Let’s face it, it’s hard to resist a good deal. Whether it’s a two-for-one offer at a supermarket or 10% off your favourite makeup brand, promotional sales tactics have been scientifically proven to positively impact people’s happiness, stress, and even health. The same can be said for online casino bonuses. From cashback prizes to free spins, the variety of attractive offers available can be overwhelming at times, especially if you don’t know how to spot a good deal from a bad one.
Unfortunately, the popularity of the online gaming industry has given rise to numerous online casinos all vying for players attention, with some often employing misleading tactics to get unsuspecting players to sign up for their platforms under false pretences. As such, players must know what to look out for in order to determine whether a casino bonus is too good to be true.
Okay, so let’s start with the very obvious, yet extremely important question: what categorizes a casino bonus is bad? Well, there are a few tell-tale signs which can help you spot the difference between an unbeatable Canadian free spins no deposit casino bonuses and one which is pure and simply a gimmicks! And this article will be tackling all the essential pointers to keep in mind.
Do Your Research
Before you go ahead and get all excited about what an online casino has up for grabs, you should conduct a thorough background check to ensure that the platform has a good reputation and no prior history of misleading consumers. You can start off by inputting the online casino’s name into a search engine like Google to see if any incriminating news articles come up. If nothing suspicious crops up, your next step should be checking out any reviews left by previous customers.
Reviews are a fantastic way to gain insight into the inner workings of an online casino since they provide an unbiased account of a player’s experience with the platform. You should pay close attention to any repeated complaints, such as delays in payouts, unfair wager requirements, or ambiguous terms and conditions, as this will give you a better understanding of what this online casino is capable of and if players had a positive experience.
While some negative reviews come with the territory, as you can’t satisfy every customer’s needs, if the reviews are predominantly negative, then we suggest finding a new platform to sign up to. In any case, you should always sign up for a demo account whenever possible to test drive the casino’s offerings and see if it is a good fit. Following this, you should be able to make a well-informed decision on whether or not you would like to continue using the platform.
Verify The Casino’s License
The online casino industry is growing at a rapid rate, with its total market value expected to reach more than $100 billion by the year 2026. As such, it should come as no surprise that there are some bad apples in the bunch who use seemingly attractive offers to lure customers to sign up for their platforms only to steal their money and personal information. That’s why we suggest playing it safe and sticking to licensed casinos.
In order to qualify for an operating licence, online casinos must undergo several checks to determine whether they are providing a safe and fair gambling environment for their players. They must also adhere to the regulations of the awarding body, which may vary depending on which country they are registering the casino in. As such, by choosing a licensed casino, you can have peace of mind knowing that your personal information is secure, your funds are properly handled, and the games are fair.
To check if an online casino has been awarded a licence, you must scroll down to the bottom of the casino’s website and check to see if there is a gambling commission logo from a renowned licensing body such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. If the site does not contain a logo, then you should immediately leave the site and go find a licensed casino to sign up at.
However, if you do locate a gambling commission logo, you will need to verify if it is legitimate by clicking on it. If the logo is not fake, then you will be redirected to the official website of the licensing body. Once you reach the official licensing authority website, we suggest you check the licence status to ensure that it is still valid.
Check The Wagering Requirements
Once you have determined the validity of the casino’s licence, it’s time to check the bonus’s wagering requirements. These refer to the rules and regulations that determine the amount of money players must wager prior to collecting any bonus-related winnings. It’s important to read the terms and conditions of a bonus offer very thoroughly, as the wagering requirements impact the value and state when they can be used. Knowing and understanding this information can help you make a more informed decision about whether the bonus is actually worth your time.
While wagering requirements tend to vary depending on the type of bonus being offered, it’s important to get a good look at the specifics of the promotion, such as the wagering multiplier, eligible games, and any time restrictions being imposed. Unfortunately, some casinos may try to sneak in a very short validity period, making it near impossible to fulfil all the wagering requirements in the specified time frame. They may also impose a high multiplier; as such, it’s important to calculate the total wagering amount by multiplying the bonus amount by the wagering multiplier to see the true value of the bonus before committing to the casino.
