Protect Yourself by Understanding Casino Bonuses

The majority of casinos attract new business by offering players an alluring casino bonus. It's worthwhile knowing how these bonuses work and how they affect you.

WHY DOES A CASINO OFFER A BONUS?

This is the bit it's easy to understand. By offering bonuses, typically in the form of free chips or money, casinos aim to attract and retain players. In effect, the casino uses the bonus as a type of competitive promotion to woo your patronage. It's like a retail store offering a free item with a regular purchase.

TYPES OF CASINO BONUSES

Casinos offer two basic kinds of bonuses: first deposit and loyalty bonuses.

As a first deposit bonus, the casino gives you money to thank you for becoming a member. This type of casino bonus is usually paid after you've signed up and paid your first balance into your Real Money account. The casino will frequently match whatever you deposit up to some maximum amount, which could be $100, for example. Or your bonus may be a percentage of your deposit up to a specified maximum, such as a free 50 percent of the first $250 you deposit. These figures may differ considerably at various casinos, and individual casinos may periodically alter their bonus offerings. Casinos strive to keep their current customers by offering a loyalty bonus, which is a type of promotion used by the casino to thank you for your continued patronage. For example, the casino may add an extra 20 percent to the first deposit made in a particular month, or it may add 10 percent or so to however much you deposit during a month.

WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THE PLAYER

In essence, the casino expects you to identify yourself honestly, refrain from cheating, observe the casino rules stipulated in the terms and conditions, and agree to the conditions that apply to cashing in when you win. It should be understood that you will continue your visit and play for some time if you have accepted a bonus from a casino. There will be a "wager through requirement" - a clause requiring that you must bet a minimum amount of money before you can qualify to receive your bonus. This minimum stake is usually equivalent to some multiple of your initial deposit, or equal to whatever straight bonus you have been granted, or it may be the sum of both these amounts. You'll generally find details on this "wager through" in the published terms and conditions of the casino. Your minimum total bets may need to be anything from 3 to 20 times the amount of your first deposit. By and large, a bigger bonus means a bigger wager through requirement, but there are many exceptions.

WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THE CASINO

As a player you will expect the game play at the casino to be fair and your winnings to be paid honestly and promptly. This much should be self-evident. But be aware that the nature of the games and payouts may change over a period and you'll be expected to comply with any corresponding changes in the terms and conditions.

The nature of the games may change if the casino upgrades its software to enhance various features of play or finds it necessary to modify its payout percentages from time to time to keep fair control of the "casino hold", which is the average profit the casino may be entitled to earn from money paid in by players. Payouts are most likely to change in Slots and Video Poker.

The terms and conditions of a casino are like a contract between you and the casino. They reflect the manner in which the casino undertakes to deliver service to you, the player - so be aware that the casino may need to adjust and tune its bonus and wager through conditions at various times. The golden rule: PLEADING IGNORANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IS NO EXCUSE!

The casino's terms and conditions spell out clearly what is required in the conduct of both the casino and its players. In any dispute, the casino will expect the player to comply with the spirit and probably the letter of this agreement. In life, as in law, ignorance is no defence.

Read more about online casino bonuses and other Online Casino Gambling topics at http://www.online-gambling-insider.com

---

Casino Food 101

Over the years, the various gambling games and the gambling... Read More

Compulsive Gambler Shares His Recovery Story About Gamblers Anonymous Now That He Stopped

A compulsive gambler who participated in Gamblers Anonymous program shared... Read More

Tips & Strategies for Slot Players

1. Always play with money you can afford to lose.Let's... Read More

Roulette System: Spread the News and Beat the Casino Legally

Discover the truth, the real secret behind successful business without... Read More

The Secret of Multiple Odds Tables

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of winning... Read More

Becoming a Consistent Winner at Online Low-Limit Texas Hold Em

Start with LIMIT Texas Hold 'EmBoth limit and no-limit Texas... Read More

Do You Believe These Four Online Slot Machine Myths?

The fact that people don't really understand how online slot... Read More

The Secrets of the Big Numbers

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of the... Read More

Roulette - The Basics

Roulette is actually one of the simplest games in the... Read More

Do You Know the Best and Worst Roulette Bets?

Do You Know the Best and Worst Roulette Bets?The outcome... Read More

Tips to Win at Poker

The following are guidelines only and although they are intended... Read More

The Secrets of Cold Tables

The CrapshooterThe Secrets of Cold TablesPssst...! Wanna know a secret?How... Read More

Oh the Thrill and Despair of Gambling

I do not know of many people who LIKE to... Read More

Horse Racing Betting, The Risk Free Way

You may or may not of heard of all this... Read More

Blackjack - Increase Your Odds With Basic Strategy Plus

Blackjack Basic Strategy, played perfectly in a game with favorable... Read More

Free Online Card Games -- Getting Ready for Las Vegas

Free online card games that can be played over the... Read More

Simple Jacks or Better Strategy Tutorial

Statistical Arbitrage strategy applied to Video PokerIntroductionJacks or Better is... Read More

Understanding Different Types of Online Slot Machines

We'd be wasting your time if we attempted to categorize... Read More

Baseball is Back!

What are your goals for this season?In another week the... Read More

Online Poker

Online poker is a very popular virtual casinos game where... Read More

Poker Popularity for Beginners

The game of poker is cherished since a long time.... Read More

Poker Fever

Big blind with my jack-three off suit, I found myself... Read More

Virtual Casino Games

Looking to find out what kind of games can be... Read More

Roulette System: Illegal Tactics Casino Use Against You

Roulette System: "The Almost Illegal Tactic Casinos Use Against You... Read More

Play Poker Online Against the Stars of the Silver Screen

There's no secret that poker is taking the world by... Read More

MGM Mirage to build a city on Las Vegas Strip

Plans include a 4,000-room hotel and casino, three 400-room boutique... Read More

Texas Holdem Tournament Strategy - Winning vs. Aggressive Players

The Texas Hold'em poker phenomenon has taken the country by... Read More

Understanding The Logistics of Poker Tournaments

Tournaments are poker competitions where all of the players play... Read More

Expected Value in Texas Holdem Poker

A successful Texas hold em player is one who maximizes... Read More

Gambling Addiction Basics

The coming age has brought with it numerous new pathological... Read More

Helpful Stop Gambling Links & Information For The Compulsive Gambler, Family & Friends Of A Gambler

Over the past few years stop gambling websites have helped... Read More

The Bingo Renaissance

Little old ladies in slippers, playing for pennies and cents... Read More

Understanding Online Casino Bonuses

Are you puzzled by the workings of online Casino bonuses,... Read More