The Fine Print Behind Online Gambling Bonus Offers

If you have never opened an account with an online casino, poker room, or sports book you may be wondering if the bonus offers are legitimate. We are all aware of the wisdom in the sayings, "If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is" or "There is no such thing as a free lunch". So what's the catch? When a casino offers you $100-$1000 in free money should you dismiss it, assuming that there are all sorts of strict requirements, making it too difficult to achieve the pay-out? The quick answer is no. These offers are for real and in most cases the required terms and conditions to receive the pay-out are typically quite easy to achieve. Some are as simple as making small minimum deposit of $50 to $100. Some require, in addition to minimum deposit, a minimum, but achievable, level of play.

How are the online gambling sites able to give away free money and remain in business? The answer is simple. In most cases they get the entire bonus back and more. Casinos live by the odds that all casino games are in their favor and that eventually you'll lose your original deposit and the bonus. Online poker rooms, on the other hand, get the bonus back by taking a rake (usually 5%) of every pot.

Let's take a look at the various "free money" offers and the requirements for full cash-out access to the money. The requirements (the catch) are found in the terms and conditions of the bonus offer on the site.

No Deposit Required! Some casinos and poker rooms offer free money without any initial deposit requirements. These offers legitimate and you will be able to play at all the real money tables and slots. The typical catch is that you will need to make at least one deposit before the bonus plus any winnings are released. For example, if you receive a $10 bonus and have $50 in winnings from that bonus, you will have to make a small deposit to your account before the $60 is released for withdrawal.

First Deposit Bonus. To entice you to deposit real money into an online gambling site, a first deposit bonus is almost always offered. The interesting thing is not that they all do it, but the very wide range of bonuses offered. You'll find one online site offering a 10% bonus while one of its competitors offers 200%. All online gambling sites have a maximum bonus limit. So a site that offers a measly 20% bonus could have their maximum bonus set to $200 (deposit $1000) while the site that offers the whopping 200% bonus could have a maximum bonus set to $100 (deposit $50).

Poker Room First Deposit Bonus. The catch for a poker room is that you will have to play a minimum number of raked hands and there may be a time limit. For example, to receive a $50 bonus you may have to play 100 raked hands in 60 days. The raked hand requirement is typically easy to achieve; however some of the very large bonus offers are more difficult. Sometimes these large bonuses are paid in installments. For example, to receive a full $200 bonus the poker room might require 500 raked hands with $20 released every 50 raked hands. If you're new to online poker, don't be discouraged by the number of raked hands required; a typical online table will play 50 to 100 games per hour.

Casino First Deposit Bonus. The catch for an online casino is that you will have to wager a required amount before the bonus is released for cash-out. The typical online casino will deposit the bonus into your account soon after you make your initial deposit. Some deposit bonuses are instantly deposited at the same time as your deposit. Some casinos require that you claim your deposit bonus by filling in a simple form. In this case the bonus may not get credited to your account for 1 to 3 days. Even though the deposit bonus has been credited to your account and you can use it to wager, you will not be able to withdraw the bonus portion until you meet the wagering requirements. The wagering requirements typically state that you must wager 10 to 20 times your deposit plus bonus to release the bonus for cash-out. For example, you deposit $50 and receive a $10 bonus. The casino has a wagering requirement of 10 times your deposit plus bonus, which means that you will have to wager $600 (10 x $60) for the $10 bonus to be released for cash-out.

Sports Book First Deposit Bonus. The catch for an online sports book is that you will have to wager a required amount before the bonus is released for cash-out. The typical online book will deposit the bonus into your account soon after you make your initial deposit. Some deposit bonuses are instantly deposited at the same time as your deposit. Some books require that you claim your deposit bonus by filling in a simple form or sending an email. Even though the deposit bonus has been credited to your account and you can use it to wager, you will not be able to withdraw the bonus portion until you meet the wagering requirements. The wagering requirements typically state that you must wager 3 times your deposit plus bonus to release the bonus for cash-out. For example, you deposit $100 and receive a $20 bonus. The online sports book has a wagering requirement of 3 times your deposit plus bonus, which means that you will have to wager $360 (3 x $120) for the $20 bonus to be released for cash-out.

