Losing is easily everyone’s least favorite aspect of gambling but it is not as bad when a player knows they can get some of the money they have lost back. Many online casinos enable their customers to recover different percentages of their losses through the so-called cashback bonuses. These bonuses encourage players to continue making deposits and invest in real-money play at gaming sites.
While welcome and reload bonuses are appealing, cashbacks boast higher profitability over the long haul. They are especially attractive to high rollers, although small-scale players can also benefit from them. Everyone loves the adrenaline rush when waiting for their lucky number to hit on roulette or when a winning combination aligns on a payline.
But like it or not, the reality is you will inevitably experience some losses when gambling online. There is no need to fret, however, as you can partially recoup them when playing at the reputable gaming sites we have shortlisted for you. But before we get there, let’s explain how cashbacks work and what terms and conditions casinos usually attach to them.
Cashback Bonuses and Their Common Terms
1Cashback Bonuses - Overview
Cashbacks are exactly what they sound like as players receive some of the money they have lost to the casino back. This type of promotion is normally percentage-based, meaning that the casino will reimburse you with a specific percentage of the deposits you have lost during the respective day, week, or month. The exact percentages are casino-specific but usually range anywhere from 5% to 25%.
2Cashbacks May Come with Maximum Caps
Depending on the casino’s specific terms and conditions, there may be a cap on the maximum amount players can receive as a cashback. Some casinos, however, do not impose such restrictions on their cashback promotions. It all depends on the individual policies of your chosen gaming site. Similarly, there are typically requirements for the minimum cashback amount credited to players. If your losses do not cover said requirements, you will not receive the refund.
3Some Cashback Bonuses Require Promotional Codes
Depending on where you play, you may have to enter a valid promo code in the designated field when making a deposit to qualify for the cashback. With that said, some gaming operators do offer automatic cashbacks to all depositing customers where promo codes are unnecessary.
4Beware of Cashbacks with Wagering Requirements
Always read the terms and conditions attached to the cashback offers that interest you. One thing to beware of is the rollover (also known as wagering requirements) some casinos impose on their cashback incentives. In effect, such operators credit the cashback refund as bonus money and you need to play the amount through a specific number of times.
Only then you can release it into your real-money balance and withdraw it. With that said, most online casinos prefer to lift the wagering requirements on their cashbacks so as to make them more appealing and retain their customers’ action. When this is the case, the operator will automatically add the refund to your real-money balance for you to withdraw whenever you like.
5Cashbacks May Be Game-Specific
Reading the promotional terms and conditions is important for yet another reason. At some gambling sites, the cashbacks apply only to losses incurred while playing specific games, slots or live dealer tables, for example. If that is the case, you will earn nothing back on the money you have lost while playing video poker, for instance.
6Validity Periods of Cashback Bonuses
Validity is another thing to check before redeeming a given cashback bonus. In some cases, the refunded credits remain valid for a short period of time, for instance, a week or a month. If you fail to use the funds on wagering or withdraw them within the designated promotional periods, the casino will automatically remove them from your account upon expiration. Usually, this occurs when a cashback has wagering requirements attached to it.
7Cashbacks as Part of Loyalty Schemes
At some casinos, cashbacks are part of the operators’ loyalty programs. In such cases, members receive a percentage of their losses back but the exact percentages vary based on their loyalty status. The higher your VIP level, the greater the size of the cashbacks you qualify for. On a side note, levels typically depend on your activity at the casino. The more you play, the more points you accumulate and the quicker you progress through the loyalty tiers.
8Cashbacks on Bets
Although a rarity in the online gambling industry, some casinos do offer cashbacks on each bet customers place on qualifying games. It makes no difference whether the bet loses or wins, players still get a percentage of each wager back. There is usually a tracker where you can observe how much free money you have generated so far. Players have the option to collect the cashbacks and add them to their real-money balance.
