Casinos and deposit bonuses

[anniemac]

Why is it that some casinos make you feel like a second class citizen if you take deposit bonus, which are sticky anyway. They are going to be taken away from you if you get to withdraw. The casino has lost nothing unless they run under the expectation that any money you win will be off the bonus money?

I know that it is my perogative to take a bonus or not, but they are given, sometimes even pushed on you without consent, and when you use them, you are SOL as far as any freebies, contests, or drawings. Some casinos count them against you when doing manager bonuses.

I just don't get it.

 

[guybrie]

As you're from Texas, my input may not help much (since you're limited to so-so casinos running on RTG or topgame etc.), but there are some casinos (eurogrand; playtech) where you get a pop-up when issued a bonus, and on the spot you can choose to accept or decline it. Would be nice if more casinos did that...

In principle there shouldn't be high wagering on sticky bonuses, but I think the reason why they reach as high as x20 is to avoid situations where players make extremely risky 'kamakaze' all-or-nothing bets, taking their whole balance (deposit+bonus) and making one big bet. If they lose, they lost everything, but if they win... depending on the game they can multiply the payout x times - and that's what worries the casinos.

years ago when cashable bonuses existed the casinos' worry was the opposite: players would make very conservative bets in order to husband the bonus, so that at a minimum, after completing wagering requirements, they'd have the bonus left over to withdraw.

...really, sticky bonus wagering could probably be reduced to x5-7 times and make everyone happy.

 

[Mousey]

Ya know... that's something I've always wondered about. RTGs email bonus codes to claim (usually daily from each casino). Bonus codes are posted in our little message box at the casino. Promo alerts scroll across the bottom of the lobby, fer cryin' out loud. It's as if they want to appear generous, but in the end, they don't really want you to use them. And, as Annie says, they're sticky, they get their bonus back if you should... what is that word I don't get to use anymore? ... ah! 'win', that's it. So, what's the deal?

 

[guybrie]

You'd be surprised, but actually the casinos *need* you to take up their bonuses: without those, the casinos have no way of getting you to remain loyal. There is no other retention tool out there for them to use.

A growing challenge in casino-management circles is precisely this: a growing segment of the player base doesn't want bonuses because a) they want to play roulette (which most bonuses restrict) and b) they don't want to get tied down by crazy terms and conditions...

RTG is no less aggressive promoting their bonuses than most other casinos, because for all of them, that's their bread and butter. But to make those more worthwhile, they could make their terms easier without losing money. Worst case, their profit will be "moderate" instead of "exaggerated"....

 

[Nifty29]

You'd be surprised, but actually the casinos *need* you to take up their bonuses: without those, the casinos have no way of getting you to remain loyal. There is no other retention tool out there for them to use.

A growing challenge in casino-management circles is precisely this: a growing segment of the player base doesn't want bonuses because a) they want to play roulette (which most bonuses restrict) and b) they don't want to get tied down by crazy terms and conditions...

RTG is no less aggressive promoting their bonuses than most other casinos, because for all of them, that's their bread and butter. But to make those more worthwhile, they could make their terms easier without losing money. Worst case, their profit will be "moderate" instead of "exaggerated"....

I would think that top class service, fast payouts, and flawless reputation qualify as retention tools......ones that many second class operators overlook.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

You'd be surprised, but actually the casinos *need* you to take up their bonuses: without those, the casinos have no way of getting you to remain loyal. There is no other retention tool out there for them to use.

A growing challenge in casino-management circles is precisely this: a growing segment of the player base doesn't want bonuses because a) they want to play roulette (which most bonuses restrict) and b) they don't want to get tied down by crazy terms and conditions...

To kind of echo what Nifty said.

Casinos get my loyal custom when they pay quickly, offer REASONABLE bonuses that feel worthwhile, and deliver high quality CS.

These casinos then become my No.1 choice for 'non-bonus play' too, because I know they'll pay me quickly rather than leaving a withdrawal sat at pending for 48 hours (or 96 hours+ if that happens to then merge into a weekend).

So that'll be 32Red, 3Dice, Jackpot Party and Pinnacle. (I appreciate there may be others but, for example, I don't really like NetEnt's slots so I can't comment on a NetEnt casino that pays as quickly as 32Red does in the world of MG casinos, and I've never made a withdrawal from a NetEnt casino!)

Elsewhere I really do just play on bonuses when the offers are good enough, as my opinion of those casinos is so low that I really see no reason to play with them under normal circumstances.

