As I mentioned in my previous post, one of the major advantages of playing at an online casino is the generous bonuses that are up for grabs. Pretty much all operators will provide a rewarding bonus to entice you to join them. Yet if there are so many to choose from, how are you supposed to know which offers the best deal? Well for starters, you should know that the bonus amount is not the most important factor. The biggest bonus amounts do not necessarily provide the best value. All casino bonuses have certain conditions attached to them, and it is only by understanding these that you will be able to identify the ones that provide the best value for money. Here I will fill you in on the key criteria that you should use to identify the best bonus for you.
Wagering Requirements – Given that operators offer a bonus to encourage you to play at their casino, they add a wagering requirement to ensure that you do not simply withdraw your bonus straightaway. This basically means that you will need to play through the bonus a certain number of times before you can withdraw it. It is important to understand this condition before accepting a bonus to avoid any nasty surprises further down the line. If you try to make a withdrawal before you have fulfilled the playthrough requirement, you could forfeit any remaining bonus you have. What’s more, you could lose any winnings made whilst playing with the bonus. The wagering requirement varies from one operator to another. There are some with a low requirement, such as 10x, whereas others can be as much as 100x. Therefore, you should opt for a bonus that has a reasonable wagering requirement that can be easily achieved. Generally speaking, the lower the wagering requirement, the more favourable the bonus is for players.
Contribution of Games – There are a couple of points worth considering when it comes to games. For starters, when wagering real money in an online casino you can play whatever game takes your fancy. Yet when you bet with bonus money, there can be some restrictions on the games that you can play. Therefore, you should check if there are any excluded games before accepting a bonus. After all, if your favourite game is excluded, then it is probably not the right bonus for you. Secondly, you should be aware that not all casino games contribute fully towards meeting the wagering requirements. Generally speaking, when you play slots, every bet you make will count entirely towards meeting the playthrough requirement. Yet games with a low house edge usually only contribute a small percentage. Therefore, if you intend to play say roulette or the popular card game blackjack, you should look for a favourable weighting that will enable you to fulfil the wagering conditions more easily.
Time Limit – Given that you need to play the bonus through a set number of times before making a withdrawal, it is really important to check if there is a time limit attached to the bonus. Many casinos set their bonus validity at 30 days, yet there are some offers that may only be valid for 1-3 days. There are even some operators who do not place any limits on the bonus, allowing you to meet the playthrough requirements at your own pace. Therefore, you should consider how often you are likely to play casino games, in order to find a bonus that gives you enough time to benefit fully from it.