Bonuses - what's the point?

[MrWolf]

Having resumed online play at Xmas following a couple of years' break, I've noticed a great change in casino bonuses.

When I first started online play, pretty much any game could be played when fulfilling bonus requirements. As casinos caught onto how much they were giving away, gradually wager requirements went up.

However, I've noticed that while I've been away, a new strategy has been adopted. Either ban pretty much all games for bonuses except slots, or have games count a ridiculously small percentage towards WR.

Personally I'm not motivated by the sign up bonuses these days. I play JorB VP, and it's more important to me that there is decent customer service (Unibet take note) and fast payouts. But I'm wondering if anyone - apart from slot junkies - are actually attracted by the bonuses these days given the ridiculously stringent conditions?

And while I'm on the subject of different games counting different percentages towards bonus WR, I've noticed that my current favourite casino Red Flush also uses those games to determine loyalty points and cashback. So I have to wager £100 just to earn 1 loyalty point v £10 for slots. And then when you do redeem any cashback, it's then subject to promotional WR with all the associated game percentages.

Not a problem since, like I said, I don't really play for the bonuses and it's the casino's prerogative to decide these things. But having wagered in excess of £220,000 here, it would have been nice to earn something approaching the £200 plus I would have received in the good old days, as opposed to £30.

Are there any recommendations out there for a half decent loyalty scheme that isn't going to discriminate non-slot play (JorB in particular)?

Thanks

[vinylweatherman]

Having resumed online play at Xmas following a couple of years' break, I've noticed a great change in casino bonuses.

When I first started online play, pretty much any game could be played when fulfilling bonus requirements. As casinos caught onto how much they were giving away, gradually wager requirements went up.

However, I've noticed that while I've been away, a new strategy has been adopted. Either ban pretty much all games for bonuses except slots, or have games count a ridiculously small percentage towards WR.

Personally I'm not motivated by the sign up bonuses these days. I play JorB VP, and it's more important to me that there is decent customer service (Unibet take note) and fast payouts. But I'm wondering if anyone - apart from slot junkies - are actually attracted by the bonuses these days given the ridiculously stringent conditions?

And while I'm on the subject of different games counting different percentages towards bonus WR, I've noticed that my current favourite casino Red Flush also uses those games to determine loyalty points and cashback. So I have to wager £100 just to earn 1 loyalty point v £10 for slots. And then when you do redeem any cashback, it's then subject to promotional WR with all the associated game percentages.

Not a problem since, like I said, I don't really play for the bonuses and it's the casino's prerogative to decide these things. But having wagered in excess of £220,000 here, it would have been nice to earn something approaching the £200 plus I would have received in the good old days, as opposed to £30.

Are there any recommendations out there for a half decent loyalty scheme that isn't going to discriminate non-slot play (JorB in particular)?

Thanks

Plenty.

32Red - flat WR for all games, no weightings. Regular monthly offer, and now weekend offers. Higher of course for Club Rouge. Does NOT use the MG bonus system. 1 loyalty point per 5 wagered on slots, and 1 point per 10 wagered on other games.

Palace Group. - 30x basic WR (slots), and 25% weightings for table pokers, and I believe 10% for other games. 2% for Classic BJ and All Aces VP. No "restricted games".

Jackpot Factory - standard EZ Bonus, and ALL play, whatever the game, counts £10 to 1 loyalty point.

Ladbrokes - 4x WR on many offers, although sometimes some wagering is required BEFORE receiving the bonus. NO loyalty point schame though, and mediocre customer service.

For MG, the simplest clue is in the game weightings.

Look for those near the default standards:-

Slots 100%
Table Poker 50% (some now 25%)
Roulettes 25%, with American Roulette sometimes 100%
Video Poker (except All Aces) 10%
Blackjack (except classic) 10%
All Aces VP and Classic BJ 2%

NO FORBIDDED GAMES, or no games weighted at 0% (the same thing).

Base WR should be 30x

The above works in favour of the casino for all "normal" playing patterns. Only the big bet start can make this +EV for the "bonus abusing player", but there should be other, separate, terms specifically forbidding such plays. "Normal" players should NOT be punished by being forced to subsidise "bonus abusers" by having the standard terms cranked up too tightly.

[MrWolf]

Thanks Vinyl. I've given 32Red some of my business today. Busted out on their Club Rouge promo (bonus of double your deposit up to £500). However, managed to win back my initial deposit and some beer money. The interesting thing is I also earned £10 cashback. Much as I'm a fan of Red Flush, that would have taken me £100k of wagering there!

[doomed4ever]

Its a shame about redflush. I played there for a while, deposited a quite a few grand. CS was very good. But points system does suck. Along with no flush at redflush on winnings. Could be a great outfit though with a few tweaks/ changes. But maybe thats for another thread

[MrWolf]

Its a shame about redflush. I played there for a while, deposited a quite a few grand. CS was very good. But points system does suck. Along with no flush at redflush on winnings. Could be a great outfit though with a few tweaks/ changes. But maybe thats for another thread

Their default is 12 hours before a cashin is flushed. But they are really fast to process cashins so a big plus in my book.

[aka23]

Are there any recommendations out there for a half decent loyalty scheme that isn't going to discriminate non-slot play (JorB in particular)?

Thanks

Most bonuses restrict games that permit simultaneous win/loss bets (roulette, craps, baccarat, etc.). Some bonuses also restrict low house edge games, such as blackjack and full-pay JoB. However, there are also plenty of bonuses that have few game restrictions. Most bonuses permit non-slot play, and there are many bonuses that also permit BJ and VP. One example is Coral , which has 3 SUBs that permit play on VP or BJ -- a £25 with 5xB wagering, and 2 £50 ones with 25xB wagering.

[love2winalot]

Hiya. There are a Few Bonus experts out there. The Casino's call them Bonus abusers. Some of them are really good at, and can play for months or even years before being asked to leave. If someone has the money, then i would do the same thing. Look around, find good bonus offers, and take them. Meet the play thru requirements, and take out whatever is left of the bonus, or wait, and do a reload bonus. Rinse an repeat.

If you do this at places you do not relly care if they kick you or not, then this is just extra free money. "that is if you only play with their money, and not yours". Where i play at, i never take any bonus offers, as i do not want my winnings tied up for any reason.