When You Should Skip an Online Casino Bonus

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Player's Choice Lossback

Online casino bonuses are available to new players on most sites. Existing players may get reload offers. Thousands of dollars in bonuses offered by casino sites can help players build a bankroll. Players should accept the offers in many situations, especially those who prefer slots. However, there are times when you should pass on casino bonuses. Here are some examples.

You Want to Play an Excluded Game

Most bonus terms and conditions exclude some games. This list often includes baccarat, craps, and roulette. Video poker and blackjack may also be excluded. The first set of games is commonly excluded because players can bet both sides of an outcome, like player and banker in baccarat, pass and don’t pass at craps, and red and black at roulette. Blackjack and video poker may be excluded because of the low house edge. 

Read the bonus terms and conditions. If your favorite game is excluded, pass on the bonus. If you play one hand with the bonus, you must meet the wagering requirements, which force you to play other games to clear it. 

Live Dealer Table Games Are Your Favorite

Live dealer games are often excluded from online casino bonuses. There are several reasons for this. Third parties produce live dealer table games. This adds to the casino site’s expense. 

Most live dealer games are baccarat, blackjack, or roulette. Baccarat and roulette have two-way betting action. Blackjack has a low house advantage. These games also move slowly, making it hard to meet the wagering requirement before expiration to request your winnings, which may be required in the bonus terms and conditions.

You Only Want to Play for a Short Time

Online casino bonuses have large wagering requirements. This keeps players in the game longer. However, it also means that some dedication is required to clear the bonus before it expires. If you only want to play for the evening and will not return for a week or longer, you are better off passing on the bonus. Otherwise, your bonus will expire and related winnings may be removed from your account. 

The Wagering Requirement Is Too High

This is related to the previous section. Even if you have more than one night to play, you may need more time to clear a large wagering requirement, especially if you play games other than slots, keno, bingo, or scratch cards. Either play without a bonus or pick another casino site’s bonus with friendlier terms. 

Your Bankroll Is Small

Many casino site players deposit less than $100. This may be inadequate to handle the variance required to make it to the end of the wagering requirement. If you only want to play for lower limits, you may be better off avoiding the bonus. If you hit a hot streak, you can withdraw without worrying about meeting the terms and conditions. You may find no-deposit bonuses with friendly wagering requirements to help build your bankroll. 

When the Percentage Is Over 100 Percent

When a bonus offer says something like, “500% up to $5000,” this may seem great. However, it can be a trap. A $1000 deposit gets a $5000 bonus. The wagering requirement may be 15 or 25 times the bonus on slots. At 15 times, the player must wager $75,000 to clear the bonus. If the slot holds five percent, the house edge on $75,000 is $3750. A $1000 deposit is not large enough to withstand swings on slots. The player will likely bust before cleaning the bonus. Avoid this type of bonus unless you have a large bankroll that can handle the variance.

Loss Rebates Are Debatable

FanDuel offers a loss rebate of up to $1000 on a player’s first day of action. Some players dislike loss rebates because they require losing to benefit. Players who like to take shots disagree. If you accept a loss rebate, remember that you must still wager the bonus once before withdrawing. Only winnings may be withdrawn. If you lose $1000 on the first day, you must wager that much. If your $1000 bonus wins $900, you lose $100. 

Already Received a First Deposit Bonus From the Site

You likely do not qualify for another if you already received a first deposit bonus from the site. Do not try to claim one unless the terms and conditions are clear, such as that it may be used multiple times or that support says it is permitted. Reload bonuses are available to existing players. These offers have different bonus codes.

How to Opt-Out of a Bonus

In many cases, not using a bonus code prevents it from being awarded. However, some first-deposit bonuses are added to the player’s account automatically. If you do not want a bonus, check your account after depositing and before playing. If you see an unwanted bonus, contact support by live chat, phone, or email, and ask them to remove it. Do not play until it is gone from your account. If you play one spin or hand while it is in your account, you may be bound by the terms and conditions. 

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