Are you a bonus lover or hater ?

[LaurieJim]

I have been playing for many years , when I first started gaming i almost never took a bonus and won most of the time. As money got a bit tighter I decided to give bonuses a shot, usually 100% matches was what I looked for, I find that when taking a bonus, it is so hard to hit a feature , make the roll over or just have fun playing, it makes me edgy sometimes. I am thinking of just going back and playing on straight deposits , sure the extra money is great if you want to increase you gaming fun or chance to win but I find it so very hard.

I find it hard to take a 50% bonus with a 30 x roll over or have even seen 25% bonus with 25 to 60 x roll overs , this just makes me cringe as it will give the house an almost 70 % or more chance of not letting the player cash out, not real certain on my math numbers.

We all know that the casinos say they do this as a courtesy for its players , I have doubts about this as far as the 25% or 50% bonuses are concerned.

There have been players that have even been bonus banned , so someone must know how to play them and win or otherwise they would not be getting bonus banned, right ?

Has anyone else ever played both sides , bonus or not and which one do you prefer as a player?

Ok , done rambling !!!!

Laurie

 

[Booo73]

Honestly I`ve mostly played with bonuses but I have noticed that it seems a long grind for wagering but once it`s met the slots seem to loosen up a bit. I`m sure it`s just a coincidence though since it is all random right.

 

[Tirilej]

When I had played online for several months back in 2008 I discovered that I didn't have to use bonuses
That's what can happen if you start playing without knowing either the language properly or the rules.

I stopped using bonuses all the time and it was great to know I was able to cash out whenever I wanted, and I didn't have to be afraid of haven broken any rules.

These days I use bonuses at 32Red if there are any but rarily anywhere else, and only where I get my cashouts as fast as possible since it's to easy to keep going otherwise.

I have never noticed any difference in how the games are playing if I have a bonus or not, since there aren't any. What I can see is that I might play a little different if it's not all my money. Higher stakes can be fun.

 

[Cleveland]

I stopped using bonuses all the time and it was great to know I was able to cash out whenever I wanted, and I didn't have to be afraid of haven broken any rules.

That's how I feel as well. It sucks to start off with a nice win right out of the gate, and then realize you still have a wagering to meet, which can eat through a lot if not all of the winnings. I've used my fair share of bonuses though in the past, and still do from time to time, but I normally avoid them. The ones I normally use would be at casinos I frequent often, so it would be loyalty level based bonuses, which or normally a bit better in regards to WR.

I'm not sure if the Club World group of casinos still does them but I remember fun times taking that 500% bonus that had the insane WR attached to them. Sometimes I'll do something like that just to have an crazy balance to start with and plenty of play time for the night. I don't go in though thinking or even trying to win on those. Just do it to have fun, and if I win more fun to be had.

 

[nikantw]

It's all random, but humans control the randomness!
There is a window for control, and rogues sometimes go beyond that.

Now back to bonuses.
It just comes down to how you have more fun.
If you feel you have more fun with the bonus, take it. If not, don't.
Personally, that is what I do. And most times, I don't.

 

[Keiju]

I just love bonuses. I enjoy playing slots very much. There are just two options for me when playing with bonuses:

1. I bust out

2. When I want to stop playing the wagering requirements are almost always met already and I can just withdraw.

I don't think I have ever wanted to do a withdrawal and been disappointed that there is still wagering to do. I just like spending time playing slots, so the wagering is not a problem for me

 

[Squalor1911]

I am still inexperienced in gambling online, only with around 3 months behind me.
I had a good win on my very first play at a Casino with a bonus, cashing not far from a grand from a £20 deposit. At this point I thought, "Wow, bonuses are great, I could win like that every time!" and so took each and every bonus I could for a time. I soon realised of course, that taking these bonuses and locking yourself into the wagering requirements is actually pretty hard to complete, and that my first win was a sheer fluke.

Just lately made a turn away from taking bonuses, and began to see just how beneficial it can be to just play with cash, any win, as early as it may come, is a win then.

So for me I guess both sides have a place, though I don' t agree in noticing any particular difference in the way certain slots play when with a bonus or not, a good session is just a good session as I see it, and it could come anytime, or not.

As for how I played when i won with bonuses, I pretty much just stick to minimum bet, particularly on the bigger slots like TSII, IR, Playboy, BDBA. I started out making bets like £1.50 a spin on a £20 deposit thinking I would get somewhere, soon realised that that is not the way to play such slots and you probably need to get many hundreds of spins in to have good session.

