A casino game can be available in the lobby without being eligible for an active bonus. Some games count fully towards wagering, some count partly, and others contribute nothing or are prohibited while the promotion is active. Those are different rules with potentially different consequences.
This guide explains how to read an eligible-game list, calculate reduced contribution and check stake limits or special features. Use it alongside the wagering calculator, which illustrates the arithmetic but cannot decide whether a particular game or bet is permitted.
Separate eligibility, contribution and prohibition
Eligible game
A game permitted under the promotion. It still needs to be played within the applicable stake and mode rules, and its contribution rate needs checking.
Reduced or zero contribution
A rule describing how much of a stake counts towards wagering. A 0% game provides no progress, but that wording alone does not explain whether play is prohibited.
Prohibited game or play
A restriction on what may be played or done during the promotion. Read the stated consequences instead of assuming that a prohibited bet simply fails to count.
Look at the coupon-specific conditions as well as the general bonus policy. Restrictions can apply to an individual title, a provider, a whole game category or a particular feature. If a general table and the coupon appear inconsistent, ask the operator which rule applies before playing.
As a published example, Fair Go’s terms, checked on 19 October 2026, say that listed table and non-pokies games do not contribute to its free-bonus wagering unless otherwise stated. The terms also contain separate prohibited-play clauses. This shows why “does not count” should not be treated as a complete description of every restriction.
The casino game guides explain how the games work. They are not an eligibility list for an active coupon. The relevant promotional rules still need to be checked for the account and offer.
How contribution changes wagering progress
Contribution converts qualifying stakes into counted wagering. Multiply the eligible stake by the contribution rate expressed as a decimal. At 100%, a permitted $2 stake contributes $2; at 50%, it contributes $1; at 10%, it contributes $0.20.
Example: the same target, different contribution
For a hypothetical $1,000 counted-wagering target, a game contributing 100% requires $1,000 of qualifying stakes. At 50%, the corresponding stakes are $2,000. At 10%, they are $10,000. A 0% game cannot complete that target.
These are turnover calculations, not required deposits, predicted losses or instructions to continue playing.
If you switch games, keep the remaining counted target separate from the raw stakes. For example, $200 staked on a 50%-contribution game creates $100 of progress in this simple model. If the total target was $1,000, $900 of counted progress remains. Moving to a 100%-contribution game would mean $900 of remaining qualifying stakes, assuming the other conditions are met.
The calculator accepts progress already credited after contribution adjustments. Do not enter raw stakes as credited progress when the game only contributes partly. Also confirm the base being multiplied: bonus-only and deposit-plus-bonus requirements produce different targets.
Read the stake limit before changing the bet
A maximum bet is a limit on permitted play, not the maximum amount that can be withdrawn. It can be stated as a fixed amount or under another defined rule. Check the currency, the total cost of the round and any more restrictive coupon-specific condition.
Ozwin’s FAQ, checked on 19 October 2026, gives a $10 maximum bet during bonus play unless otherwise stated and warns that exceeding it can void promotional winnings. That is a published operator-specific example, not a stake limit to apply at every casino or to every coupon.
Do not compare only the per-line stake with a total-bet limit. A game may display a denomination, line amount, multiplier and full spin cost separately. If the promotion’s definition is unclear, ask which displayed figure controls the limit before placing a round.
Check the stake again after changing a game or enabling an extra option. A remembered setting from another title is not evidence of the current cost. The fact that a button is enabled does not prove that using it complies with a promotion.
Feature purchases and special modes need separate checks
A game can have several ways to play, including ordinary paid spins, a feature purchase or an extra-cost option. Permission to play the title does not automatically establish that every mode is allowed with an active bonus.
Feature purchases
Check whether buying a feature is allowed and whether the purchase cost is subject to a particular restriction. Do not compare the ordinary spin amount with a feature’s larger charge.
Extra-cost options
Check the full amount charged when an option is enabled. A base stake can differ from the final round cost shown by the game.
