Why do casinos offer online casino bonuses? It’s important for players to remember that the goal of any casino is to ensure that over the lifetime of the player’s membership, the house wins. Random number generators ensure the fairness of the games, but the odds are still stacked against you. It’s only under special circumstances, such as being able to count cards at a blackjack table, that a player may have an advantage over the casino. In order to entice players who might otherwise be put off the casino’s edge, most online casinos will offer “Welcome” online casino bonuses and other promotions to increase the player’s odds of winning in the short-term. In almost every case, there are strings attached to these bonuses. For example, most of them are game-specific. If you only enjoy playing roulette you might be out of luck. Although most bonuses will allow you to play virtually any slot machine, occasionally you can also find bonuses for blackjack and other games, including roulette, but the advantage provided by these bonuses won’t be quite as generous.
Online Casino Bonuses Variations
There are several varieties of online casino bonuses. The simplest type of bonus is a cashable one. This is accompanied by a wagering requirement. An example of this would be $200 welcome bonus with a 25x wagering requirement. In this scenario the player must wager the initial deposit 25 times for a total of $5000 before the player can cash out any winnings. The $5000 in wagering can be achieved in any combination such as fifty $100 bets, five hundred $10 bets or five thousand $100 bets. Players are expected to lose, on average, approximately 0.5% of their bet on blackjack. Therefore, the anticipated loss on the $5000 in wagers is $25 ($5000 x 0.5%). Consequently, $175 of the original $200 welcome bonus remains as a cashable profit. It’s a good idea to do some research for any game selected in order to develop a basic understanding of game strategy as well as determining an appropriate bet amount.
“Sticky” online casino bonuses also come with a wagering requirement. But, unlike a cashable bonus, sticky bonuses can’t be withdrawn; they can only be used to make bets. Generally speaking, players cash out their balance first. Then, should the account balance fall to zero, the player can continue wagering with the sticky bonus amount.
Microgaming casinos offer a variation on the “Clearplay” bonus scheme. These bonuses allow you to play any casino game and withdraw any winnings whenever you like, whether or not you have satisfied the wagering requirements. Wagering requirements are higher for games with better odds, like blackjack. Therefore, unlike the typical cashable bonuses, these have different strategies and suggested games. If you choose to play at a Microgaming casino you may want to contact their customer service representatives for more information.
It is becoming a lot more commonplace these days for some casinos to offer free play and free spin online casino bonuses. All you need to do is register to play as a real money player. Your account will then be credited and once you make your first deposit your free play winnings will be credited to your account as bonus money. As with any offer, be sure to review the terms and conditions carefully before accepting any bonus. If the terms are unclear, contact customer service for a detailed explanation. Online casino bonuses are a great way to increase your odds of winning; just do your research so you can play with confidence!
