What Is Casino Game Weighting?
After you have claimed a casino bonus, it’s likely you’ll need to complete wagering requirements before being able to cash out. However, during this phase, a stipulation known as ‘game weighting’ may be applied to your bets. This is an important aspect to understand as it affects your chances of successfully converting the bonus into real money. In this expert article, we’ll explain the significance of game weighting and how it impacts your chances of winning real money with a bonus.
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✖When Is Game Weighting Applied?
To fully understand game weighting, we must first look at wagering requirements – a clause applied to almost every no deposit bonus listed on NoDepositRewards.org. This refers to the amount you must bet prior to initiating a withdrawal request.
For example, with a wagering requirement of 25x applied to a 10 bonus , you would have to place additional bets worth 250 before the bonus is converted into real money (10 x 25).
However, wagering on certain games with bonus money will not contribute the same as when placing bets as with real money. This is the notion of ‘game weighting’.
Game Weighting Explained
Game weighting determines how easily you'll be able to convert your bonus to real money. It is a penalty applied to various casino games to counteract their high payout potential, where only a certain percentage of your bet will count towards the wagering requirements.
The following example will help you visualise how game weighting works when it comes to bonus wagering:
- Slots: 100%
- Live Blackjack: 10%
Place a 5 bet on slots and your full 5 stake will contribute towards the wagering requirements.
However, place a 5 on live blackjack and now just 0.50 (i.e. 10% of our 5 stake) will be counted by the casino system.
We can see how this plays out when attempting to hit a 500 wagering requirement target.
You bet 5 on slots.
The remaining wagering would be 495, regardless of whether your spin won or lost.
You then bet 5 on live blackjack.
The remaining wagering would now be 494.50, regardless of whether the hand was won or lost.
Why Is Weighting Applied To Your Bets?
Because certain games have a more favourable payout structure than others, casinos may exclude these games completely from bonus wagering. A typical example comes with live casino tables which are popular for their high return-on-investment.
However, to remain competitive and attract new players, some casinos will permit these types of games, but instead weigh them down as a defensive measure. Understandably, this extra layer of protection helps guarantee the casino doesn’t suffer excessive losses from multiple players.
Here are four main reasons why game weighting is applied:
- House Edge
Games characterised by a minimal house edge (indicating a higher likelihood of you achieving wins over extended periods) generally carry substantial weighting percentages. - Game Volatility
Slot games with elevated volatility ratings, thus promising larger payouts albeit less frequently, will be adjusted in terms of weightage to avoid imbalanced winnings. - Game Mechanics
Games that permit strategic gameplay, such as covering multiple numbers in roulette, tend to bear a notable weightage to prevent adept players from exploiting the system. - Game Popularity
It’s possible the weighting percentage assigned to the casino's most popular games is decreased, aiming to encourage new players to give them a try.
Because game weighting is one of the main components of completing wagering requirements, it’s worth checking out our main wagering requirements guide to familiarise yourself with this important bonus term.
Game Weighting Examples
Although the exact game weighting will differ from casino to casino, they will use similar percentage figures across the same game categories.
The following outlines a typical example you are likely to encounter:
- All Casino Slots - 100%
- Scratchcards - 100%
- All Virtual Table Games - 50%
- Live Casino Games - 10%
- All Video Poker Games - 0%
As you can see, any bet on slots and scratchcards will deduct the whole amount from the wagering requirements, i.e. a 1 bet would count as the full 1.
However, place a bet on 2D blackjack or on any game in the live casino, and now your 1 bet would only count as 0.50 and 0.10 respectively.
When it comes to video poker, you will notice that the contribution is set at 0%. In most cases, this means video poker is not only ineligible from bonus wagering, but is also an excluded game. Playing it just once with an active bonus can see all your potential winnings forfeited.
Game weighting is often a term which is tucked away somewhere within the bonus terms and conditions – meaning you’ll need to put a bit of effort in finding it! However, if you’re not sure where this info can be found, it’s best to contact their customer support team for clarification.
Key Takeaways
- Game weighting is a crucial part of completing the wagering requirements of a casino bonus.
- Not all bets will contribute the same amount whilst you are bonus wagering, mainly to counterbalance the high payout potential of certain games.
- All slots typically count as the full 100%, whilst table games, live casino, video poker, etc are likely to be excluded/weighted down.
