As you can see, bonuses come in all different shapes and sizes. When weighing up whether a bonus is right for you, check out each of their individual qualities. Depending on your play style, favourite games, and preferences, you'll get more out of some bonuses than others.
- Bonus Amount
- Game Context
- Redeemable/non-redeemable
- Wagering Requirements
Bonus amount
Before snapping up every bonus offer you see, check the minimum deposit required fits with your budget. Otherwise, you may end up depositing more than you planned in order to grab the bonus.
Likewise, if you’re a high-roller or play for higher stakes, ensure the max bonus amount is enough to match your deposits. If the Welcome Package requirements are 100% up to $100, it means the bonus amount is capped at $100. If you deposit $5,000, you’ll only receive $100.
Game Context
Bonuses can be limited to specific games such as slots only. If you're a Roulette player, then you won't be able to play your favourite wheel with the bonus. You should also check if your game contributes towards the bonus wagering, and by how much. Usually, slots contribute 100%, where-as table games contribute less.
Redeemable/Non-redeemable
- When a bonus is redeemable, the bonus funds turn into cash when you’ve completed the wagering requirement. These are sometimes called non-sticky bonuses and can be cashed out
- Non-redeemable bonuses are only for playing. While the winnings can be withdrawn once the wagering is complete, the original bonus amount will disappear. These are sometimes called sticky bonuses
It’s a good idea to check if the bonus you’re taking is redeemable or non-redeemable to avoid any disappointment when it’s time to cashout.
Wagering Requirements
The most important aspect to check before accepting any bonus is the wagering requirement. This is also called ‘playthrough’ or ‘rollover’.
The wagering requirements are the required amount of wagers/bets you need to play before you can withdraw any winnings from the bonus. The wagering can be applied and calculated in different ways, but here are the three most common ways you'll see it. In these examples, we'll use a wagering requirement of x20, but the amount can be higher or lower.
- A multiple of your deposit, e.g. if you deposit $20 and the playthrough is x20, you'll need to wager $400 in total
- A multiple of the bonus amount, e.g. if you receive a $30 bonus and the rollover is x20. You'll need to wager $600 in total
- A multiple of the bonus and deposit, e.g. if you deposit $20 and receive a $20 bonus, the rollover is equal to (deposit + bonus) x 20, which is $800
Game Contribution Percentage
Depending on the bonus, specific games or types of games will contribute higher or lower amounts towards the bonus wagering requirements.
Slots typically contribute 100%, which means a $10 bet will count as $10.
Table games sometimes contribute less, such as 20%. A $10 bet contributes $2 towards the wagering requirement.
