Best to play with bonus? Or without?

[threescatters]

Hi Guys,

I am just wondering what your views are on this. I love to play slots (dont really play table games) - and usually I like to have a bonus when I play, but this can bring problems. I see a lot of complaints/issues arising with online casinos, mostly it seems to do with bonuses. The terms and conditions can be very complex sometimes and you get tied to a large amount that you have to gamble sometimes - a bit of a pain in the ass, especially if you win at the start then think damn I wish I didnt have this bonus. On the other hand I (and everyone else I guess!) loves that feeling of being looked after and getting something for nothing etc, its fun to chase bonuses and you feel rewarded as a player by the casino and stuff. I guess its better value for money to play with bonuses as well.

Personally I used to always try and have a bonus when I played, I play at a few different places and it wasnt very often I would play without one although sometimes I would give in to temptation. I had some problems sometimes, I couldnt always understand the terms properly and also one place sent me an email saying I couldnt have ANY more bonuses as I only ever played with one!!! Whats the point in offering me them? On the other hand I was made a VIP at another casino which is my fave and I couldnt keep up with the offers I had. Nowadays I tend to think its too much hassle and just play without them, but I was wondering what you all thought. Personally I dont think I won so much at the one place that it was fair to ban me but then again nor do I think I bet enough to be considered a vip at the other but thats whats happened, really weird.

Sorry for long post, ill try and put a poll up.

 

[Wildfire7]

I too am less keen to take a bonus these days, due to the almost prohibitive restrictions imposed upon them. So I voted for sometimes take a bonus.

Mostly just take the monthly reload bonues and then only if its 100% match.
Theres nothing worse than these lousy 25% bonuses which still require you to wager 100% x WR of your own deposit.

As for playthrough then this is the major factor, anything more than x20 D+B is a no no. Usually go for the x15 D+B.

I've noticed more and more casinos now allow all games to be played but weighted. This is far better than the old days where you daren't even venture outside of playing slots for fear of being disqualified, and even then you had to double check if progressives were allowed.

All bonues lock your money up until you have met WR, which means you are forced to play longer and we know the longer you play the more likely you will lose. Generally speaking I have found if you can treble your initial deposit + bonus then you have a very good chance of meeting WR upto a x20.

If your objective is to play for a larger sum then taking a bonus does you no harm as you have a higher starting bankroll. However if your aim is just to double your desposit then taking a bonus would be poor value.

Mike

 

[ionutd]

In my opinion, it's worth taking the bonus if you're going to play slots mostly, because it counts as 100% for the wr. It's a good idea to email, chat or call a casino representative to make sure you fully understand all their t&r's. I wish they'd apply to me as well but I happen to live in country blacklisted by the biggest casinos so I either can't participate in promotions or get a 200x wr. Couple that with only playing games like BJ Switch and Craps (10-20% or excluded) and ...you get the picture .

I say don't take bonuses when playing at your favorite casino(s) to avoid any trouble and go for it when playing somewhere else. If they exclude you, who cares, that place is more likely to cause other headaches anyway. Just my 2 cents, I am by no means an experienced player, just thought it made sense. Good luck and all the best.

 

[winbig]

If my BR is limited, I'll take a bonus as long it's somewhat favorable for me to do so in regards to WR's, % of bonus, etc.

On the flipside, I love not taking a bonus, because most of the time the WR's are almost impossible to meet (unless you get really lucky), and to clear them (and not have the HA catch up to you) you need to be spinning those reels for much higher stakes. I know for me, I either crush the WR's or fail miserably (1-5% into meeting them). There's no in between.

It'd be interesting to see how many people posted some great winning SS's but ended up going bust before clearing the WR...(myself included )

 

[Richard]

Bonuses with 10X or greater is a suckers bet. NEVER let the casino control your money. By accepting these bonuses you are giving them full rights over your deposit. More people bust out trying to met wagering. Then if they would have deposited their own money. If your just playing for fun bonuses are ok. Anything else that is greater then 10X is a waste. You can't count the number of post. Where someone hit a nice win and busted out trying to complete a bonus. I have seen times I took a bonus. And when I got near completion the casino just wins every hand or spin. Then Im left with a few dollars. Believe it or not. Bonuses are the way casinos make most of their money. They know chances are you will not make 25X on slots only. Its like giving them your money. And coming on here and complaining how tight the games are.

RTG and Rival are the worst to take bonuses. They tend to make them 25X are greater. NON Cashable and a fixed amount you may cashout. I wished there was a casino players union. And the players will agree to follow suit. We could cut alot of this mess out in a short period of time. Imagine Bonuses of 5X any game, fully cashable. This can be the norm if players will stick together and make demands.

 

[Simmo!]

I see signup bonuses as an obstacle. I never take one. If its credited automatically, I deposit the minimum 10 first off, take it and get rid of it on a couple of big spins (on the basis if i win big then great, otherwise so what), then deposit a decent amount and play properly.

Sometimes I take the odd loyalty bonus but only if it suits me and normally just to pad out a session.

