Are you puzzled by the workings of Online Casino bonuses, with those pulsating dollar signs and offers of free cash? Let’s see if we can demystify the situation. Different rules apply to different casino bonuses – know these rules and avoid disappointment. In addition you may think you’re receiving the best treatment because a casino gives the best percentage bonus, then you learn that your small deposit hasn’t bought that much of a bonus after all, or you have problems cashing out your winnings. In this article we’ll explain how to work out which bonus is actually the best, drawing from typical bonus schemes to help you make your selection.
Casinos typically offer four types of bonuses:
- Free cash or no-deposit bonuses.
- “Match bonuses” or bonuses when you sign up or pay your first deposit.
- Bonuses for renewing your membership or making further deposits.
- Bonuses for using a preferred deposit system, such as paying through Neteller. We’ll consider these bonuses one by one.
Free Cash Bonuses
There’s nothing strange about these bonuses. Once you’ve signed up at the casino, you can place free bets up to the value of the bonus. But there is a snag – you may not be able to cash in until you’ve either paid your deposit or staked a sum real money many times greater than the bonus value.
Even so, newcomers to online casinos should accept this type of bonus to use as your initial stake money. There’s always a chance that you could win real cash with your free bet! However, take caution as many of these types of bonuses have onerous wagering requirements that sometimes make it difficult to cash in any money at all.
First Deposit Bonuses
Now things become a little more interesting. Deposit bonuses come in two forms, namely, the straight cash bonus and the percentage bonus.
Let’s look at an example. A casino advertises a 400% bonus up to $100 maximum. Here you’ll get free credits worth $100 for the first $25 you deposit. Take note that this bonus is likely to apply only to the first $25. Afterwards you qualify for other types of bonuses, like the one for making a re-deposit. Now the casinos terms and conditions state a 7 times wager through requirement in bonus + deposit if you elect to take a bonus. That means that you have to wager $25 + $100 = $125 x7 = $875 before you can cash out anything. Wager through requirements differ between casinos. Always understand them carefully before you make a deposit. The last thing you want is to win, only to find that you can not cash out because you have not wagered enough.
Ongoing Bonuses
Casinos offer numerous forms of re-deposit bonuses as inducements to retain their gamblers. At a number of casinos the extent of these bonuses depends on the loyalty ratings of the members. Most of the time these bonuses are subject to the same conditions as the bonuses for initial deposits, but sometimes you have to bet multiples of this deposit to qualify for a cash-out. If your bonus is $50, for instance, you may have to bet 10 times as much – yes, $500 – to qualify. To do so you’d obviously have to be on some sort of winning streak.
Special Bonuses (e.g. preferred payment method)
Here too there are a range of bonuses. The two most frequently applied are deposit mechanism and special event bonuses. The deposit mechanism bonus rewards you for making deposits through a preferred payment system, of which Neteller is the most widely used. You can get an additional 20 percent from some casinos for using Neteller. Terms and conditions are much like those for first-deposit bonuses.
Special event bonuses may be dressed up in different ways. You may receive one of these special bonuses if, for instance, you bet a minimum amount on a particular game. Many casinos offer this type of bonus for slots players.
Casino gambling tips for the Internet are good to know because betting at an online casino is a little different from a land based casino. For one when playing slots, how can you tell if the odds online are good or not? Do you know what the casino requires for play before cashing out winnings? When selecting to play over the Internet for the first time you should keep the following in mind:
Read payout percentage reports for the best odds PriceWaterhouseCoopers is the prominent accountant in the field of analyzing the game odds for online casinos. These can be viewed for separate casinos by scrolling to the bottom and clicking on the PriceWaterhouseCoopers logo. You may have to click on the report to enlarge it, but there you can see the percentages for slots, table games and other areas in which the casino has games. There are reports for each month of operation and if the slots are 96% and above, these odds are better than in Las Vegas. Another firm is The Online Players Association that performs the same auditing and checks.
