Better safe than sorry! Always be mindful in your casino bonus usage

Playing at a casino involves much more than knowing how games are played. No matter how proficient you are at a particular game, one thing you should avoid is to start playing without reading the casino’s fine print in advance.

Before you get lost in the thrill of the game, you need to familiarise yourself with the wagering requirements attached to it, any time limit, and the maximum bet limit stipulated, to mention but a few conditions. 

Another big no no is bonus abuse. If you’re not familiar with the term, then chances are you’ve not been found guilty of this misdemeanor and thus, your provider has never flagged you up. However, whether you’ve been caught or not, certain moves are still considered abusive. Although, understandably, some players may be unaware of the casino’s entire set of rules, not knowing the rules is never a valid excuse. This is why we’ve gathered the main things to avoid when it comes to claiming bonuses. 

Creating multiple accounts

While creating a duplicate account might seem like a tempting idea, it’s a risky move to make because it goes against any casino’s rules, potentially leading to problems down the road. If you’re feeling clever, you might think of using a VPN to hide your IP address, but this simply doesn’t work because casinos have the technology to reveal the real IP address. On the other hand, if you tend to join different casinos to claim fresh bonuses, and lose track of which accounts you’ve opened, then it’s best to contact customer support rather than create another account.

Claiming a bonus more than once

Another temptation might be to claim the same bonus more than once, but this will ultimately result in the casino blocking you from receiving any bonus whatsoever. Although there may be glitches in the casino software that allow players to obtain bonuses they’re no longer entitled to, such errors are typically corrected at the end of the day. If the casino spots this abuse, your money, along with any prizes won while using it will be immediately confiscated. Our advice? Simple; stick to claiming bonuses you’re actually entitled to, and don’t aim for more than your fair share.

Attempting an early withdrawal 

Although virtual casinos offer bonus money, it doesn’t mean that you can simply cash out, there and then. In fact, you’d need to fulfil a long list of requirements (as specified in the terms and conditions) before you’re allowed to withdraw your money. Again, ignorance of what’s stipulated in the fine print doesn’t absolve you of your responsibility to inform yourself. So, if you try to withdraw bonus funds without meeting these requirements, this might be enough for the casino to identify you as untrustworthy, and you also risk losing your membership and ending up on the casino’s bad books. 

If, on the other hand, you don’t mean any harm, but numbers are simply not your friend, you might want to consider the following: 

• make sure you read the wagering requirements in the terms and conditions; 
• choose a casino with a bonus tracker that will do the math for you; 
• when unsure if you qualify for a payout, consult with customer support.

Assuming your bonus applies on all games 

Not all games can be played with a bonus, especially those with a low house edge like blackjack. Casinos don’t usually allow bonuses to be used on these games since it would give players an even greater edge to win. If you have a specific preferred game, it is within your interest to check if it’s eligible for bonus use. Information on eligible and excluded games can be found in the casino’s terms and conditions. Although you can slip through and use your bonus on an excluded game, this is risky and could result in the bonus being confiscated or being labeled a ‘bonus abuser’.

 Running out of time 

As with other promotions, bonuses come with an expiration date, and if you fail to abide by the stipulated time limit, you risk losing your winnings. This is why it’s crucial to confirm that the timeframe attached to a particular bonus actually works for you. If you’re not a frequent player, claiming a bonus with a restricted time limit might not be worth it. Bonus expiration dates vary between casinos, with some gambling sites allowing a full month, and others giving you a mere seven-day timeframe. Keep in mind that you must complete the wagering requirements within the stipulated timeframe. Information about the bonus time limit can be found in the terms and conditions.

Ignoring maximum bet limits 

Another limit placed by casinos is the capping on how much the player can bet because bonus money isn’t intended to be played on a single game. This is a pretty delicate rule to look out for because you can easily break it unintentionally, although in this case you’re still not spared from ending up on the casino’s bad books. Unfortunately, even going over the betting limit by a small amount can result in the casino removing the bonus.  To avoid unintentionally breaking any rules and losing your bonus, it’s important to be aware of the maximum allowed bet for the game. 

Disclaimer |  Play responsibly. For help, visit www.rgf.org.mt. Players must be over 18, terms and conditions apply.