Time and again, sports betting and gaming platforms entice customers with tempting bonus offers. These are specifically designed to attract new customers and retain existing ones. However, not every bonus is as advantageous as it seems.
1. Minimum deposit overlooked
When claiming bonuses, the minimum deposit in the bonus conditions is often overlooked. Players and betting enthusiasts are surprised when the expected bonus does not appear in their account. Especially with offers such as the GGPoker bonus, it is crucial to check the conditions carefully. For example, an online poker bonus might require a minimum deposit of €50 to unlock a 100% match bonus of up to €200. If a player only deposits 30 euros, the bonus will not be activated because the minimum threshold has not been reached.
2. Misunderstood turnover conditions
Misunderstandings regarding wagering requirements often lead to problems when using bonuses. Bonuses are usually linked to certain playthrough or wagering requirements. Licensed sports betting and gaming providers (e.g. by the MGA) must provide their terms and conditions and conditions for promotions transparently on the website. However, many players and sports betting fans often overlook them or do not read them carefully.
Bets placed on slot machines often count in full, i.e. 100%, towards fulfilment of the wagering requirements. In contrast, table games such as blackjack or roulette only contribute a smaller percentage, around 10% or 20%. This means that a player who mainly uses table games has to bet significantly more to fulfil the same wagering requirements as a slot player.
In sports betting, a bonus may focus on combination bets, with single bets not contributing to the fulfilment of the conditions. A bettor who overlooks this restriction could place multiple single bets and then find that these wagers do not contribute to the required wagering amount.
3. Ignore time limits
It is important to observe the validity period of a bonus, as many bonuses must be wagered within a set period. If you fail to do so, both the bonus balance and any winnings made with it will expire. These deadlines vary greatly – some offers must be used within a few days, while others allow several months.
For example, a casino bonus for new players might only be valid for 30 days, during which a certain turnover must be achieved before the winnings can be paid out. In the world of sports betting, a bonus for a major tournament such as the football World Cup might only be active during the tournament period and lose its validity afterwards.
4. Not valid for all games
Some bonuses are specifically designed for certain games or bet types. These limitations are clearly defined in the terms and conditions. For example, bonuses offered for online slots may not be used for table games such as blackjack or roulette. The situation is similar in the area of sports betting: a bonus may be limited to football bets and not apply to other sports such as tennis or basketball.
The consequences of a lack of knowledge about specific game and betting restrictions can be very disappointing. If bets are placed in games or on bet types that are not covered by the bonus rules, these will not count towards the fulfilment of the bonus conditions. It is therefore very important to familiarise yourself with the exact requirements of each bonus offer.
5. Multiple registrations lead to problems
Some users try to outsmart the system by registering with multiple accounts on the same platforms in order to claim bonuses multiple times. This approach clearly contradicts the terms of use of most online gaming and sports betting providers. New regulations are primarily intended to protect vulnerable sports betting and player groups. This is why the number of registrations with a bookmaker or in an online casino is strictly regulated. For example, multiple registrations with different user names are strictly prohibited. The same applies to multiple people from the same household or the use of multiple e-mail addresses. Platforms use advanced technologies to detect such offences.
The consequences for such offences can be serious. In most cases, this leads to the immediate blocking of all affected accounts. In addition, many providers reserve the right to withhold all bonuses and any resulting winnings.
