Gamblers often get excited about special casino offers, especially if they are going to increase their chances of winning. After all, the goal of any player is to make use of every advantage they can get and walk away with as much money as they can.
The same applies to online casinos. Players are still wagering real money, though it’s transferred electronically. Still, the goal is to make a profit.
So, when the word “bonus” comes up, it sounds like a really good offer.
However, there are significant differences between online casino bonuses and land-based casino bonuses. In this post, we take a closer look at the difference between the two.
Online Casinos
The first thing about online casinos is that they focus on promoting new player offers. In Las Vegas and other casinos, sometimes casinos will give new players a small logoed gift or free dinner.
But online perks are huge. For example, deposit $400 and get an extra $400, or deposit a minimum of $50 and receive a 300% bonus. That’s just amazing, keeping in mind you can never be offered such an amount at a land-based casino.
· Fine print
Although online casinos offer bonuses, you have to note that these offers come with terms and conditions that must be met. Many people don’t read the fine print before agreeing to everything blindly.
Well, if you are used to land-based casinos where bonuses offered have no strings attached, you can easily accept the T&C without reading the print. But that could be the last time you ever accept an offer blindly. It is important to read the fine print before you claim bonus online.
· Deposit matches
You will come across promotions like 200% or even 600% matching offers. However, you need to read all the conditions attached to them. It is not a case where you deposit $100 and receive an extra $100 so you can increase your winning chances and request a payout.
The bonus money that you get is not just free money. You have to play the bonus money a number of times before you can withdraw the winnings. This means if you get a bonus of $100, and the casino says you must playthrough 30x on that bonus, you will have to wager $3,000 before you can withdraw your winnings.
· Conditions on your own deposit money
Some online casinos can also include your own deposit money into wagering requirements. So, with a wagering requirement of 30x, you are wagering $6,000, instead of $3,000 before you can withdraw your winnings. That’s if you are lucky to win after playing through 30 times.
· Rollover
Online casino bonus can help you to extend your playtime at the casino, but it can also affect your bottom line negatively.
If you are halfway through your rollover and your credit balance is good enough, you can cash it out and stop there.
Land-Based Casino Bonus
During the early days of casinos in Las Vegas, any offers revolved around a comp. Gambling was not tracked electronically.
· Red carpet treatment
Transportation, free rooms, entertainment, free meals, and more were all given to high roller players. All the big players are looking for the red-carpet treatment and they get it.
Comps are still a critical part of today’s casino world. Casinos today have a way of knowing in advance that a big-money guest is coming.
· Expanded issuance
A casino host can also approach a layer and offer free dinner, free room, or even show tickets. However, in most cases, players have to visit the player rewards center or wait for an invitation to be sent via mail.
· Virtual VIPs
There are very few websites that offer VIP programs that include real perks like experiences or merchandise. They are now exclusive to high rollers, probably just to the highest rollers.
There are online casinos that list cars and motorcycles in their list of gifts to loyal players. Other popular gifts may include electronics, jewelry, and vacation packages. Unfortunately, these rewards can never be accessed by the average player.
If you are not wagering a lot of money, by the time you accumulate enough points to be able to redeem, most of your earlier points have already expired.
· New versus return
While online casinos put a lot of emphasis on getting new players to sign up, land-based casinos sell the benefit of being a loyal player and accumulating points. For example, an incentive for a new player maybe something like a two-for-one buffet or free dinner. Some casinos will even add 100 points to your player’s card, which means you are closer to redeeming them.
Online casinos may be offering free play, but as you already know, this offer comes with a list of conditions you must meet.