The Secrets of Online Casino Bonuses

This is a collaborative post.

Signing up for a new casino account can sound like fun, especially for unsuspecting users. But you should be aware of certain things hidden in the secret mechanics and the terms and conditions. Today, we will talk about these considerations – which could be called secrets for amateurs and a good refresher for professionals.

Without further ado, let’s dive right into it.

The Secrets of Online Casino Bonuses

Wagering Requirements

Understanding wagering requirements is crucial to understanding casino bonuses, whether they are hefty welcome packages or generous reload bonuses. If you attempt to withdraw your deposited cash while a promotion such as the welcome bonus is in play, you will forfeit the bonus entirely.

What are Wagering Requirements?

Minimum wagering requirements in casino bonuses refer to the amount of money a player must wager before withdrawing any winnings generated from the bonus. Wagering requirements are usually expressed as a multiple of the bonus or the plus deposit amount. For example, if you receive a $100 bonus with a 20x wagering requirement, you would need to wager $2,000 (20 times $100) before you can withdraw.

Wagering requirements are designed to help prevent a player from just receiving the bonus and lighting up its value. They ensure that players spend a minimum of gaming minutes on the site before withdrawing any bonus-related profits.

What’s a Good Wagering Requirement?

A good casino welcome bonus comes with a low to moderate minimum wagering requirement. A wagering requirement of x20 or below is considered low, but if you see an offer with this, then chances are that the bonus is offering a lower maximum amount. On the other hand, casinos that have low-payout games, jackpots, or other bigger prizes can have high wagering requirements such as x60 or above. Generally, anywhere from x25 to x45 is considered “moderate,” and this is what you should hunt for.

An x40 playthrough requirement means the funds must be played through 40 times before any bonus winnings can be converted to your withdrawable cash balance.

Contribution Toward Wagering Requirement

Different game categories and games contribute differently toward meeting the minimum wagering requirement. This information can be looked up on the terms and conditions page of the casino. Usually, games outside the realm of video slots, such as table games, live show games, or a hand of baccarat, either contribute very lowly or are completely excluded from contributing toward the wagering requirement.

Within slot games, some games or games from specific providers can also have a lower-than-100% contribution toward meeting the minimum wagering requirement. Don’t be sold to offers that exclude the majority of good games from their bonuses. For example, some slot games have better denomination and volatility, which might be excluded from the wagering calculations on the casino site.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

It is essential to read through the terms and conditions at least once. Typically, casinos have two terms – one general terms and conditions and another specific terms and conditions for the promotions.

Here are some of the essential things that you should look for when scanning through the terms and conditions:

• Bonus Expiry: Most casino bonuses have a limited lifespan, and players must be vigilant about the expiration date. Depending on the casino’s policies, The timeframe can vary from a few days to several weeks. The bonus funds and any associated winnings may be forfeited if a bonus expires before meeting the wagering requirements. Typically, the expiry is 5-7 days for free spins and 30 days for matched deposits.
• Maximum Bet Sizes: When a promotion is in play, the casino will specify a maximum bet size. You cannot wager more than this, even if the game allows it. Going over the maximum bet size, such as $5 per spin, will void the bonus. This only applies when your promotion is active or if you’re using your free spins.
• RTP of the Game Associated with the Free Spins: Don’t be lured by many free spins. The game that the free spins are tied to is also important. Odds in slot games are bad. But the smaller bet sizes make up for it. Still, different games have different RTPs. Check the game’s RTP before you sign up only based on a free spin offer. If it’s higher than 96%, it’s good.

Being loose with terms and conditions can be a shortcut to destroying your personal financial standing by making a streak of bad casino decisions.

Wrapping Up

Reading the fine print and having realistic expectations are both quite important. For example, it’s not rare for a player to be blown away by the promise of a large matched bonus. But when you multiply the amount with the high wagering requirement that it comes with, you’ll quickly find that you will need to place substantial bets to get anything of value from your session. Keep the advice we’ve provided throughout this guide in mind, and your casino experience will be better than before. Good luck!