5 Considerations for Online Casino Bonuses
A large number of online casino players will use online casino bonuses when making a deposit. However, most only look at the amount of the bonus and the number of free spins when signing up for the bonus. It is important that you understand all of the terms behind a bonus so that you don’t accidentally violate some of the terms of the bonus.
Today, we will give you five things you need to look for when considering online casino bonuses. These tips apply to all Australian online casinos offering bonuses.
Playthrough for Online Casino Bonuses
The first thing you should look at when considering a casino bonus is the playthrough, sometimes called a rollover. This is the number of times you have to play your bonus before you’re allowed to cash it out. A playthrough can range from 25x to 40x the amount of your bonus. If you have a $100 bonus with a 40x playthrough, you have to wager $4,000 with it before you can cash out the $100 bonus.
It is important you pay careful attention to the wording as well as some casinos require that you play through both the deposit and the bonus. This will at least double the amount of money you have to wager. Honestly, we recommend avoiding most bonuses that require a playthrough of both the deposit and the bonus.
Terms for Free Spins
If you sign up for a bonus that includes free spins, check out the terms for the free spins bonus. These terms are separate from the standard terms. For example, if you have a 100% match and 25 free spins, the playthrough for the bonus may be 40x but the free spins may have a 25x rollover on the free spin earnings.
Free spin winnings almost always have a lower rollover than the bonus. However, pay attention to any caps on winnings. Many casinos will limit you to $500 or less in free spin winnings. As such, you cannot play progressive jackpot pokies with most free spins bonuses.
Wagering Requirement
After you look at the terms for the bonus, check the wagering requirement for the casino. The wagering requirement tells you how much of each bet contributes to the playthrough. For example, pokies contribute 100%. So for every $1 wagered in pokies, $1 goes toward the playthrough.
However, games like blackjack will only contribute up to 30%. That means only 30 cents of every $1 wagered goes toward the wagering requirement. Video Poker often contributes 10%. Some games don’t contribute at all. For example, Pai Gow Poker and most Live Dealer Games don’t contribute toward the wagering requirement.
Game Restrictions
When playing online casino bonuses, check for any game restrictions with the bonus. Often, these games center around online pokies. For example, there may be pokie games that contribute at less than 100%. Other times, there will be variants of popular table games that don’t contribute.
For example, at some casinos, Super 21 Blackjack may only contribute 5% where standard blackjack contributes 30%. At other casinos, Dream Card Video Poker may not contribute to the wagering requirement where video poker normally contributes 10%.
Game restrictions may be listed in the primary terms for the bonus or under the wagering requirement terms. Make sure to check both places.
Time Limits on Online Casino Bonuses
Lastly, check for any time limits on your bonus. The average online casino bonus gives you 30 days to clear your bonus. However, some casinos will reduce this amount down to as little as 7 days.
However, your free spins may have a separate time limit. Some casinos require that you redeem your free spins within 72 hours of signing up for the bonus. On occasion, you’ll find some casinos giving you only 24 hours to redeem and clear your free spins. The time limit on free spins may be in either the primary bonus terms or the terms of the free spins, so check both places.