Are Casino Bonuses a Scam?

Why They’re Considered Scams

If you take advantage of an online casino bonus and you were not aware of the Rollover Requirement, there is a decent chance that you could have tried to withdraw your winnings before that requirement is met. If you do this, the casino will refuse the withdrawal until you bet the required amount, which could lead one to claim that the whole thing is a scam. As a society, we have become more than used to seeing “Terms and Conditions” and ignoring them, sometimes even clicking “Accept” without actually knowing what we’re accepting. This is almost always fine with companies like iTunes, Amazon, and the like, but when it comes to getting free, real money to play with, they become extremely important. No casino, and probably no company period, is going to just give you free cash without you first meeting some basic requirements, and if you are unaware of those requirements and commit anyway, you are bound to them.

What is a Rollover Requirement?

A Rollover Requirement is simply the amount that you have to bet in order to receive your winnings. For example, a very common casino promotion is the Welcome Bonus. This comes in the form of a deposit-matching bonus (and maybe some free spins). If the casino offers a 100% bonus on your first deposit, and you deposit $100, you would now have $200 of real money to play with. If the rollover requirement is 30x, that means that you will have to bet a total of 30x your first deposit plus that deposit match. This does not mean $6,000 in losses, it just means that you have to bet $6,000 total before you can withdraw. This seems steep, and we’re not saying it’s not, but if your wins and your losses are fairly even, you should still have a bankroll at the other side of the Rollover Requirement if you play it smart.

It is important to read all of the Terms and Conditions as well, because additional requirements on top of the Rollover might be that it only applies to certain games, like Pokies and Video Poker, or to all of the casino games, but not the sportsbook or poker room. Sometimes you will have a lower Rollover Requirement if it’s a specific type of bonus, like a refer a friend or a sports bonus versus a Welcome Bonus.

When it comes to playing at an online casino and when it comes to your hard earned money in general, it is important to do your research. Look at the different bonuses, read the Terms and Conditions, and if they seem reasonable enough, go with it. If not, avoid them! There is no obligation to take advantage of a promotion, and you will be able to withdraw your winnings without having to worry about Rollover Requirements.