You've probably seen that most online Bingo advertisements
usually offer some sort of bonus or FREE money to get you to start playing
there. Like most things in the world, nothing really comes free, so before you
start claiming this free money and then getting upset that you've been scammed,
I suggest you keep reading and see how this all works.
First of all, you may ask; why do online Bingo even offer
this "free" money?
It's part of their marketing and differentiation strategy.
In a nutshell, online Bingo are generally "skins" of a specific
software provider, so actually behind the different owner, graphics, licensing etc.
under the bonnet there's not much difference between let's say all Playtest
powered Bingo, or all Micro gaming powered ones.
So, if they are mostly the same below the hood, there needs
to be some sort of difference which will convince you to play at "X"
online Bingo and not "Y". Also the visuals, certifying, provision and
standing, additional way to terrain to possible companies is by charitable them
somewhat, in this situation, a windfall.
Having put that out of the way, the next question you might
ask yourself is: OK, so Bingo X is offering £5,000 free, maybe I'll sign up,
take my £5,000, play them out and go on to Bingo Y.
The answer here is pretty simple as well. In order to claim
bonuses at at an online Bingo, you will usually need to make a deposit, unless
it's specifically stated that you don't, but we'll get to that later.
Before we sink into the beef of the different types of bonuses
offered at online Bingo, here are a few extra terms and points you should be
aware of, so you can clarify them with a support representative before claiming
a bonus, just so you know where you stand and what you're claiming.
1. Wagering requirements: Most bonuses have wagering or play
through requirements, meaning that you need to play a certain amount before you
can withdraw winning from your account. On average wagering requirements are
usually between 15 to 40 times, however pay attention to what you are required
to wager. In some cases it will be just the bonus times X and in others you
will need to wager the bonus + your deposit amount X times. The latter by the
way is more common.
Another tidbit you should pay attention to with regards to
wagering requirements is, that at most online Bingo, if you request a
withdrawal before you have completed the wagering requirements, all your
winnings to date will be void. Not really fair, but this is reality.
2. Games played: Make sure you read the T&Cs in this
case. Because slots games are generally the most profitable games for online Bingo,
many bonuses tend to be valid only for slots games. Usually scratch cards and
keno will comply with this rule.
In other cases, you will be allowed to play your bonus on
all games; however not all games will count 100% towards the play through
requirements. For example play on slots will count 100% but roulette will only
count 30%, meaning that you will actually need to wager over three times more
in order to clear the wagering requirements and withdraw your winnings.
3. Minimum deposit requirement: In most cases, in order to
claim a bonus you will be required to make a minimum deposit, which again can
vary. It's usually a small quantity which you will perhaps credit anyhow. It's typically
not ended £50.
Now that we're all on the same page and speaking the same
language, it's time we went through the main types of bonuses available at most
online Bingo.
1. A Match bonus is the most common type of bonus. For every
£ you deposit, you will be credited X% of what you deposited by the Bingo. So,
if, for example, Bingo Z is offering a 100% match bonus, deposit £100 and the Bingo
will give you an extra £100 in bonus money. This means that actually start
playing at the Bingo with £200. Match bonuses are almost always limited to a
certain maximum bonus amount you can claim. A match bonus can be a standalone
bonus as part of a promotion (more common at US friendly online Bingo) and/or
as part of the welcome bonus
2. A welcome bonus is generally offered by most, if not all,
online Bingo to new players who sign up and make their first deposit at the Bingo.
The welcome bonus is the sum of all the possible match bonuses you can
accumulate as a new player at the Bingo over a specific period of time, or
within your first X deposits, or a mix of the two; so if a Bingo advertises a £3000
welcome bonus, it's actually the maximum you can get with the 1st deposit
bonus, second deposit bonus, monthly bonus etc, where if you deposit the
maximum amount of each match bonus, you can reach the advertised welcome bonus.