Terms and Conditions
All casinos are different and one thing that separates them is the Terms and Conditions for which they operate. Here you can find out the details for cashing out if you take them up on bonuses. Some will give you a high percentage bonus, but may want 25X play before you cash out. Unless these are games that you love to play you may want to find somewhere else to take your chances. Reviewing this policy can help you to avoid unnecessary issues.
Study Conditions for Cashing Out
Making a killing is the ultimate goal with any casino, so when the getting is good and you know it is time to get out, keep in mind how the process works by reading the Terms and Conditions. This can help you to get out at a profit. If the casino wants so much action for the bonus they gave you, make sure you know how much they want. That way, when you hit the crossover point and you feel the action is slowing down, you can take the money and run! Turning $100.00 into a $1000.00 and losing it because you did not know when you met the casino’s conditions for cash out is a bad feeling.
Have a daily goal in mind
Write down how much you want to gamble with each day. For example, if your $100.00 deposit and the casino match bonus of 100% gives you $200.00 total, then spread it out over 2 to 3 sessions. Sometimes if you gamble $75.00 and lose it in the morning, trying again tomorrow may bring you luck. BUT if you blow it all at once, you lose the future opportunity to hit that winning streak that may be around the corner.
Watch your bankroll!
Remember to place a limit on what you will spend! To reflect on the previous sentence, if you blow everything all at once, you miss the future opportunity to hit a potential winning streak. On top of that gambling should be fun, entertaining and profitable. It should not take money from your bills or necessities (or your spouse).
Blackjack is one of the oldest and easiest card games to learn how to manipulate and one of the most rewarding card games any first-time casino-bound beginner can play. The simple conceptual rules leave much room for any novice to succeed.
A basic overview of the game can be taught in a mere fifteen minutes, however, the bulk of mastering it like a seasoned casino pro does come from devoting a strenuous effort to the discipline and strategy of this classic French card game standby. For beginning players though, it takes little more than controlling simple math principals like basic addition, combined with a cunning observation of human behavior and a touch of strategy to learn the card game of blackjack.
Because of the varying levels of chance and yet still the opportunity to employ strategic tactics, blackjack is the only casino game at which one stands a chance to truly outsmart and beat the house. Gaining a sharp rise in American player popularity in the 1960’s, blackjack, once called “21” based on the maximum card count total before a hand busts, is now one of the most sought-after card games in casinos worldwide. Another reason this game has sustained and increased in its number of players, is because of the increasing accessibility of online blackjack games. This card game is an “every man’s” game and due to its quick learning time and the advent of Internet gambling sites, there has been a modern revitalization of the game in both real-time and virtual environments.
There is a level of independence in blackjack, and perhaps that solitary sense that a player is facing off individually against the dealer might be part of the appeal. As each player tries to beat the dealer one-on-one, other players are simultaneously doing the same. There is both a social and non-social element to the game play.
Simply learning the ropes of the game is enough to get one started, however, devoting a few hours to attaining the basic strategies of card prediction and card counting is the key to having a higher payout and a better grasp of the more advanced techniques. A short time of practicing these strategic maneuvers will propel a basic player from a run-of-the-mill neighborhood poker night player to a player who would have a great edge in a public casino. If a player knows the more popular and assured strategies like card counting, which is mentally tracking the high and low cards of the deck, blackjack is much simpler to sweep than other card games. Although the house will always have a statistical edge, the component of player choice makes the game sway positively toward the player in a way that no other card game can.
As with most games, experience is another essential component in mastering blackjack play. The casino circuit is the best way to collect the practice needed to excel, because the environment is tense and the play is quick, which can teach a player to acclimate to the speedy wit necessary to win big. However, the online blackjack options and home play are also beneficial and probably more practical for most new players.
The benefits of mastering blackjack are more rewarding than most people imagine. The time invested in learning the game and blackjack strategy produces a feeling of exercising the mind while at the same time enabling a player to take home a little quick pay dirt – a great monetary reward for a few hands of fun card playing.
How do you know whether you can trust online casinos? Will they pay up when you win? How do you know that the games aren’t fixed? After all when the games are digitised they don’t have to be random to appear random. Online casinos could fix it so that the odds are much more favourable to them than they appear. What might seem like bad luck could be a complex algorithm generating the results that the house needs to win based on your choices.
