Selected games meaning

Selected games meaning in bonus terms

When bonus terms say 'free spins on selected games', they mean a list of slots the casino has chosen for that offer. The spins are set up on those games only, at a fixed stake. For a deposit bonus, 'selected games' or 'eligible games' means the games where bonus funds can be played or where play counts towards wagering.

The list can be a single slot, a family of slots from one studio, or a longer rotating set. It's part of the offer's significant terms, so it should be easy to find from the offer itself. You'll find related definitions in our casino bonus glossary.

Why casinos limit offers to selected games

• Cost control: each spin's average cost depends on the game's return to player, so a fixed list keeps the offer's cost predictable.
• Supplier arrangements: free spins are set up with game studios, and not every game supports them.
• Max win exposure: games with very high top prizes can be left off to limit what one spin could pay.
• Clear terms: naming games is more transparent than a vague 'most slots' line.

Our page asking why some games are excluded from bonuses covers the casino's reasons in more depth, and game provider restriction explains lists built by studio.

How selected games change what free spins are worth

Two numbers about the selected game matter most: its return to player and its maximum win. Big Bass Bonanza, the game named for PlayOJO's 80 spins, has a published RTP of 96.71%, high volatility and a 2,100x maximum win, according to the slot data we hold. Casinos can run some games at different RTP settings, so the help screen is where to confirm the version in front of you.

The differences look small over 80 spins, and in practice the swings dwarf them. High volatility means many spins return nothing and a few return a lot, so one set of 80 spins can pay well below or well above the average. Our page on Big Bass Bonanza free spins works through that offer, and free spins max win explains how the multiple applies.

How to find an offer's selected games

1. Open the promotion page and look for 'selected games', 'eligible games' or 'qualifying games'.
2. Open the full terms if the list isn't on the main page; it should be one click away.
3. After the spins are credited, check the rewards or promotions area, where the games are often linked.
4. Open the game's help screen to see its RTP and rules before you play.

The Gambling Commission's remote technical standard RTS 3 (opens in a new tab) requires game rules and the RTP or likelihood of winning to be available before play. Our pages on RTP information rules and how do I know which slots my free spins are on explain more.

What happens if you play games outside the list

Free spins simply won't be there: they're attached to the named games, so opening a different slot shows your normal cash balance. For a deposit bonus, stakes on a non-selected game may not count towards wagering at all, or may count at a reduced contribution percentage. Some terms go further and treat bonus play on an excluded game as a breach, which can lead to winnings from it being removed.

Under the Commission's guidance on promotional play restrictions (opens in a new tab), any banned play has to be spelled out in the terms in advance. The page which games are excluded from bonuses lists the categories most often left out.

Terms related to selected games

• Coin value: the fixed stake your spins are set at on the selected game.
• RTP: the long-run average return of a game.
• Volatility: how unevenly a game pays out.
• Free spins winnings: what you receive from the spins and in what form.

Selected games on our partner offers

PlayOJO: a first deposit of £10 or more brings 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each (£8 of spins), no wagering, winnings paid in cash; Northern Ireland excluded. Coral: deposit and bet £10 on slots for 100 free spins on the offer's selected games at 10p, valid 7 days, no wagering; check the promotion page for the current list. Ladbrokes: spend £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day for 10 days, 10p each, on the offer's selected games.

All three are for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply. The game list doesn't change the odds in your favour; it only decides where the spins are used. For brand detail, see the Coral eligible games, Ladbrokes eligible games and PlayOJO eligible games pages.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.