In the current state of the online gambling market, bookmakers without welcome bonuses viewed by players as some sort of blond sheep. That’s how big are promotions for betting business now. The bookies compete with each other by offering more and more attractive bonuses. And players are the real winners here because they can choose the most pleasing offer(-s).
But many players make mistakes when it comes to choosing welcome bonuses. They are looking for sheer numbers, click on the first bright banner, and ignore conditions. If you want to do it right, then read our top tips for choosing bonuses.
This is the most important thing because if you sign up for a shady bookmaker, there is a big chance that you’ll regret it in the future. Look only for licensed and established brands. If it’s a new company to the market, then learn its roots: who is the owner, to which jurisdiction it belongs, how transparent its rules, what is its platform. So basic research is a must-do. It’s better to spend some 10 minutes for once, then fight with the bookie later.
It’s common for players to look only after the size of the bonus. “They offer me 400 euros bonus. That’s nuts. I’ll take it!”. Who cares that the wager is 50x and the percentage is 25%? So, to get 400 euros you need to deposit 1600 euros and bet 100 000 euros: 50 x (1600 + 400). Sounds great, isn’t it?
Always look past bonus size. The bearable percentage starts from 50%, and the wager shouldn’t be higher than 30x. You can use the universal formula to judge the attractiveness of bonus:
The negative value means that a bonus isn’t that attractive from the mathematical point of view.
Wager, rate, overall size are not the only conditions to look after. Bookmakers usually set minimal odds requirements like 1.50 or 1.70. It means that you have to bet on 1.50+ odds in order to wager the bonus. Other conditions:
It’s important to read all the conditions before getting the bonus. And if you don’t understand something, just ask a customer support agent. You will save your time and nerves.
No one knows better about the specific bonus than the player who has already dealt with it. Read some feedback to get inside information. In their reviews players always note some nuances. For instance, how loyal is a bookmaker to its customers? It is not unusual for bookies to restrict bettors with good progress in wagering of bonuses. Some companies tend to block users for a few weeks just to prevent them from meeting the wager. But there are also good and safe bookmakers like Bet365, where you won’t face bonus-related issues.
Look for bonuses from reputable and licensed companies, check the wager requirements, and ensure the terms are favorable.
The wager determines how much you need to bet before withdrawing the bonus funds; a lower wager means easier access to your bonus winnings.
Understand all conditions, such as minimum odds and bet types allowed, to ensure you can meet them without risking your deposited funds.
