With the rise of online gambling, promotions and incentives have become the standard for casinos to attract more players. According to a study conducted by the UK Gambling Commission, “65% of players have received an incentive in the past 12 months”, but only 31% were encouraged by free bets and bonuses to gamble more than they wanted to.
Analyzing this data, we can conclude that more than half of the gamblers are interested in trying out different offers. Therefore, every player must understand every downside of incentives so they can avoid any type of problem.
There are many ways you can start gambling at a casino when it comes to incentives, like cash offers, free spins, or even welcome bonuses.
Playing with a no deposit sign up bonus is the most efficient way to start testing a new platform. However, you should be aware of some important facts when redeeming any promo, which you have to analyze carefully.
Our experts will explore them below, so keep on reading if you want to know what’s best to redeem in order to have a positive experience with bonuses. Additionally, we’ll talk about some key factors that will help you understand if a gambling platform might be a scam.
Falling for an illegal casino
The first aspect you have to be aware of is that the casino is operating legally. A very telling aspect is whether it has a good license, so make sure to scroll to the footer of the main page and carefully check this information.
Be mindful that the following information is available there:
- License name
- License number
- Owner name
Please keep in mind that a casino without a license is a total red flag, and you should avoid such platforms. If you play and deposit money in such casinos, it’s most likely that you’ll not get your winnings. There are no regulations, and they often take advantage of uninformed players.
The best decision to protect your money is not to play at these casinos, and especially not to redeem any bonuses.
Not paying attention to the wagering requirements
What you should be aware of when claiming any bonus is the wagering requirements. That’s because without completing them, the casino will not let you withdraw your winnings.
Here is how this condition works:
- The wagering comes as a multiplier between x1 and x99.
- Wagering simply means that you will need to play that amount. So, you’ll have to subtract any bets you place from the total wagering.
- Pay attention to the games’ wagering contribution. Choose games that have 100% contribution so you don’t spend more time playing than necessary.
To better understand how wagering works, here are two examples that refer to different types of bonuses. These examples are purely fictional for this example’s purpose.
No deposit bonus
For no deposit bonuses, the casino will give you a certain amount of cash. If you get, for example, $50, and the wagering requirement is x30, then you will need to wager a total of $1500.
Free spins bonus
Free spins are different because you need to play the rotations first. So, let’s say you get 100 free spins, and after you finish them, you win a total amount of $100. If your wagering is, for example, x50, then you will need to play a total of $5000.
Exceeding the maximum bet
One breach of the terms and conditions is exceeding the maximum bet allowed when playing with a bonus. This information should be available in the T&C, so don’t skip it and risk losing your future withdrawal.
Most casinos add betting restrictions, which means that you shouldn’t exceed them. A big mistake that players make is betting more than the set limit. So, if you have a maximum bet of $5, and you bet $10, then your bonus will be voided because you’ve breached the T&C.
Playing restricted games
When going through a promotion’s wagering requirements, make sure to check the restricted games list first. Some casinos restrict specific games for different reasons, and playing on such games leads to breaching the T&C. You should easily find the list available on the casino’s page.
Depositing the wrong amount
When you want to unlock a promotion, you have to be careful about the amount you deposit. Depositing less than the offer requires will result in not being able to unlock it.
Additionally, you will have to deposit the full amount at once. For example, if the bonus requires a $50 deposit, you cannot make a transaction of $20 and then one of $30 because the offer will not be added to your account.
Getting multiple bonuses at the same time
We know that some gambling platforms might have multiple appealing promotions, and you’ll want to get as many as possible. The proper strategy is to get them one by one so that you do not fall into bonus stacking.
Bonus stacking is a breach of the terms and conditions, and by doing that, you will risk the following:
- You can fall into the category of bonus abuser and therefore have your promotions deactivated, meaning you will only be able to deposit and play with your real balance.
- The casino can suspend your account, and you will not be able to withdraw your winnings.
- The casino can forfeit the active bonuses you have on your account.
Falling for a marketed bonus description
Because casinos often rely on marketing, they will most likely advertise promotions in such a way that players will think they are better than they actually are.
Welcome package
Let’s take, for example, welcome packages, which are most likely to have a crafted advertisement that seems too good to be true. Say you have a welcome package of 100% up to $2000 + 400 free spins on a slot machine for a minimum deposit of $20. The truth is that this package will be made up of 4 separate bonuses that give you 100% up to $500 + 100 free spins each for $20. So, to get the total, you have to deposit $20 4 times.
Up to bonuses
Some bonuses give you spins according to how much you deposit. So, if you see a bonus that says something in the lines of “Up To 200 free spins for $20”, that means that’s only the minimum deposit required.
Such bonuses might give you 1 spin per dollar, so you’ll only get 20 spins if you deposit $20. Make sure to read the full description.
Not verifying the account first
If you’re getting a bonus that requires a deposit, make sure to verify your account so that if you get lucky and want to withdraw, the process is not going to take too long. Verifying your account is also part of a safety measure.
The account verification is simple and you only need to send some valid documentation to the support team, including a valid ID, a proof of payment and a proof of address.
Keep in mind
Players sometimes perceive gambling as a way to earn income. Make sure not to fall into this trap! Playing for fun is always the best way to gamble, and you should do that, especially as a new player.
When you start playing at a casino, redeem an offer that doesn’t require you to invest anything. This way, you’ll get to try out the platform without any risk. Also, make sure never to chase your losses.
Our experts truly believe that playing responsibly is the only way to have fun. According to PR Newswire, “U.S. consumers and the economy are projected to lose at least $1 trillion to online gambling by 2028”.
Therefore, you must set some limits for yourself before placing your first bet. To easily do that, make sure you check that the casino offers limits of all kinds. The most important ones are deposit limits and wager limits when it comes to bonuses.
Conclusion
As a first-time gambler, getting an incentive is very beneficial for trying out the casino and having fun. However, you shouldn’t overlook some key factors that will help you have a good gambling session.
If you, as a player, pay attention to these factors, you’ll be able to make informed decisions and avoid scam casinos that can endanger your funds.
