To attract new customers, most online casinos today offer enticing \u201c Welcome Bonuses.\u201d They appear to be very generous offers, and the vast majority of them come in the form of matching cash for the first deposit that a new player makes. When the new account is opened, the casino will promise a \u201c100% Deposit Bonus\u201d or \u201c\u00a3100 in Free Cash\u201d or some similar incentive. Offers like these warrant closer examination. Almost all of them are accompanied by specific restrictions on the minimum or maximum amounts that will be matched, the games that can be played with the bonus cash or the types of wagers allowed, as well as how any winnings may be withdrawn. Among the most common restrictions is a stipulation known as a \u201cwagering requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, Casino #1 might offer each new customer a \u201cWelcome Bonus of up to \u00a3100.\u201d The important phrase here is \u201cup to.\u201d It implies that the amount may be less. Looking at the fine print a little more closely, the terms and conditions (T&C) might reveal that the amount that will be paid out is \u201cbased upon the player\u2019s activity level during the first month of play.\u201dThe bonus offered by Casino #1 could be referred to as a \u201ctiered wagering requirement.\u201d If at least \u00a320 is wagered within a week after signing up, then \u00a320 in free bonus cash will be awarded. Those who wager a minimum \u00a3500 within 30 days will receive an additional \u00a340 in free bonus cash. And if \u00a32,000 is wagered before another 30 days are up, the remaining portion of the full bonus, another \u00a340, is paid out. In this way, the player may receive \u201cup to\u201d \u00a3100, which is just 5% of the total wagering required.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Casino #2 may offer a \u201c100% First Deposit Bonus.\u201d Again, a reading of the legalese contained in the T&C reveals, \u201cQualifying deposits are limited to a minimum of \u00a325 and a maximum of \u00a3100,\u201d so the most that may be claimed is \u00a3100. No matter how much is awarded, a \u201c20X Wager requirement\u201d must be met before any withdrawal can be initiated.<\/p>\n
This is just another way of saying that whether the player wins or loses, no portion of the bonus may be withdrawn until after the \u201cfree cash\u201d has been bet through a minimum of 20 times. In other words, \u00a32,000 in wagering is required to release the \u00a3100, which amounts to just a 5% gain in real terms, assuming no losses are incurred during play.<\/p>\n
An even more insidious twist on Casino #2\u2019s offer might be encountered at Casino #3. In addition to the \u201c20X Wager requirement\u201d on the bonus cash, this casino requires that the initial deposit must also be bet through 20 times. In other words, neither the \u00a3100 in free cash nor the \u00a3100 that triggered the bonus is available for withdrawal until wagering equivalent to \u00a34,000 has occurred. The deposit is, in effect, being held, hostage.<\/p>\n
Searching a bit further, one may find yet another variation, where Casino #4 advertises a \u201c\u00a320 No Deposit Bonus.\u201d This introductory offer is truly cash-free. The player receives a \u00a320 deposit to the new account immediately after sign-up. There is no transfer of funds required. However, win or lose, there can be no withdrawal of this bonus money until a \u201c30X wagering requirement\u201d has been achieved. That means at least \u00a3600 must be wagered.<\/p>\n
Those who have spent at least a little time gambling in land-based casinos or those online knows just how hard it can be to wager \u00a3600 with a \u00a320 bankroll. On the off chance that the player\u2019s first bet is wildly successful and wins \u00a3600, the full amount must still be played through in wagering before any withdrawals can be made.<\/p>\n
Although each of the four examples given above refers to new customers, such wagering requirements are not limited to welcome bonuses. They are typically part of any re-deposit bonuses offered as well. In fact, cash prizes won as part of free roll promotions may also require reinvestment.<\/p>\n
All of this merely demonstrates how important it is for players to read the T&C very carefully before accepting \u201cfree\u201d offers. The wagering requirements must be clearly stated in any agreements with players. Not surprisingly, most of the complaints made against online casinos are related to wagering requirements and play-through rules. It is the player\u2019s responsibility to know the details of the offer before accepting it.<\/p>\n