Choosing a casino bonus should not just be about the cash value. Rather, it is important that the terms and conditions governing the bonus are suited to your style of play. Before claiming a casino bonus, it is imperative you read over the terms and conditions. Here are a few things you should know:
Wager Requirement:
This signifies the amount of money you must wager before cashing out any bonus winnings. It applies to the amount of bonus and deposit. For instance, a 100% Match Bonus worth $100 Free would equate to $200 applying to the wager requirement. If the bonus had a 10x wager requirement, $2,000 in wagers would be required to meet the wager requirement: $100 Deposit + $100 Bonus = $200 x 10 = $2,000. All online casinos impose wager requirements. By doing so, it prevents bonus hunters from taking the money and running, aka, bonus abuse. Failure to meet the wager requirement before making a cash withdrawal will result in all bonus money and winnings derived from the bonus money being deemed null and void. In other words, do not make any withdrawals before you have either wagered away your bonus or have met the wager requirement. A reasonable wager requirement is anything between 10x and 50x, depending on the type of bonus. For slots bonuses, expect lower wager requirements. For games with lower house edges, such as blackjack, expect wager requirements on the higher end.
Game Restrictions:
Certain games may not qualify for meeting the wager requirement, so as to encourage play at particular casino games. Some games may have limited restrictions and only meet a certain percentage of the wager requirement. For example, let's hypothetically say that a wager made at a casino game with a lower house edge, such as blackjack and video poker, only count toward 50% the wager requirement. If the bonus is worth $100 and has a 10x wager requirement, $1,000 in wages would need to be made in order to meet the wager requirement. For games that count 100% (usually slots and keno), dollar for dollar, each wager counts toward fulfilling the requirement. Therefore, it would take $1,000 in bets at a slot machine to meet the wager requirement. For games that count 50%, it would take twice as much in wages, i.e., $2,000.
In addition to avoiding play at restricted games and making early withdrawals before meeting the wager requirement, players need to be aware that bonuses are for play purposes only. In other words, the bonus money itself cannot be cashed out. Only winnings derived from bets made with bonus money (usually up to a certain amount) can be claimed when the wager requirement has been met.
It is always advised to check with your online casino cashier after making an initial deposit and BEFORE placing your first wager. The reason being is that some online casinos require players to make any bonus claims after the first deposit is made, but before making any wagers. Otherwise, you may become ineligible to claim the bonus. On the contrary, some casinos grant welcome bonuses by default on the first deposit. If you do not want the bonus, you must ask customer service to remove it from your account. Once you have made your first wager, it is too late. If you are not sure whether or not you have been granted a bonus, send customer service an e-mail or call in to verify your account status after your first deposit has been made, and before making any wagers.
There is no denying the enticement of a casino bonus. Yet, while many bonuses are advertised as being "free," there are some which offer anything but "freedom" while spending time in the online casino. A casino bonus can be entrapping. That is good for the casinos, but bad for you. However, the careful and informed bonus hunter can find the perfect casino bonus, hence, one of the purposes of this page. Our reviewers have screened the entire online gambling landscape for the absolute best casino bonuses currently being offered. We have even read over the terms and conditions of each bonus from head to toe, ensuring they are not filled with entrapping red tape. Immediately below, we list our top picks, being mindful to list a range of different types of casino bonuses suited to the different needs of players.
