Arguments For and Against Redeeming Online Casino Bonuses

Bonuses are a major attraction for online gamblers, and they often play a decisive role in choosing one online casino over another. Some gambling buffs consider them the equivalent of free money, but these freebies are not without their downsides.

Playing with your own funds is sometimes better than claiming a bonus, and you should be aware of all the caveats before opting for one.

In this article, we present several compelling arguments for and against bonus redemption to help you make informed decisions about these promotions.

Also included are several important bonus terms that online gamblers often ignore to their own detriment. Let’s kick things off with the most commonly available bonus types at online casinos.

Online gambling operators entice players with a variety of promotions, the most common of which include no-deposit offers, deposit-match bonuses, free spins, referral bonuses, and cashbacks.

By learning to distinguish among them, you can identify the promotions that best fit your style and personal preferences. Without further ado, here are the five bonuses you are most likely to find at online casinos.

No Deposit Bonuses

Deposit Match Bonuses

Free Spins

Friend Referral Bonuses

Cashback Bonuses

Deposit Match Bonuses

Deposit-match bonuses are offered to newly registered players on their first deposit as well as to returning customers on subsequent deposits.

In the latter case, they are known as reload bonuses. Either way, the casino matches your deposit with a specific percentage in bonus funds, ranging from 25% to 500%.

For example, a 100% deposit match up to $200 can give you a maximum of $400 to play with ($200 in bonus credits plus $200 in real money).

Free Spins

Free spins are regularly offered to both new and existing customers. Online casinos typically use them to showcase the latest additions to their slot libraries, allowing patrons to try the new releases in a risk-free manner. Operators may give away anywhere from 5 to 100 free spins at no cost on select slot games.

Cashback Bonuses

Cashback bonuses are a great way to recoup part of the losses you incur after a bad run. Like deposit bonuses, cashbacks are percentage-based, but here the percentage represents the portion of your losses you receive back. The downside is that players typically have to lose their entire deposits to qualify for cashback.

1Always Read the T&Cs

All online casino bonuses, regardless of type, include terms and conditions. Ensure you fully understand these terms, or your bonus could be forfeited for breaking the rules.

2Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are almost always in place when you gamble with bonus money. Also known as rollover or playthrough, they represent the amount players must wager before they can unlock or withdraw the bonus funds. This wagering must typically be completed within the timeframe specified by the casino.

3Game Weightings

Game weightings show how much of each bet counts toward meeting the wagering requirements. Contribution percentages vary across different game categories.

Video slots usually count in full (100%), while games like craps contribute far less, often only 5%. A $100 wager on a game with a 5% weighting clears just $5 of the wagering requirement.

4Restricted or Excluded Games

Restricted or excluded games do not contribute toward clearing the bonus playthrough. Playing them results in the bonus being voided and confiscated.

5Maximum Bets

Maximum bet terms specify how much players can wager per spin or round while a bonus is active in their accounts. Exceeding this limit can also cause the bonus to be forfeited.

6Cashable Bonuses

Cashable bonuses are offers you can withdraw once you meet the wagering requirements.

7Sticky Bonuses

Sticky bonuses cannot be cashed out even after you complete the playthrough. Only the winnings generated from sticky offers are withdrawable, while the bonus itself is voided and removed from players’ balances.

8Winning Caps

Winning caps are often imposed on no-deposit and free-spins offers to protect gambling operators from customers who unexpectedly score huge windfalls while playing with promotional credits.

9Regional Restrictions

Regional restrictions may fully or partially exclude players in certain countries from redeeming bonuses.

10Payment Method Restrictions

Payment method restrictions can prevent you from claiming deposit-related bonuses when you fund your balance with certain banking solutions. The most commonly restricted methods include Skrill, PayPal, Neteller, and Paysafe.

As appealing as they may seem, online casino bonuses are not without disadvantages. Some offers look like great deals until you read the terms in detail and realize they are anything but. Below are some of the strongest arguments against claiming online casino bonuses.

Slower Withdrawals

Multiple Restrictions to Comply With

High Wagering Requirements

Bonus Credits Are Not Free Money

Slower Withdrawals

Redeeming bonuses can lead to slower withdrawals at some online casinos because of wagering requirements. Players must clear the playthrough before they can withdraw the bonus and any associated winnings.

Meeting this condition takes time, especially when the wagering requirements are higher than the industry standard. Some casinos even prohibit withdrawals while you have active bonuses in your account.

Additionally, most withdrawals tied to bonus play require extra reviews by the casino’s team, which can create further delays in the payment process.

One simple way to avoid this inconvenience is to look for online casinos without wagering requirements on bonuses. Such gambling sites are rarer than hen’s teeth, but they do exist on the internet.

