Am I the only one who doesn't play with bonuses?

[mgibson99]

It seems to me that bonuses are more trouble than they are worth. The T&C are usually confusing, its a pain to keep track of how much you have wagered, and sometimes you end up betting more than you really wanted to because you're trying to meet wagering requirements. Even if you manage to win, casinos can label you a bonus abuser and confiscate your winnings. All this for bonuses which are usually pretty small.

I just find it easier and cleaner to play without bonuses. Maybe I'm missing out, because I have seen many people post that bonuses are the only way to get an edge over the house. Perhaps, but by the same token, many of the complaints in this forum are about problems with bonuses.

Would be curious to see what other people have to say.

 

[pstnpstn]

these are my casino list

intercasino
william hill
supervegas casino

always playing with their monthly deposit bonus
and always cash out just after wager requirement.

I did not go through any bad experience with these casinos.

 

[paul02085]

"All this for bonuses which are usually pretty small."

I think this is the key point. Example a low stakes player who has $100 to gamble with and gets a 100% bonus now has double his stake to play with. To him this is not "pretty small" bonus.

A higher stakes player say $500 or more to gamble would look at a $100 bonus as maybe not worth the accompanying potential hassles. To him this could easily be considered a "pretty small" bonus.

 

[mgibson99]

"All this for bonuses which are usually pretty small."

I think this is the key point. Example a low stakes player who has $100 to gamble with and gets a 100% bonus now has double his stake to play with. To him this is not "pretty small" bonus.

A higher stakes player say $500 or more to gamble would look at a $100 bonus as maybe not worth the accompanying potential hassles. To him this could easily be considered a "pretty small" bonus.

Ahhhh....I think you hit the nail on the head for me. I am a larger deposit player, and I don't get overly excited about a "relatively" small bonus that doesn't really advance my bankroll all that much.

 

[gambling800]

For a larger deposit player like you,It's really not worth to get $100,$200 bonus.



Because you can bet with your own money.

 

[Petunia]

**Hey,
I play at three top casinos... I never take a bonus, and if it is credited to my account, I ask for it to be removed.

Like you guys, I think it is just waaaaay too much hassle for such a small amount!

I do however take bonusses when I try new casinos and test the software & casino CS response times... but seriously, even that these days has become such a hassle, and I cannot be bothered! The casinos I use, are good to/for me, and believe it or not, the ONLY time I have to get in touch with them,is when I ask them to remove the promo money.... they do it straight away and the rest .. as they say... is history! **

 

[frafi]

Hi pstnpstn,

how long do you play with them already?
Wilhelm Hill does not give me the bonus anymore because I am "playing against the spirit of the bonus"

 

[The Dude]

Do I play with bonuses? Rarely. I even sometimes sign up at a casino and don't even bother with the sign up bonus.

The only bonuses I receive regularly are the ones from Vegas Partners, 32Red, and Intercasino. I never keep track of the wagering requirements because the bonus is inconsequential to me. I fly by the seat of my pants, and rarely have the cash-in reversed to my account because I haven't played enough. It's strictly entertainment for me.

 

[pstnpstn]

Hi pstnpstn,

how long do you play with them already?
Wilhelm Hill does not give me the bonus anymore because I am "playing against the spirit of the bonus"

hi frafi
my first deposit at william was last november.

this is my neteller statement about william hill.
as you see I am bonus oriented player.
but they do not ban me by this time.
in May i got the lucky and won $300 over.
so made withdrawal only a part($190).
I did not play if bonus was cleared.


