We all love a good casino bonus, but not every offer out there is worth your time. Some bonuses might look amazing, but once you dig into the details, they can be less impressive. So, what really makes a casino bonus stand out? To give you a more detailed look into bonuses that can pay off, we made a fun and educational video!
Take a look or read the transcript below:
What makes a good casino bonus?
This video provides the answer with a simple five-point guide to help you spot the best casino bonuses.
Even though there are many kinds of bonuses, the five essential features are universal and apply to most bonus types in the industry today.
Before we begin, we want to emphasize the importance of playing only at reputable, licensed casinos to ensure fair and transparent service.
With that out of the way, let’s see what these five features are:
Low or No Wagering Requirements
Look for no-wagering or low-wagering bonuses.
The bonus wagering requirement (also called playthrough or turnover) is the amount of money a player must wager before a withdrawal is allowed. Wagering requirements typically apply to bonus money, or both bonus money and deposited funds.
The higher the wagering requirements are, the harder it is to meet them.
For example, if you receive a $100 no-deposit bonus with a 30xBonus wagering requirement, you would need to wager a total of $3,000 (30 times $100) before you can withdraw any associated winnings.
Ideally, you’d want a bonus without any playthrough attached; however, such offers are rare nowadays.
Always read the terms and conditions of any bonus or promotion very carefully before claiming.
Games and Wagering Contribution
This prerequisite ties into the playthrough point above. Casinos will usually determine what games you can use your bonus money on, and a percentage of every bet you make in these games will contribute to the bonus wagering completion.
Best case scenario would be to find a bonus that can be used on as many games as possible with 100% contribution towards the playthrough.
This will allow you to pick games with high RTP or low house edge for best return on the money you put in while making sure that every bet counts in full.
Here’s an example:
You received a $100 bonus with a 30xBonus wagering requirement, so the total amount you need to playthrough is $100 x 30 = $3,000.
If you play the bonus on a slot game that contributes 100% towards the wagering, every bet you make will count in full. If, for example, you bet $1 per spin, the full $1 will be deducted from the $3,000 total on every spin. It would take you 3,000 spins to meet the plathrough and qualify for a withdrawal.
Let’s say you pick a slot that contributes only 30% towards the wagering. This means that only $0.30 out of the full $1 bet will count in meeting the playthrough, while the remaining $0.70 will not count. At this rate, it would take you as many as 10,000 spins ($3,000/$0.30) to fulfill the wagering.
This would make your odds of building a bankroll and eventually cashing out much lower.
Long Validity Period
Most bonuses are valid for a specified period of time after being credited. The longer a bonus is valid after claiming, the better. You’re looking for 30 days or longer.
If a bonus comes with wagering requirements attached, you’ll want ample time to meet them. In addition, a longer validity period takes the pressure off and allows you to play at your own pace.
Max Cashout Limit and Max Bet Limit
Ideally, there will be no limits applied to cashable winnings derived from bonuses, nor to how much you can bet while a bonus is active.
This is, unfortunately, not the case at the majority of online casinos today.
The maximum cashout rule refers to the amount of money you can cash out from a bonus. Regardless of how much you have won and have in your balance, most casinos will let you can withdraw up to a stated limit, while all the rest will be voided.
Free spins and no deposit bonuses are notorious for very low cashout limits; however, you can find other types of bonus offers with more reasonable caps.
The amount you can bet while playing with bonus money is also limited at the vast majority of casinos. Make sure to read the terms and conditions beforehand to find out how much you are allowed to bet.
Irregular Betting Patterns
Bonus terms and conditions that ban irregular betting patterns” or “irregular play” place restrictions on bet sizes and types, as well as using strategies, forcing players to conform to a limited playstyle that may differ from how they’d naturally choose to play.
Namely, advantage play strategies, Martingale or similar betting systems, frequent changing of bet sizes, betting patterns, and games are viewed as bonus abuse or exploitation by some casinos.
Such strict rules are often unfair to players - they take away from spontaneity and reduce winning chances.
It is best to avoid bonuses with these terms attached.
We hope this guide has been valuable in your quest for casino bonuses worth taking.
Good bonuses are not just about the size - multiple variables are at play, and you should learn them all.
Thanks for watching!
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