Bonus vs Non-Bonus

[4 of a kind]

I’ve often wondered what the online casino landscape would look like if there were no bonuses offered. I mean all bonuses of all types. This would eliminate all the endless bullshit T&C’s related to bonuses, all the different good and ridicules play through requirements and all the endless other headaches and complaints that come with bonus issues. No doubt Max would be able to get plenty of time off.

What would it look like if online casinos ran the business like the first class land based casinos did? (And I don’t mean like some broken down shoe casino in the middle of no where) What would casinomiester’s forum look like if in fact this were the case? How many members would actually be here? In the last few months 75% of the posts here are usually related to some form of a bonus issue and only to mention a few, (play through sucks, offered a single dollar nd bonus, bonus banned, played wrong game lost cash out opportunity, and on and on and on and on and on….. )

Bonuses and play through requirements are designed for the online casino to lure the player to the slot machines where players have the least amount of success, and the house edge is the greatest. Although there are many screen shots of big slot winners, when compared to the millions of people playing slots, most here should realize their actual odds of being one of these lucky winners. These winners are taking most of the players RTP pool leaving most hung out to dry. If you even are allowed to play video poker, blackjack, or baccarat, with one of these bonuses reducing the house edge to the minimum, you would have to be prepared to add 10 times more to the already ridicules play through. Hmmmmm I wonder why?

Tradition casino mentioned in a post here how they added over 325% more when compared to actual cash deposits with bonuses. Was this statement a result of trying to show how generous the site is, or how stupid the players must be? They certainly didn’t get into the business to give money away.

Why can’t an online casino just be run for what it really is, a casino? I understand perks are an important part of the business online just like live. Perks are made available with the lure of retaining steady and loyal customers, since loyal and steady customers are a loyal and steady source of income. Perks also come from the massive profitable business running a casino comes with. These perks offered to players comes off the top and are usually designed for loyal players, which in turn will generate more income for them.

I would love to play at online casino’s with no bonuses available, where your loyalty earns you cash back to do what you please with it. Maybe then forums like this would rid 75% of the bullshit and just concentrate on the more important things. Good online sites would then be decided just on who offers the best games and services.

I know bonus hunters are going to rip me a new butt hole here, and maybe the bonus game is the only way online casinos can make money. I would tend to lean towards the bonus game being the only way online casinos can really do it. Maybe they realized long ago there not going to get the majority of the serious loyal players, just because of the whole cyberspace distrust that comes with being online. Over time they must have realized the real players with bigger pockets prefer the real thing. Risking serious money somewhere in a third world government with no laws probably isn't appealing to this type of player.

I would assume at this time after a decade of research, online casinos have decided that exploiting the small depositors with bonuses is the only way to go.

[refre]

Thats a great post 4 of a kind!

If it weren't for bonuses, this industry would probably look a lot different.
We would have fewer casinos, as people wouldn't look for new places for good sign-ups only.
What would set casinos apart would be customer service, speed of cashouts, reputation and so, not who could throw the most ridiculous bonus out there.

We would only need one MG, one RTG, one Rival, one Playtech and so on... and maybe one doing their own software

I have a feeling many of us would end up with the same list


Freddy

[Stovetopp]

What would it look like if online casinos ran the business like the first class land based casinos did? (And I don’t mean like some broken down shoe casino in the middle of no where) What would casinomiester’s forum look like if in fact this were the case? How many members would actually be here? In the last few months 75% of the posts here are usually related to some form of a bonus issue and only to mention a few, (play through sucks, offered a single dollar nd bonus, bonus banned, played wrong game lost cash out opportunity, and on and on and on and on and on….. )

Bonuses and play through requirements are designed for the online casino to lure the player to the slot machines where players have the least amount of success, and the house edge is the greatest. Although there are many screen shots of big slot winners, when compared to the millions of people playing slots, most here should realize their actual odds of being one of these lucky winners. These winners are taking most of the players RTP pool leaving most hung out to dry. If you even are allowed to play video poker, blackjack, or baccarat, with one of these bonuses reducing the house edge to the minimum, you would have to be prepared to add 10 times more to the already ridicules play through. Hmmmmm I wonder why?

Tradition casino mentioned in a post here how they added over 325% more when compared to actual cash deposits with bonuses. Was this statement a result of trying to show how generous the site is, or how stupid the players must be? They certainly didn’t get into the business to give money away.

Why can’t an online casino just be run for what it really is, a casino? I understand perks are an important part of the business online just like live. Perks are made available with the lure of retaining steady and loyal customers, since loyal and steady customers are a loyal and steady source of income. Perks also come from the massive profitable business running a casino comes with. These perks offered to players comes off the top and are usually designed for loyal players, which in turn will generate more income for them.

I would love to play at online casino’s with no bonuses available, where your loyalty earns you cash back to do what you please with it. Maybe then forums like this would rid 75% of the bullshit and just concentrate on the more important things. Good online sites would then be decided just on who offers the best games and services.


I would assume at this time after a decade of research, online casinos have decided that exploiting the small depositors with bonuses is the only way to go.

