Which games are excluded from bonuses?

Which games are excluded from bonuses at UK casinos?

There's no single UK-wide list. Each casino writes its own exclusions into the bonus terms, and they vary by offer. Still, the same categories turn up again and again, because casinos exclude the games where a bonus would cost them most or where results swing furthest.

Read this as a pattern, not a rule for any one casino. The only list that counts is in the terms of the offer you accept. Our guide to game weighting covers how partial contribution works, and the question why are some games excluded from bonuses goes deeper into the reasons.

Excluded, reduced or selected: three different restrictions

Bonus terms use three kinds of game restriction, and mixing them up is a common reason bonuses go wrong.

Excluded games

You can't play these with bonus funds at all, or the bets don't count and may breach the terms. Placing a bonus-funded bet on an excluded table game can lead to the bonus being removed.

Reduced contribution

The game can be played, but only part of each bet counts towards wagering. As an illustration, if a game counted at 10%, a £10 bet would add £1 to your progress, so clearing £100 of wagering would need £1,000 of bets on that game. The terms set the actual contribution percentage.

Selected games

Free spins are credited to specific titles. The glossary entry on selected games explains how these lists work. You can't move spins to another slot, though once spin winnings are cash you can play whatever you like with them.

Excluded games in our partners' offers

Here's what each partner's welcome terms say about games, as checked on 5 October 2026. Where the terms point to a list, we don't guess what's on it.

So at Coral and Ladbrokes, the qualifying £10 has to go on slots; a £10 roulette bet wouldn't trigger the spins. At 10bet, table and live games won't move your wagering forward. Our partner pages go through each list: Coral eligible games, Ladbrokes eligible games, Casumo eligible games and 10bet eligible games.

Why casinos exclude games from bonuses

It comes down to the cost of wagering. On a slot with a 96% RTP, £250 of wagering costs about £10 on average. On a table game with a much smaller house edge, the same £250 costs far less, so the bonus would be close to pure cost for the casino. Jackpot slots are excluded for a different reason: part of every stake funds a prize pool, and one bonus-funded spin could win it. The comparison bonus on slots vs table games shows the gap in pounds.

None of this means slots are a better bet. A higher house edge means slots cost more per pound staked over time; the exclusion simply protects the casino's side of the offer.

UK rules on excluded games in bonus terms

Exclusions are allowed, but they must be fair and visible. The Gambling Commission's guidance on promotional play restrictions (opens in a new tab) says terms must clearly specify all prohibited play, operators must not ban play that wasn't set out in advance, and they must not keep sole discretion over what counts as a breach. Its transparency guidance (opens in a new tab) requires significant terms to appear with the headline offer, with full terms one click away.

Behind both sits the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 62 (opens in a new tab): an unfair term isn't binding on a consumer. Where a term could mean two things, the meaning most favourable to the consumer applies. See our page on unfair terms under the Consumer Rights Act.

Feature buys aren't offered on slots at UK-licensed casinos, so you won't see bonus terms excluding them here. The mixed-product ban from 19 January 2026 means a casino bonus can't be used on sports betting or bingo either.

How to find which games are excluded from your bonus

1. Open the offer's full terms from the promotion page, not just the summary box.
2. Search the page for 'excluded', 'eligible', 'contribution' and 'selected games'.
3. For free spins, note the named game or list; for a cash bonus, note both excluded games and any reduced contribution rates.
4. Check whether any games are barred by provider, which the glossary calls a game provider restriction.
5. If a game isn't mentioned and you're unsure, ask live chat before playing it with bonus funds, and save the answer.

For free spins specifically, the page how do I know which slots my free spins are on shows where casinos put that information.

Excluded games by type: quick answers

• Roulette: usually excluded or low contribution. See can I use a bonus on roulette.
• Blackjack: usually excluded or low contribution, because skilled play cuts the edge sharply. See can I use a bonus on blackjack.
• Live casino: commonly left out of welcome bonuses; our live casino bonus page explains why they're rare.
• Jackpot slots: often excluded from free spins and bonus funds; see can you use free spins on jackpot slots.
• Megaways and high-volatility slots: usually allowed, but check the list for named exclusions.

What happens if you play an excluded game

It depends on how the terms are written. In some casinos the game is simply blocked while a bonus is active. In others the bet goes through but doesn't count towards wagering. In stricter terms it's treated as a breach, and the bonus and any winnings from it can be removed. Your own deposit balance isn't at risk from this rule. If a casino voids winnings for this reason, it should explain which term applied; our page on what happens if I break bonus terms covers your options.

Partner offers with clear game rules

If game restrictions put you off, offers with a single named game or no wagering are the simplest. All are 18+, new customers only, terms apply.

• Coral: bet £10 on slots for 100 free spins at 10p on the selected games listed in the offer; no wagering on winnings; accept within 48 hours, valid 7 days.
• Ladbrokes: spend £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500 at 10p) on selected games; no wagering; claim before 23:59 daily.
• PlayOJO: 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza with a £10+ first deposit; winnings paid in cash with no game restrictions afterwards. Excludes Northern Ireland.

PlayOJO's is the most predictable, since the game is named. See our slots bonus comparison or browse more answers in the questions hub.

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.