An Example of How Cashback Bonuses Work
To clarify things further, here is an example of how percentage-based cashback bonuses work. Note that all the promotional conditions we have listed are purely hypothetical and for demonstration purposes.
- A player tops up their balance with $100.
- The gaming site offers 10% back on the player’s losses.
- The promotional terms state that the cashback applies to net losses ranging from $20 to $2,000.
- The player loses $70 of the deposited amount.
- They are now eligible for a $7 cashback.
One important thing to remember is that the cashbacks typically exclude the winning and bonus wagers. They only apply to the net losses you suffer, i.e. your bets minus your profits. For example:
- Suppose you generate $200 in winnings during the week.
- Then you proceed to win $50 in loyalty rewards or bonuses.
- You incur losses of $300 during the week.
- It follows that your net losses equal $300 – ($200 + $50) = $50.
- The casino offers a 10% cashback on your net losses.
- Therefore, you are eligible for $5 in cashback based on your weekly net losses of $50.
Pros and Cons of Cashback Bonuses
Pros of Cashback Bonuses
Cons of Cashback Bonuses
Like all things in life, cashbacks have both their advantages and disadvantages, although it is fair to say the former outnumber the latter. Players must carefully weigh both the pros and the cons before they decide to opt in for a cashback bonus at a given online casino. Let’s examine the pros first.
- Pro #1 – Cashbacks are typically available on a consistent basis. Unlike welcome offers which each player can redeem only once, cashback offers are usually available on a weekly or monthly basis. Some casinos would even credit them automatically to eligible accounts, eliminating the need of opting in.
- Pro #2 – Cashbacks enable you to partially recoup your losses after a bad losing streak. All players hate blowing their session bankrolls within a short span but this is where cashback bonuses come in handy. With its help, players will get back at least a portion of their losses. Even in cases where they only receive a 5% cashback, players are at least granted a second chance to score some wins.
- Pro #3 – Cashbacks may increase proportionately to your loyalty level and activity. Cashback percentages sometimes exceed 20% when players climb to higher levels of the loyalty ladder. This makes this type of bonus the perfect option for customers who play consistently, especially if they do so for larger amounts.
- Pro #4 – Cashbacks are a very uncomplicated type of bonus. Players are not required to do anything special to receive a cashback. More often than not, the only requirement is to opt in for the bonus by ticking off the designated box in the cashier while making a deposit. The casino will then credit you with the respective percentage of your losses automatically.
As appealing as they seem, cashbacks are not without their faults. In fact, this is the case with most online gambling bonuses as casinos are not in the habit of giving away anything for free, especially money. Here are three of the cons of cashbacks that come to mind.
- Con #1 – Players often have to lose their entire deposit to become eligible. For instance, if you deposit $100, lose only $50, and cash out the remaining $50, you will no longer qualify for the cashback offer.
- Con #2 – Cashbacks sometimes come with wagering requirements. Some casinos require you to roll over the cashback amount a given number of times to convert it into withdrawable cash. In such cases, the casino originally credits the cashback as bonus funds – as such, these are locked into your bonus balance. Players must meet the wagering requirements in time or else the casino will forfeit the cashback from their accounts.
- Con #3 – There may be game restrictions in some cases. At some casinos, not all game types count toward earning cashback bonuses. Gambling operators would sometimes offer cashbacks on losses incurred through slot play only to prevent players from benefiting from favorable house edges.
Some websites would even disqualify slots with RTPs exceeding 97%, along with other games with low house edges like blackjack. Read the promotional terms and conditions carefully to see which games have made it to the list of exclusions. If you violate this rule, you stand a good chance of being disqualified from the cashback.
Things to Consider When Choosing Cashback Online Casinos
1Intro
From everything written so far, it becomes apparent that the cashback is definitely an appealing incentive. Nonetheless, the cashbacks available at some online casinos provide players with more value than those offered by others, largely because of their favorable terms and conditions. There are several aspects you must factor in before opting for a cashback bonus.