This is exactly why I am thinking of going back to BODOG exclusively..Prior to this UIGEA BS I polayed exclusively at BODOG and Intercasino....At BODOG , I played vp only and sports betting There was no BS about bonus and T&C. Ocassionally I would open my account and see a "cash back " in my account.I had stopped playing there because of the difficulty in getting paid
Then I got sucked in to these welcome bonuses and 100% deposit bonus etc
This such a lot of bull Further more I have never played slots in all mgty life and still have yet to put a dime in a B&M casino Now I play slots to try and win this elusive Random Jackpot Unfortunately I did get one for 9k which makes matters worse LOL
Now I am dying for some action but refuse to play online anymore..I will wait out the superbowl out and then take the one hour drive to A B&M where I can play 9-7-5 dble bonus to my hearts content and and get CASH immediately were I to win anything big

[uungy]

You are right, but seem to have lost the idea of what a player is.

We play for entertainment, and while playing in a B&M has its incentive, as one casino put it to me "we cant offer you a drink and all the glamour, but we can offer you ......", so its there to bring us back, and keep us playing. So at the end of the day, the bonuses are not for the players advantage, they are for the casinos, so that we play more (NOT so that they can keep funds because if silly terms)

Secondly, its a simple calculation for me. If I have $1k €1K $£1K or whatever to deposit, I will choose the casino that gives me the longest play, or an incentive why I should choose them! So once again its for the casinos benefit not ours.

Gambling is for that "buzzy feeling" and the "chance of winning", so if the terms are rediculous, you dont (well I dont anyway) get the buzz when you deposit $1K, and can only cashout $1010 after playing for 25 hours straight.

In short, the casinos should understand that a promotion is for their benefit, but we have to feel entertained, and want to choose to play there.

[DaveSold99]

I’ve often wondered what the online casino landscape would look like if there were no bonuses offered.

I love the way that sounds.... like a futuristic scene from a movie

I would love to play at online casino’s with no bonuses available, where your loyalty earns you cash back to do what you please with it.

I coudln't agree more. I feel cashbacks and free chips should be given out as tokens of appreciation.

[SlotMonster]

Well, from my point of view, at the certain period of time it's almost impossible for online casino to stay in business without giving bonuses away.
Compared with land based casinos where if you don't like this casino, you will have at least grab your a$$ and try to find another casino to play at, and this casino may be miles away from that you was playing now, with online casinos the situation is different: few clicks - and you logged out of one casino and logged in into another. And sometimes this is the real issue. Online casinos must do their best to lure players, who can easily visit 10 casinos every night.
By the way, land based casinos also giving bonuses to their players: free accomodation, free drinks, special offers for high-rollers etc. And so far bonuses and promotions - the best known method to make players keep visiting certain online or land based casino. And IMO the situation won't change until someone manage to invent better method.
All you could do with it is just not to take bonuses at ANY online casino.

[4 of a kind]

Online casinos must do their best to lure players, who can easily visit 10 casinos every night.

Exactly my point. If online casinos are going after small depositors looking for low end bonuses with ridicules play through's that give the house even a larger edge, that's exactly what they'll get. Obviously it must be working well for them.

I only could imagine how many random jackpots were hit by bonus players with a max cash out. That player gets his max cash out and the casino logs into the books player paid in full. In this case the casino is the one that actually hits the random not the player. I know someones gonna come on here and say they put the balance back. So in advance I'd like to add go blow that smoke up someone else's ass.

Like I said in my op, this bonus crap would be no where to be found if it were beneficial for the player. This is the only way they can get players that could only afford small deposits, and are only giving the player false hopes when looking at an imaginary decent starting bankroll before taking play through into consideration. This bonus program has to be working for their benefit. It's clearly obvious this is what their focus is on.

On a no bonus platform online casinos would be forced to offer good games and service, along with finding different ways like real cash backs for loyal players, or something like online merchant purchases for points, etc...

I also believe the real good casinos that are already well known here wouldn't have any problems with this type of platform. Although they might not be in such a hurry to give up the bonus cash cow program.

I certainly don't go to 10 different casinos when in A.C. or Vegas. If I'm having a bad night I may consider walking next door. If my luck stays bad maybe it's time for bed and another day. The same goes for online unless of course I was a bonus ho.

This no bonus platform would also weed out rogues that still get away with being rogue since they constantly are tricking rookie players to their sites with fantasy bonuses.

[zippedup]

I am a craps player and bonuses generally(but not always) are skewed toward games where the house advantage is largest---slots.

In my opinion taking a bonus vs. not taking one really depends on the games a player likes to play. If you are a slots only player(god help your check book) a bonus would seem to make sense. If you tend toward low house advantage games like craps or euro-roulette it makes little sense.

I have seen many players take a bonus to prop up losses. I E Player looses 100 and adds 100 getting a 100 in bonus--a net gain of 100 in his gambling pot. Seems like he is ahead except that he has to meet play thru requirements. This is a real loser because the longer he plays the longer the house advantage works against him.

[SlotMonster]

Play at online casinos with "No House Edge" games

[4 of a kind]

Play at online casinos with "No House Edge" games

Of course this will never exist, and your response appears to have some tone to it.

After playing over a decade online, playing the right video poker games with perfect play exposed the lowest house edge. (never double or nothing after a win even if it's a break even hand) Video poker was even better then perfect play BJ online.