Jul 1 00:52 William Hill Sports $50.00 - USD Accepted
Jun 7 22:08 William Hill Sports - $120.00 USD Accepted
May 5 22:05 William Hill Sports - $190.00 USD Accepted
May 2 20:12 William Hill Sports $100.00 - USD Accepted
Apr 27 22:24 William Hill Sports - $61.00 USD Accepted
Apr 25 00:17 William Hill Sports $60.00 - USD Accepted
Jan 12 22:03 William Hill Sports - $50.00 USD Accepted
Jan 12 11:10 William Hill Sports $40.00 - USD Accepted
Nov 18 22:10 William Hill Sports - $45.00 USD Accepted
Nov 16 21:23 William Hill Sports $40.00 - USD Accepted

 

[KasinoKing]

I (almost) never deposit without a bonus.
I make profit 9 out of every 10 months.
I strongly believe those 2 facts are very closely related...

 

[Webzcas]

Bonuses are good when evaluating new casinos that I come across or have never played at before. But if I want to try and make a few bucks, I don't touch them if I can help it.

 

[Simmo!]

I agree with Paul, the Meister and Webzcas. But essentially i always look on a bonus as there to be wasted. And sometime its fun to have a few "outsized" bets...you never know. Easy come, easy go!

 

[dominique]

I dislike bonuses. They just cramp my style. I don't like to be told what to play, how long to play it and when I can withdraw. It ruins all the fun.

I also have won and in the course of meeting a wagering requirement lost my winnings. What good is that?

I do not use bonuses and if they are automatically put in my account I ask to have them removed.

One exception: I accept RTG manager bonuses.

 

[Scorcho]

I like the new signup 300% or 400% slot bonuses. THis allows me to turn my $50 deposit into $200 or $250 right off the bat. Then instead of betting $.45 or $.90 per spin, I can bet $2.70 or $3.60 or even $4.50 and see what happens.

I've cashed over $3500 on 6 of the 300%/400% bonuses. All with really low risk ($50 here, $50 there, big deal).

 

[pstnpstn]

I like the new signup 300% or 400% slot bonuses. THis allows me to turn my $50 deposit into $200 or $250 right off the bat. Then instead of betting $.45 or $.90 per spin, I can bet $2.70 or $3.60 or even $4.50 and see what happens.

I've cashed over $3500 on 6 of the 300%/400% bonuses. All with really low risk ($50 here, $50 there, big deal).

hi scorcho
i think it is worth to try if casino offer 300% or 400% promotion.
what's name of casino you played ?

 

[vedat]

if you know to play with bonuses

its really very good if you know to play bonuses its lik casinos give you 50$ bonus makes a wagering requiremnst of 20x iits like %5 payout avarage so at the end you should lose your bonus and deposit but it doesnt end like that sometimes when you win you win more you win less thats why i use bonuses but i dont play at casinos who say you cant play this game .just play on which doesnt counts some games for wagering

 

[Tdoggy]

The famous bonus

Well they started out great. Hell when it all started out I remember several casinos that gave you a bonus without any T and C You could make a deposit and get a bonus and cash out right there and then and get paid!!! But what fun is that right? Yeah I have cut back on online casinos because of being screwed but if I were to play "throw me a freaking bonus" I'll take my chances with that rather then my own money!!!!

Question for all you none bonus users??? Why even bother with an online casino then??? Why not just go to a real land casino "where the drinks are free" and get out and have a good time and try your luck there???

 

[tim5ny]

Because the land casinos are a three hour drive away.

 

[MrWolf]

Well they started out great.

Question for all you none bonus users??? Why even bother with an online casino then??? Why not just go to a real land casino "where the drinks are free" and get out and have a good time and try your luck there???

I remember the early days too Tdoggy. I made tens of thousands playing blackjack with bonuses. In the good old days play through was really low - two, three, four or five times deposit and bonus.

But with the increased play through and gaming restrictions, I tend to play mainly without a bonus. I'll visit Intercasino, William Hill, Littlewoods, Total Bet and UK Betting only with a bonus to play blackjack.

These days my game of choice is Jacks or Better VP. So I'll also take up the monthly bonus at 32Red (where VP isn't a restricted game), but I deposit multipe times here per month regardless without a bonus. Same goes for Trident Lounge group, Bellerock casinos, Sun Vegas (where I've asked not to receive deposit bonuses because it's a 40 times play through on JorB for a 5% credit card bonus!) and occasionally Wildjacks.

