Canadian Gaming Guide

Game contribution and max-bet rules during wagering

Updated 11 November 2026

A wagering multiple is only half of the arithmetic. Game contribution — sometimes called game weighting — and a maximum bet while the bonus is active can change the real cost of an offer, or void it altogether. This page works through those two rules. It is not a list of current operator figures.

For the broader terms checklist, use how to read a welcome bonus. For the multiplication itself, use the wagering calculator and understanding wagering requirements.

How contribution changes the stakes

Contribution is the percentage of each qualifying bet that counts toward the turnover. If you must clear C$4,000 of wagering — a C$100 bonus at 40× on the bonus only — then:

At 100% contribution, C$4,000 of stakes on that game can finish the requirement.
At 20% contribution, you would need about C$20,000 of stakes on that game for the same C$4,000 to count.
At 5% contribution, the figure is about C$80,000.
At 0%, bets on that game do not count. The requirement cannot be cleared on those games alone.

Slots are often (not always) listed at 100%. Table games, live dealer games, video poker and some speciality titles are often listed much lower. The current promotional terms are the only list that matters, and they can change. Put your own figures into the calculator; it will not promise what a cashier will pay out.

What a max-bet rule is for

While a bonus is active, many offers cap how much you may stake on a single spin or hand. The cap exists to stop a player clearing a large requirement with a few oversized bets. If you go over it, the operator may void the bonus and related winnings — even if the turnover number has already been reached.

Look up the maximum-bet number in the offer you are actually accepting, and stay under it until the bonus is finished or forfeited. This site does not publish a table of current operator caps.

Expiry still applies as well: turnover after the window lapses usually does not count. If you need a cash-out soon, read how withdrawals work before you attach wagering you may not want to finish. Legal age is 18 in Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba, and 19 elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

If a game contributes 10%, do I need ten times the stakes?

Yes, approximately: only 10% of each bet counts, so clearing the same turnover takes about ten times the stakes on that game. The wagering calculator will do that multiplication in CAD.

What is a max-bet rule during wagering?

It is a cap, set in the bonus terms, on how much you may stake per spin or hand while the bonus is active. Going over it can void the offer and related winnings. Look up the cap in the current bonus terms.

Does the calculator apply the max-bet cap for me?

No. It handles the bonus amount, the multiple, the contribution percentage and whether wagering applies to the bonus only or to the deposit plus the bonus. Max bet, expiry and eligibility still sit in the current terms.

Ontario notice: we cannot recommend the operators discussed on this site to residents of Ontario.