All online casino players have seen bonuses hyped. The numbers can be huge, like “200% up to $2000.” It can be tempting to claim one of these offers. However, there can be many pitfalls.
Bonuses are not a gift from the casino. The offer nearly always comes with strings attached.
Wagering requirements can be excessive
While small seed bonuses, such as a free $25 on a first deposit, usually have a minimal wagering requirement, large ones often require substantial turnover to clear. A $1000 bonus may have a 15 up to 30 times wagering requirement. That means the player must bet $15,000 or $30,000, respectively, to request a withdrawal. Otherwise, the account’s withdrawal function is locked.
Most games have a higher wagering requirement than advertised
The 15- and 30-times wagering requirements mentioned above typically only apply to slots and keno. Players hoping to take a shot at video poker and table games must usually bet exponentially more. These are often worded in ways that do not make that fact obvious.
For example, the bonus terms and conditions may say that blackjack wagers only count for 10%. This means you must bet 10 times the published wagering requirement to clear it on blackjack. That makes the 15 times bonus 150 and the 30 times 300.
Excluded games
Most online gambling affiliates and some operators are terrible about disclosing games excluded from bonuses. The affected titles are often baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, and video poker. Some bonuses only clear by playing slots.
It is imperative to read the terms and conditions. Not doing so can cause you to play an excluded game. This can get you freerolled by the casino site.
Expiration time may be too short to clear the bonus
All bonuses have an expiration date. Some only work for a day or a week. Others may last two to four weeks. Read the terms before depositing. If you do not wager enough before the expiration, the bonus will be removed from your account. If that is higher than your balance, your account will go bust.
Wagering requirements may include the deposit
Another reason to read the bonus terms and conditions is to determine what the wagering requirement covers. Some casinos only require the player to match the wagering requirement tied to the bonus amount. For example, if a 100% up to $1000 bonus is 30 times, and the amount only applies to the bonus amount, the player must wager $30,000 to clear it. However, some online casinos add the bonus and deposit together, making the playthrough amount $60,000.
That can become impossible to clear before the expiration date for all but the largest of players. It can also be impossible to compare these bonuses between two casinos, as one may look more attractive than another until you realize they do not use the same base number to compute the requirements. Most affiliate sites will not provide this information because they either do not know it or they do not want to discourage players from signing up through their links, because that hurts their bottom line.
Check for max bet caps
While unusual, some online casinos cap the permitted bet amount when clearing the bonus. This number can be very small, like $5 or $10. If you exceed the posted allowable max bet, it will not count for the wagering requirement, or the bonus will be voided and removed from your account.
Betting against yourself
One massive mistake while clearing a bonus is betting both sides of an outcome. First, this is usually a negative expectation play. Even if it is not, the site will verify your action before paying your withdrawal. If they feel you tried to pull a fast one on them, they will refuse to pay you and claim you broke the terms and conditions.
Examples of betting against yourself include putting an equal number of chips on red and black in roulette, covering more than two-thirds of roulette numbers, taking the Pass Line and Don’t Pass or Come and Don’t Come in craps, and playing the Banker and Player in baccarat. This is why these games are often excluded from the bonus terms. Even if they are not, it is still a bad idea, because you will probably get caught.
Bonuses can delay withdrawals
As noted in the above section, online casinos review bonus play. This can take a day or more, and longer on weekends. If you want fast withdrawals, bonuses can prevent them. Keep that in mind when claiming a bonus.
Stick to loss rebates
Many online casinos offer a loss rebate instead of a bonus. These have few terms and conditions. Players can pick most or all games. Whatever they lose in the first 24 hours is placed in their account within a day or two. The wagering requirement is often small. It can be as little as an amount equal to the bonus with no game exclusions. This is an optimal online casino bonus strategy.
You can opt out of bonuses
If you just want to play your favorite game, and it is either barred by the bonus terms and conditions or you do not think you can clear it in time, you can opt out. You must contact support before playing at all when a bonus is awarded. Go to live chat, email the site, or call them, and ask for the bonus to be removed. Once it is gone from your account, you can play without worrying about any of this.
Use bonuses responsibly
When playing online casino games, it is important to understand their plan. It is to introduce you to fast forms of gambling. This is fun, but players can get swept up in it. When playing, it is imperative that you understand that it is an entertaining hobby, not something that should take over your life. The long play required to clear a bonus can get players hooked on the action. Take breaks and know your limits before making the deposit. That will keep you out of trouble and keep online gambling fun.