Microgaming bonus money

**funeral979** · 22nd March 2009, 08:55 PM

Last nite I sent an email to Rich Reels asking for a free comp as I had just endured 4 bad sessions in a row. They are usually pretty good about this as I do play there quite often. Last night however they elected to top off my loyalty points instead. This amounted to a princely 80 cent comp

So I told them how I felt about that, and was told that all MG operators incur a direct cost on all bonus money they award. A different MG group told me the same story a few years ago.

Any truth to this?

**vinylweatherman** · 22nd March 2009, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by funeral979

Last nite I sent an email to Rich Reels asking for a free comp as I had just endured 4 bad sessions in a row. They are usually pretty good about this as I do play there quite often. Last night however they elected to top off my loyalty points instead. This amounted to a princely 80 cent comp

So I told them how I felt about that, and was told that all MG operators incur a direct cost on all bonus money they award. A different MG group told me the same story a few years ago.

Any truth to this?

Never heard this one before

It goes without saying that a free chip carries with it the risk the player will win from it, and sometimes win BIG. IF a free chip is used to play a progressive game, there will be contributions the operator has to make to the central pool, and this could be another way a cost is incurred.

HOWEVER - their is ALWAYS the above consideration, and we don't see much sign of MG casinos ceasing giving bonuses altogether, and they CAN give different amounts to different players (VIP vs ordinary).

Payment to affiliates from losses when playing with a bonus should NOT happen, and if they do, it is a shortcoming in the affiliate software.

"topping off" comps is the SAME as giving a bonus, although they can give away 80c, and call it a $10 free chip. Clearly, this didn't fool you

**funeral979** · 23rd March 2009, 03:29 AM

Maybe this is one of the reasons RTG and others can offer these outlandish bonuses while Microgaming operators cannot, as they have to pay a royalty to Microgaming everytime they give a bonus

Im pretty sure Casino Action told me something similar years ago.

**deucebag** · 23rd March 2009, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by funeral979

Maybe this is one of the reasons RTG and others can offer these outlandish bonuses while Microgaming operators cannot, as they have to pay a royalty to Microgaming everytime they give a bonus

I have akso wondered why Microgaming bonus offers are so much worse than say RTG or Playtech. Maybe they pay a royalty to MG based on amount wagered instead of losses?

**kmay87** · 23rd March 2009, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by deucebag

I have akso wondered why Microgaming bonus offers are so much worse than say RTG or Playtech. Maybe they pay a royalty to MG based on amount wagered instead of losses?

Most RTG bonuses that I know of are phantom. Whereas MG tend to be cashable or use the E-Z release or whatever it is called now.

I don't see how they can make a loss in any other way that they could lose if the player wins. As Vinyl said, if you play progressive machines they could lose in the sense that playing back all the money would result in some going in the jackpot pool (hence why often progressives are excluded).

Can you explain any further?

**deucebag** · 23rd March 2009, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by kmay87

Most RTG bonuses that I know of are phantom. Whereas MG tend to be cashable or use the E-Z release or whatever it is called now.

I don't see how they can make a loss in any other way that they could lose if the player wins. As Vinyl said, if you play progressive machines they could lose in the sense that playing back all the money would result in some going in the jackpot pool (hence why often progressives are excluded).

Can you explain any further?

I was thinking maybe MG gets a percentage of wagered amount (weighted depending on game played and house advantage of that game). If that's their model, the casino would have to pay MG for wagers made with bonus money.

This is pure speculation, I have no idea how the software providers calculate their profit share.

**kmay87** · 23rd March 2009, 03:42 PM

I can't quite get my head around that. Perhaps it could just be an elaborate story made up by casinos that don't want to give free chips

If any MG reps happen to wander by this thread, hopefully they may clarify for us.

**handkey** · 23rd March 2009, 03:52 PM

Microgaming is the big boss of all microgaming casinos.

And it has <censored> Casino Action last year.

**vinylweatherman** · 23rd March 2009, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by funeral979

Maybe this is one of the reasons RTG and others can offer these outlandish bonuses while Microgaming operators cannot, as they have to pay a royalty to Microgaming everytime they give a bonus

Im pretty sure Casino Action told me something similar years ago.

If this was 3 or less years ago, I think there might have been a different reason

This whole idea of individual MGS casinos having to pay MGS each time they give a bonus sounds like a load of BS to me.

If it were true, there would be very little scope for individual MGS casinos, and all their promos and bonuses would be pretty much the same. This is clearly not the case. Some MGS casinos are very tight with bonus money, yet others dish it out freely.

VPL has been cited as being VERY tight, yet Ruby Fortune, as well as other Palace Group casinos, dish out regular weekly promotions, including 100% deposit matches for occasions such as Easter, St Patricks day, Mother's day - well pretty much any excuse really.

IF they have a deal with MGS that causes them to pay a "royalty" on BONUS money, it is a stupid one; maybe not for MGS, but certainly for the casinos, who are held back in their ability to compete with other softwares.

**ballysdb** · 23rd March 2009, 06:59 PM

I have been playing at Rich Reels for about 4 months and have yet to cash out. I'm not saying I don't win I just don't cash out.

When I have a few bad sessions in a row I also ask for a free chip. They have given me...$20...$10...and $5. Just the 3 times.

Once I asked them to please top off my loyalty points. I had about 15000 which amounts to $1.50. they are redeemable in $2.00 increments.

They would not do it. As the points got closer to $2.00 (2000) I would ask again. They refused when I had 1950 points. Only when I had 1996 points did they top it off.

I asked for a free chip the other day and all they did is top off my points to $2.00 I think I had 1300 points.

That was nice but I think I have deposited about $2300.

Is that enough to get some free chips? Not enough? I know at Rivals I get $25if I lose a $50 deposit.