Do you play with Signup Bonuses? (2015)

[mattsgame]

Had to say "Pretty Much Never", I rarely sign up to new casinos these days and stick to the one or 2, as a player. If we are talking regular bonuses, I take them more often than not, but as above its at the casinos I frequent and know the bonus rules.

As an affiliate I do try new casinos but only with a small deposits + no bonuses.

Cheers
Matt

 

[ProbabilityZero]

Rarely sign up to new casinos as 32 Red provides most needs and Videoslots for non MG slots.

As someone else has said.... I do take bonuses because my philosophy is that I would have bet that extra money anyway.

Having said that I do find that I'm playing far more when on a bonus as eager to find out if make WR so in reality I may be getting more play time but not saving money!

Without bonuses I find it hard to have an "END GOAL". I actually find bonus WR rides quite thrilling in themselves.

The other thing to bear in mind is that if you plan to cash out as soon as meeting WR then a 25% bonus is no less valuable in reality than a 100% bonus (except for reduced playtime) as the theoretical percentage losses are equal in both cases. Many don't consider this:

For example:

100% bonus £50 deposit and £50 bonus. WR x30
WR £1500
Example slot 96% RTP = Projected loss £60 (50 bonus and 10 cash loss)

25% bonus £50 deposit and £12.50 bonus WR x 30
WR £375
Example slot 96% RTP = Projected loss £15 (12.50 bonus and 2.50 cash)

So if you deposit £200 with the 25% your ending balance probability is actually equal to that of depositing £50. The only difference being that a bad run eats away more if your deposit. However statistically in the long run your net losses on a 25% bonus will be equal to that of 100% bonus providing you always cash out upon completion of WR.

 

[hedgehok]

Rarely sign up to new casinos as 32 Red provides most needs and Videoslots for non MG slots.

As someone else has said.... I do take bonuses because my philosophy is that I would have bet that extra money anyway.

Having said that I do find that I'm playing far more when on a bonus as eager to find out if make WR so in reality I may be getting more play time but not saving money!

Without bonuses I find it hard to have an "END GOAL". I actually find bonus WR rides quite thrilling in themselves.

The other thing to bear in mind is that if you plan to cash out as soon as meeting WR then a 25% bonus is no less valuable in reality than a 100% bonus (except for reduced playtime) as the theoretical percentage losses are equal in both cases. Many don't consider this:

For example:

100% bonus £50 deposit and £50 bonus. WR x30
WR £1500
Example slot 96% RTP = Projected loss £60 (50 bonus and 10 cash loss)

25% bonus £50 deposit and £12.50 bonus WR x 30
WR £375
Example slot 96% RTP = Projected loss £15 (12.50 bonus and 2.50 cash)

So if you deposit £200 with the 25% your ending balance probability is actually equal to that of depositing £50. The only difference being that a bad run eats away more if your deposit. However statistically in the long run your net losses on a 25% bonus will be equal to that of 100% bonus providing you always cash out upon completion of WR.

Your calculation is flawed: You have to consider bet-sizes: Your example would be (close to) correct with minimum-bets.

 

[Casinomeister]

I'm rather surprised at the number of people who are indicating that they take them most of the time. I never take bonuses - well rarely if ever. I don't have the time to deal with pages of convoluted terms and conditions.

We did this poll two years ago with about 40% saying they take bonuses most of the time. I figured since a number of casinos have introduced draconian terms, the number would have decreased. Me so wrong

Here is a related thread which I hope will generate some positive ideas on bonus alternatives:
https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/threads/the-slow-death-of-the-online-casino-bonus.67419/

 

[Batman]

I'm rather surprised at the number of people who are indicating that they take them most of the time. I never take bonuses - well rarely if ever. I don't have the time to deal with pages of convoluted terms and conditions.

We did this poll two years ago with about 40% saying they take bonuses most of the time. I figured since a number of casinos have introduced draconian terms, the number would have decreased. Me so wrong

Here is a related thread which I hope will generate some positive ideas on bonus alternatives:
https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/threads/the-slow-death-of-the-online-casino-bonus.67419/

Guessing there are players out there that understand Sign Up Bonuses to be Free (no deposit) sign up bonuses, thus the high number of pro bonus votes...

 

[nilaynilay]

i only look for loss-back. i recently got 100% loss-back and BJ was allowed. live BJ so not cheating.