As for going to a land-based casino. I live in England, and to be frank the casinos don't quite have the glamour and atmosphere of Vegas! There's no free alcoholic drinks at the tables, and I've only ever seen one JorB machine which had a ridiculous 6/5 pay schedule - talk about daylight robbery, and there was someone actually playing it! I'll go every couple of months or so, but it just ain't Vegas, where I tend to visit a couple of times a year.

 

[mitch]

I (almost) never deposit without a bonus.
I make profit 9 out of every 10 months.
I strongly believe those 2 facts are very closely related...

Not closely related KK EXACTLY related.

I only play at casinos which give me bonuses. I can't understand why people refuse to play with the advantage and prefer to play whilst the casino has the advantage.

The only 'fun' for me in gambling is winning money not clicking away against a random number generator and losing my hard earned money.

Still possible to earn 2000+ a month playing cleverly. (eg won 360 out of a 400 match bonus @ Ladbrokes in 15 minutes this morning. Probably play for the weekly 100 bonus @ Harrods later.)

Mitch

 

[clawback]

I will never play @ a new casino without the incentive of a bonus.
Reasons

1 Check out the games

2 What the customer services are like

3 How quickly and efficient they pay out if any cash left.

If a casino meets all these requirements then I will gladly play without a bonus in the future.

 

[mgibson99]

I can't understand why people play....whilst the casino has the advantage.

Ummm.....that's why its called gambling.

 

[johnsteed]

I don't ever touch bonuses now BECAUSE of all of the restrictions. And I must say that with the restrictions, it takes a lot of the "fun" out of playing and cashing-out when you want to. I'll also take the 32Red bonus, and I've only heard good things about the InterCasino bonus, but for the most part, I stay far away. Technically, there are advantages to receiving bonuses, but there's a significant difference between bonuses in '02, than there are to bonuses in '05. Too sticky these days, too many changing T & C's on the fly, too many horror stories, and far too many reasons and phantom reasons for the casino's to withhold winnings. Sorry, but in today's game, I just don't see the advantages anymore. If you're doing well, congratulations, really! But for me, it just ain't happenin' no mo'.

 

[mitch]

Ummm.....that's why its called gambling.

You still gamble when you play with bonuses. Its just that you win more when you win and lose less when you lose (or even win anyway). Apparently you feel true gamblers have to be masochistic (whip me harder Grunhilda)

It's just a nobrainer. E.g. as I said I played at Ladbrokes this morning and ended up 'losing' 40. Presumably you would consider this value for money for the 'entertainment'. I don't however and I was quite content actually as I ended up with 360 more than I started with because of the 400 bonus.

However, don't let me stop you playing without a bonus the casinos have got to earn enough money from somewhere to keep offering me bonuses.

Mitch

 

[mgibson99]

Apparently you feel true gamblers have to be masochistic (whip me harder Grunhilda)

Never said or implied that

It's just a nobrainer.

Other experienced players, such as myself, would beg to differ with you.

I played at Ladbrokes this morning and ended up 'losing' 40. Presumably you would consider this value for money for the 'entertainment'.

Nope, I actually like to win money. Imagine that.

However, don't let me stop you playing without a bonus the casinos have got to earn enough money from somewhere to keep offering me bonuses.

Ok, I will. And you keep playing with your bonuses. Perhaps we will both do well.

 

[slotchik]

I dont play with them because if I say deposit 500.00 and then hit 2500 on a spin or on poker, I can cash out immediately and I can play whatever games I wish without worry!!!

Not closely related KK EXACTLY related.

I only play at casinos which give me bonuses. I can't understand why people refuse to play with the advantage and prefer to play whilst the casino has the advantage.

The only 'fun' for me in gambling is winning money not clicking away against a random number generator and losing my hard earned money.