Reload Bonuses. Reload bonuses are very typical for online sports books, but occasionally you will see them offered in online casinos and poker rooms. The reload bonus simply offers a bonus on deposits made after your initial deposit. The requirements are generally the same as the first deposit bonus requirements.

Before making a deposit at an online gambling site, be sure that you understand the requirements for the bonus to be released for cash-out. You may have to drill down a page or two to get the information. If the bonus requirements seem difficult to achieve then consider another gambling site.

About The Author

Mike Hellmer is a poker enthusiast and the webmaster of Molly''s Poker and Gambling Portal (http://www.mollyspoker.com).

---

Gambling On the Internet is Fun That Will Pay Off

Gambling is something that millions of people enjoy for entertainment.... Read More

FAST Roulette System: New, Unconventional , Latest Breakthrough in Roulette System

This article is going to show you a new, unconventional... Read More

How To Choose A Reputable Online Casino

With literally thousands of online casinos on the internet, it... Read More

Earn Money Playing Slots...or not

Yay, what a life would that be - sitting behind... Read More

The Fine Print Behind Online Gambling Bonus Offers

If you have never opened an account with an online... Read More

How to Succeed in the Poker Freerolls Part 1

Online poker freerolls are a unique breed amongst poker tournaments... Read More

Play Online Slot Machine Game

Coin in - spin - hold your breath......Watch those symbols.....Will... Read More

American Gambling Basics

Casinos have always been a destination for the wealthy and... Read More

A Crazy Night in Vegas

It was a Sunday afternoon. My friend Kurt and I... Read More

Video Poker

Video poker is usually played against a machine, which displays... Read More

Online Craps

Are you interested in playing craps online? Are you tired... Read More

Halftime Betting for Football

There are several different ways bettors use the halftime wager,... Read More

A Game For All Seasons

An overall review of online casino software has led me... Read More

Virtual Casino Games

Looking to find out what kind of games can be... Read More

How to Play Video Poker Slot Machines

Video Poker is a game that requires some skill to... Read More

Casino Olympics

It's been advertised globally and has been poised to be... Read More

Blackjack - What Are the Odds?

It goes without saying but we'll say it anyway: the... Read More

Why Gamble on Sports?

Its really not that big of a stretch of the... Read More

Online Casino - What Is It?

Entertaining industry conquerors more and more space of our lives.... Read More

Play Poker for Free Online

To play poker for free online is one of the... Read More

Greyhound Racing Basics

In Egypt the greyhounds were mummified and buried with their... Read More

Be Careful or Your Poker Nuts Will Get Crushed!

The origins of the phrase "poker nuts" are uncertain although... Read More

You Can Make Poker Less Painful (or--A Pain in the Arse can be Removed ...without Surgery)

As you will read in this article, the removal of... Read More

Wisconsin Casinos, The Top Three

I have been gambling in Wisconsin since I was 16... Read More

Sports Betting Truths

The first ever recorded sports bets, took place on 10... Read More

Online Poker Played by Bots?

I've just read one of the most interesting stories I've... Read More

Why Play Texas Hold em?

Ah, yes-the Texas hold 'em explosion. Seven years ago, when... Read More

Addictions To Gambling on The Rise!

Over the past five years addictions to gambling have grown... Read More

Online Poker Satellites - How to Turn as Little as $1 into Millions

What do Dr. Vic Fey, an obstetrician from Clinton, Oklahoma,... Read More

Top 5 Reasons - Should You be Gambling Online?

Why is online gambling the latest craze to hit the... Read More

The Truth Behind The Limits: What Minimum and Maximum Bets Are About

Have you ever thought about the reason behind the existence... Read More

Blackjack - Should You Count Cards?

If you are like the average, recreational Blackjack player, you... Read More

Compulsive Gambler Seeks Alternatives To Stop Gambling

Compulsive gambler's life was devastated by gambling and now seeks... Read More