1. Wagering requirements
The most common complaint players have about casino bonuses is the wagering requirement. Many new players don't fully understand what it means, or how it can make cashing out your winnings much harder.
In a nutshell: A wagering requirement is the number of times you must bet your bonus before you can withdraw any winnings.
What makes it a potential trap
- It blocks immediate withdrawal of your winnings.
- High wagering requirements are tough to meet, and you are more likely to lose your money.
- It comes with a time limit: You may lose your winnings if you don't meet the wagering requirements in time.
To make things even tougher, some online casinos make you wager both your deposit and your bonus before you can withdraw. This raises the total amount you need to bet, making it even harder to see any real winnings.
A word from the author
Example scenario
Here's an example to help you visualize what the wagering terms mean in practice.
- You receive a NZ$50 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement.
- To clear the requirements you need to wager NZ$50 x 30 = NZ$1,500. This means placing bets worth NZ$1,500 even though you only received a NZ$50 bonus.
As you can see, a relatively small, good-sounding bonus can quickly turn into a money eater.
2. Bet limits
Another common, limiting bonus rule is the bet limit. This means you can't place bets over a certain amount while a bonus is active in your casino account.
For example, you might see a rule that you cannot bet more than NZ$5 per spin or NZ$10 per round while the bonus is active. This means every bet must stay at or below the set limit until you've met the wagering requirements.
What makes it a potential trap
- If you accidentally bet over the limit, the casino can void your bonus and any associated winnings.
- The casino won't usually warn you if you break this rule. They'll simply remove your bonus winnings later for not having complied with their terms.
This rule is meant to stop players from placing one big bet to quickly finish the wagering or score a large win. But it can catch newcomers off guard, especially in games where it's easy to raise the stake.
Example scenario
Imagine you're spinning slots and your bonus terms limit you to a maximum bet of NZ$5 per spin.
After some time, you become impatient or simply forget about it, and place a few spins at NZ$10 each. Soon after, you land a big win.
Unfortunately, when you try to withdraw, the casino rejects your request. They point out that some of your bets went over the allowed limit. According to their terms, that voids your winnings. Just a few oversized bets can end up costing you everything you earned.
3. Game restrictions
This one's a bit more straightforward but can easily trip you if you're not paying attention. Casinos often place game restrictions on bonus play. These usually fall into two categories:
- Excluded games are games that do not qualify for bonus play at all. This is usually because they have a high return-to-player percentage or low house edge.
- Game weighting: Not all games contribute equally to the wagering requirement. For example, slots might count 100% of your bets, while table games like blackjack or roulette only count 10%.
What makes it a potential trap
- The list of excluded games can be very long, making it difficult to follow which games you can and cannot play.
- Even if a game isn't banned, a low contribution rate can slow you down.*
- If you accidentally play excluded games you may void your bonus altogether.
*You would have to bet ten times more on a 10% contribution game to achieve the same progress as a bet on a slot machine.
Example scenario
You claim a $10 deposit bonus with a wagering requirement of 200x. In the bonus terms, you see that all slot games contribute 100%, live Blackjack 10%, and Classic Blackjack 2%.
| Game type | Wagering impact |
|---|---|
| Slots (100% contribution) | If you bet NZ$1 on a pokie, the full NZ$1 counts toward the NZ$2,000 requirement. You would need to place 2,000 x NZ$1 bets to clear it. |
| Blackjack (10% contribution) | Each NZ$1 bet only counts as NZ$0.10 toward wagering. To reach NZ$2,000, you need to bet NZ$20,000 in total. |
| Classic Blackjack (2% contribution) | Only NZ$0.02 of each NZ$1 bet counts. You need to wager a massive NZ$100,000 to meet the NZ$2,000 requirement. |
Our tip
If you have the freedom to choose which games to play, go for low-volatility slots with a high RTP (return to player). Ideally these would be pokies with a 96% RTP or more.
These games offer frequent small wins, which can help you clear the requirements without draining your balance too fast. Avoid high-volatility games, which can eat up your bonus fast.
| Game type | Best use for bonus play |
|---|---|
| Low volatility games | Best for steady, more frequent wins. Ideal for clearing wagering requirements. |
| High volatility games | Offers potential for huge payouts but with higher risk. |
4. Winning cap
A winning cap is a limit on how much you can withdraw from your winnings when playing with a bonus.
Even if you hit a big win, the casino will only let you cash out up to a certain amount. Anything above that limit will not be paid out.