If you deposit less than needed for the maximum bonus in each stage, you won't
reach the amount advertised in the welcome bonus. So, in fact, the welcome
bonus advertised is the MAXIMIUM amount you can claim in bonus money during
your first period of playing at the Bingo.
3. A No deposit bonus is pretty self-explanatory. It's a
bonus you receive from an online Bingo which will enable you to play real money
games without having to make a deposit. This is a great tool for online Bingo
to acquire new players as it lets them try out the Bingo without having to make
a deposit. In some countries it helps solve the "trust" issue Bingo
players have with online Bingo. Many players who feel comfortable depositing
and playing at one online Bingo will be wary when trying out another one
they've never played at. Other players don't want to make a deposit without
trying out the software and games so a no deposit bonus can definitely help
here. Some online Bingo give no deposit bonuses as part of their standard
offering and others steer well away from such bonuses as they claim that they
tend to attract the wrong type of players, i.e. players who have no intention
of playing for real money in the first place and that it just puts a strain on
the support team with no actual outcome. I think that the truth is probably
somewhere in the middle and that people claim no deposit bonuses for different
reasons.
No deposit bonuses are generally for a pretty small amount,
usually £10-£15 and they are either offered to potential clients directly by
the Bingo or by websites affiliated with them. No deposit bonuses also have
wagering requirements you need to complete before you are able to withdraw your
winnings if you've been lucky.
4. Sticky/Play only bonuses are bonuses which you cannot
withdraw from your account. If you get lucky and win and request a withdrawal,
the bonus amount you received will be deducted off your winnings. Lease's say
you demanded a £50 tacky extra and got fortunate transporting your explanation poise
to £500. Today you would like to remove your prizes and go rejoice with networks.
The online Bingo will only allow you to withdraw £550 from your players account
and £50, which is the sticky bonus amount, will be void. Play only bonuses are
usually larger than match bonuses and the wagering requirements lower.
5. Payment method bonus: This is something that was
initially common at Playtest powered Bingo and has spread to many others as
well over the years. Besides depositing at an online Bingo with your credit or
debit card, there are many electronic options most of which offer instant fund
transfers without the associated hassle and high fees. Many of these
alternative payment methods, as they are widely called, offer their services to
people without a credit check and you can transfer money from your bank account
discreetly. Some are even pre-paid cards you can buy at a kiosk. Just for using
these alternative payment methods you can receive an extra 10-15% bonus on
every deposit you make in addition to any other bonus you claim. Be sure to
check the cashier section before you sign up to an online Bingo you've never
played at as this can definitely be to your advantage.
6. Most online Bingo have a Loyalty/VIP Club scheme where
you can redeem bonuses in return for points you accumulated while playing. The
more you play, the more points you earn and the better the point-bonus
conversion rate becomes.
It is always important to check the specific T&Cs at the
online Bingo you're playing or plan to play at because often you will not be
allowed to withdraw the bonus amount or the bonus amount can be docked off your
winnings.
OK, so I'm pretty sure you're now thinking how to take
advantage of all this good, so here's the flip side of the card. Online Bingo
are extremely sensitive to bonus abuse, also known as bonus whoring, by
players. Just like you can get expelled from a land based Bingo for counting
cards for example, you can also get your players account locked at an online Bingo
at the first suspicion they have of bonus abuse. You need to remember that at
the end of the day gambling is entertainment and is supposed to be fun and
exciting. It's not a day job and you can't really earn money at the Bingo.
Bonuses add to the fun and enthusiasms and at the end of the day, are only a
marketing tool. Claim them, have fun with them, increase your excitement but
don't expect log out richer.
Ron M. Faulkner is the leader of the group of online Bingo
professionals that are behind Heart of Casino. The group aims to provide updated information about bonuses and
running promotions to online Bingo players from all over the world. The name of
the game is to help players stretch their online gambling budget just that tiny
bit more in these days of relative recession.
Pay a visit to Top Bingo Sites UK and see for yourself how much you can benefit and save just
by being in touch with the right people.