Interrupted rounds
If play is interrupted or a feature remains unfinished, ask how the operator treats it under the active promotion. Do not assume the condition disappears after reopening the game.
Keep these questions tied to the actual feature and coupon. A rule for one provider or title should not be extended to every game. Read our pokies guide for feature terminology and RTP guide for the difference between game mathematics and promotional contribution.
Do not use a feature or game change to try to bypass a restriction. If the permitted mode cannot be established from the terms, ask for a clear written answer rather than relying on the lobby’s availability.
Promotional free spins may use a fixed game and value
A free-spin offer can specify a title, number of spins, spin value and claim period. Those settings are different from the game’s normal paid-spin controls. Check whether the promotional spins are credited to the named title and whether their winnings receive a separate wagering condition.
Do not substitute a sequel or similarly named game without confirmation. A package can also contain both a deposit match and spins, with different rules for the resulting balances. Read free spins versus free chips and the free-spin guide for those distinctions.
Free spins won inside a game are another meaning of the term. They are a game feature rather than necessarily a separately claimed casino promotion. The rules of the underlying paid round and any active account bonus still need to be considered.
When the wagering counter does not match your estimate
Save the coupon terms, game name, round references, stakes and time period involved. Ask which rounds counted, the contribution rate applied and the wagering base used. This is more useful than reporting only the total amount you remember betting.
A discrepancy may involve contribution, eligibility, delayed reporting or a different base. It should be investigated rather than explained by guesswork. Completing an arithmetic target also does not settle cashout caps, bonus deductions or account verification.
If the operator says restricted play occurred, request the exact clause and the relevant game or bet record. Making another deposit, redeeming a new coupon or continuing to bet does not automatically repair a possible breach. Keep the original evidence and use the written complaint process if the decision remains disputed.
A clear eligibility question for support
Message to adapt before play
“For active coupon [code], is [exact game and mode] permitted, what percentage of its stakes counts towards wagering, and what is the maximum permitted total round cost? Are feature purchases or extra-cost options excluded, and when do these restrictions end?”
Retain the response with the applicable terms. For an existing dispute, ask for the specific round and calculation instead of a general statement that a game was restricted. See casino complaints for organising a case or return to the player-guides hub for the related explanations.
Bonus game restriction FAQs
Does a game appearing in the lobby mean I can play it with a bonus?
No. Lobby availability and promotional eligibility are different. Check the active coupon’s permitted games, exclusions and contribution rules before assuming the game is eligible.
What is a game contribution rate?
It is the share of an eligible stake credited towards a wagering requirement. At 50% contribution, a permitted $1 stake adds $0.50 of counted progress.
Is a 0% contribution game necessarily prohibited?
Not necessarily. A game that contributes nothing and a game prohibited during bonus play are different categories. Check the wording, because the consequences can differ.
Does high RTP mean a game contributes more to wagering?
No. RTP is part of the game’s mathematical model. Contribution is a promotion rule, so it must be checked separately.
Does the maximum bet refer to a line stake or the full spin cost?
Use the definition in the promotion’s terms and ask if it is unclear. Do not assume a small per-line amount complies when the total cost of the spin is higher.
Are feature purchases covered by an ordinary spin limit?
Do not assume so. Feature purchases and other game modes may have separate restrictions or costs. Check whether they are allowed and how the relevant limit is defined.
Can free spins be moved to another game?
Only if the promotion explicitly permits it. A named game, provider or eligible list should not be replaced with a different lobby title based on a similar name.
Why is my wagering counter lower than my total stakes?
A reduced contribution rate, ineligible rounds, a different wagering base or a reporting delay could explain the difference. Request the relevant calculation and game records rather than guessing.
Can I fix restricted play by making another deposit?
Do not assume another deposit repairs a possible breach or changes the original promotion’s rules. Preserve the records and ask the operator for the specific clause and decision.
Does completing wagering remove every game restriction immediately?
Not automatically. Ask when the promotion is treated as completed and which rules continue to apply. A counter reaching zero does not by itself establish that all funds are unrestricted or withdrawable.