Still possible to earn 2000+ a month playing cleverly. (eg won 360 out of a 400 match bonus @ Ladbrokes in 15 minutes this morning. Probably play for the weekly 100 bonus @ Harrods later.)

Mitch

 

[mitch]

I dont play with them because if I say deposit 500.00 and then hit 2500 on a spin or on poker, I can cash out immediately and I can play whatever games I wish without worry!!!

Hi Slotchick

What's to worry if you play at decent casinos?

Played at Europa tonight, deposited 100 for the monthly sticky bonus of 100 ran it up to 870, withdrew 770. I am sure my cheque will arrive in less than 2 weeks based on previous experience. Job well done, will go to bed happy.

In good casinos you have no doubts about being paid, bonus notwithstanding.

If it's a bad casino why would you play there anyway?

Mitch

 

[paul02085]

She means she doesnt have to fulfill wagering requirements.

I can see both sides here. Personally i use bonuses but only at very reputable casinos. There is no doubt this is the way to go if you are a low roller. A high roller is a different story completely IMO.

That is where we are having these disagreements i think.

 

[mgibson99]

A high roller is a different story completely.
That is where we are having these disagreements i think.

Agree....I typically start my bankroll at $1000, and its very hard to get excited about a $50 bonus with all kinds of strings attached to it.

 

[KasinoKing]

(eg won 360 out of a 400 match bonus @ Ladbrokes in 15 minutes this morning. Probably play for the weekly 100 bonus @ Harrods later.)
Mitch

Hi-ya Mitch!

Just curious about something here - In my experience Ladbrokes only occasionally offer small bonuses, like the 50 one last month for example - so how come you managed to get a 400 bonus from them?

Also, why are you still getting bonuses from Harrods? I only joined in January, but by May they stopped inviting me to take part in promotions.
Do you put a lot of action their way that is not bonus related?

Keep up the good work!
KK

 

[mitch]

Hi KK

Ladbrokes bonus was an e-mail July match offer for "loyal and VIP customers" don't know how widely the bonus was offered. Terms were - bet 400 get 400 bonus. Wager bonus once to withdraw, a great offer you would no doubt agree.

On Harrods I thought you were sailing a little 'close to the wind' with your patented roulette system!

I do give them action in excess of WR and I don't 'lowroll' as much as you.

I try to plan my play at all casinos with an object of not being barred from bonuses. Means my positive expectation is reduced a bit, but I am playing the 'long game'.

Oh BTW do you know whilst you were away a few members were trying to set you and Slotchick up as the Romeo and Juliet of the gambling world.
Well they say opposites attract.

Mitch

 

[dickens1298]

Ahhhh....I think you hit the nail on the head for me. I am a larger deposit player, and I don't get overly excited about a "relatively" small bonus that doesn't really advance my bankroll all that much.

I figure differently. If someone offered you $100 just to play.. wouldn't you take it? I don't play just for the bonuses, but I DO tend to frequent casinos with monthly bonuses more often than not.

I like Omni primarily because its bonus is reached after a certain level of play. Essentially that means that I can play throughout the month, earn loyalty points - which are pretty generous - ensure that my funds are not "tied up" if the WR has not been met, then still have the opportunity to earn that $100 bonus. May not be much - but it does pay for the electricity..!!

 

[mgibson99]

I figure differently. If someone offered you $100 just to play.. wouldn't you take it? I don't play just for the bonuses, but I DO tend to frequent casinos with monthly bonuses more often than not.

I like Omni primarily because its bonus is reached after a certain level of play. Essentially that means that I can play throughout the month, earn loyalty points - which are pretty generous - ensure that my funds are not "tied up" if the WR has not been met, then still have the opportunity to earn that $100 bonus. May not be much - but it does pay for the electricity..!!

I play almost exclusively at Omni. I too gladly take the $100 loyalty bonus every month. The key is that it is not really a bonus. There are no wagering requirements, and you can even cash the $100 without wagering anything if you want.

