Game Selection and Bonus Compatibility
When we land that exciting welcome bonus at an online casino, it’s tempting to jump straight into play. But here’s the reality: not every game counts equally towards your bonus wagering requirements, and some games might be restricted entirely. Understanding how game selection and bonus compatibility work together is the difference between maximising your bonus value and watching your free money evaporate on ineligible spins. We’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the complex relationship between the games you want to play and the bonuses you’ve claimed, because let’s face it, you deserve better than bonus frustration.
Understanding Bonus Restrictions Across Game Categories
Bonus restrictions aren’t arbitrary, they’re carefully designed by casinos to manage risk and protect their bottom line. When we accept a bonus, we’re essentially entering into a contract with specific terms, and game restrictions are a core part of that agreement.
Every bonus comes with a list of eligible games. Some bonuses are available on all games: others are restricted to slots only, or exclude live casino entirely. A few premium bonuses might restrict table games altogether. The reason? Casinos know that live blackjack or roulette carry higher return-to-player (RTP) rates than slots, sometimes as high as 98-99%, which means your bonus cash has a better chance of generating value quickly.
The key categories we need to understand are:
- Slots – Usually weighted at 100% towards wagering
- Table Games – Often counted at 5-20% (or excluded entirely)
- Live Casino – Typically 0% (completely restricted) or 10%
- Specialty Games – Keno, scratch cards, bingo often at 0%
When you claim a bonus, always download or screenshot the terms. That fine print isn’t optional reading, it’s your roadmap.
How Different Game Types Contribute to Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements are expressed as multiples, a 35x wagering requirement means you need to bet 35 times your bonus amount before withdrawing. But here’s where it gets strategic: not every £1 you bet counts as £1 towards that requirement.
Imagine we’ve claimed a £100 bonus with 35x wagering at a casino. That’s £3,500 in total bets needed. If we play only slots (100% contribution), we reach this in straightforward fashion. But if that same bonus restricts table games to 10% contribution, each £10 bet on blackjack only counts as £1 towards our requirement. Suddenly, playing blackjack becomes exponentially less efficient.
Here’s how contribution rates typically break down:
| Slots | 100% | £3,500 bets needed |
| Video Poker | 100% | £3,500 bets needed |
| Roulette | 10-20% | £17,500-35,000 bets needed |
| Blackjack | 5-10% | £35,000-70,000 bets needed |
| Baccarat | 5-10% | £35,000-70,000 bets needed |
| Live Casino | 0-5% | Often impossible |
Some casinos are transparent about these rates: others bury them in terms. We always recommend checking before you start playing, because playing the wrong games can mean spending hours grinding through wagering requirements that barely progress.
Identifying Compatible Games for Your Bonus
Now that we understand how restrictions work, let’s talk about identifying which games actually work for your bonus.
The best approach is to log into your account and look for the bonus terms section. Most reputable operators, including those with offers like the winthere casino promo code, clearly list eligible games in a dedicated table or downloadable PDF. You should be able to filter games by contribution percentage directly in the lobby.
Slot Games and Bonus Eligibility
Slots are almost always your best friend when claiming a bonus. They typically count 100% towards wagering requirements, which means every penny of your bonus contributes equally to unlocking withdrawals.
Not all slots are created equal, though. Some operators weight their bonus eligibility by slot provider, perhaps Netent slots count at 100%, but Pragmatic Play at 95%. A few casinos even exclude their highest-volatility slots from bonus play, forcing you towards lower-variance games that rarely hit big wins.
When reviewing slot games for bonus play, check:
- Return-to-Player (RTP) percentage, higher is always better
- Volatility level, low to medium volatility is safer for grinding through wagering
- Game restrictions in your specific bonus terms
Table Games and Live Casino Considerations
Table games require completely different thinking. Because blackjack, roulette, and baccarat have higher RTPs, casinos severely restrict their eligibility. At best, they count 10-20% towards requirements: at worst, they’re completely excluded.
Live casino games almost never count towards wagering. We’ve seen exceptions where a live game counts at 5%, but that’s rare. If you’re playing a live dealer game during a bonus period, you’re essentially just playing for entertainment, your bonus cash won’t progress towards completion.
This creates a common trap: players enjoy live games and play them during bonus periods, only to discover weeks later that their bonus wagering is still nearly complete. We recommend saving live casino for after you’ve cleared your bonus requirements.
Maximising Value: Choosing Games Strategically
Strategic game selection is where casual players become smart players. Here’s how we approach bonus optimisation:
First, calculate your true requirement. Take your bonus amount, multiply by the wagering requirement, then adjust for game restrictions. If we have £100 at 35x, with slots at 100% and blackjack at 10%, we need £3,500 in slot bets but would need £35,000 in blackjack bets. The math is straightforward, slots are vastly more efficient.
Second, play games with acceptable variance for your bankroll. High-volatility slots might have great RTPs, but they’ll drain your balance unpredictably. During bonus play, we prefer medium-volatility slots that generate consistent small wins, keeping us in the game longer and closer to clearing requirements.
Third, avoid “sticky” bonuses on low-RTP games. A sticky bonus (one you can’t withdraw until wagering is complete) on a 94% RTP slot is painful. We’d rather take a smaller non-sticky bonus on a high-RTP game, because at least we can cash out partial wins.
Finally, read bonus time limits. Many bonuses expire in 7-14 days. If you’re working toward a high wagering requirement, calculate whether you can realistically complete it. A £100 bonus with 50x wagering (£5,000 requirement) demands different strategies than the same bonus with 25x wagering.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
We’ve seen players lose thousands in bonus value through preventable mistakes. Here are the most common traps, and how to sidestep them:
Assuming all slots are equally eligible. Some operators exclude progressive jackpot slots or tie their eligibility to lower contributions (50% instead of 100%). Always verify before playing.
Playing table games “just once.” That quick roulette spin might feel harmless, but if you lose, you’ve lost bonus funds that were working for you. And if you win, that win might reset your wagering requirement counter on some sticky bonuses, another invisible trap.
Ignoring maximum bet restrictions. Many bonuses limit your bet size to £5 or £10 per spin. Playing above this might void your bonus entirely. We always set our betting to well below the maximum to avoid accidents.
Not checking game eligibility before deposit. The worst mistake is depositing with a bonus only to discover your favourite games don’t count. Read the terms first, every time.
Forgetting about contribution rates in the middle of play. Keep a running calculation of your wagering progress. If you’re halfway through and realise your strategy isn’t working, pivot to higher-contribution games rather than grinding inefficiently.
The safest approach is this: before claiming any bonus, spend five minutes reviewing the eligible games list and calculating whether completion is realistic. That small effort prevents weeks of frustration.
