Let’s face it, when we look at casino bonuses and there’s the promise of thousands of dollars, it all looks pretty tempting right? Well – not necessarily. Just because a casino bonus looks massive, it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a generous offer. How good it actually is, very much depends on the terms and conditions attached to the bonus.
The Importance of Reading the Small Print
Before you ever claim a bonus at an online casino, it is absolutely vital that you thoroughly read and understand the T&Cs attached to it. Yes, bonuses can be very enticing and give added value to players, but you really need to make sure you exercise caution and that you are fully aware of the requirements and restrictions imposed by the casino.
If you don’t this can lead to annoyance, confusion, frustration, disappointment, and, even worse, potential financial loss. So, let’s take a look at some of the main reasons you need to be super careful of casino terms before claiming your bonus.
Wagering Requirements
The big one. Wagering Requirements are arguably the most significant aspects of bonus terms and conditions of all. This refers to the number of times you need to wager the bonus amount (or the bonus plus deposit amount) before you can withdraw any of your bonus winnings.
Pretty much all bonuses come with wagering requirements (apart from no wager bonuses that you can find at sites such as Casino Online IN – visit site), but they can vary significantly between casinos and bonuses. They can range from reasonable to extremely high. As such, it is vital that you understand the specific wagering requirements of the bonus you are claiming to avoid any nasty surprises later on. A bonus is only as good as the wagering requirements.
Game Restrictions
Casinos often impose game restrictions on bonuses, specifying which games can contribute towards fulfilling the wagering requirements – and how much they contribute. Certain games could even be excluded from bonus play altogether, while others may contribute only a percentage of the wagering requirement (such as table games and live dealer games).
As such, you need to check which games are eligible and how much they contribute towards fulfilling the requirements. Ignoring these restrictions may result in your bonus winnings being voided by the casino. The more games that you can play to fulfil the wagering requirements, the better.
Time Limits
Pretty much all bonuses come with time limits, specifying how long you have to spend your bonus and meet the wagering requirements. If you fail to fulfil the requirements within the given time frame, the bonus and – and bonus winnings will be lost. As such, make sure you are aware of the expiry date and use it before you lose it. The best bonuses will give you plenty of time – 30 days or more.
Restricted Payment Methods
Some casinos may exclude specific payment methods from bonus eligibility – especially for welcome bonuses. So, if you deposit with an excluded payment method you won’t be able to claim the bonus. To avoid that, It is important to check the terms and conditions to verify if there are any restrictions on payment methods before making your qualifying deposit. The best bonuses will allow you to claim it no matter what option you choose!
Withdrawal Restrictions
Some bonuses come with withdrawal restrictions, especially no-deposit bonuses or free spins. These restrictions could include the maximum withdrawal limits (how much of your winnings you can actually withdraw) or other requirements set out before withdrawing any winnings.
It is essential you understand this before playing your bonus… imagine winning thousands – only to find out the most you can withdraw is $100… ouch! The best bonuses will let you withdraw all the money you win!
So, you will see why thoroughly reviewing and understanding the terms and conditions associated with casino bonuses is essential to getting that good bonus. It will also help you to understand that a big bonus with high wagering requirements, a short validity period and a maximum withdrawal limit isn’t necessarily as good as it looks on paper. In fact, bonuses with low (or no) wagering requirements and long validity periods are much better value in the long run.