Multiple Restrictions to Comply With

As mentioned earlier, gambling operators typically impose multiple restrictions on bonus users. Not only is this frustrating, but it often prevents you from extracting sufficient value from your free play.

Players must stay vigilant at all times, or they risk having their bonuses confiscated for violating the terms.

Perhaps the biggest issue is that you cannot access the entire gaming library. Some casinos allow only slots, keno, and instant-win games during bonus play, prohibiting video poker and table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

Such promotions are of little use if you prefer table games or live dealers.

Check the promotional terms beforehand to see which games are restricted and how the allowed ones are weighted. Another viable option is to register at casinos that offer bonuses tailored specifically to players who favor live dealers or table games.

High Wagering Requirements

The wording of terms and conditions varies slightly across gambling sites, but nearly all online casinos attach wagering requirements (WR) to their promotional offers. The higher these requirements are, the harder it becomes to meet them within the designated time.

In some cases, the playthrough applies to both the bonus and the triggering deposit, making it even more difficult for players to clear. If the wagering is too steep, you may extract little to no value from the bonus.

Few recreational players can afford to gamble five-figure amounts to release a $200 bonus from their accounts, especially within such a short timeframe. The point we are trying to make is that clearing the bonus playthrough can be a lengthy and expensive process.

If the idea of having your funds tied up for so long does not appeal to you, you may want to skip bonus redemption altogether.

Bonus Credits Are Not Free Money

Some inexperienced players mistakenly assume that claiming bonuses is the same as receiving free money, but as you can see from the discussion so far, this is hardly the case. In reality, the promotional terms are crafted in a way that ultimately benefits the house.

This happens because the house edge built into all casino games starts to manifest over a statistically large number of wagers. The more bets you place, the closer you come to the mathematical disadvantage casino games expose you to.

For this reason, it is worth noting that one of the primary reasons most casinos impose maximum bet restrictions during bonus play is to make bonus players place as many wagers as possible before clearing the wagering requirements.

As a result, players expose a larger portion of their bankrolls to the house edge, and many run out of money before they meet the playthrough.

1Overview

Despite their downsides, online casino bonuses can still offer specific benefits to savvy players who know how to find value in promotional incentives. Below, we outline several arguments in favor of redeeming online casino bonuses.

2Some Bonuses Do Have Player-Friendly Terms

Promotional incentives with player-friendly terms are sometimes beatable and can provide value to gamblers, as long as they know how to identify them. This is easier than ever in the modern age.

Some specialized gambling sites feature dedicated calculators that help you work out the breakeven casino advantage of cashable bonuses.

Simply enter several variables, including the bonus amount, the playthrough, and the wagering contribution of the game you plan to play. Players must also input the triggering deposit if the playthrough covers both the bonus and the deposit amount.

bonus calculator

3You Can Extend Your Gaming Session with Bonuses

If you have a tight budget, redeeming bonuses can boost your bankroll and extend your gaming session. You gain a head start and more play time without having to commit to larger deposits.

If you realize you cannot clear the playthrough within the allotted timeframe, you can always forfeit the bonus and request a withdrawal of the funds from your real-money balance.

4Cashbacks Can Help You Partially Recover Your Losses

Many online casinos reward loyal players with cashbacks, allowing them to recover a percentage of lost deposits over a given day, week, or month. Some operators are generous enough to credit the cashback amount directly as cash to your real-money balance.

If this is the case, the cashback money is yours to keep and you can withdraw it immediately if you wish. Always check the terms and conditions to ensure no wagering requirements apply, as some casinos credit such rebates as bonus funds with wagering attached.

Compelling Arguments For and Against Redeeming Online Casino Bonuses

Commonly Available Online Casino Bonuses

No Deposit Bonuses

Deposit Match Bonuses

Free Spins

Friend Referral Bonuses

Cashback Bonuses

Key Terms of Online Casino Bonuses

1Always Read the T&Cs

2Wagering Requirements

3Game Weightings

4Restricted or Excluded Games

5Maximum Bets

6Cashable Bonuses

7Sticky Bonuses

8Winning Caps

9Regional Restrictions

10Payment Method Restrictions

Arguments Against Redeeming Casino Bonuses

Slower Withdrawals

Multiple Restrictions to Comply With

High Wagering Requirements

Example of Steep WR

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Bonus Credits Are Not Free Money

Arguments in Favor of Redeeming Casino Bonuses

1Overview

2Some Bonuses Do Have Player-Friendly Terms

3You Can Extend Your Gaming Session with Bonuses

4Cashbacks Can Help You Partially Recover Your Losses