2The Cashback Percentage
The cashback percentage the casino offers on your losses is one of the most important things to consider. Said percentages vary across the board depending on where you play but can range anywhere between 5% and 25% in most cases. You should look for high percentages but only on condition the maximum cashback cap is high enough.
With that in mind, lower-percentage cashbacks are sometimes better than those with higher percentages. This usually happens when high-percentage cashbacks have very low caps, in which case the maximum refund a player can extract from the bonus is also very low.
3Check The Caps
Check the caps (if any) on the cashback bonuses, i.e. the maximum amount you can receive as a refund on your losses. For instance, let’s suppose your online casino offers a 20% weekly cashback with a cap of $100 only.
You experience a bad run during the week and end up losing $500, in which case the operator will refund you with the maximum cashback of $100 (20% of 500). Had you been luckier and lost only $200, your cashback would have been $40 only. However, if your losses were higher at say $800, you would still get back only $100 rather than $160 due to the low maximum cap.
4Check The Wagering Terms
The list of eligible casino games and wager types is also important. If you are keen on playing live-dealer games like blackjack and baccarat a cashback available on slot losses will be of absolutely no use to you. Ideally, the cashback should cover a healthy mix of game types to cater to all player preferences. Some betting sites feature both a sportsbook and an online casino, offering dedicated cashbacks for each product. You cannot use a sportsbook cashback in the casino section, and vice versa.
5Promotional Terms and Conditions
The promotional terms and conditions of the casino are hardly the most thrilling piece of writing to peruse, but this is where you can find a breakdown of all essential details of the cashbacks on offer. The terms contain all the rules you must comply with after you opt in for a given bonus. Remember that any violation of the promotional terms will cause the casino to void your cashback. Reading the rules in advance will also enable you to identify any vague or predatory terms that devalue the cashback bonus.
6The Overall Reputation of The Casino
The overall reputation of the online casino that offers the cashback is worth researching as well. The first thing to check is who licenses and regulates the gaming site. Look for websites licensed by highly recognized regulatory bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), among others. Be sure to research the background of your chosen casino to ensure it has no previous history of mistreating players.
Best Cashback Online Casinos
SuperCasinoSites presents you with a shortlist of six online casinos where you can find decent cashback incentives. Our reviewers have carefully researched and vetted all six recommendations for safety to confirm they are of good standing. You can rest assured the operators suggested below are all trustworthy and enjoy an excellent reputation in the industry. But without further ado, here are the six casinos we recommend for cashback bonuses.
PlayOJO
PlayOJO describes itself as the fairest casino in the UK and this claim is anything but an overstatement. The operator has numerous merits to offer to players, from an intuitive design and a busy calendar with unique promotions to a great loyalty scheme to reward active customers.
Players can easily get around the website, not to mention the latter is home to a wholesome catalog of top-end casino games by Blueprint, Microgaming, IGT, Thunderkick, Yggdrasil, and Play’n GO.
Regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, PlayOJO is home to the unique OJOplus incentive that rewards players with money back on every wager they place. You can get an unlimited amount of money back without any restrictions, based on your level of activity.
PlayOJO will refund a percentage of each bet you make on games marked with the OJOplus icon. You receive the refund in cash without any strings attached or wagering requirements. Players are free to withdraw the refund, use it for bets, or watch the free cash stack up in their available balance.
Videoslots
Few gambling businesses can boast of having as large a selection of games as Videoslots. The casino operates under the regulations of multiple jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, and Malta. It features a portfolio that comprises over 5,000 games, but we should warn you their availability varies based on jurisdiction due to software licensing restrictions.
With games from over 100 software providers, players will surely experience hours of exhilarating fun at Videoslots. All depositing customers are also eligible for participation in the Weekend Booster, an ongoing incentive that gives your account a free cash boost each weekend.
All you have to do is play the classic and video slots on the website throughout the week. The cashbacks you earn on your bets are free of wagering requirements. Videoslots pays them out a week in arrears on Fridays. Customers can fund their real-money action with a great array of banking options, some of which have only regional accessibility.