 

[vgyhnji]

'Am I the only one who doesn't play with bonuses?'

'I too gladly take the $100 loyalty bonus every month.' !!! Oh.

The key is that it is not really a bonus. ??? It is.

There are no wagering requirements, ??? There are.

and you can even cash the $100 without wagering anything if you want.' ??? You already did.

???

Bonuses are no bad thing, they can as Mitch and KK demonstrate be a great asset to shrewd players. They can add an edge to a small bankroll, they can extend gameplay and enjoyment for your money if that is your aim.

The use of bonuses should be no hassle either, if both player and casino played by the rules, unfortunately there will always be cases of foul play from both sides. Especially from casinos while they continue to word clauses in this way:

*This loyalty bonus will not be credited to accounts that have in the past shown patterns of bonus abuse (ie wagering is done primarily using promotional funds and not deposited funds).

Sorry - absolutely no prizes for the first poster who points out where that comes from! (and that includes you Caruso!)

 

[pstnpstn]

I play almost exclusively at Omni. I too gladly take the $100 loyalty bonus every month. The key is that it is not really a bonus. There are no wagering requirements, and you can even cash the $100 without wagering anything if you want.

hey mgibson99.
you must wager $4000 before receive that $100.
I think its highly wager requirement (40times).

 

[tunisianswife]

being able to read posts on this forum regarding problems with bonuses and being labeled as an abuser and being barred, it has taught me to just steer clear of them.

I too agree that it is too confusing to try to keep track of everything played which allows me to be in more of a relaxed mode when I play.

 

[mgibson99]

There are no wagering requirements, ??? There are.

and you can even cash the $100 without wagering anything if you want.' ??? You already did.

Don't confuse the issue. My point is once you get the $100 loyalty bonus, you do not have to wager it, and you can cash it out at anytime, no strings attached.

 

[mgibson99]

hey mgibson99.
you must wager $4000 before receive that $100.
I think its highly wager requirement (40times).

As noted in many of my previous posts, I am a higher limit player. For me, wagering $4000 is not tremendously daunting. For a low limit player, I can see where this might be perceived as high. Keep in mind that the $4000 requirement is cummulative over the course of the entire month.

And its not accurate to look at this as a $100 bonus with a 40x playthrough. The concept is reversed. At most casinos, you get your bonuses up front, then have to meet wagering requirements to be able to cash them. At Omni, you gamble whenever, however you want, and you can cash out at anytime because its all your money. Once you hit $4000 in wagers, you get the $100, which is yours to do with as you please. How many other bonuses are cashable immediately, with no wagering requirements after you get them.

 

[dickens1298]

As noted in many of my previous posts, I am a higher limit player. For me, wagering $4000 is not tremendously daunting. For a low limit player, I can see where this might be perceived as high. Keep in mind that the $4000 requirement is cummulative over the course of the entire month.

And its not accurate to look at this as a $100 bonus with a 40x playthrough. The concept is reversed. At most casinos, you get your bonuses up front, then have to meet wagering requirements to be able to cash them. At Omni, you gamble whenever, however you want, and you can cash out at anytime because its all your money. Once you hit $4000 in wagers, you get the $100, which is yours to do with as you please. How many other bonuses are cashable immediately, with no wagering requirements after you get them.

$4000 isn't too steep at all, even for non-high limit players. I typically could reach that total within an hour or two of play, and this is without raising my bet above $50.

 

[dickens1298]

hey mgibson99.
you must wager $4000 before receive that $100.
I think its highly wager requirement (40times).

As mgibson had pointed out, look at the $100 as a lump loyalty bonus, in addition to the loyalty credits accrued during play. The beauty of Omni's promotion is that your funds are not "tied down" in a WR, and hence can be withdrawn at any time.

My approach is simple - I deposit and play as if it was a casino without a "bonus". When I reach a predetermined goal, I quit and withdraw (I found that money management is key to blackjack). I usually reach the $4000 cumulative total within a session or two (or three, if I were more conservative), whereupon Omni deposits the $100 "bonus". Simple.

