit$30 (reported)
  • Max cashout10x deposit (reported)
  • Withdrawals$2,500 / week (reported)
Claim bonus21+. New players. Terms apply.Royal Ace review
Key terms, license and regulator notes

Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews disagree on the package (200% up to $4,000, or 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins); the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and specialty games (reported).

Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Third parties report it does not accept Ohio players.

21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

Slot Madness Casino #7 on our listSlots and keno

$2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins

  • Wagering30x deposit + bonus (reported)
  • Min deposit$30 (reported)
  • Max cashoutNone (reported)
  • Withdrawals$2,500 / week (reported)
Claim bonus21+. New players. Terms apply.Slot Madness review
Key terms, license and regulator notes

Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).

Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.

21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

SlotoCash Casino #1 on our listBiggest bonus on our list

$6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins

  • Wagering25x deposit + bonus
  • Min deposit$20 per bonus
  • Max cashoutNone stated
  • Withdrawals$5,000 / week
Claim bonus21+. New players. Terms apply.SlotoCash review
Key terms, license and regulator notes

Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).

Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.

21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.

These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).

Frequently asked questions

What is game weighting in a casino bonus?

It is the share of each bet that counts toward the bonus's wagering requirement. A game at 100% clears a dollar of wagering for each dollar bet, while a game at 50% clears half. Excluded games clear nothing and can void winnings. Our game weighting explainer gives more worked examples.

Do all slots count 100% toward bonus wagering?

At the partners we cover, slots are the fully counted game on welcome bonuses, but progressive jackpot slots are often excluded. SlotoCash's terms, for example, count slots and Real-Series slots but not progressives. Check the eligible-games list for your code, and see our slots bonus page for how slot-only offers work.

Does blackjack count toward bonus wagering?

Often not, and when it does it counts for less. Silver Oak's terms and third-party listings for Royal Ace give 60x for blackjack against 30x or 40x for slots, an effective weighting of 50% to 67%. SlotoCash excludes table games by default. Our best bonus for blackjack page covers the options honestly.

What happens if I play a game the bonus weighting excludes?

It depends on the terms. Some casinos just don't count the bets, while others void the bonus and any winnings. SlotoCash's welcome terms say play on other games voids promotion winnings, and Planet 7 is reported to void winnings from Banana Jones and Fish Catch. Read the clause first; our bonus abuse rules page covers related penalties.

How do I convert a 60x table-game rate into a weighting?

Divide the slot multiplier by the table-game multiplier. At 30x for slots and 60x for blackjack, 30 ÷ 60 = 50%, so each blackjack dollar clears half as much. At Silver Oak's 40x and 60x, the weighting is about 67%. Then use our bonus value calculator method to estimate the dollar cost.

Does video poker count toward wagering?

At most partners it counts less or not at all. Silver Oak's terms set 60x for video poker, Royal Ace is reported at 60x, and SlotoCash excludes it by default. The reason is its low house edge: Jacks or Better is listed at 99.54% RTP with perfect play. Read our video poker bonus page before using bonus funds on it.

Is keno weighted like slots?

At the RTG casinos we cover, keno usually counts with slots. SlotoCash's welcome terms include keno, Silver Oak's terms list it with slots at 40x, and one review says Slot Madness's welcome covers slots and keno. Confirm it for your code, and see our keno game guide for how the game itself works.

Which games are cheapest to clear a bonus on?

In expected-cost terms, fully weighted slots with the highest RTP you can find, because restricted low-edge games are usually excluded or counted at a lower rate. A 97.5% slot costs about $225 in expected losses on $9,000 of wagering, against $337.50 at 96.25%. Our slot RTP guide explains why the published figure is a long-run average.

How does Miami Club weight games for bonuses?

Miami Club is the one partner that publishes true contribution percentages: regular slots, keno and scratch cards count 100%, video poker 10% and blackjack 5%, and roulette is forbidden with an active bonus. On its 20x deposit plus bonus welcome rollover, a $200 balance needs $4,000 of slot play, $40,000 of video poker or $80,000 of blackjack. Miami Club is a live partner; its Terms of Use v2.1, section 1.6, list the United States as prohibited, while its affiliate program confirms US players are accepted, so confirm at sign-up. See the Miami Club welcome bonus and Miami Club video poker pages.

Do live dealer games count toward bonus wagering at partner casinos?

At our partners, almost never, and most don't offer live dealer games at all. Silver Oak's terms exclude live dealer games from bonus play. Third-party reviews report no live dealer tables at Planet 7, Royal Ace or Slot Madness, SlotoCash's own site doesn't mention any, and sources disagree on whether Decode has them. If you do find a live table, assume bonus play on it is excluded unless the terms say otherwise in writing. Our answer to do RTG casinos have live dealer and the best live dealer casinos list explain the options.

Does roulette count toward a casino bonus?

Not at the partners on this page, where roulette is either excluded or banned with a bonus active. Silver Oak's terms exclude roulette from bonus play, Miami Club forbids it outright while a bonus is running, and Blockonomi reports that roulette doesn't count toward Planet 7's free chip. Third-party listings give RTG's European Roulette a 97.3% RTP, and near-even bets like red or black are the reason casinos keep it out. If you want to play roulette, do it without a bonus. See the best roulette casinos list and our guide on how to play roulette.

Is it legal to play casino bonuses online in South Carolina?

South Carolina doesn't license online casinos, and its general gambling statute covers casino-style games. S.C. Code §16-19-40 makes playing unlawful games a crime, with penalties for players of up to 30 days or $100, though the chapter has no internet-specific wording. The state has no casino or sports betting regulator and no sweepstakes bill on record. The partners on this page are offshore and not licensed by South Carolina, so no state body would hear a bonus dispute. Read online casinos in South Carolina and our guide to offshore casino legality.

Do free spins winnings follow the same game weighting?

Generally yes, since spin winnings are often credited as bonus money and then cleared under the bonus's eligible-games rules. The spins themselves are fixed to named slots: SlotoCash's welcome package attaches them to games such as Charms of the Forest, Egyptian Gold and Sweet 16. None of our partners publishes a separate weighting table for spin winnings, so check whether the winnings can be wagered on other slots or only the spin game. Excluded games remain excluded. See free spins winnings and what slots are free spins on.

Does game weighting apply to cashback bonuses?

Yes, when the cashback is paid as bonus money it carries wagering, and the casino's game rules decide how bets count. Silver Oak's cashback on no-bonus deposits over $1,000 carries 30x, and third-party listings report 20x on Decode's 25% cashback. SlotoCash's general bonus terms exclude progressive jackpots, video poker, table games and specialty games by default, so assume the same exclusions on its cashback unless the offer says otherwise. Ask support before playing cashback funds on anything but slots. Our casino cashback bonus guide and what is cashback answer explain the types.

Is game weighting different on mobile?

No, the weighting belongs to the bonus and your account, so it is the same in a phone browser as on a computer. What can differ is the lobby you see: Silver Oak's mobile page names slots such as Magic Mushroom, 777, Storm Lords and Cash Bandits 3, so check that the game you open is on the eligible list. Small screens also make it easier to tap into an excluded table game by mistake. Keep the eligible-games list open in another tab. Our mobile casino guide and the Silver Oak mobile casino page cover the details.

Sources