The Secrets of Casino Bonuses: How to Avoid Pitfalls

One of the best perks of signing up with an online casino is the sizable bonuses you can claim as a new player. If you utilize the bonuses and promotions well, you can increase your bankroll, play fantastic games, and reduce your gambling budget.

But casino bonuses and promotions aren’t as straightforward as they may appear. All casinos attach all sorts of terms and conditions to them to avoid giving away free cash.

To get the most out of casino bonuses and avoid common pitfalls, it’s essential to understand how every bonus works, from ICE Casino no deposit bonus to regular user bonuses. For this reason, we’ve developed this guide to help you navigate the world of online casino bonuses.

Activate the Bonus

Many online casino bonuses are automatically activated when you claim them. However, some require you to enter a bonus code to claim them.

Be sure to go through your account to learn how to redeem any given bonus. You don’t want to miss out on a bonus by not entering a promotional code or clicking a specific tab.

Understand the Terms and Conditions

Failing to read a casino’s terms and conditions carefully is one of the worst mistakes you can make regarding casino bonuses. All casino bonuses and promotions typically come with their terms and conditions.

While a casino’s terms and conditions will summarize essential points, always read all the terms and conditions to ensure nothing stops you from using any given bonus precisely the way you want to. That said, here are the most common casino bonus terms and conditions.

Wagering Requirements

All casino bonuses come with specific wagering requirements. This means you must bet the bonus funds a specific number of times in order to cash out. For instance, if a $100 bonus has a 30x wagering requirement, you must place $3,000 worth of bets before you can withdraw any winnings.

Wagering requirements often apply to deposit and bonus funds but apply only to bonus cash in other cases.

Minimum Deposits

If you’re seeking a deposit bonus, put down at least the minimum deposit. Sometimes online casinos disqualify specific payment options, so consider that when making a deposit.

Eligible Games and Game Contribution

Most casino bonuses specify the games you can use your bonus cash on. At the same time, they specify the percentage each game contributes toward meeting the wagering requirements.

For example:

Slot machines might contribute 100%
Video poker may contribute 10%
Table games (blackjack, baccarat, roulette) can contribute 10%
Other games contribute may 100%

Slots machines make a 100% contribution toward fulfilling the wagering requirement, so they’re your best bet to meet it faster. On the other hand, it’s best to avoid video poker and table games because they contribute a maximum of 10% and typically come with a low house edge.

Maximum Bets Allowed

Some online casino bonuses have limits on the maximum bet you can place to clear them. Online casinos typically impose this condition, making it hard for you to meet the wagering requirement.

Expiry Time

Most casino bonuses have an expiry date. Therefore, you must claim them before that time passes. Generally, bonuses will last for about a month, but there could be exceptions.

Decide Your Deposit Amount

When deciding the amount of money you want to deposit, choose something that’s affordable and can get you the highest possible return. Ideally, you should aim for the maximum bonus available.

For instance, a 200% bonus up to $1,000 means that you must put down $500 to win the highest possible cash prize. Of course, it’s always essential to deposit the amount you’re most comfortable with.

Understand the House Edge

To get the most out of your casino bonus, you should choose games that give the best return when you’re trying to fulfill the wagering requirements.

Games with a higher Return to Player (RTP) have a lower house edge and vice versa. Some casinos display the RTP numbers for different games, making it easy for you to choose.

Here’s what you might typically see from the three most popular game titles:

Slots: It’s difficult to know the house edge when it comes to slots because they come in different variants. In some cases, the house edge might be just 2%-3%, making it excellent for clearing bonuses. But in others, the figure could be as high as 10%-15%. Slots with progressive jackpots tend to have the worst RTP.
Video poker: There are two main problems with video poker. First, most casinos don’t include video poker titles in their offers. Second, you must use the best possible strategy to achieve the highest possible RTP.
Blackjack: Most blackjack variations have a 98.5% or higher RTP, but you must always make the right moves to maximize your chances of winning big.

It’s best to avoid games like scratch cards and keno because they have a scandalously high house edge.