Bonus terms are long because they are written for lawyers, not for players. The good news is that you do not have to read all of it. Eight lines decide whether an offer is worth taking, and the rest is boilerplate. Open the casino's own terms page — not a comparison, not an email, the casino's own page — and find these eight.
The eight lines
- The wagering multiplier, and what it applies to. Bonus only, or deposit plus bonus. The second costs about twice as much.
- The maximum bet while wagering. Going over it once can void everything.
- The deadline. For the bonus, and separately for any free spins.
- Game contribution. Which games count, and at what percentage.
- The minimum deposit to qualify, which is often higher than the casino's normal minimum.
- The maximum you can win or withdraw from the bonus. Some offers cap it regardless of what you hit.
- Excluded countries and payment methods. Deposits by e-wallet are disqualified surprisingly often.
- Whether a code is required, and whether you have to opt in before depositing rather than after.
Two of them matter more than the rest
If you only check two, check the wagering basis and the max bet.
The wagering basis decides what the offer costs you. The max bet decides whether you keep anything at all — it is the term most often broken by accident, and the consequence is total, not partial. A voided bonus takes the winnings with it.
Where offers quietly go wrong
These are not hidden exactly, but they sit in places people do not look.
- Opt-in timing. Some bonuses must be claimed before the deposit lands. Deposit first and the offer is gone, with no way to apply it retroactively.
- Payment method exclusions. Depositing with certain e-wallets commonly disqualifies you from the welcome offer entirely.
- Maximum conversion. A cap on how much bonus winnings can become real money, sometimes expressed as a multiple of the bonus rather than a figure.
- Sticky versus non-sticky. A sticky bonus cannot be withdrawn at all; only what you win above it can. The headline rarely says which kind it is.
- Sequential deposits. A package advertised as one large figure is often four separate offers, each with its own deposit, code and deadline.
When to walk away
Some offers are not worth taking at any headline. Leave it if:
- The terms do not state what the wagering applies to.
- The max bet is not stated anywhere.
- The deadline is shorter than the time you realistically have to play.
- The withdrawal cap is lower than the bonus is nominally worth.
- You cannot find the terms at all from the offer itself.
That last one matters more than it sounds. An operator that makes its own terms hard to find has told you something about how the rest of the relationship will go.
FAQ
Where do I find the bonus terms?
On the casino's own site: usually a link next to the offer, or a Promotions or Bonus Terms page in the footer. If the offer does not link to its own terms, that is a reason to be careful.
Do I have to enter a bonus code?
Sometimes. When a code is required and you deposit without it, the bonus usually cannot be applied afterwards. Check before the deposit, not after.
What is a sticky bonus?
One where the bonus amount itself can never be withdrawn — only winnings above it. It is not necessarily a bad offer, but it is a different thing from a bonus you can clear and cash out.