EZ Bonus explained?

[Stanford]

I am not sure I really understand EZ Bonus from MicroGaming.

The first thing it says is wager only your Bonus - not your deposit.

So, if I deposit $100 for a 25% bonus, I have a total of $125. Now say I want to place a bet for $50. How do I wager only the bonus? If I lose, I now have $75. Has my bonus been wiped out?

I must say this new method looks promising. It says all games can be played but some may not count dollar for dollar. Is the amount they count consistant across the various MicroGaming's using this method?

Other comments from players or casino reps?

Stanford

[silcnlayc]

I am apologizing in advance.......no offense meant but it's killing me....and now I am going to go faint from holding it all in....KERPLUNK!

[Stanford]

I found this thread that helps:

http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/...us+MicroGaming

There may be others but one can't search on "EZ" as the word is to short - so it says.

I did look at the Ts/Cs at one casino and found:

"Different games played may contribute a different percentage of the wager - up to 100%, towards the required play-through.
The contributing percentages are as follows:
(a) Slots, American Roulette and Parlor Games count 100% towards wagering requirements
(b) Table Poker, all Roulettes excluding American Roulette, Casino War and Sicbo count 10% towards wagering requirements
(c) Video Poker, all Blackjacks except Classic Blackjack, Craps and Baccarat count 2% towards wagering requirements
(d) Classic Blackjack counts 1% towards wagering requirements. "

But I still have questions.

The same Ts/Cs said:

"Play-through is achieved when any real money wager is made. The Player can use either their bonus or their cash account."

&

"For any wagers made, the wager is deducted from the Player’s cash account. If there is no cash available, then the wager is deducted from the bonus account. This effectively means that funds in the Player’s bonus account are only played if there is no cash balance."

So that answers my original question - I think. The web site says:

"Wager only your bonus, not your deposit" but the above makes clear that one can't do that - doesn't it?

I still don't know if the play through discounts for the different games are consistant from property to property.

Any updates from players?

Stanford

[Vesuvio]

The first thing it says is wager only your Bonus - not your deposit.

So, if I deposit $100 for a 25% bonus, I have a total of $125. Now say I want to place a bet for $50. How do I wager only the bonus? If I lose, I now have $75. Has my bonus been wiped out?

The bonus amount stays at $25 until your balance hits zero, unless you wager enough to convert some or all of it into cash. The wagering is only a multiple of the bonus, so in that sense you're not wagering your deposit. [on second thoughts, if you're on $10 your bonus amount must be $10, so I've confused myself, even though I've played with the system!]

I must say this new method looks promising.

I think it was a breath of fresh air and did simplify things greatly: all games allowed, no confiscation of funds for mistakes, no need to contact CS to check wagering, the possibility of withdrawing if you hit a good win, knowing for certain that if you withdraw you'll receive the amount you withdraw (not waiting for an audit), and so on.

Unfortunately the casinos are now backtracking and adding terms that contradict the system - e.g. you can withdraw at any time, but not if we think you're bypassing the wagering requirements So sadly it looks like an opportunity missed to simply things for all involved.

[Stanford]

The bonus amount stays at $25 until your balance hits zero

Unfortunately the casinos are now backtracking and adding terms that contradict the system - e.g. you can withdraw at any time, but not if we think you're bypassing the wagering requirements So sadly it looks like an opportunity missed to simply things for all involved.

Thanks Vesuvio. Regarding your first comment and just to clarify, one can wager the bonus at any time but loses come from the deposit money first correct? It isn't like cash back where it is only available as it is earned.

Regarding the second, I see where Goldren Reef (or Good Grief as I call them) is not allowing the withdrawal. Are other casinos also shying away from their own Ts/Cs? From the web site I visited:

"You don't need to meet the entire wagering requirements before you receive any benefit ...You decide when you want to cashin and how much wagering is still required - All in real time ...Guaranteed Cashins! NO MORE token refunds, no more frustration"

That's a pretty good statement. I agree with you that something like this has potential.

Stanford

[winbig]

A trick to this is to use google.

ie: On google, search for:

site:casinomeister.com <search string>

Works great for any other website too.

[sal monella]

I believe there are variations from one group to another, but in general, the bonuses are not risk-free. The deposit money is wagered first.

Wager requirements are typically quite challenging. I haven't seen anything lower than 15x bonus for slots, and 150x bonus for video poker or blackjack.

Tracking one's progress is much improved. Hovering the cursor over the balance at lower-left shows bonus funds versus regular cash funds, and there's also a way to see the exact amount wagered (or maybe remaining to be wagered) toward the bonus.

[Vesuvio]

Regarding your first comment and just to clarify, one can wager the bonus at any time but loses come from the deposit money first correct? It isn't like cash back where it is only available as it is earned.

Yep, that's right.

Regarding the second, I see where Golden Reef (or Good Grief as I call them) is not allowing the withdrawal. Are other casinos also shying away from their own Ts/Cs? From the web site I visited:

"You don't need to meet the entire wagering requirements before you receive any benefit ...You decide when you want to cashin and how much wagering is still required - All in real time ...Guaranteed Cashins! NO MORE token refunds, no more frustration"

That's a pretty good statement. I agree with you that something like this has potential.

I was thinking particularly of the new MG casino being talked about on another thread. They have "abuse" terms which negate the terms relating to the bonus system: http://www.grandmonaco.com/terms-and-conditions.asp

[winbig]

150x bonus for video poker or blackjack.

Even with a 150% blackjack bonus, you're never going to clear the WR @ 1% of bets counting towards it.

[sal monella]

I have to admit it's a very fair system in that the bonus contribution of various games is proportional to the house advantage. As a player I don't like it, but it does appear to meet the casino objective of extending one's play without actually enabling an easy profit.