Spotting Unfair Bonus Terms

Savvy online casino players know that while most platforms are fair regarding bonuses, some are not. However, if you're new to betting on the web, you may not yet know how to spot unfair bonus terms. Below, learn more about the six most common scams bonus-seeking bettors encounter.

Confusing Terms & Conditions

The terms and conditions of any casino offer may look confusing to inexperienced users, but gamblers should watch for a few key factors when reading them. Also, always read them.

The terms of a casino bonus should explicitly state the wagering requirements and max cashout of an offer, preferably with examples.
Players should also be able to identify the offer's expiration date quickly; never assume a casino removes old bonuses from the system.
The terms should state the bet size limit; some promos restrict the value of each hand or spin's max wager.

When terms and conditions don't provide this basic information, walk away; nothing is worse than a big win they won't let you take home.

Game Specification

Although requiring players to wager in a specific game or games to meet the terms of a bonus isn't unusual or even unfair, it's worth noting that free cash or spins will -only- be available in those games. Ensuring awareness of eligible games is essential because bettors can easily blow a bankroll by selecting the wrong slot and assuming those spins are free. Additionally, players shouldn't have to search for the information; casinos should make it readily available.

Inferior Customer Service

Whether players experience poor customer service themselves or read about it in casino reviews, inferior action on the part of a casino's team is a huge red flag. While terrible customer service doesn't automatically mean the bonus terms are unfair, it indicates that everything may not be above board on a particular platform. Combining this information with that found in other entries on this list may enable readers to avoid bad bonuses by selecting better casinos.

Licensing Issues At The Casino

Online casinos should be licensed, and we suggest not even registering at those that aren't. While some new platforms may have licensure pending, which is understandable, those who don't meet the standards to receive one are the sites to avoid. Like poor customer service and the withdrawal problems discussed below, the casino's lack of a license doesn't make its bonuses unfair; however, it suggests that players may encounter issues on the business side of gaming.

Unreasonable Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements, also called playthrough requirements, refer to how many times players must bet their deposit and bonus cash before they're allowed to withdraw funds from their accounts. It's even more essential to watch for unrealistic wagering requirements regarding no-deposit bonuses, as these free-money promotions tend to be the most rigid. Below, see our examples of unfair and fair wagering requirements on a $20 no-deposit chip.

Receiving a $20 free chip with a 50 times wagering requirement means players must place $1,000 in bets to reach cashout. While not impossible, meeting these playthrough requirements falls into the "Life's too short" category.
Free casino cash in the form of a no-deposit chip will come with hefty wagering requirements even in the fairest circumstances, but they should still fall within the realm of reasonable. For instance, wagering requirements of 10 to 40 times on a $20 chip are much easier to meet.

Withdrawal Problems

A casino with a reputation for difficult cashouts is one to avoid at all costs. Because everyone hates losing money, it's easy to find out if a platform has a history of withholding withdrawals. However, determining whether a specific promotion has problem payouts is more challenging; the terms and conditions should clearly state the requirements to cash out from a bonus, and if they're absent, pass on the offer. If a casino's reputation for withdrawals is negative, pass on the platform altogether.

Fast, Fun, & Fair Casino Promotions Exist

While the information above makes it sound like casino bonuses are typically unfair, this couldn't be further from the truth: We only want our readers to know what to avoid when selecting a platform and choosing a promotion. Now that you know what to look for when you search for bonuses, you can proceed confidently.