10% loss back has been offered by 2 diff casinos. I hope to see more loss-back insurance. signups are such a pain these days.

specially if you play roulette or BJ

 

[datch]

Hi,


I take signup bonusses if t&c's are reasonable and no BS like "withdrawal capped 6X the deposit" or other imho rogue paragraphs are in place and if the wr is not more then 50X bonus.

If I do not like the welcome bonus, I will most likely not register an account with the casino.


Greetz

 

[lotusch]

Hi guys,I play very rarely with a bonus.
Simply because I do not want to get attached to a WR and adittional t&c's on max bet rules and stuff.
For me bonusses are more a pain in the arse then they would do me any good.
I know there are probably a lot of "pro" bonus players around in this world who know exactly how to beat a bonus or know the best way to try and beat it.
I am more straight forward,I deposit and I play.
If I win I can cash out whenever I want and if I lose I lose.

So for me bonusses are not interesting,personally.

 

[Frenzal]

Bonuses are good if you never plan on taking money out

Bonuses in my eye's are there to hold you back. Just another gimmick to stop casino's from ever needing to pay you out.

If you just want to play and don't have much money then bonuses might be for you but then again if that's the case then maybe you should just play without money to begin with.
When I play I have a set amount of money I am willing to lose but ultimately I'm playing because I want to win some money.

 

[silcnlayc]

I very seldom take sign up bonuses because I very rarely play at new casinos. I take regular bonuses that are 100% or over because it is too hard to win on a small deposit any more. It is hard to win with bonuses, but it allows more playtime. I stopped playing at casinos that I have been a longtime member of due to bonuses being reduced to the ridiculous.

I play only simple bonuses without a max cash out and at a minimum of 100% starting bonus. I do not like tiered bonuses. They are the worst. Cashback offers without strings are OK, but I don't ask for them because if it is offered, it should be automatically placed into the account without strings.

.

 

[Birdy84]

I have pretty much always played with a bonus since i started playing a couple of years back, but there have been so many occasions i would have had a cash out if i didn't have masses of wr to get through i don't think i will take them in the future. If you just want a longer play sessio there fine aside from that personally i just don't think they are worth taking.

 

[bluebirdy]

I Pretty much never take sign up bonus, i like to try the site with a few £'s then if win i can withdraw and test out how long withdrawal times are at the same time with out the hassle of WR. way to many T&C's

 

[francy5]

Bonuses

I answered "more often than not" which turns out to be not often. I tend to play the same casinos and rarely play new ones to get the sign up bonus. I've gotten ripped off when I first started playing online with huge bonus offers like 600%. In order to win (depending on your deposit) you could be playing forever to meet the terms of the bonuses offered. I like the 100% match bonus with a play through of 25/30 times the deposit plus the bonus. I'm in no way a expert player, but I've had great success in this way. This is not to say I won't try a new casino that is on the accredited list that has a decent sign up bonus, reasonable play through, and fast and easy payouts.

I never bet more than I can afford to lose.

 

[Mousey]

With casino T&Cs reading like a paranoid lawyer on crack wrote them, WR going through the roof, unreasonable and illogical disallowed games, max bet limitations, max withdrawal limitations, and for USA players insane withdrawal fees, along with minimum withdrawals .... Bonus? no thank you - not even a sign up bonus.

Most land based casinos have done away with free money for new players. If you're lucky you might get a free key ring or t-shirt. Where most USA B&M casinos excel is player loyalty and retention. You sign up, play awhile using your brand new players card, enjoy free booze, go home, a few weeks later you get coupons for free nights in their hotel, free food credits, and usually a little free play (1x play through and you can walk right out the door with any winnings), if you'll only go back and play there again.

I haven't been to my fav B&M casino in over 2 years and they still send me coupons for 3 free nights, $50 food, and some free play because they'd really like to have a go at my money again. Makes sense doesn't it? why give the dough up to a new player who may waltz out the door and never show up again?

Save the promos and freebies for those that return. That's called player retention. Online casinos seem to have lost or never had a clue about the concept.

 

[Geddes333]

Thinking the same thing!!

Just under 2 years ago we ran the same poll. More has happened since then, new terms added, more restrictions and issues, some new ways of presenting them etc. So I am out to see if opinion is shifting or not.