Obviously though, if as a company you are intending to be in business for the long term then you must have the trust of your customers. If you operate a casino that no-one trusts then you’ll have no gamblers. And no gamblers means no profit, which means your business goes under. To these ends the majority of online gambling sites, including online casinos, utilise random number generating software from well known and trusted companies like Wager Works, Micro Gaming, Play Tech and Cryptologic. If you are gambling online for the first time or looking for a new site to join then it pays to do some research into the company. Find out how long they’ve been established for if you can. A site that has been operational for a while will probably be legitimate because it doesn’t take long to lose your customers or get shut down if you’re not. Check what random number generating software they use.
Having said this there are a small number of rogue casinos out there. They are generally short-lived, aiming for the ‘quick kill’ and then disappearing as quickly as they arrived. There have also been allegations of cheating made against larger online casinos such as Casino Bar. Allegations of cheating have also been made against some of the random number generating software companies, however they have never been confirmed. Series of random events do occasionally generate apparent patterns, it is to be mathematically expected.
There are online casino blacklists containing lists of rogue casino sites to avoid. However it should be noted that different authors of these blacklists have different opinions on why casinos have made their lists. Read the reasons given for each casino’s blacklisting and decide for yourself if you want to play there.
When online casinos first came into the scene they had to think on a marketing idea that would attract more players. Online gambling was new and many players were unsure if they should deposit funds in what seemed like an unknown entity. The marketing ploy that most online casinos chose and is still being aggressively used today is the cash bonus.
Nothing charms a future client more than free cash, and online casino bonuses are just that. The most popular form of a bonus is the sign up or welcome bonus. The size of the bonus differs between the different casinos but it usually revolves between 100%-400% of the initial deposit. There is usually some kind of limit to the bonus so you can’t just deposit 100,000$ and hope to triple it up.
Naturally, as more and more casinos started offering cash bonuses a different kind of client emerged. A client whose sole interest was in the bonus itself and his goal was to cash out the bonus as soon as possible and than simply leave. This led up to the online casinos toughening their wagering requirements before allowing a withdrawal of the bonus.
The wagering requirement is a total amount you have the bet in order to be able to withdraw the bonus. The actual number varies from casino to casino but a typical number could be between 10x – 20x the amount of the bonus, so if you deposit 500$ and receive 500$ as a cash bonus your total betting must be above 5000$ to cash out the bonus. This may seem like a big amount but remember that if you are playing a game like blackjack using 5$ bets, you will win many hands (as well as losing) so the requirements can usually be cleared in matter of several hours.
Some casinos have blocked several games from qualifying as a method to clear bonuses. This usually includes the bets games that casino offers like a very liberal version of blackjack (for example a very small house edge single deck game) or some forms of video poker.
Online poker sites also offer sign up bonuses. The method to clear those bonuses is a little easier since you have to play a certain number of raked hands. Online poker bonuses are easy to clear even if you are a mediocre player and most online poker sites of periodical reload bonuses which allow poker players to enjoy other bonuses than the regular welcome bonus.
Bonuses are an attractive way to build up your bankroll if you are just starting out in the world of online gambling. Just remember to read the casino’s terms of agreement or consult your favorite online casino portal in order to be sure what the wagering requirements are so you will have a better idea what you are up against.
Online casinos have been flooding the online world lately. It seems that they have been trying very hard in attracting more and more players to try their luck at online casinos. They have been have been trying to think up of different offers to catch a potential player’s attention. One such promotion is offering different types of casino bonuses to get people into playing on their online casinos.
Casino bonuses are offers being given by online casinos that would enable a player to avail of bonus betting money to wager on the several casino games being offered. The amount may differ for different online casinos. Some may give out 25 to 50 dollar bonuses for a minimum bet. There are even some online casinos that can offer a 100 percent match bonus for every deposit that the player makes. This means that if the player deposits $100 o his account, the online casino will match that amount in full, making the player acquire $200 initial betting money on his account. There are also other casinos offering bonuses next to nothing, just to have people have a taste of playing online and possibly have them hooked to play some more later on.
