- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 2,706
- Reaction score
- 197
- Points
- 63
How Deposit Match Bonuses Work
The way a deposit match works is that you usually offer something like 100% up to $1000 or sometimes more. So, for example, let’s say you deposit $1000 at an online gaming site they will double your money with bonus funds up to $2000.
At first this looks like a good deal. But you must look at the fine print first because these types of bonuses usually come with conditions before the winnings can be withdrawn. I will explain that in the next section.
Wagering Requirements
The dreaded wagering requirements are what a gaming site expects you to clear before they allow you to cash out any bonus funds. If you are playing on a legit site, it will usually be set at 20x or lower. All this means that for our above example depositing $1000 you would be expected to do at least $20,000 in actual gameplay before the money could be withdrawn. Initially this probably sounds like a lot or even kind of ridiculous. But it’s not.
What you need to really watch out for is a gaming site that sets higher requirements usually at 40x or above. These can be hard to hit, and, in most cases, you might not be able to do it. That’s where you sort of need to weigh the pros and cons before you decide to claim any type of offer.
Game Contribution Can Change the Value
This is sort of another hidden factor most people don’t think about. But really the game you need to be clearing to clear a wagering requirement the fastest is slots. This is by far what’s going to work for you the best. You can also play table games but the contribution towards the wagering requirement you need to clear is going to be a lot less. Once again something you should look at in fine print but in general slots is always going to contribute 100 percent.
Watch for Maximum Bet and Withdrawal Rules
Maximum bet and withdrawal rules can have a major impact on the value of a deposit match bonus. Many casino bonuses place a limit on how much you can wager per spin or hand while the bonus is active. For example, a casino may allow a maximum bet of $5 while you are completing wagering requirements. Exceeding that amount, even accidentally, can sometimes result in the bonus and related winnings being forfeited.
Withdrawal restrictions are another important detail to review. Some promotions place limits on how much you can cash out from bonus-related winnings, while others may require the full wagering requirement to be completed before any withdrawal is allowed. There may also be minimum withdrawal amounts, verification requirements, or specific payment methods that must be used. I would also recommend paying attention to expiration dates as this can have a big impact on the time frame you have to clear up the requirement.
When You Might Be Better Off Skipping It
A deposit match bonus is not always worth taking. Sometimes the terms are so restrictive that the extra bonus money is not worth the effort required to use it.
One of the biggest warning signs is a high wagering requirement. If you must wager the bonus dozens of times before you can withdraw anything, you may end up risking much more money than you expected. Short expiration periods can also be a problem, especially if you feel pressured to play more often just to finish the rollover in time.
You should also be careful with bonuses that have strict game restrictions. Some promotions only count certain games toward the wagering requirement, while others give very little credit for table games or live dealer games. Maximum cashout limits can make a bonus less appealing as well, since they may cap how much you can withdraw from your winnings.
Before claiming a deposit match, take a few minutes to compare the bonus amount, wagering requirements, eligible games, and withdrawal rules. Casinostacked also provides information on current casino promotions and their terms, which can make it easier to see what an offer includes before making a deposit.
Closing Thoughts
I do think deposit match bonuses are worth it in most cases. You can test out different games with house money and see if you like a certain category of gaming before going more heavily into it. Personally, I usually use a match bonus with the expectation I probably won’t be able to clear it even though I probably still do around 20 percent of the time depending on how high the amount is.
I would always take a close look at what the terms and what games contribute towards that bonus. In general, it will almost always be slots but there are exceptions to the rule. And lastly look at the expiration date on a deposit match because you don’t want to make the mistake of claiming it and seeing it go to waste because you didn’t finish the requirements in time. I’ve made this mistake at least a couple of times in my online gaming career.