 

[winbig]

If its credited automatically, I deposit the minimum 10 first off,

Why would you, of all people, play at any casino that strictly enforces players to take the SUB? Any reputable casino will waive this bonus if you contact support before making a deposit.

There was a huge thread (or more) on that same subject, but I'm too lazy to look for it right now.

 

[Roanan]

The question I have for you is:

Are you playing the slots for entertainment, spending your money for X hours of entertainment similar to how you'd pay for hockey games, or in a video games arcade, etc., or are you playing because you want a big win, or at least some profit and are probably using a betting strategy, or picking different variance?

If it's for entertainment, go ahead and take the bonus.
You're just having fun so why not double or triple the length of time you get to play.

If profit is what you are after, do not take a bonus.
Instead contact support or management directly and request a user specific bonus that is 'instant' and does not have any restrictions attached to it.
You'll probably get only 10% or maybe the absolute maximum of 20%, but withdrawal restrictions are such a pain in the ass, avoiding them is always the best option.

 

[zippedup]

Depends on what games u play and terms and conditons

Bonuses Issue

I am a craps and roulette player and therefore never take bonuses because:

1. Some casinos(depending on terms and conditions) may confiscate your winnings because they they don't allow table games to qualify for bonus use. These idiots let you play--- then after the fact tell you OH I am so sorry you played illegal games therefore you lose all the winnings you have made on them!

2 For some of the casinos that do let you use bonus money for table games I have found the combination of play thru requirements plus the amount your table games count toward reducing the play thru requirement causes them to be a very bad arrangement. Some casinos only will allow your bets at table games to yield 5% toward play thru reduction---ridiculous!!

Lastly the casinos do a crappy job of telling you how much play thru you have yet to make up. Many times you have to call them to find out and sometimes I have gotten three different answers on the same day!

I think the only way taking bonuses might make sense is if you are a slot player and 100% of your bets qualify toward play thru reduction. But even then it depends on the playthru required since most likely you will lose your ass playing slots in about 10 minutes!

Worlds worst bonus that I know of is at GOLDEN ARCH CASINO
Table games do qualify
But.......
Bonus amount cannot even be used to play any games till after you play thru 15x of the bonus using the funds you deposit.
Once you achieve that it then goes to your account as extra chips yet when you withdraw your funds they reduce the withdrawl by a % of the bouns money in your account till its all used up. Net effect ...there is no bonus! The only thing you get is extra chips with which to play.
These jackasses are so crooked they do not list terms and conditions on their site.

 

[zap987]

The only way to make any profit in the long run on games with a house advantage is to use a bonus. If you're playing for entertainment and hoping for a big win it's fine to do it without a bonus but you will always lose in the long run. It's quite possible to have a positive EV on almost any kind of bonus offered even with very high WR but without it you will always lose in the long run.

 

[Richard]

The only way to make any profit in the long run on games with a house advantage is to use a bonus. If you're playing for entertainment and hoping for a big win it's fine to do it without a bonus but you will always lose in the long run. It's quite possible to have a positive EV on almost any kind of bonus offered even with very high WR but without it you will always lose in the long run.

I disagree. I can deposit a $100 and flat bet BJ at some point get to $101. And cashout anytime I chooses. And Im +EV. Try doing the same thing with a bonus 25X (D+B) and more then likely you're down.

I have in the past, for fun. deposited $200 in 10 different MG casinos and played 5 handed BJ. And cashout out once my balance at $225. in 48hrs I had $250 profit in my Neteller Account. I did this often and was very successful with it. Why? Because I had was able to cashout once I reached my goal and was a head.

I can flat bet $1 lose double to $2 lose double $4 lose double $8 win $1 and cashout and be ahead. Like I said Bonuses ties up your money and you will lose out more times then none if you make a good hit earlier on.

 

[zap987]

Martingale still doesn't work in the long run, but sure, if you really really need that $1 profit today you have a good chance of getting it and I agree it would be silly to take a bonus if that was your goal.

 

[Simmo!]

Why would you, of all people, play at any casino that strictly enforces players to take the SUB? Any reputable casino will waive this bonus if you contact support before making a deposit.

There was a huge thread (or more) on that same subject, but I'm too lazy to look for it right now.

And I'm too lazy to wait for support Easier to play the tenner plus, you never know, two big spins you might end up with enough to go for playthru. Had one like that recently actually.

 

[oldtrvlagt]

When I first started gambling online (8-9 years ago) and was VERY naive I would always take a bonus and then found a couple of times I really wished I hadn't due to the max cashout or WR. I would have cashed out a lot more. I've found in the last 6 months or so it doesn't seem to matter if I deposit with no bonus or with one the playing time just isn't there and you need to spin the reels a lot longer to get a decent win. I can grind out the WR with the best of them but you need to hit the right casino at the right time. The Inetbet managers bonus is a good case in point. I almost always wager high just to get rid of it. A couple of times when cashing out I've lost hundreds because of the max cashout restriction. I would have to shoot myself if I won a RJ with that particular bonus Of course, I have a snowballs chance in $%^& of winning one there so it probably will not be an issue

 

[Richard]

Martingale still doesn't work in the long run, but sure, if you really really need that $1 profit today you have a good chance of getting it and I agree it would be silly to take a bonus if that was your goal.