Was thinking the same thing recently as it seems every time I take the purchase bonus offer my credits don't last very long and I'm out the door not even coming close to the wagering requirements let alone being entertained for ten minutes no matter how much I spend or receive. Seems like it's past coincidence and happens every time.

 

[Operette]

Nope

I play to win - and these "bonuses" are a burden. It's ridiculous how some casinos will tie up any bonus money with one's own money. I hate it when they do that. Then those terms and conditions...they are getting crazier all the time. It's a waste of time and monies.

 

[Googobucs]

I very rarely play a new casino but when I do; If the T&C are reasonable, I always take the SUB so I have an opportunity to really check them out. After that I would almost never take a bonus of any kind.
When I cash out really depends on a lot of things but I don't change my strategy with or without a SUB bonus. I usually deposit $50 and would cash out once I get over $300.

 

[datshowiwoll]

When I join a new casino I tend to take the SUB if they are accredited around half of the time, but very rarely take subsequent ones unless like at Betat and Leo Vegas my money isn't tied in .... I am a sucker for a FS offer though!

A great promotion though such as the Casumo Challenge would be much more likely to get me to sign up than a SUB

 

[Fjellsame]

Tend to go for SUB almost all of the time. Only a high wagering stops me.

 

[Thunderluck]

I'll go for a SUB if it's something big like deposit £10 get £50 as it gives me more play time, I see it as a way to play for a few hours at a £10 cost with the added bonus of a small chance of a win.

I blame sites like moneysavingexpert in the UK, they have a sub forum dedicated to extracting every single penny from sportsbook bonuses making it harder for the rest of us who like a casual punt. How bet365 still offer £200 match I don't know (and the terms are very good)

 

[jasonuk]

Taking the "bonus" out of sign-up bonus...

While I voted "more often than not", I would agree that it has been a race to the bottom over the past few years. As the bonuses have got bigger and the RTP payouts have increased, it was inevitable that the master race between bonus offers and bonus exploiters would kick in. Sadly it's Joe Punter that loses out.

For me, it also seems like a good indicator of the "fairness" of the casino. I appreciate the days of 20xB have long gone (particularly with 98% slots in the wild), but some of these SUB offerings are so insanely one sided that I'd be amazed if a single person cashed out.

The most annoying thing is all these extra terms that are creeping in - the use of "D+B" on small bonuses (20xD+B may not sound scary but 120xB does), the increasing use of capped payouts, intentional phantom wagering requirements, and the ever-increasing list of restricted games. Sadly when the big players such as Ladbrokes have previously or are now using such terms across their bonuses, it's a green light for everyone else!

I rarely play (post-SUB) deposit bonuses now, in favour of "post-rewards" (e.g. play £X, get Y tomorrow on GUTS) - I can stop at any time, and I don't have to worry about large wagering requirements or other predatory terms.

 

[me_and_ed]

I never take SUB and on a vary rare occasion take a free spins bonus, I don't have time to read the whole post so I am sure its been said but bonuses are 95% of all issues here, from both sides, I personally do not want any restrictions on my funds.

 

[gsx600]

I rarely take a bonus anymore...once in a great while but on the last 2 I took I was able to cash out from both. I have been getting really lucky lately hitting good amounts shortly after depositing. My husband bought me new computer because my wireless card was going, so had to figure how to take screenshots again.

 

[silentvet]

Are we talking sign-up or the other bonuses frequently available

The term used in the poll is "SIGN-UP." The way I see it, it's the same promo method that any other business uses to get the attention of potential new customers. "Come on in and try our wares..." What's wrong with that? Do you shop for airline specials? Hotel offers? Better read the small print. It's a way of life. So, if a casino wants me to try them out I surely want a sign-up bonus so as to provide me with time to play their games and see if they offer a good game of chance.

The other bonuses are offered to keep gamblers coming back. If you don't like the offers then don't take them. If you do like them and are willing to read their T&C and are willing to go through the patience of getting thru the WR, then that's your business. Don't try to take something away from the businesses or the gamblers just cause you don't like it. Let CHOICE rule the day.

Who doesn't agree with choice? Those who seek to stop YOU from doing something THEY don't approve of.

I've been using bonuses to my benefit since I began using online casinos back in 2008. I say leave them alone. Just keep up the forums and let us complain about those casinos that rip us off and those that have great customer service. We'll take it from there.

 

[str8wild]

Never. They're the worst thing about the online casinos. There isn't one decent U.S. one out there.