I would also say though that when I have won with a bonus, I have taken a bigger win, solely because I have had to play on to make the wagering, had I been playing with just cash I would have walked away earlier, with a lesser win, maybe this will change as I play longer and become more of a gambler

Anyway, good luck in your future play whether with bonus, or without

 

[Vegasbum]

If I want to play video poker, I never take a bonus. As far as slots go it depends on the bonus. I like 100% match but rollover has to be reasonable. I am taking less bonuses now than I did when I first started.
I have been bonus banned at a few places (mostly RTG). But that is ok as I can find bonuses elsewhere if needed.

 

[bsilva028]

bonus lover

 

[Balky]

I like playing with big bonuses. The most thrilling slot sessions I had were with very high bonus offers, e.g. 500 or even 900 %. Although there is mostly a max cashout and lots of WR to clear in case of good wins, it guarantees plenty of playtime without spending too much money, and a chance to play high variance slots without being sucked dry after 5 minutes. But thats only my personal preference. Besides, while clearing a high WR there is still a chance to have more good hits.

Cheers

Balky

 

[suomikala87]

I love bonuses and pretty much take one if there is one offered. Doesn't matter much if it's just 10% or with crazy rollover (has to be more than 10% if there is big rollover though). They add more playtime and I like that my playing has a set end for me which in this case is when the rollover is done if I'm lucky

 

[dunover]

I usually take them if I believe they are about EV or definitely if EV+ of course....!
I have never been bonus banned; usually this is a decision by the casino based on good business rather then you being an AP. You may be up say 3k at a casino and they will not risk you making even more by giving you good bonuses. When you are well down, you often find the bonus offers come thick and fast, which I believe is the way it should be, player A not getting bonuses but he has won plenty already, player B on a downer but can extend his chances of a comeback by having bonus funds.

 

[JuicyFruit]

bonus lover

bonus hater!!!

My deposits are usually quite low these days, as are my actual bets, so trying to meet the bonus WRs, as well as staying firmly on the right side of the T&Cs, takes the fun out of it and gives me a massive headache as well. My play time may not be as long as if I had taken a bonus, but the deposit is mine, and any winnings I get along the way are mine as well.

I sometimes manage to increase my deposit through winnings, and cash out, but if I was playing with a bonus, I would be nowhere near the 30xB that seems to be the norm. Also the tales of people nearly meeting the WRs, only to have the games die on them, and thus no cashout, are legendary.

Occasionally I strike lucky with a game (Katana the other day), when I am in a position to withdraw over £1000 whenever I want. I would have been devastated to have hit that, and still had massive WRs to plough through.

So I repeat....Bonus Hater!!! I really can't see the point.

 

[Sk0t]

90% bonus hater!

I hardly ever use them (anymore....) - never really liked them and most of the bonuses I am offered these days have much higher WR than I will accept.

There are a few exceptions though:

• Maria casino have offered me some very reasonable ones lately (and I have been surprisingly lucky in reagrds to beating them) so they are the main exception for me.
• Sometimes I just want to play around with a few slots I find fun, but financially unattractive - I will then go in with a very small deposit and take the most ridiculous bonus offered, just for playtime and without any expectation of a cash-out. (this is mainly on RTG) - I could use free play, but if I hit something huge, I would be so pissed I would have to go outside and chew the tires of my car
• Loyalty bonuses, free spins and other non-deposit bonuses

At my "main casino" (local one, accepting danish players only) I don't think I have ever taken a single deposit bonus.

 

[nisosbar]

I don't like them generally, because as others have said, if you hit something big, you then may have a massive wager requirement left that eats up all your winnings.

 

[Jasminebed]

Bonus Lover

I like playing slots. I'm not happy depositing and being done in 15 minutes. It still happens with a small deposit and a small bonus. A good session without a bonus, I'm probably playing long enough to have met bonus requirements anyway.

I try not to take bonuses that make it really hard for me to win. If I think one is a great deal, I try to take it.

If the bonus is plus EV and based on loyalty, I pretty much do take it.

If I don't have a bonus offer where I like playing, I'll probably play without one, or wait a day depending on budget.

I like the challenge of "winning" on a bonus. If I'm up $20 at the end of it, I'm unlikely to cashout,but I feel I got an extra $20 to play with. All of my biggest wins have been with bonuses, and often because I'm impatient to finish a WR. I've had some crash and burn sessions where some grinding would have left me either with a cashout or a bigger cashout, but my impatience got the better of me.

