Warning Signs of a Scam Casino Bonus

Bonuses offered by casinos may be either excellent or negative. Both beginners and experienced players need to learn to see these red flags. Read on to explore this issue in full.

What are Casino Bonuses?

Online casinos often provide new players with incentives when they join up or make a deposit. A certain amount of free spins or bonus credits will be yours when you claim a certain sort of bonus.

Assuming you follow the terms and conditions, you may use one of them to play casino games and win real money.

Numerous Casino Bonus Options

Bonuses offered by casinos often fall into two broad types:

1. No Deposit Bonuses - The bonuses you get when you sign up for a new account do not need a deposit.

2. Deposit Bonuses - Bonuses are given to you once you make a deposit that meets certain requirements.

We'll give you the rundown on all the different kinds of bonuses below.

No Deposit Bonuses

When new players join up for an account, they may be offered a bonus that doesn't need a deposit. You may play for free with the chance to win real money.

A "free trial" would be the best way to describe this kind of benefit. The goal of no deposit bonuses offered by casinos is to get you to try out their games for free before committing to a real money commitment.

No deposit bonuses come in two varieties:

1. No Deposit Bonus Credits

For example, $100 free no deposit worth of additional credits would be given out. Despite their monetary worth, they are more akin to casino-exclusive coupons.

Slot machines and table games alike will be at your fingertips when you use your bonus credits to play at this casino.

2. No Deposit Free Spins

Twenty free spins, for instance, would be offered in a quantity of ten. Players of slot machines are the only intended recipients of free spins.

When you use no deposit free spins, you're usually limited to playing a single or a few slot games.

Deposit Bonuses

It costs money to claim a deposit bonus. But when it comes to general justice and worth, they are usually much more generous.

A deposit bonus may only be claimed when a qualified deposit has been made. We shall distinguish between two main kinds of deposit bonuses:

1. Match Deposit Bonuses

This incentive will "match" your deposit up to a certain amount, matching it by a specific percentage.

For example, let's pretend that you were eligible for a 100% match bonus up to $100. By fulfilling their promise to "match" your deposit by 100%, the casino will give you $100 in bonus credits for every $100 you invest.

The terms and conditions of match deposit bonuses are often better than those of no deposit incentives.

2. Deposit Free Spins

Free spins with a deposit are not really free, despite the term. "Deposit spins" or "extra spins" may be the name given to them in heavily regulated areas since to claim them, a qualifying deposit is required.

As with no-deposit free spins, deposit free spins function similarly. The main difference is that the free spins will be more plentiful and come with better terms and conditions.

The 5 Rules for Recognizing a Scam Casino Bonus

Bad casino bonuses are simple to recognize once you know what to look for.

As a guide, here are five guidelines to follow:

1. Casinos that do not have the proper licensing

Stay away from casinos that lack proper licensing. Laws enacted to safeguard consumers do not apply to casinos that do not possess a license.

You run the risk of playing at a fake casino, but you also run the opportunity of finding an unregulated casino with excellent customer service. Do not do it. Never gamble at a casino that isn't listed here.

An authority in the field has thoroughly reviewed all of the casinos we list, and they have all obtained the necessary licenses.

2. Unstellar Internet Reputation

A bad reputation online may affect even legitimate casinos. Online casino forums are a great resource for avoiding shady establishments. Players may post complaints using these forums, which serve as an independent regulator. So, you can find out whether there has been a pattern of bad behavior at the casino.

Be cautious, however, since some internet complaints are not real. A player is in the wrong if they refuse to accept the bonus because they didn't read the fine print. 

3. Strict Needs for Wagering

Looking at the wagering requirements is usually enough to tell you whether a casino bonus is terrible. Wagering standards are notoriously tough to meet. After all, casinos are for-profit establishments that would rather not hand out free cash.

However, offering players a fair shot at winning is just as important as avoiding giving away money. There is a strong correlation between the wagering requirements and your winning potential. Actually, your odds of winning increase as the wagering restrictions decrease.

With that in mind, stay away from any casino offer that has excessive wagering requirements. For the greatest odds of winning, only play with bonuses that have wagering requirements ranging from 10x to 40x.

4. Terms and Conditions That Aren't Clear

If the bonus terms are not clear, you should not claim it. Here are some terms and conditions that every casino should make clear:

• Wagering Requirements - How often you must gamble your bonus.

• Eligible Games - Casino bonus games and exclusions.

• Max Cash Out — Your bonus's maximum real-money withdrawal.

• Bet Size Limit - Maximum bet/spin.

• Expiry Date - Bonus expiration date.

• Game Weighting Percentages - The proportion of your bet that goes toward wagering requirements, changing each game.

You risk inadvertently nullifying your bonus if the terms and conditions are not properly articulated.

5. Limitations on Playing the Game

A casino may limit the games you may play with your bonus in one of two ways:

• List of Eligible Games—A list of all the games that you may play with your bonus.

• Weighting Percentages by Game—The percentage that your bet adds to the wagering requirements for each game you play.

Both limitations might significantly reduce your casino bonus winnings.

The eligible games list comes first. Casino bonuses reduce the danger of losing a lot. Casinos avoid bonuses on high-odds or high-volatility games.

Usually, your casino bonus is valid on one or more slot games. Slot games with medium odds and minimal volatility are expected. You must play approved games during your bonus until you cash out or reach the expiration date.

It becomes more challenging when high-odds games are eligible. If a bonus lets you play blackjack or roulette, be wary of “Game Weighting Percentages”. Most games with greater odds contribute less to wagering requirements. This greatly affects your chances of earning real money.

Say you get a casino bonus that gives blackjack 4%. If you spend $100 on blackjack with your bonus, just $4 will go towards the wagering requirements. Compared to other slot games, which give 100% of your bet, the difference is $96.

Table games have lower game weighting percentages, negating their better chances and making it 25x less likely you would win real money with your bonus. We advocate just playing casino games that contribute 100% of your bet to wagering.

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