Wager Free Bonuses and How They Work
Welcome packages comprising of match deposits, complimentary chips, and/or free spins have always been a regular feature of most online casinos. The system is a two way street, ostensibly working in favour of both the casino and the player. The gaming sites attract new members, while the players get a significant boost to their bankroll. Unfortunately, many players are now realizing that their side of the street is often blocked by a heap of bonus restrictions. Wagering requirements are the biggest stumbling block, especially if they are unrealistically high to the point of being almost impossible to reach. Discerning site operators are now realizing this, and many have responded by offering no wager casino bonuses to their customers.
Wagering Requirements Explained
Initially, a large welcome package seems tempting, but the wagering requirements can often take the edge off the value of the free money awarded. When you fully understand what's involved you can see why casino bonuses with no wager restrictions sound so promising. Playthrough or rollover are other names for wagering requirements and essentially mean you need to playthrough your bonus a certain amount of times before you are eligible to withdraw any winnings. Depending on the casino, the rollover may be x10, x35, x50 or may be set as high as x70 times.
For example, in the case of a match deposit offer of 100% you could receive an extra £200 on your first deposit of £200, giving you £400 to play with. If the wagering requirements are x35 then you will have to make £7000 worth of bets (35 x £200) before the bonus is turned into real money. In some instances you might also be required to bet your deposit, thus doubling the rollover to £14,000 (£200 + £200 x 35 wagering).
Other Common Restrictions
Promotional rules can be quite detailed and wordy but it's important to read them so as to make the most of any signup deal. As well as playthrough requirements, the following policies are common across most platforms:
Wagering contributions: when it comes to meeting the wagering requirements, not all casino games permit you to work through your extra money at the same rate. Slots usually contribute 100% whilst other games such as video poker or some table games may contribute only 10% or 20%.
Restricted games: high return to player (RTP) titles such as blackjack, or jackpot slots could have wagering contributions of 0%. What this means is if you have to bet £7000 to meet the playthrough and if you spend £2000 or £3000 on restricted titles, you still have the £7000 to playthrough.
Maximum bets: promotional terms and conditions usually disallow you from placing a single bet greater than £5, and also may prohibit you from wagering more that £0.50 per line on slots.
What are No Wager Casino Bonuses?
With all the rules and regulations outlined above it's no wonder players have begun to become disheartened with traditional high match offers and possible low returns. Many gaming platforms have reacted to their customers' concerns by offering casino bonuses requiring no wager or rollover.
Free spins have always been a huge draw when attracting new punters and some gaming platforms now offer a number of complimentary spins with no playthrough. Keep in mind though that if there's also a match up offer, there may be restrictions attached to this part of the deal. Not all gaming sites offer match bonuses and instead may give you a number of wager-free spins when you fund your real money account. One of the big advantages of a no deposit casino bonus is that once you play the free spins you can immediately withdraw any profit. The downside, understandably, is the amount awarded in the promotion may not be as generous as that given in a match deposit deal.
Varieties of Wager Free Bonuses
When it comes to offers and perks, casinos don't just focus on new players but also reward established patrons with treats and deals. These are usually found in promotional emails, gaming forums or in your account inbox.
Free Spins: New titles are constantly being launched by casinos and the site gives free spins to players in order to try them out.
Free Bets: Many casinos which also have a sportsbook on the platform award punters with complimentary racing or football bets. Not only can you keep what you win, but you can also uses any winnings at the casino.
Golden Chips: Table games are always a favourite of players and golden chips can be used on selected titles such as Crazy Time or Roulette.
Daily Prizes: If you log in daily to certain gaming sites you can spin a wheel and perhaps win an instant prize such as slot spins, golden chips or scratch cards. The awards are usually at the low end but you get to keep what you win, and also have the opportunity of winning large cash prizes.
Are There Any Terms and Conditions?
As with all deals there will always be some T&Cs associated with UK casino bonuses with no wager requirements.
- You can't avail of the same offer more than once
- The free spins are usually usable on selected slots
- The bonus may only be available for a specific time period
- Certain countries are often be excluded from the offer
