No wagering casino T&Cs to be aware of
No wagering bonuses are becoming increasingly common, as online casinos steer towards fairer and more transparent promotions. But as the small print becomes more prominent, the list of caveats starts to grow. Terms and conditions always apply, no matter the type of bonus you’re eyeing up, and you need to know and understand the restrictions to any offer before pinning your hopes on it.
It’s true that many players don’t bother taking the time to read bonus offer terms. Nothing takes the fun out of your gaming session quite as much as getting bogged down in legalese. But you should - nobody likes getting caught out or having their winnings confiscated. Worse, in some cases, you could even end up getting your account blocked, all because you’ve inadvertently fallen foul of the rules.
At No Wagering, we look at the bad as well as the good when it comes to reviewing no wagering casinos and their offers. It’s all part of what we do on behalf of our users, so you never have to get your fingers burned by a bonus offer.
Remember: Always read the T&Cs
It sounds obvious, but we can't express enough how important it is to actually read the terms and conditions of an offer or promotion before claiming it. They're incredibly important and will tell you how to enjoy promotions in a way that won’t cause disappointment.
While offers vary depending on the casino’s objectives and limitations, there are a few common terms you’ll see cropping up time and time again that you need to keep an eye on.
Here are a few of our top tips, and some thoughts you should be mindful of when claiming no wagering bonuses.
- Eligible deposit methods
- Minimum deposit
- Time limits
- Maximum wins & bets
- Promo codes
- Game restrictions
Eligible deposit methods
The most common condition that catches players out is to do with the deposit methods that can be used to activate a bonus. E-wallets, such as PayPal, Neteller or Skrill might not be eligible forms of payment to access an offer, so check the T&Cs of the promotion and be sure you understand which deposit methods are accepted. Debit cards are almost always accepted, but if you prefer playing with an e-wallet, you might have to make an exception.
If you accidentally deposit using the wrong payment method, contact customer support to let them know and ask if they can make an exception.
Minimum deposit
Minimum deposit clauses are also very common. Bonuses usually require a minimum amount to be deposited before the bonus is activated. An offer may state that you get a 100% bonus, subject to a minimum deposit of £20, for example. Even if the casino usually accepts deposits of £10, you'll still need to stick to the bonus rules in this case.
If you make a mistake and deposit less than the minimum amount required to activate a bonus, just get in touch with customer support and let them know - they should let you make an additional deposit to make up the difference, and then manually activate the bonus on your account.
Time limits
Free spins and bonuses will almost always have an expiry clause attached, stating a number of days within which the bonus can be used. These tend not to be open-ended offers as the casinos want to know when their liability ends. If you don’t use it within the period, you lose it. This might be anywhere from 24 hours to several days, so it’s worth getting a move on whenever you land one of these bonuses.
Maximum wins & bets
Some casinos have maximum win clauses attached to their bonuses. This is to prevent them from being too heavily out of pocket from free bonus offers. In practice, these act as hard caps on your withdrawals, so no matter the amount you win from your no wagering bonus, you can only cash out up to the maximum. These caps are usually as high as £500 but can sometimes be as little as £40.
There may also be a maximum bet clause which limits how much you can bet in one go using bonus funds. The limit is usually £4 or £5, but be sure to stick to it if applicable else your winnings could be confiscated. This isn’t always an obvious condition, so check the T&Cs of the bonus offer carefully. Note that this doesn't apply to free spins bonuses however.
Promo codes
Sometimes, bonuses come with a promo code attached which you’ll need to enter when signing up or depositing. There will usually be a field asking for a promo code at sites which make use of them for marketing purposes. Usually they're pre-filled if you've claimed an offer on our website for example. But, always check as failure to provide this means you won't be eligible for the bonus. Promo codes are usually detailed in the small print, and they should be clearly stated on any promotional material.
Game restrictions
Other restrictions you’re likely to encounter include game selection, where you can only use free spins and bonus credit on selected games. Free spins are likely to be offered on a specific title whereas bonus credit will, generally, enjoy a little more freedom.
Final thoughts
No wagering bonuses are a great way to make the most of your deposits and casino play. But you need to have your wits about you to take advantage of these deals. Terms and conditions are there to protect the casino, and failure to follow the rules will see you losing access to your bonus and probably also any winnings from your bonus.
Now you know what to look for, make sure you put this into practice with your next no wagering bonus, so you can stay on track to withdraw the winnings you’re entitled to.