 

[nafanny29]

I think that the Omni style of wagering first then get the bonus is the way to go. It would stop a lot of the bonus hunters in their tracks and be more rewarding to loyal, regular players.

I would much rather receive $100 with no further restrictions/wagering, than have $100 which I gotta weager 40x.

That way genuine players are rewarded as a sort of "thank you for giving us action" and bonus hunters are deterred as they have to risk their own $$ first.

 

[Bruce Hamilton]

Because the land casinos are a three hour drive away.

And with all the times I've been to

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

, I've never had the Pequots increase my bankroll by 200%... Free beverages are fine, but in the words of Tom Cruise in "Jerry Mcguire", show me da money!

 

[mgibson99]

And with all the times I've been to

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

, I've never had the Pequots increase my bankroll by 200%... Free beverages are fine, but in the words of Tom Cruise in "Jerry Mcguire", show me da money!

I've been shown da money lots of times by land based casinos. For about the last 5 years, I have NEVER paid for a hotel room in a casino, and I rarely pay for any of my meals (I actually had to pay for my meal at the Eiffel Tower restaurant in Paris the last time I was in Vegas, which sucked because it was damn expensive). I have rarely paid for shows or admittance to the clubs in the casino hotels. I've had a casino fly me up for a weekend. I've had a casino offer to pay my way into one of their $1000 entry BJ tournaments (I had to decline because it didn't work with my schedule, plus I've never played in a BJ tournament and probably would have done terrible because the strategy is completely different). I've taken advantage of offers that included a couple of hundred dollars cash with no strings to start my bankroll. I've gotten many match play coupons for BJ. And I have won lots of money without ever reaching into my own pocket (not exactly true, it is my money but I almost always play on casino credit so it sure feels like they're giving me money when I walk away a winner without having to put one cent up front). So, land based casinos can and do show ya da the money.

The funny thing is, I don't even consider myself a "big" gambler. I usually play 2 or 3 hands at $50-$100 per hand (the same as I do on line). I see the guys pushing around the $500 and $1000 chips on every hand, and I think that they are the really big gamblers. Wonder what they are getting?

 

[pstnpstn]

deposit intercasino $90 + $90 bonus
deposit williamhill $50 + $40 bonus
deposit supervegas $50 + $50 bonus

lost at intercasino, did bet $165 one spin on roulette (black) and ball was came out red

made $190 at williamhill, cashed out $140 and left $50 in my account in order to receive next monthly bonus.

made $200 at supervegas and cashed out all the money.

-90+140+150 = $200 profit

played only blackjack at williamhill and supervegas.

and one more thing, I receved $100 from ryan hartley (hi ryan promo).
this is special promotion only at the intercasino.
no strings attached. this $100 is cashable money.
but i did not cash out this money in order to further play.

 

[pstnpstn]

ok, I agree mgibson99 and dickens1298 if look at that as comp points bonus.

 

[Arclight56]

Bonii a pain

It seems to me that bonuses are more trouble than they are worth. The T&C are usually confusing, its a pain to keep track of how much you have wagered, and sometimes you end up betting more than you really wanted to because you're trying to meet wagering requirements. Even if you manage to win, casinos can label you a bonus abuser and confiscate your winnings. All this for bonuses which are usually pretty small.

I just find it easier and cleaner to play without bonuses. Maybe I'm missing out, because I have seen many people post that bonuses are the only way to get an edge over the house. Perhaps, but by the same token, many of the complaints in this forum are about problems with bonuses.

Would be curious to see what other people have to say.

I agree that the bonus wr's and t&c's can be a major pain and I am getting tired of chasing them but I only started 3 weeks ago with 100 dollars seed money a friend spotted me with because he "didn't want to do it alone". So far I have 1700 dollars in my Neteller account. This is no small amount for me. So far the casinos I have dealt with have been honest, though some have been a little slow to pay.