Martingale may not be 100% fool proof. But it can and does work, sure there's risks. But it can work even in the long run.

 

[zippedup]

ZAP 987 On what data do you base your comment?

sorry had to delete message due to mistake

 

[zippedup]

zap what data do you have to support your position

Seems to me that many people play at casinos all the time and most don't offer bonuses. Many do pretty well including me.

Come on Do you really work for a casino and are u trying to suck us all in to taking bonuses lololol

I play craps and roulette---bonuses make no sense for these games because of the play thru requirement and the amount of money if any the casino will allow you to contribute toward your play thru when playing these games.

Where do you come up with this stuff or is this just opinion and conjecture? If is you are out of your mind!!!

 

[zippedup]

OL Casinos love keeping your money

Online casinos make a ton of money on the interest they get paid on the funds they dont have to pay out in winnings! The longer they have your money the more money they make. Bonuses help them keep your money a lot longer because of the play thru required.

Perhaps we can get some casios to start paying us interest lololol

A good On Line Casino can make a ton of money! They have no brick and mortar buidings to support. Nor do they have dealers to pay and all the other employees needed at a large brick and mortar casino. Software licenses are not all that expensive. Most people cash out of brick and mortar casinos at the end of their playing day. But most people keep a sum of money in their online casino accounts. What do you think the casinos do with it? Of course they put it in U.S. treasuries! This also explains the delays incurred in getting your money sometimes.

They of course love to give playes bonuses because you can't cash out due to play thru requirements! The longer you keep your money in house the more they make.

 

[threescatters]

A lot of interesting posts thanks guys. I play mostly for fun, I know bonus or no bonus I will lose in the long run, im not going to delude myself however bonuses can prolong the enjoyment even if they can be frustrating sometimes. I think after reading this threads comments I will take the easier to understand offers that are at least 50% match and just bet small with them, so I dont get frustrated if I hit good and cant cash it out instantly. If I wanna play a bit bigger I will probably keep doing it without bonuses.

 

[De Beuker]

What puzzles me is, if bonuses are no good for the player in the long run, then WHY do so many casino's bonusban players after that very rare and lucky win?
Rivals love to bonusban players, they do it all the time!
Some RTG's even banned me from the NON-CASHABLE ones after winning a nice sum! (Lucky Red)
Now why would they do that?
Seriously, I don't have a clue!

 

[Bencuri]

I regularly take bonuses, but not every, I just select the ones that suits my expectiations. If someone has much money, I think the bonus has less importance. Bonuses are better for low rollers I think, because they raise the possibility of winning, however only in cases when the playthrough is not high. Anyway even if you don't like bonuses, some casinos offer bonuses with no strings attached regarding the deposit and winnings. So you can cash out your original deposit and winnings any time, and play any game you wish. Expekt and All Jackpots casinos has these bonuses. In case of this kind of bonus, I don't see any reason for not taking it...

 

[zap987]

Seems to me that many people play at casinos all the time and most don't offer bonuses. Many do pretty well including me.

Come on Do you really work for a casino and are u trying to suck us all in to taking bonuses lololol

I play craps and roulette---bonuses make no sense for these games because of the play thru requirement and the amount of money if any the casino will allow you to contribute toward your play thru when playing these games.

Where do you come up with this stuff or is this just opinion and conjecture? If is you are out of your mind!!!

I'm not sure what you're asking? Casino games have a house advantage, that's just a fact and while you can be lucky and be ahead for quite a long time, sometime the house advantage will catch up. I don't play much table games, because there are no bonuses for them anymore.

 

[DEV]

I'm not sure what you're asking? Casino games have a house advantage, that's just a fact and while you can be lucky and be ahead for quite a long time, sometime the house advantage will catch up. I don't play much table games, because there are no bonuses for them anymore.

true bj bonuses are dead and gone. VP bonuses are just a few yards behind. Slots have decent bonuses with a low WR. But you need to do your research thoroughly. Whilst playing for bonuses there is a max amount you can win/cashout. I have heard of many people with $20k, 50k wins on slots which werent paid because they were playing a bonus at the time.

 

[zippedup]

ZAP--Where do you come up with this crap

In your last post you indicate."It's a fact" My question remains According to who is it a fact. Sounds to me that your "facts" are nothing more than personal opinion and conjecture with nada to back them up.

If you are going to quote facts you should have the facts!!!!

 

[Tengil]

In your last post you indicate."It's a fact" My question remains According to who is it a fact. Sounds to me that your "facts" are nothing more than personal opinion and conjecture with nada to back them up.

If you are going to quote facts you should have the facts!!!!

He said that its a fact that casino games have a house advantage. And the only way to beat it is by playing quality bonuses. That not a personal opinion, its a fact.
It has been explained multiple times in multiple threads so I dont think that anyone is gonna explain it once again.

And there are still plenty of decent bonuses for BJ and table games. You just have to "find" them.