The worst terms associated with casino bonuses

Online casino bonuses are one of the most widely used marketing tools to attract new players to a website or entice existing players to keep spending. For players, these bonuses come packed with fantastic rewards that make the gambling experience more enjoyable and rewarding.

What many don’t consider is the fine print associated with these bonuses that must be complied with to reap the full benefit they offer. These terms and conditions can quickly degrade the benefit received from a bonus and, in some cases, lead to players spending more than they planned to get the full reward on offer.

Knowing which terms are the worst and should be avoided can go a long way. Let’s look into the worst terms associated with casino bonuses and a few top tips to finding the best bonus that will offer tangible rewards.

Wagering requirements

Easily the worst and most common type of condition affixed to casino bonuses is the wagering requirement. This stipulates the minimum amount a player must spend (or wager) before claiming the benefit of a bonus or withdrawing any winnings earned from using a bonus.

Commonly, wagering requirements range from between 10 times to 50 times the bonus amount. In some cases, this can be even higher. In practice, this means that should a player receive a bonus valued at $50 with a wagering requirement of 50 times, they would need to play using $2,500 before being able to claim the full bonus benefit. 

High wagering requirements can severely limit a player’s ability to benefit from a bonus and can be extremely disappointing should he or she win a substantial prize and not be able to withdraw it.

Time limits

Almost all casino bonuses come with a specific time limit listed in their terms and conditions. This time limit dictates a particular timeframe during which all other requirements listed (such as wagering requirements) must be met. 

These limits commonly range from a few days to a few weeks. A limit is activated when all other requirements stipulated aren’t met, causing the forfeiture of the bonus. Worse still, any winnings amassed using the bonus are also forfeited when a time clause is acted upon.

One of the main drawbacks associated with this type of term is the sense of urgency it inspires within players. This urgency places pressure on gamblers to fulfill all requirements and could lead them to spend more than they initially budgeted or can safely afford to.

Game restrictions and limits

Another commonly found term relates to the restriction of certain games. These terms are generally associated with things like free spin bonuses and limit the game titles that gamblers can play when using the bonus.

While these terms don’t have any material effect other than possibly limiting players to certain games (which may not be the ones they want to play), they do also have another effect. This secondary effect relates to the wagering requirements associated with bonuses.

In many cases, some games contribute fully to wagering requirements, while others may only contribute a small percentage of money spent. Not understanding these limits and playing games that don’t contribute significantly to a wagering requirement could cause players to spend large sums of money without meaningfully reducing the amount they still need to spend to reach the requirement of a bonus. 

Betting limits

Like game limits that could restrict how much of a player’s spend is allocated to a wagering requirement, betting limits can also affect this. These limits set a maximum amount that can be bet on a particular game, after which no additional amount will contribute towards reaching the requirement.

Although these bets are not excessively common, they can be a nuisance when trying to reach wagering requirements. Care should be taken to ensure that betting limits (where present) are understood and adhered to.

One thing that helps to lessen the impact of these types of limits is that they are commonly instituted over a period of time. This can range from a few hours to a day, after which the limit is reset and normal play that contributes to wagering requirements can resume. 

Maximum win limits

A lesser occurring term on casino bonuses is a maximum win limit. These work to restrict the amount of money that can be won while using a bonus by setting a maximum threshold. Winnings are capped at this limit, and any winnings due above this limit are forfeited to the casino.

Payment method restrictions

In some instances, casinos that have recently launched support for a new payment method will offer a bonus to any player who deposits using this method. These bonuses come with a clause that they are only active if the deposit occurs using this method. Using any other method will nullify the bonus and make it inaccessible to the gambler.

Geolocation limits

Although modern online casinos do a good job of limiting access to bonuses not applicable to players in a certain locale, the ability to do this via geolocation is not infallible. Occasionally, bonuses may be offered to players in a specific territory. Players who don’t read the terms and conditions and notice this may be allowed to claim the bonus by the casino but will not be able to claim the benefits due to their ineligibility based on their location. 

Tips to make the most of casino bonuses

The best way to make the most of any casino bonus, like those found on casinos.com, is to properly read any attached terms and conditions and ensure they are understood before accepting the bonus. This will allow any gambler to know what to expect from the bonus and what is expected of them to claim the full bonus.

Secondly, shopping around for bonuses can help find the best suited for each player. While players may already have an account with a particular casino, many others offer valuable bonuses that can be claimed simply by registering. Looking around for the best option can help find one with reasonable terms and will result in the best overall gambling experience.