So you have seen a casino welcome bonus offering a 100% match bonus and no deposit spins, and you want to know what the terms and conditions mean.
Welcome to the world of casino bonuses. Free casino cash doesn’t come without any ifs, buts, or maybes, and there are a few things to understand about casino bonus terms and conditions before diving in.
In order to help you decide if a casino bonus is worth taking, we have put together this mini reference. Bookmark it and keep it handy, because it will help you separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to assessing casino bonuses online.
What are Bonus Codes?
Some bonuses require you to enter a bonus code when you first register. This simply means there is an identifying code, such as ‘Bonus22’ that will help the casino determine exactly what bonus you wish to claim.
If a casino bonus requires a bonus code, make sure and enter it at the time of registration. It can be a pain in the neck to have to go back later and deal with customer support to try to claim your casino bonus if you skip this step.
What are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements mean the number of times you have to bet a bonus amount before you can withdraw it.
Imagine the outcome for an online casino if they gave you $/€/￡100 and let you simply withdraw it and walk away. They wouldn’t last long, that’s for sure.
To protect themselves, casinos ask you to bet the bonus amount a specific number of times before you can withdraw it. This can be from 10x to 60x, depending on the casino and bonus in question. As a player, you want casino bonuses with low wagering requirements as they are easier to meet.
If you fail to meet wagering requirements before you try to withdraw your bonus and often any winnings, this can cause you to lose everything and for the whole deal to be declared null and void.
Hopefully that is wagering requirements explained in a way you can understand.
What does Game Weighting Mean?
When it comes to meeting wagering requirements you will find some games count more than others. This is what game weight means in relation to casino bonuses.
For example, if slots have a 100% game weight and blackjack has a game weight of 20%, then for every $/€/￡ 1 you bet on slots, $/€/￡ 1 counts towards wagering, whereas only $/€/￡ 0.20 counts when playing blackjack.
Some games don’t count at all or are excluded from a bonus, meaning you won’t be able to play them using free casino bonus cash.
Play the games with the highest game weighting. Slots are almost always 100%.
What are Withdrawal Limits?
Some bonuses place a limit on what you can withdraw if you win while playing with bonus money.
For example, we recently came across a bonus that had a $1,000 withdrawal limit on wins. That means that even if you won $10,000 you could only withdraw 1/10 of it due to these limits.
What are Bonus Expiry Dates?
These are pretty self explanatory. There are two kinds of bonus expiry date:
Claim Dates – You might have a limited window to claim a bonus. For example, bonuses might only be valid for 48 hours after you open an account.
Use Dates – You might have to meet the wagering requirements within a certain timeframe, or use free spins within a certain number of days, or they will expire along with any winnings.
What are Restricted Countries?
Even if they can play in the casino, some countries will be excluded from certain casino bonus offers. This is usually due to legal compliance within that country, but it can also be due to high levels of player abuse from that country.
What does One IP Address Mean in Relation to Bonuses?
An IP address is a unique number given to every household. If you have been turned down for a casino bonus because someone using your IP address has already received one, then ask the people living in your house.
This can be frustrating, but it is what it is and casinos usually will not budge as this leaves them open to abuse – eg, one player trying to use different names in his household to get multiple bonuses.
What is a Qualifying Deposit or Minimum Deposit?
To avail of most casino bonuses you will have to make a deposit of a minimum amount. This can be as little as $10. This is sometimes called a qualifying deposit. You might have to simply deposit it, or you might have to deposit and play with it, depending on the terms of the bonus in question.
Are Bonus Terms the Same at Every Casino
No. Every casino bonus has different terms, but the above elements are almost always a factor.
Wagering conditions, game weight, minimum deposits, and withdrawal limits will differ at every casino. Be sure to read the terms and conditions thoroughly before accepting any bonus and know what you are getting into.