If I take a bonus and lose, well that's it for the night. At least at that casino, depending on budget. But if I deposit cash and lose quickly, there's often another deposit to follow.

For example, MG bonuses with 30x rollover usually provide me with enough entertainment for the evening. I used to think I was about the same taking one, some recent threads seem to indicate otherwise. But it's not a huge disadvantage, and life is a balance.

To my thinking, the best bonuses to balance the casino's bottom line and my preferences, are bonuses that leave me the same long time RTP. I'm not more like to win by taking a bonus, but neither am I at a major disadvantage. I get either extended playtime or the chance to gamble at higher stakes in return for a slightly smaller RTP.

I've been bonus restricted at two casinos now. Once, a Rival where the mere cashout on a NDB got me offers so ridiculous to might as well be a bonus ban. My first cashout on a NDB, and I'd played at other Rivals back then.

More recently by an RTG casino, where I am thousands of dollars down, but my ratio of bonuses to straight deposits is not satisfactory to them. I am sure some forum members can guess where. But in all fairness, it's not a total bonus ban, I have received manager's bonus and a birthday gift since I have continued to play a bit. Just can't claim any coupons.

Now I'm off to play my deposit and bonus over at 32Red. Maybe it will go better than the series of deposits I made yesterday without one.

 

[LaurieJim]

Well I just finished a little experiment , I deposited 22.00 at CWG and took a free 25 spins on some game I never really played that much at , it sucked me down like a dirty Martini and spat me out, never hit a frigging thing. I did the same thing at JPC earlier with a 100% match and as you can guess , not one feature, it soooooooooo sucked.

I then went to InetBet with a 10.00 straight deposit and have had the best time playing in a very long time , just finished up and had it up to 280.00 at one point, I was just so excited to be hitting something , cashing out was not an option, just loved the playtime.


Laurie
So , I have made up my mind from now on it's straight deposits for me and no bonuses

 

[tez]

Bonus hater unless I receive a bonus with no WR.
Otherwise I decline to accept the bonus.

 

[Orbmail]

Lover, need to make sure it's achievable, always read the terms & con, boosts your game time and 90% of the time if your smart you can meet wagering req. used to not take them but they seem to be more available in the last year, competition in the market I guess, would never take max cashout bonus

 

[mrmark21]

Depends on the casino, I reguarely take bonuses on MG casinos. Rarely take them on other platforms.

I dont mind bonuses as long as they dont have convuluted terms and are only 30x B. I generally wont withdraw unless I'm a good amount in profit, so when I win early on Ill up my bets allot. Which isnt to bad because then should i loose ive only deposited a relatively small amount. Up until about a month ago (when I stopped playing all together) I'd made about fifty deposits at various casinos and not won anything but at least I got a good amount of playtime

 

[cptwilk]

bonus hater

i play roulette mostly and normally it has way lower stake worth than slots etc so the WR is just a nightmare plus i like to cash out when i want whether iv doubled my money or gone big so i like the freedom, the only bonuses i take are ones like cashback or money back from losses infact iv completly opted out on betfred of any bonuses with WR attached and just claim ones without these days

 

[Simmo!]

I'd never take a signup bonus but I do occassionally take a loyalty bonus if a) the terms are reasonable (20x bonus max) and I know I have some time to waste. Or again if I fancy betting big. But it's rare...I'd rather play on my own terms and cashout when I want.

I think bonuses are one of the reasons a lot of players always feel like they lose. I often find - about 70% of the time I'd guess - that at some point during my session I am "up". I could choose to - and often do - cashout there if there's no WR outstanding.

 

[TheyCallMeGorba]

I don't hunt these bonuses in any way. I have taken few bonuses but the total count is still under 10 I believe. I grab occasionally 50€ weekend bonus @ Redbet but that's pretty much it. I usually take bonus when I play purely for entertainment, for example with my girl who isn't that much into gambling but who can still find few slots fun and likes to take part into my hobby

Last bonus I took 'seriously' was welcome bonus @ Redbet, the whole 200€. Played many slots for quite some time and once met the wagering, I had about 1000€ left

All in all, I understand why people take bonuses but personally I'm not into them.

 

[KasinoKing]

Generally speaking, I'm a bonus lover... as long as the terms are not insane as so many seem to be these days
They increase my play-time and I love the challenge of trying to "beat" the bonus and cash-out a profit. They also give me a distinct stopping and withdrawing point, reducing the temptation to carry on playing if I have a good balance.