- Make sure you read the terms and conditions to find out the game weighting or contact customer support to make sure.
How to Convert Your Bonus – Game Weighting Considerations
As long as they are listed within their terms, casinos are free to assign game weighting percentages as they please. Therefore, conducting a brief review of the T&Cs could determine whether you can successfully capitalise on a bonus or ultimately fall short.
Once you have found the appropriate information, it’s now time to put it into practice.
Here’s some basic tips to help you get started:
- Prioritise 100% weighted games: Naturally, to complete the wagering requirements more efficiently, you’ll want every last portion of your bet to contribute.
- Look for relaxed weighting: If you can find live casino or table games weighted at 50% or above, this provides a great opportunity to maintain your balance and effectively chip away at the wagering requirements.
- Find higher RTP games: If you plan on sticking with slots, play those with a more favourable ‘return-to-player’ rating. We explain more about this in our RTP section below.
- Find lower volatility games: Slots are assigned a volatility rating. Lower volatility games are best suited at preserving your balance, offering a higher ratio of winning bets at moderate levels.
- Diversify your play: If not prohibited within the terms, you could play table games to boost your bonus balance – despite the heavy weighting. Now, with an elevated purse, this presents a larger sum of funds to play with when switching back to slots.
Slots vs Table Game Example
To help you visualise how bonus wagering will play out on different games, the following table outlines what will be required when comparing slots against blackjack. In both cases, the wagering requirement target is set at 1,000.
| Slot Game | Blackjack |
|---|---|
| 100% weighting. | 20% weighting. |
| You must bet a total of 1,000 to meet the wagering requirements. | You must bet a total of 5,000 to meet the wagering requirements. |
| Equal to 500 spins at 2 each. | Equal to 2,500 hands at 2 each. |
As you can see, playing only blackjack with the severe 20% weighting applied makes it less attainable to successfully convert your bonus. If you maintain the same bet level on both, you would need to place five times as many bets on blackjack compared with slots.
Return-to-Player (RTP) Explained
If you only wish to wager your bonus on slots, return-to-player (RTP) percentages play a crucial role in influencing your ability to meet wagering requirements. Below, we've compiled some frequently asked questions about RTP that will help when picking out the most suitable games to play on.
What is RTP?
RTP is a metric utilised by game developers to assess the odds of winning in casino games, particularly slots. Represented as a percentage, typically falling between 90% and 98%, the remaining percentage constitutes the house edge.
How does RTP function?
To offer an accurate representation of a game's potential payouts, RTP is measured over extensive long-term sessions. Through the division of turnover by the total win/loss figures, a percentage is derived, which is then disclosed for each game.
Why is RTP significant?
Understanding RTP is vital, as it provides players with insight into the likelihood of winning in a specific game. This knowledge becomes particularly valuable if you've claimed a substantial bonus and anticipate utilising it over an extended period.
By betting 100 on a 95% RTP slot doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to win at least 95. RTP is instead determined by extensive play stretching up to millions of spins considering all players who have played the game. Your individual game session may differ from the advertised RTP percentage, especially upon only a relatively short number of spins.
Key Takeaways
- Always read the terms and conditions for any mention of game weighting percentages. Prioritise table games with a low percentage weighting, although if not available, stick with playing 100%-contributing slots.
- Search for a slot that merges a high RTP with a respectable game weighting percentage. This strategy will enhance your overall likelihood of fulfilling the wagering requirements without experiencing excessive losses.
- Remember that game weighting percentages can vary not only based on the type of game but also on its specific variant. For instance, standard video slots generally hold a weighting percentage of 100%, while a progressive jackpot slot might only contribute 50%.
- When considering games where player skill can impact the odds, it's crucial to take your own skill level into account. Keep in mind that games such as blackjack and roulette provide improved odds, but only when you apply an optimal strategy.
Conclusion
Game weighting is a measure adopted by casinos to prevent players from exclusively wagering on advantageous games while attempting to unlock a bonus. For instance, games like roulette offer a higher likelihood of preserving your balance compared to slots, leading to their weighting adjustment.
It's crucial to acquaint yourself with these stipulations within the terms, particularly when combined with an understanding of RTP and volatility. This knowledge will significantly enhance your prospects of successfully fulfilling bonus wagering prerequisites and securing real money winnings.