Although you might think that this is easy money on your part, there are certain requirements that you have to follow in order to cash in on your proceeds. Online casinos have established these requirements as a safeguard to possible abusers of their offer. One of the usual requirements is that a player should wager at least 25 times the amount of deposit and bonus before being able to cash in. There are some games like baccarat, craps, roulette and even blackjack that do not count in meeting the required wagering provisions.
Casino bonuses can really attract players into getting started on online betting. They seem to want to avail of the extra amount being offered that would provide them with more betting money. It has made many people turn into regular online players and has done well for the online casinos. But there are also some people who have taken advantage of this offer in order to cash in on casino bonuses. These players, otherwise known as “bonus hunters”, take full advantage of the offered casino bonuses by opting to cash in on their winnings after all the betting provisions are met. Whether players may like it or not, these actions are strictly prohibited by the online casinos because it has been part of their conditions that players may only play for recreational purposes only. Online casinos are always on the lookout for bonus hunters. When caught, their promotional privileges are usually revoked.
If you do not want to be labeled as a bonus hunter and have your online privileges revoked, there are certain things that you should avoid. First of all, you should refrain from maintaining multiple accounts when playing in an online casino. Also try not to cash out on your winning before fulfilling the casino’s wagering requirement. You should also try to gamble normally. A sudden increase in the amount that you bet may make the casino throw a red flag at you. And last but not the least, make sure that you have the proper credit information given and avoid having irregularities on your credit card. Wrongful information may compel casinos to bar you from playing on their site and deny you the privilege of availing casino bonuses.
Playing in Online Casinos can be either a very good experience, or a very poor experience; depending on how much money you gain or lose. The success of your online casino endeavor depends on your gambling abilities. It is true that gambling is mostly based on chance, but there are many things one can do in order to maximize the chance for success. Following these few tips can help you become a better gambler.
1. Set limits and monitor your money. A large part of gambling is money management. If you set limits for yourself, you can avoid losing too much money. Also, if you set a limit, you will become more conservative in play as your money approaches the limit. Conservative play can often lead to gains. Forcing yourself to work with a certain amount of money will force you to monitor your bets on every game. Players often get into trouble when they are careless when they bet. It may even be a good idea to set aside certain amounts of money to use for each online game. You may gamble a third of your money at a poker table, and use the rest to play a different online game. Not only can this help you eventually win more money, but also you can have more fun playing different games, rather than losing all of your money on one game.
2. Watch how other players bet and base some of your bets off of theirs. Some players bet very conservatively if they have a terrible hand. Use that to your advantage, and raise your bet. You can also notice a player with a shaky hand, and possibly use your bet to force that player to fold. If you yourself have a good hand, gradually increasing your bet is a great way to draw more players in and increase your predicted winnings. It is very important to be aware of everything going on in the game when gambling.
3. Online casinos won’t tell you, but if you’re a better player, it can sometimes be advisable to go into a lower skill-level game. The bets are lower, but your long-term winnings can be greater. Additionally, a great way to increase winnings is to divide your skills among a lower level game and a higher-level game. Gambling in a lower-skill room can be a “safety net” while you gamble with more money in the higher skill games. Once you become skilled enough, even the high level games will yield great success for you.
4. Know when to stop playing. Unfortunately, some players start losing and just keep gambling. This leads to immediate trouble. The best advice is to know your limits, and realize when you are starting to “burn out.” Casinos generally love players suffering from burn–out, because those players will be less alert and more likely to spend more money. If you are tired, and stay in with hands that aren’t so good, you are probably suffering from “burn-out.”
Gambling has the potential to give you great financial gains, as well as financial losses. The best advice is to have as many safeguards as possible. These safeguards can ensure that, in the event of a failing financial performance, you will not lose too much money and will be able to play again. The best players are always alert and think ahead. If you think ahead, you will surely have a positive experience in whatever online casino you choose.