How the Terms and Conditions of a Casino Bonus Affects its Value

While these headline figures can certainly grab your attention, the true value of a casino bonus is actually tied to its terms and conditions. The best value bonuses are more impressive with their small print than their great big print. Online casinos providing the best value to players pay as much attention to the terms as the offer itself. That’s why understanding these terms is hugely important for players looking to make the most of their gaming experience.

Here, we look at how the terms and conditions of a casino bonus can have a massive impact on its overall value.

Wagering Requirements Are Key

At the heart of most casino bonuses lies the wagering requirement – which is the main factor that influences the value of the bonus. Wagering requirements are essentially the number of times you’ll need to wager the bonus amount (or the bonus plus deposit combined) before you can withdraw your winnings.

A higher wagering requirement makes a bonus less valuable. For instance, a £150 bonus with a 20x wagering requirement means you’ll need to wager £3,000 before you can cash out any winnings. If it has 50x wagering requirements, you’ll need to play £7,500 of your own money before you can withdraw. As such, it is essential to check the wagering requirements to gauge a bonus’s true value.

Game Contributions

Not all casino games contribute the same when it comes to meeting wagering requirements. The terms and conditions often specify the percentage of each bet that counts towards the wagering. Slots usually contribute 100%, but table games and live dealer options may contribute a lot less or, in some cases, not at all.

You need to be aware of game contribution percentages when assessing the value of a bonus. If you’re a fan of table games – which barely contribute to wagering requirements, the value of that bonus isn’t great for you.

Validity Period

Every casino bonus comes with a validity period – the timeframe in which you’ll need to fulfil your wagering requirements. If the requirements are not met within this timeframe, you’ll lose the bonus and any winnings.

As such, the validity period has a big impact on the value of a bonus, especially if you don’t have much time to commit to your gaming sessions. A bonus with a longer validity period will give you more time to meet wagering requirements – and mean you’re more likely to be able to withdraw those wins.

Maximum Bet Limits

Terms and conditions of most casino offers often impose maximum bet limits for your bonus money – and exceeding these limits can lead to your bonus and winnings being lost.  Maximum bet limits are designed to prevent players from exploiting bonuses by placing big bets for a fairer and more balanced gaming environment.

While these limits are a necessity in terms of responsible gambling, you still need to consider them when trying to ascertain the value of a bonus. A low maximum bet limit means it will take longer to fulfil the wagering requirements – potentially affecting whether or not you meet it.

Excluded Games

Casino bonuses often come with a list of excluded games – and if you try to play these games while using your bonus – again, it could be voided. As such, you need to familiarise yourself with the list of excluded games – and if that list includes your favourite titles, it’s probably not a great value bonus for you!

Ultimately, it’s important not to be blinded by the lights and glamour of huge-looking bonuses. You also need to make sure that it is a value bonus for all… with fair wagering requirements, a decent validity period and reasonable betting limits.

You then also need to decide whether it’s a value bonus for you – can you use it on your favourite games – and can you fulfil the wagering requirements with your preferred games? Once you have established this, you’ll be able to get the very best value from your casino bonus!