Playing Casino Games with Bonus Money

Joining an online casino is always an exciting adventure, especially considering the welcome bonuses the casino has in store for the new members. The generosity of each online venue is relative, but there are always several options to choose from, tailored according to different needs and the potential betting range of the new account holders. In most cases, the casino will start unrolling the red carpet for the guests by awarding them with the deposits matches. The offer consists of increasing the deposit amount by a certain percentage and throwing some free spins into the mix. But why would a casino give you money just like that?

“The small print” of bonus terms and conditions

Let’s start with the obvious – most casinos will not just lavish you with money without expecting something in return. In this case, the online casino wants your time and by providing you with the funds, they make sure that you meet your end of the bargain. This is achieved by limiting the promotional offer with something called withdrawal requirements. When you submit your deposit and the amount is met by whichever percentage the casino offers, the bonus money is not available for you to withdraw – and neither are the winnings that you accumulate while playing with your bonus. Not until the requirements are met, that is.

When the wagering requirements are met – amount which has to be wagered before collecting your winnings – you become eligible to make your first withdrawal. This is essential to understanding how playing with bonus money works and every reputable casino will disclose this information under Bonus Details section.

This is actually fair for a couple of reasons. First, both you and the casino are interested in profit and by imposing the wagering requirements, operators ensure themselves against bonus hunters. Second, the casino prolongs the player’s gameplay, which is particularly handy when playing games where time is of the essence (progressive slots for example). In other words, the bonus money is sort of a security net that you can fall back on, especially if you are on a budget. Finally, bonuses are a great way to promote new games and deposit matches are often combined with free spins which can only be used for selected titles.

Can I play with bonus money without depositing or being bound by wagering requirements?

Actually, yes! There are online casinos that offer bonus money without conditioning the player to meet the play-through rate. Usually, these types of bonuses are awarded in a form of free spins sessions or a Free Chip for the account holders. By activating these bonuses, the player is free to withdraw the winnings immediately.

Another popular type of an online casino promotion is a No Deposit bonus, where the player activates either free spins or receives a small cash amount that can be used for wagering. Although appealing, No Deposit bonuses typically come with a sky high wagering requirements but they are still pretty useful if you are not certain whether or not you are ready to start gambling with your own money.

Cashback system

Cashback and reloading are incentives that the casino traditionally reserves for their most loyal members, thus softening the blow of inevitable losses or extending the original welcome bonus, respectively. Every week, through the cashback promotion, the players will get a percentage of their net losses back in either bonus money or actual cash amount. The same amount can then be used for new wagers, which, with a little bit of luck and strategic thinking can boost your balance and get you back in the saddle. With reloads, the initial welcome bonus is continued, allowing the player to benefit from the same promotion over and over again.

Regardless of the promotion you activate, you should always make sure that you fully understand the terms; if you are not sure about any part of the bonus and what the offer entails, do not hesitate to contact the casino and ask for clarification. It is better to miss out on an offer than to find yourself stuck with a bonus with the wagering requirements demanding your first born child before you can withdraw.