In my previous post, I touched on the topic of casino bonuses. They are a big selling point of online casinos and a key factor for many people in deciding where to play. Yet they can also be the biggest reason for frustration, disappointment and anger among players. This is because many people do not understand the conditions that come attached to them. If you don’t stick to the rules you could lose out on your winnings. However, by taking a little time to understand the ins and outs of casino bonuses, you can be certain that you are getting a good deal. These are the important things to know to determine which are the best casino bonuses.

One Time Offer or Package Deal?

So you see a welcome bonus of £100 and another of £1000… seems a no brainer right? Well there is more to this than meets the eye. The first offer is a one time deal. You get a percentage match of your first deposit up to a maximum of £100. The other is a welcome bonus package. This rewards bonuses over your first 3 deposits, with a maximum of £1000 bonus available across the lot. Whilst the package deal offers a larger bonus, it is worth bearing in mind that this will require larger deposits. Think how much you intend to deposit and which stakes you will play with to help determine which type of bonus offers the best value for your money.

Wagering Requirements

Casino bonuses are intended for playing with. You cannot simply withdraw your free cash and run. For this reason, casinos attach a wagering requirement to bonuses to ensure that you play games with them. You will need to playthrough the bonus, or the total of the deposit and bonus a set number of times before you are allowed to withdraw any winnings you have made. This amount can vary greatly from one casino bonus to another. Generally speaking, the lower the wagering requirement, the more favourable the deal.

Game Weightings

Not all casino games contribute the same amount towards fulfilling wagering requirements. Usually, you will find that any money you wager on slots will count completely towards wagering. Yet, betting on other popular casino games such as blackjack and roulette usually only contributes a small percentage towards meeting the playthrough requirements. In some cases, they may be excluded altogether. This is because these types of games have a much lower house edge than slots. So if you enjoy table games, look for a bonus with a high weighting attached to your favourite game.

Timescales

It is important to know how long a bonus is valid for once it has been awarded. If you do not fulfil the wagering requirement within the specified timeframe, then your remaining bonus funds along with any winnings could be forfeited. Bonus validity is another factor that can change significantly from one casino to another. Many operators set this at around 30 days, yet there are some that can limit this to a week or even just a few days. On the other hand, some bonuses have unlimited validity, so you can take as long as you need to fulfil the playthrough. Consider how often you are likely to play and accept a bonus that allows sufficient time for you to fulfil the bonus conditions.