What makes it a potential trap
- This term limits how much you can actually win. While bonuses may tempt you with the chance of a big payout, a max cashout guarantees the casino won't let you take home more than a set amount.
- You may lose some, or even most, of the money you won fair and square.
The winning cap often applies to free spins and no-deposit bonuses, but even regular match bonuses can have this rule. This is more rare, though, and in this case the winning cap is usually significantly higher.
Example scenario
You claim a NZ$20 signup bonus and, with a bit of luck, manage to turn it into NZ$400.
If the bonus has a NZ$100 withdrawal limit, you'll only be able to cash out NZ$100. The remaining NZ$300 is forfeited and removed from your account balance.
The cap can look different depending on the casino
Different casinos apply various kinds of withdrawal caps on your bonus winnings.
These are some of the most common ones you can expect to find:
- Fixed cap: A clearly defined limit, such as "maximum NZ$100 withdrawal."
- Multiplier cap: A limit tied directly to your bonus amount. For example, a 3x cap allows you to withdraw up to three times the bonus value.
- Percentage cap: A limit based on a percentage of the amount you've won. For example, you might only be allowed to withdraw 50% of your winnings.
- Progressive cap: Some casinos may offer higher withdrawal limits for loyal or VIP players.
5. Real money vs. bonus money
When you claim a bonus, most online casinos divide your funds into two categories:
| Type of balance | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Real money | Your deposited cash and cash winnings |
| Bonus money | Bonus funds awarded by the casino |
Some casinos treat your deposit and bonus as two separate balances, while others mix them together. How they handle this affects key things like:
- When your bonus kicks in
- How the wagering rules apply
- Which winnings you can actually withdraw
- Whether bonus terms affect your own money
What makes it a potential trap
- Bonus terms might not kick in until your real money is gone, making it confusing. This delays access to bonus play and can change your strategy.
- What you won with real money may become "tainted" by bonus conditions if the casino lumps everything together.
- Many players don't realize when their bonus is active or not.
Example scenarios
This concept of your money vs. bonus money is especially helpful to explain with sticky and non-sticky bonuses.
Let's say you deposit NZ$20 and receive a NZ$20 bonus:
| Type of bonus | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sticky bonus | You can use the full NZ$40 to play. You cannot keep the bonus itself, though. Even if you win and your balance grows to NZ$100, you can only withdraw NZ$80. The NZ$20 bonus is removed when you cash out. |
| Non-sticky bonus | You play with your own NZ$20 first. If you win and reach NZ$100 before touching the bonus, you can usually cash out the full amount. The bonus only comes into play if you lose your deposit. |
Bonus tip: Watch out for loyalty program pitfalls
Not all casino traps are hidden in bonus terms: loyalty rewards can be misleading too.
Many casinos have VIP or loyalty programs that advertise loyalty points or rewards in exchange for money you've played on their site.
This may sound lucrative to some players. If you're playing anyway, why not earn some extra?
Here's the hidden catch
- Most programs target highrollers.
- You might need to wager NZ$50 or more just to earn 1 loyalty point.
- You often need a large amount of points before you can redeem anything.
Remember that each casino decides how their points work. How many you earn, what they're worth, and how you can use them is entirely up to them.
Some reward programs can actually be beneficial, while some definitely aren't.
What makes it a potential trap
Loyalty programs can encourage you to play more than you planned, chasing rewards that may offer little real value. This is especially true if you're not a frequent or high-stakes player.
In conclusion
As this guide hopefully makes clear, the worth of a casino bonus goes hand in hand with the bonus terms.
Here is a recap of the five most costly bonus terms:
| Trap | Why it costs you money |
|---|---|
| Wagering requirements | You must bet your bonus many times before you can withdraw any winnings. |
| Bet limits | You might lose the entire bonus and all winnings if you exceed the max bet limit. |
| Game restrictions | If you play restricted games, it can void all your bonus progress. More beneficial games also contribute less towards clearing the requirement. |
| Winning cap | If the bonus comes with a winning cap, the casino may keep most of your winnings. |
| Real money vs. bonus money | It is difficult to keep an eye on whether you are playing with your own money or bonus money, and what rules apply to these separate funds. |
While I've referred to these terms as "traps," the reality is that most reputable casinos do list these rules openly, though they can often be hard to understand.
It's your responsibility to read and understand them. Taking the time to do so can significantly reduce the risk of losing money to overlooked fine print.
Remember, casinos are designed to have the edge. That's how they stay in business. Bonuses may help you to play longer, but the odds still favor the house. Take bonuses for what they are: extended gameplay, not free cash.
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