An obvious example would be MG casinos, there is absolutely no reason for me to play MG slots when not on a bonus anywhere other than 32Red.

I can make a withdrawal from 32Red at 1am on Sunday morning, and eight hours later when I get out of bed the money is in my Neteller account.

If I play at GNUF I can make a withdrawal on a Wednesday evening and I won't get the money until the following Monday.

Therefore, why on earth would I ever play at GNUF except with a juicy bonus?

 

[guybrie]

To kind of echo what Nifty said.

Casinos get my loyal custom when they pay quickly, offer REASONABLE bonuses that feel worthwhile, and deliver high quality CS.

These casinos then become my No.1 choice for 'non-bonus play' too, because I know they'll pay me quickly rather than leaving a withdrawal sat at pending for 48 hours (or 96 hours+ if that happens to then merge into a weekend).

So that'll be 32Red, 3Dice, Jackpot Party and Pinnacle. (I appreciate there may be others but, for example, I don't really like NetEnt's slots so I can't comment on a NetEnt casino that pays as quickly as 32Red does in the world of MG casinos, and I've never made a withdrawal from a NetEnt casino!)

Elsewhere I really do just play on bonuses when the offers are good enough, as my opinion of those casinos is so low that I really see no reason to play with them under normal circumstances.

An obvious example would be MG casinos, there is absolutely no reason for me to play MG slots when not on a bonus anywhere other than 32Red.

I can make a withdrawal from 32Red at 1am on Sunday morning, and eight hours later when I get out of bed the money is in my Neteller account.

If I play at GNUF I can make a withdrawal on a Wednesday evening and I won't get the money until the following Monday.

Therefore, why on earth would I ever play at GNUF except with a juicy bonus?

Agreed (with you and Nifty) - but, the common denominator in your examples (presumeably) is that they all give you bonuses.

Except for a very specific type of gambler, I think the majority of players still want a bonus before or after their deposits - without those, they probably wouldn't play at the casino. The good customer service and fast withdrawals, I believe, are still secondary to most players as long as they get some kind of comp for their deposits.

 

[Tirilej]

Agreed (with you and Nifty) - but, the common denominator in your examples (presumeably) is that they all give you bonuses.

Except for a very specific type of gambler, I think the majority of players still want a bonus before or after their deposits - without those, they probably wouldn't play at the casino. The good customer service and fast withdrawals, I believe, are still secondary to most players as long as they get some kind of comp for their deposits.

Then I must be one of those specific type of gambler.
I only play where they pay fast, and 99% of the times, without a bonus.
I have never used a bonus at Nordicbet. I don't even know what they offer

I used bonuses as Jackpot Capital, but only the no deposit bonuses that they gave to me. I never asked for one.
I ended up cashing out so much that they bonusbanned me, even though I don't use any depositbonuses.
Well, then why have accounts at that group? I have seen enough of their way of doing business so I just don't like them anymore. They pay, but most casinos do that eventually

For me, the casinos that pays fast get my money, and the rest of them I won't touch.

 

[maphesto]

I used bonuses as Jackpot Capital, but only the no deposit bonuses that they gave to me. I never asked for one.
I ended up cashing out so much that they bonusbanned me, even though I don't use any depositbonuses.

They must have thought that you have magical fingers... Why in h*ll do they think you can beat their slots which according to them are totally random?

Are you bonus banned at Slotastic, Grande Vegas, Intertops, Lucky Club and Liberty Slots aswell?

 

[Tirilej]

They must have thought that you have magical fingers... Why in h*ll do they think you can beat their slots which according to them are totally random?

Are you bonus banned at Slotastic, Grande Vegas, Intertops, Lucky Club and Liberty Slots aswell?

Only at Jackpot Capital, but I closed all four accounts anyway.
Intertops I don't like and have never signed up at Liberty slots.
...but I was really good at cashing out from their no deposit bonuses, so I can't really blame them for that part

 

[Nate]

I feel soooooo stupid...

I logged on one morning and decided to play at Slotocash.... Well, in my haziness (rough night the previous evening) I logged into Slotastic and deposited a few $100... Imagine my horror when i realized that i was playing at The Delay Capital ... instead of Sloto

lol.... Anyways - Happens to the best of us...

Deposit Bonuses - Well, I NEVER get ahead at NetEnt with those and I usually almost always take 1 at RTG... The Slots are Killers to play without 1...

I always took 1 at MG - Clearing them wasn't an issue. Playtech aint so bad either

Nate