It may initially seem like a strange question to ask. Why would a bonus not be a good idea? If someone offers you something as a gift, why would you refuse it?
Well, firstly, there is something called a wagering requirement. Wagering requirements can be frustrating for gamblers who receive bonuses, and it’s worth understanding exactly what they are – play Thunderstruck 2.
Wagering requirements
Wagering requirements are essentially the terms and conditions for play when you receive a bonus. Online casinos will throw lots of bonuses and incentives at you in order for you to either sign up, or stay with the site for a long time. However, in order to protect themselves from players who just scoop these freebies, use them, then leave for the next site, they implement wagering requirements.
Of course, when you’re registering with an online casino, it’s tempting to skip the small-print. Nevertheless, this is a bad idea as the wagering requirements are specifically where the online casino establishes the rules of play.
So what are these “rules of play”? Well, for example, let’s say you receive 25 free spins. You may see wagering requirements that stipulate that you’re only allowed to spin on a certain game on the site. In addition, you may also see that your potential winnings cannot be withdrawn, but have to played as credit back into the casino.
It’s not just free spins though. They’re quite prevalent when you get a welcome package for signing up on the casino.
Imagine you get a casino bonus of 100% with a wagering requirement of 10x, without any game restrictions. Sounds good right? Now imagine you deposit £250 of your money into your e-wallet. With a 10x wagering requirement, you would need to bet a total of £2500 before you can make a withdrawal. Suddenly the bonus isn’t quite so juicy.
Are online casino bonuses a trick?
Some gamblers are pretty vocal about not taking bonuses from online casino sites. There’s an (albeit cynical) thought that if they benefitted the player so much, why would you see so many bonuses given out with such regularity by the casinos.
At times, it seems as though they’re getting dished out left, right, and centre. Some people believe they’re an astute form of getting you involved in playing, then tying you up with wagering requirements so you end up spending money anyway.
In all honesty, although there’s probably a shade of truth in this, it’s fair to say that it’s not black or white, but a shade of grey in the middle. Yes, casinos want to get you to play on the games, but bonuses aren’t simply there to fool you.
There are so many online casinos nowadays, each one has to vie so hard for your custom, they’re genuinely willing to offer you great incentives to get you onto their site. Often, these bonuses are sincerely beneficial to you.
Getting back to the basics of gambling
The purists will say that gambling all boils down to wagering your money against the house, in order to win larger amounts. The risk is that the outcome is uncertain. If you want the prize, at some point you’re going to have to risk your own money and not just rely on freebies given out to you by the sites. Then, when you do win, that money is undeniably yours, free to withdraw, not tied up in wagering requirements.
