Friday, February 18, 2011

The Beauty of Timed Welcome Bonuses

When you visit an online casino, the first thing you will likely see is the welcome bonus. They offer you free money for signing up with the casino. But, it’s not really free. You usually have to make a deposit, because it is a match bonus on whatever you put in your account. But there are other types of bonuses. Timed welcome bonuses give you free playing time and sometimes don’t require a deposit.

A timed welcome bonus is almost like playing in a tournament. You have a set time to play and win as much as possible. Once the time is up, you get the bonus depending on how much you won. In most cases, you must hit a certain amount to keep the money.

At Euro Palace Casino, you get to choose a game to play and earn as much as you can within 24 hours. You keep anything over $1,500, with a maximum of $100. If you don’t end up with $1,500, you get nothing but are still eligible for their $200 deposit match bonus. At Ruby Royal Casino, it’s a similar timed welcome bonus. You get $888 and anything earned over that in 30 minutes is yours to keep. Before withdrawing, you must have a minimum deposit of $25.

Timed welcome bonuses may seem like a lot of work for not as much as what you would get from a match bonus, but think of this way. You get try out some games at the casino with little to no risk. Yes, you may still have to make a deposit, but it will be much smaller than that which is required by a match bonus.

These bonuses could be on any game but most online casinos require them on slots, blackjack or video poker. Timed welcome bonuses just add a little more excitement to your gambling experience. More online casinos are offering them because they are looking for more ways to draw in customers and the same old match bonuses aren’t cutting it anymore. People like to be entertained and have a reason to keep playing.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Using Bonus Codes Wisely

Sometimes, a little more effort goes into getting the best deal at an online casino. Online gambling sites do tend to through bonuses around to encourage you to sign up. But there are cases when you must enter a code to receive the bonus. This isn’t a scam. Bonus codes are actually quite beneficial, especially some of the hard-to-find ones not available to everyone.

The bonus codes that may not be available to everyone are ones specific to members on the e-mail list for the online casino. Join the player rewards or VIP program and you are likely to receive these codes. The online casino will also send other promotions to your inbox.

Some people don’t even use bonus codes because they think they’re not worth the effort. But truthfully, in most cases, they are. For example, Go Casino is currently running a promotion where you enter the code GO244 for a free entry into a tournament within 30 days of signing up. The codes are usually cryptic like this but they are generally pretty easy to figure out. Though they can be found on other games, they are common for slot tournaments since there are so many of them.

Bonus codes are beneficial to both parties. The bonuses give you more wagering power and the codes make it clear to the online casino that you are agreeing to that bonus, along with the terms and conditions associated with it. To note, it’s very important to read the fine print of any bonus of hidden requirements. Don’t get dooped into something that you don’t plan on following through until the end because then you won’t be able to withdraw the bonus money. That’s how it works.

Friday, February 4, 2011

The Evil That is Bonus Wagering Requirements

Before accepting any bonus at an online casino, understand that there are likely wagering requirements associated with it. This means that you probably have to wager through to a certain amount before being allowed to withdraw any money. This is called a play through requirement. Or, the bonus may apply to certain games like slots or blackjack.

Just like you do on important documents, it’s important to read the fine print on any online casino bonus. Each one has terms and conditions. Read it all. Don’t scroll through it and think you will be fine. That’s what they want you to do so you fall prey to hidden requirements.

Most bonuses have a 15-30 multiplier (x) play through requirement. Let’s say you deposit $100 for a $100 match bonus on a 15x play through. In this scenario, you must play through to $3,000 before withdrawing any cash. It works like this: ($100 deposit + $100 bonus) x 15 = $3,000. I’m not much of a math guy, but if your bankroll is low, you should watch what kind of requirements you accept.

No-deposit bonuses are very popular because you get free money without any deposit, which increases your wagering power as a gambler. However, no-deposit bonuses usually have a higher play through requirement, like 30x. If you get $10 on a no-deposit bonus with a 30x play through, you must bet $300 before getting any real money. No-deposit bonuses are generally not applicable to progressive jackpot games, either.

Just because you see it in your account doesn’t mean you take it out. Trust me. You aren’t safe until you can feel that money in your hands. Choose an online casino that has promotions and bonuses on games you enjoy playing the most. Then you shouldn’t have a problem hitting the play through requirement.