3 Tricky Terms To Consider When Choosing Casino Bonuses

While playing at online casinos, the bonuses on offer can be incredibly enticing. From generous welcome packages offering hundreds in extra cash to free spins on the latest slots, these promotions are designed to catch your eye and convince you to sign up.

All that glitters isn't necessarily gold!

But beneath the flashy advertisements and promising headlines lie complex terms and conditions that can significantly impact the true value of these offers. What seems like free money often comes with strings attached that determine how, when, and if you'll ever see any real cash.

To help players get a clearer picture, we spoke to 1st Deposit Bonus, the leading place for players to find first deposit bonuses at online casinos. They are experts in the field and have picked out three key terms you need to look for before deciding whether to activate a promotion.

Wagering Requirements

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Wagering requirements (sometimes called playthrough requirements) are perhaps the most crucial term to understand when evaluating the value of a casino offer. They determine how many times you need to bet the bonus before you can withdraw any winnings associated with it. They act as the primary barrier between you and cashing out anything as real money.

For example, if you receive a £100 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement:

●      You must place bets totalling £3,000 (£100 × 30).

●      Only after betting this amount can you withdraw any remaining winnings, if there are any.

The typical range for wagering requirements falls between 30x and 40x. Anything lower than 30x is considered player-friendly and represents good value. Alternatively, requirements higher than 40x make it increasingly difficult to convert bonus funds into withdrawable cash.

What many players don't realise is that some casinos apply wagering to both the bonus and deposit amounts. This is one of the most common tricks casinos use to make their wagering appear reasonable when it's actually quite steep.

If we use the same example of a £100 bonus but with a £100 deposit as well to give you £200 overall:

●      You must place bets totalling £6,000 (£200 × 30).

●      This effectively doubles the amount you need to wager before withdrawing.

●      This makes that seemingly reasonable x30 not so attractive after all.

Therefore, wagering requirements are unquestionably the number one term to check for every casino offer you consider. They often determine the true attractiveness of a promotion and your realistic chances of walking away with actual winnings.

Contributions

An often overlooked aspect of wagering requirements is that not all games contribute equally toward fulfilling them. This can dramatically affect how quickly you complete the playthrough requirements.

For example, most slot games typically contribute 100%. This means:

●      You spin the reels with a £1 bet.

●      The full £1 is contributed towards completing the wagering.

However, table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat often contribute significantly less. Exactly how much depends on each casino, but it’s commonly between 10% and 50%.

Let’s say you play a game that contributes 50%:

●      You play a round with a £1 bet

●      Only £0.50 is contributed towards completing the wagering

Even more problematic is that some games contribute nothing (0%). This can create a situation where players believe they're making progress toward clearing their bonus when in reality, they're not moving the needle at all. These exclusions are found within the terms and conditions, so make sure to check them out.

When developing a strategy for clearing bonuses efficiently, most experienced players opt for slots that contribute 100% and have the highest Return to Player (RTP) percentage. However, casinos are well aware of this approach, with popular slots like Bloodsuckers (98% RTP) frequently excluded. Therefore, some players decide to play slots that offer a 100% contribution rate and the highest RTP.

Bet to Get Bonus

In recent years, some online casinos have started delaying the release of their offers. Rather than receiving bonus funds immediately upon deposit, these promotions require players to stake a certain amount of their own money first before the offer is given.

The typical required stake for these offers ranges between £10 and £20, though this can vary between casinos. Some sites might require you to deposit the required staking amount in one go, while others allow you to make multiple payments. It's crucial to check these specific requirements before playing to ensure you understand exactly what is needed to unlock the offer.

These "Bet to Get" bonuses can still offer good value, but they demand more careful consideration than traditional deposit promotions. You'll have to risk your own funds, so understanding the exact terms becomes even more important.

Max Cashouts

Perhaps one of the most disappointing discoveries a player can make is hitting a massive win only to learn they can't withdraw the full amount due to maximum cashout limits. Many casinos implement caps on the amount players can win and withdraw from bonus funds.

For standard deposit bonuses, these maximum cashout limits typically range into the hundreds of pounds. While this at least gives players a decent potential payout, it can be incredibly frustrating if you strike lucky and win big, as anything above the threshold will be automatically forfeited.

The situation is often much more restrictive with free spins offers. These promotions frequently come with much lower maximum win caps, commonly £100 or less. This means that even if you hit a major win while using free spins, your celebration might be short-lived.

Always check for maximum win limits before accepting any casino offer. These caps can turn what appears to be a generous promotion into a severely limited opportunity, potentially leading to major disappointment if you happen to get lucky and hit a significant win. In general, bonuses with no maximum cashout limits are obviously preferable as they remove any potential issue.

IMPORTANT: Whether you’re using a casino bonus or just betting with your own cash, it’s very important to always gamble responsibly. Remember to take frequent breaks and utilise any safer gambling tools that every site offers.

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