I very rarely, if ever, take any bonus under 100%, or where the WR is more than Bx40 (Bx30 is what I think the max SHOULD be at ALL casinos).
I have been known to occasionally take a high % Phantom bonus just for the fun of it and extra play-time, but I normally avoid these like the plague as you have to get over 100% RTP from your play to be able to cash-out any profit at all, which just seems ridiculous.

I do sometimes play without bonuses too, and I can see the appeal, but generally I would rather play with one.

KK

 

[Mousey]

I used to love them... way back when... anyone else remember 2x, 4x, 5x bonus WR? hmmm? Such a shame it's come to what it is. And the MG Clearplay... ahhh... even with a 30x WR, if you were up $200 and wanted to chuck the bonus and cashout (without being banned and labeled a bonuses abuser)-- you could!

Now... when I do take a bonus, it's gotta be at least 100%. But most WR suck big time and I never make it.... For me, we're talking RTG, as there's only a couple places where my cards still work.

So... the majority of the time, I just forego the bonus and lose my own money in 5 minutes. Guess I've gone from being a lover to a hater. LOL

 

[incrediblestuff]

Hi Dear

I have been playing for many years , when I first started gaming i almost never took a bonus and won most of the time. As money got a bit tighter I decided to give bonuses a shot, usually 100% matches was what I looked for, I find that when taking a bonus, it is so hard to hit a feature, make the roll over or just have fun playing, it makes me edgy sometimes. I am thinking of just going back and playing on straight deposits , sure the extra money is great if you want to increase you gaming fun or chance to win but I find it so very hard.

If this really seems to be the case then you should just deposit bonusless, and maybe play on sites where you get Cashback, or ask your VIP manager in the ones you currently play at to set up a deal
Frustration/edgyness should be avoided when possible!


I find it hard to take a 50% bonus with a 30 x roll over or have even seen 25% bonus with 25 to 60 x roll overs , this just makes me cringe as it will give the house an almost 70 % or more chance of not letting the player cash out, not real certain on my math numbers.

Agreed, those bonuses are usually not worth it, unless you are highrolling and depositing multiple times a day (some of the decent ones where 25% to 50% are reload bonuses up to a certain amount, and some are just from Casinos that offer decent 75% to 100% several times a month, and are so generous to also drop the lower ones for their "always with bonus" players, which i'm sure there are


We all know that the casinos say they do this as a courtesy for its players , I have doubts about this as far as the 25% or 50% bonuses are concerned.

There have been players that have even been bonus banned , so someone must know how to play them and win or otherwise they would not be getting bonus banned, right ?

This usually should'nt be the case as this is only going to happen with blatant abuse, or with players that are way in the plus, at least in the good Casinos.


Has anyone else ever played both sides , bonus or not and which one do you prefer as a player?

Ok , done rambling !!!!

Laurie

Yes i have played with and without, and usually, just like you said i only take bonuses when i need more playtime, or when it's a decent one with good terms.

When i just want a quick spin i'll throw in a 10 or 20 and spin a few, but of course increasing your playtime can also mean playing 0.9 ct spins at some 9-liner, or playing less lines or VP instead of slots.

I never really had the idea myself that bonuses would make it harder to win, at least not since i know where to play. But if you seem to be unluckier with bonuses, then even though it might be coincedence or illusion, you'ld best just play straight deposits for a good while and see what happens.

(Might have already been said, only replied to your O.P., and did not read on)

 

[peezo13]

Bonus lover for sure! Love having a larger balance, more chance of winning i think

 

[lotusch]

Defo a bonushater here..

When I first started playing at online casino's I took every bonus I could to extend gameplay.
Also I thought my chances of winning would increase.
Now a few years down the road I know better and will take a bonus very rarely.
Only when playing with a small bankroll/deposit sometimes makes me decide to take a certain bonus,mostly a match deposit or reload bonus with no more then 20-30x WR on it.

But when playing with bigger funds available I will never ever take a bonus as I want to cashout any winnings whenever I want and not being bound onto some stupid WR to play through the bonusamount.

 

[catapultaudio]

Like many of you I always used to take any bonus offered when I first started out, and after a few early wins I really thought it was definitely the way to go - since then however I've had my fingers burnt several times, never getting even close to finishing wagering and even hitting a natural at video poker and burning through the whole balance before being able to cash out .. I started refusing all bonuses actively a little while ago as a result of that as it seemed like I was basically just giving away my deposit every time.

