Bonuses can make any bet more profitable than it actually is. From free bets and matched deposits to free spins and no deposit bonuses, they reduce the amount of risk involved, and they can even lead to a much larger payout if you win. Bonuses are what make online gambling so much better than the real thing, but with something so good, there has to be a catch, right?
Well, yes – and it presents itself in the form of rollover requirements, and is the most important concerns with casino bonus. But don’t fret, they aren’t too bad. So what are they, exactly?
What are the rollover requirements?
Every single sportsbook and online casino gives you loads of bonuses from the minute you sign up with them. What’s to stop you from making a bet with a particular gambling company using only your bonus money, only to never bet with them again. Bookmakers may be altruistic, but there’s a limit, and even they need to make a profit.
For instance, a particular sportsbook is offering a 50% first deposit bonus. You deposit $200 and receive $100, so you now have $300. You could then stake a tiny portion of your own money, say around $5 and use your bonus money, and potentially make a considerable profit, and then withdraw your initial deposit.
This is why rollover requirements come in.
Also known as wagering requirements, they are a part of pretty much every sportsbook and online casino, but often, many punters go into it without fully understanding what they are.
They represent the number of times a bettor has to make a wager before they can use or withdraw your bonus, or the profit you made with it. They are usually represented by a number, followed by an x. (5x, 10x, 50x….)
Example Or Rollover Requirements
Here’s an example that would make it easier to understand.
A bookmaker is offering a $100 bonus on your first deposit, with a 5x wagering requirement. You deposit $100. In such a situation, you would have to wager a total of $1000, before you can withdraw your bonus as 5x(100+100) = 1000. If it were a $50 bonus on a 10x wagering requirement, you would have to bet 1500, as 10x(50+100) = 1500.
Sometimes, sportsbooks and online casinos will offer incredibly large bonuses, which may tempt bettors who are none the wiser to sign up and gamble with them, only to be met with large rollover requirements.
So, the next time you sign up with a new casino, make sure that you’ve familiarized yourself with all the fine details before you bet with them.