Yako Casino
Yako Casino is home to a well-balanced offering of top-notch slots, supplied by renowned providers like IGT, Novomatic, NetEnt, Blueprint, and Microgaming. The operator does not restrict itself to offering solely slots, however. Its instant-play platform also features blackjack, baccarat, video poker, roulette, and lotteries. A live casino with over 100 tables by Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play is also available.
At Yako Casino, players can earn extra cash by participating in various ongoing tournaments. The operator also organizes different challenges each month where you can earn extra money. On top of that, Yako Casino has built up a stellar reputation among industry insiders and players alike. This is not surprising considering it conducts gambling operations under the regulatory remit of the Maltese and British gambling commissions.
Best of all, you can enjoy the great games and tourneys at Yako Casino whenever and however you wish. The website is highly responsive and works effortlessly on any device, be it a laptop, a smartphone, or a tablet. Mobile and desktop players will additionally benefit from a friendly customer support service in multiple languages. You can converse with a support representative in Swedish, English, Finnish, or Norwegian.
Fun Casino
In operation since 2018, Fun Casino’s portfolio poses as a representation of the most compelling creations of major software studios like NetEnt, Play’n GO, Microgaming, Elk Studios, Thunderkick, Big Time Gaming, WMS, and Bally. The platform features extensive gaming options, ranging from video slots to video poker and classic table games like roulette, blackjack, and casino-banked poker. Progressive jackpots like Grandspinn Super Pot, Major Millions, and Mega Moolah are also available.
Fun Casino is a trustworthy gaming site, licensed by the British Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. It also caters to players from the Swedish market under the regulations of Spelinspektionen (the Swedish Gambling Authority). Fully committed to transparency and security, the operator has its gaming portfolio regularly checked by independent test houses to preserve its immaculate reputation and integrity.
All depositing players who join the Fun Casino community are granted a second chance if they suffer a bad beat. They can partially recover their losses thanks to the cashback scheme built into the casino’s platform. It applies to lost deposits only, with players having a choice from betting with the refund or withdrawing it. They receive the cashback in cash, with no wagering requirements or any other annoying conditions.
Vegas Hero
Live since 2017, Vegas Hero continues to steadily grow its loyal player following thanks to its fair and transparent policies. Of course, its massive catalog spanning over 1,300 slots and table games also helps. The library features the cream of the crop from some of the best software studios in the industry, including Quickspin, NetEnt, Play’n GO, iSoftBet, Yggdrasil, Wazdan, and Pragmatic Play.
Apart from gaming diversity, Vegas Hero pampers its players with lightning-fast payouts, solid promotions, and a safe gaming environment with SSL encryption. The customer support service is also on par, with players having a choice from several contact options (live chat, telephone, and email).
The casino allows customers to securely move money to and from their accounts via a range of reliable payment solutions like ecoPayz, Trustly, Neteller, PayPal, Visa, and Skrill. Most of these banking options facilitate instant withdrawals, starting at $20 or the currency equivalent.
Hello Casino
Players will be saying hello to this casino very frequently after they see its excellent selection of games by industry-leading software providers like Leander, Merkur, Big Time Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Microgaming, Playson, and Bally, among dozens of others. Here you can play hundreds of premium releases while having the peace of mind you are gambling with a legitimate business.
Operated by White Hat Gaming Limited, Hello Casino holds licenses from the regulators of Great Britain and Malta. Players can have full confidence in the fairness of the games as the entire portfolio undergoes regular audits on behalf of third-party testing agencies. Furthermore, the operator publishes all return percentages and updates them regularly.
There are various limited-time and ongoing promotions players can take advantage of. More importantly, the promotional terms are player-friendly, allowing you to extract more value from the available offers. Active members of the casino get the VIP treatment via a dedicated loyalty program that rewards them with comp points for every real-money bet they make.