At the beginning of every player’s gambling journey, there’s a very special moment when they encounter a casino bonus that grasps their attention, but they do not manage to cash out because they do not know about the requirements and how to fulfil them.
The most important lesson beginners must learn before they start gambling is that casino bonuses function according to their own terms. This is why knowledge has the purpose of releasing gamblers from the frustration’s grip, by allowing them to make good use of the promotions they choose to use.
This article’s main aim is to teach you about the math that’s happening behind the bonuses that are seemingly very easy to use. Don’t worry, this lesson will be straightforward and brief, so that you can finally understand how to properly utilize the casino offers, starting with the most important: wagering conditions.
What Is the Wagering Requirement?
Rarely, casino bonuses come without these wagering conditions, meaning that you can play using the offer, and if you win something, you can simply cash out. Unfortunately, most offers actually impose a rollover, which you’ll definitely have to fulfil. Otherwise, your promotion won’t work.
Usually, if you choose to go for a free bonus no deposit, you’ll get a cost-free experience while playing slot games. Moreover, this promotion will come with additional conditions that you may need to meet, including wagering requirements.
Now that we’ve settled that wagering requirements represent something that will influence your gambling experience, it’s time to unwrap the math behind it. The best way to do it is by giving you some examples that can occur when you’re looking through bonus lists:
- $25 free cash bonus, 10x wagering requirement – you have to play through $250 to cash out
- $150 no deposit cash, with a 35x rollover condition – you must play $5250 to cash out.
- 150 free spins, with a 20x wagering requirement – you take the final win you’ve got and multiply it by 20x; you’ll have to play the resulted amount to cash out.
What Are Wagering Contributions?
Each casino game category has its own wagering contribution, as specified by the online gambling website operator. This contribution shows the percentage of your rollover requirements that are influenced by your wager on a game. The terms and conditions will provide you with this information.
If we’re generally speaking, though, these are the values you can expect to see:
- Slots: 100% contribution
- Table games: 5-50% contribution
- Video poker: 2-25% contribution
When the contribution is at 100%, it means that if you bet $0.20, your bet will maintain its value. If you choose to play a table game with a 50% contribution, and you place a $10 bet, you’ll your play-through credit will be $5.
For this reason, many players choose to stick to slot games when using bonuses, as they can consume the offers more easily.
Sticky and Non-Sticky Bonuses – Which One Is the Best?
One factor that influences the efficacy of your incentive is the nature of the bonus. Many players believe that non-sticky offers are the most useful.
Although the terms and conditions do not explicitly mention whether the promotion is sticky or not, you can still determine this by carefully reading them and making an inference. In the table below, you’ll understand the differences better:
| Sticky Promotions | Non-sticky Promotions |
| When you withdraw, the original bonus vanishes from the full amount. | After you meet the wagering requirements, the bonus amount itself turns into real, withdrawable cash. |
| You only keep the profit. | E.g. A $10 bonus becomes real money once you complete the presumed 25x wagering requirement. |
| E.g. With a $200 sticky bonus and a total balance of $250, you can cash out $50. |
High RTP Slots and Lower Volatility
One very important step is to play responsibly, which involves checking all terms that might apply to the bonuses, as well as the slots’ features, if you’re choosing to play from this category. The features we’re discussing are RTP and volatility.
On average, slots have an RTP of around 96%, which means that over the long term, they return approximately 96% of all wagers placed. Typically, the slots that have an RTP which exceeds that percentage are the most advantageous games you’ll encounter, because the highest the rate is, the more you’ll receive.
Volatility, on the other hand, is representative of how much you want to bet and how high, and often you’d like to see your wins. For instance, if your game’s volatility is lower, you’ll often and lower wins, but if it is high, your cashouts will be higher but will happen rarely.
According to an international gambling study, “lower levels of volatility than usual were typically associated with lower than average losses, declined deposits and session time. This means that, although your wins are not that high, it will help you keep playing responsibly.
Maximum Bets
Be mindful that if you ever read a note about the maximum betting limit when choosing a bonus, you’ll definitely have to respect it. Many players seem to overlook it, although it represents an important note in the bonus terms.
Conclusion
Finally, you’ve probably heard it before, but it’s time to hear it again: read the bonus terms and conditions. The gambling market is a highly lucrative and attractive world. Don’t let it flatter you; stay safe instead, and good luck doing the math!
