Percentage bonuses are taking over, but match bonuses are still alive and well. Find the bonus that's right for your budget.
A new generation of percentage bonuses is meaning good times for gamers. But with thousands of confusing casinos ads pouring bonus offers into your inbox and flashing on your computer screen, getting a bonus-fueled jump on the house still means doing your homework.
Percentage Bonuses
Percentage bonuses give more choice and more cash, so it's time you understand them.
Designed to award free cash based on the amount you deposit, a 30% deposit offer on a $100 deposit nets $30. Before withdrawing this cash, casinos expect that you wager an aggregate in the area of 25x the amount. This means if you receive $10 free cash, you will have to wager $250 worth of hands before you can withdraw.
Percentage bonuses also have the reputation of being aimed at high rollers. Somewhat based in the past, this still holds some logic. If you are only going to deposit $50, there is no point looking for a 20% bonus, because it will only yield $20. Look for a match that gets you $50.
Casino managers claim the sweeter percentage bonuses mean better customer service. The cost of acquiring a player means there is no point in bamboozling them with exotic offers, and possibly turning them off the casino. Give them the choice of how much cash they want to receive, and hopefully they'll stay.
"Free money is designed to get you in the door," says venerable Omni Casino pit boss Steve Blair. "A percentage bonus gives the player a better option of the amount of free money he or she wishes to receive. And giving players a choice is all about quality customer service. This attention to detail in providing great customer care is the reason people stay."
Match Bonuses
Dying but not dead, match bonuses target new players. More restrictive than the percentage bonus cousins, they are tailored to lower rollers afraid to lose their cash.
A $50 for $50 is worth considering for the tight player who gambles less often. Match bonuses are getting harder to find, so the frugal player will have to do their homework. Play-through requirements also apply.
Protect Yourself
As players demand better service and more reason to stay loyal to a casino, operators will need to get more creative in what they offer players. Bonuses amounts have been on the way up in the past few years and look to continue.
Make sure you read the terms and conditions before trying to withdraw your bonus. All casinos ban certain games deemed to close to 50/50 proposition and a target for bonus hunters. You may also live in a "high-risk" country (Denmark, Singapore) which will make getting a bonus difficult with some operators.
Casinos often combine offers. Make sure you determine whether your bonus is a "new player" bonus or a "returning player" bonus. Also check to see if this status affects the play through requirements. Some also place a time limit on using a bonus.
Also check the Winner Online message board if a bonus sounds too sweet. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
If you are confused in any way, contact the casino's customer support team and demand a straight answer. If that's not enough, contact the casino manger. If you're not clear before you deposit, it's unlikely you will be after.