In the past week though I have taken a couple of bonuses, wondering if I might rekindle some of that early good luck now after a break - I'm sitting around 200 at 32red just now after taking the 100% match on 50 this afternoon so we'll see .. I'll probably post a final decision pending the outcome of this one later !

 

[Jazzbaz]

My stance on bonuses is pretty close to what Kasinoking wrote above. I'd put a special emphasis on wagering requirement giving a distinct stopping point. When I play without a bonus I find it much harder to control my play, and much more likely to start chasing losses. Therefore, I prefer to play with a bonus, even though (obviously) majority of the time I bust out. I find it easier to stomach a loss when I can say I was simply not lucky enough this time, as opposed to doing something stupid.

 

[Larsenne]

Why I like to take bonuses

Dear Members.

I like to play with bonuses. For me, as for many gamblers, the biggest question is to know WHEN to stop. When I take a bonus, I can not stop playing until the wagering requirements are met. And in many occasions I have won a small sum, that I had withdrawn if I have played with just my own money, but as the wagering reqiurements demand me to play on,
I have been lucky to win more. So for me there is a psychological aspect of playing with bonus.
I also take more risks when I play with bonus money.

Actually I have won most of my big wins with a bonus. But I seldom play bonuses with max cashout, and for the most 75-100 % offers.

I only play slots, by the way.

L'arsenne

 

[aceking123]

hi , i tend to mix it up abit , sometimes its great to play with bonuses for longer playtime ,down side is like other forum members have pointed out your tied to it , but you can still have fun & meet wagering also it can make you play higher than what you normaly do i your not so bothered about your bet.

The other down side is if you hit a big win then dont manage wagering thats a kick in the teeth as if you hadnt played with a bonus bang cashout there & then , but ive found if you play without your always get some good promos from the casinos shows your just not there for a bonus )

 

[tinybettor]

I seldom play with bonuses because in the past most of them were sticky which sometimes made it difficult to meet the wagering let alone cashout a sizable sum. However for non-sticky ones or bonuses that utilise the clearplay system I'm not sure what's the harm in taking one if its on offer as you can cashout anytime given you have not touched the bonus. In saying that however I mostly play with bonuses if I'm running low on funds and want some decent playtime.

 

[Jasminebed]

Last night's play on 32Red and today's play at Guts were excellent examples of why I love bonuses. I would have busted out my own deposit at both casinos without a bonus. At 32Red, after a great hit I couldn't cash out yet. I'd been playing quite a while, but still had a long way to go. Hit a few more goodies and cashed out not long after meeting WR, with a few hundred more than if I didn't have a bonus.

Guts, as I said, would have busted before I got a hit to put me back in the game. But it was a big wagering, and I'm not that patient sometimes, and lost a couple of hundred plus a bit before meeting wagering. Before I hit the end of it, I was tired of playing, not something that happens all that often. But I wasn't ready to quit at the point I hit, so even a deposit twice as large would have ended up with a similar result I think... maybe even worse, since then I would have achieved about the same dollar value up at the point I was ready to quit, but it would not have been 4x my deposit. I know I could have just quit and revisited it later, but I have some plans over the next three days, and it would have been nagging me in the back of my mind.

 

[catapultaudio]

Turned out badly for me at 32red at the weekend - deposited £50, and took the 100% bonus - I never dipped below a balance of £70 and hit a maximum of around £300 at 3/5 of the way through the wagering. By the time I cleared wagering I had £15 left and busted out a few minutes later. So the one time I might potentially of cashed out at £200 (4x my deposit, my usual target), I couldn't because I'd taken a bonus I never needed. Always the way though isn't it!!!

 

[dave1888]

Mixed success with casino bonuses.

I love and hate them as I've had mixed success with bonuses. What really gets my goat is when you get a tiny bonus and all the slots are 10p a line like gratorama or some piss like that! or landmarks bonuses completely pointless as they actually force players to wager there own cash which is simply shocking! If you want to do wagering you'll play a bonus hate bullying casinos like that! I always find it more satisfying to complete a wagering on a no deposit req bonus though as its like a big middle finger to the casino industry getting one up on them as its normally the house who wins! Hence why I love seeing these massive screenies although I am a tad envious I must admit!

Oh also for anyone whos just starting doing all the no deposit bonuses the www has to offer you are far better lowrolling till you hit a biggy then change slot game and keep doing that its the way I have always done bonuses!