” width=”333″ height=”316″>The Hidden Dangers of Bonus Abuse: A Beginner’s Guide
- Rosie Bond
- 11 Jul 2023
Bonus abuse can seem like a scary term. Players accused of it can have their account banned and their IP address blacklisted. We’re here to reassure you not to worry. If you approach bonuses in the right way, it’s easy to avoid. Let’s go over what it means and how to avoid it.
What is Bonus Abuse?
One of the chilling aspects of “bonus abuse” is its ambiguity: when a term is poorly defined, its application can be broad and indiscriminate. This is precisely what we find with bonus abuse.
Bonus abuse isn’t necessarily a breach of the terms and conditions. Neither is it a form of cheating. It is more like a perceived violation of a “gentleman’s agreement.”
Casinos expect you to use your bonus in an “ethical” way.
Unethical bonus practices can include:
Multiple Accounts
You can only create one account per person. This is because casinos allocate their bonuses on a one per player basis. If you try to create more than one account, casinos will assume that you are trying to claim more than one welcome bonus – which isn’t allowed.
Casinos will log your IP address to make sure you don’t create more than one account, so be careful if you live in a household with other gamblers.
Bonus Hunting
This is where the waters get murky. When you’re accused of bonus hunting, the casino is essentially accusing you of claiming a bonus for the wrong reasons.
Casinos offer welcome bonuses as a free trial. If a casino thinks you are actively “hunting” for a bonus with low wagering requirements – as they make it easier to win real cash – they may close your account.
Bonus Scalping
Similar to bonus hunting, this is a term used by casinos to approximate a player’s intentions. According to casinos, using your bonus strategically is “unethical.”
Most accusations of bonus scalping are made when a player applies a strategy that helps them meet the wagering requirements. Examples of this include betting on both sides of a game, or placing consecutive low-risk bets.
Early Withdrawal
Claiming a bonus and trying to withdraw it before meeting the T&Cs is a big no-no. To casinos, this is one of the most flagrant signs of bonus abuse, and will likely lead to the immediate closure of the player’s account.
Violating the T&Cs
All casino bonuses come with a set of terms and conditions. Some of these can be violated, resulting in the accusation of bonus abuse. For instance, attempting to play ineligible games that have superior odds.
Another way to think about “Bonus Abuse”
“Bonus abuse” is a term that attempts to define a pattern of activity that unethical players are likely to follow. It helps to think of it this way:
Say you’re a referee in a rugby match. At a ruck, one of the opposing flankers collapses on top of the ball-carrier. Let’s say, in this case, the flanker makes a genuine attempt to get out the way. The first time this happens, you are more likely to be lenient.
However, if this event happens 2, 3, or 4 times, you will start to become suspicious. Even if you have no clear evidence that the rules are being violated on purpose, the statistical likelihood begins to suggest that they are.
Why Casinos Are Wary of Bonus Abuse
Imagine you had just opened a bakery that was giving free cupcakes to new customers. But every day this same guy walks in wearing a different wig, and every day he demands a free cupcake. Chances are you’d ask him, however politely, to leave.
And you’d be well within your rights to! This guy is clearly trying to take advantage of your generosity. Well, the same goes for casinos.
Just as you were offering cupcakes to new customers, casinos offer bonuses to new players. The hope is that these new players enjoy their time at the casino and return as paying customers.
This is a tried-and-tested business model. Casinos are happy to make short term losses in return for long term profits. Yet this business model doesn’t work if the people who claim a bonus do not have a genuine intention of returning.
In this case, the casino would be sacrificing short term profits with no hope of recouping their losses later. Consequently, abusers have to be identified or else the whole business model collapses.
Basic Bonus Terms: Providing Context for Bonus Abuse
Just because casinos are on the lookout for bonus abuse, it doesn’t mean that they don’t give you an opportunity to win real cash with welcome bonuses. They do! They just expect you to abide by them diligently.
Here are the T&Cs you need to be aware of:
Wagering Requirements – You have to stake a certain amount (a multiple of the bonus value, to be exact) a number of times before you can withdraw your winnings.
Eligible Games – This section outlines the games you are allowed to play with your bonus.
Max Cashout – While you can win real cash with a casino bonus, there is usually a win cap. You can’t withdraw more than the win cap.
Max Bet Size – This determines the amount you can bet per spin/bet using your bonus.
Game Contribution – Essentially, high odds games will contribute less of your stake to the wagering requirements.
Expiry Dates – The amount of time you get to use your bonus before it’s forfeited.
Learn more about the important T&Cs!
Never heard of the terms we’ve just defined? Don’t worry. While they may be important, they are all easy to understand. Two of the most important are wagering requirements and game contribution – both of which we discuss in our easy-to-follow guides.
Add links to our articles on game contribution
How Casinos Discourage Bonus Abuse
Casinos have developed a sophisticated set of tools designed to discourage bonus abuse.
Here are some of the most common:
All the bonus terms and conditions interact with one another to make it more difficult for bonus abusers. Because of wagering requirements, you can’t just claim a bonus and withdraw its value; because of game contribution, you can’t just play high odds games and win easily; the list goes on.
The bonus T&Cs are carefully crafted to encourage participation, and discourage anyone that wants to make a quick buck.
Casinos ensure they can’t lose too much by offering a welcome bonus. For instance, free spins usually have the value of the lowest possible bet. There are also win caps in place that limit the amount the casino can ultimately lose by offering a no deposit bonus.
Some jurisdictions attract more bonus abuse than others. Casinos are therefore wary of offering free bonuses to players from specific jurisdictions where bonus abuse is more likely to occur, or where online gambling is illegal.
In most cases, to claim a no deposit bonus you have to complete a registration form. Even if players lie in their registration form, to withdraw their bonus winnings they have to provide additional ID verification, or else the withdrawals will not pass security checks.
It’s common for casinos to record your IP address so it can determine if multiple accounts are being created by the same household. Casinos are known to blacklist any IP address associated with multiple accounts.
Consequences of Bonus Abuse
So, what measures do casinos have to punish bonus abuse? There are a variety of measures, some of which are more severe than others.
The main punishments include:
Bonus Forfeiture
Simply put, the casino will revoke your bonus. All your winnings and remaining bonus funds will be lost.
Blocked Account
In more severe cases, your account may be blocked or deactivated.
Blacklisted IP Address
Another punitive measure used by casinos is to blacklist your IP address so you can’t access the casino under another guise. In these cases, you may also be blacklisted by other casinos.
Can I challenge the casino?
Yes, you can! Casinos usually have a way of allowing players to challenge any accusation of bonus abuse or fraud. This usually involves providing evidence and/or a justification for your conduct. We recommend you contact your casino via email or live chat to begin the process of restitution.
5 Rules to Follow to Avoid Bonus Abuse
Now you know what bonus abuse is, here are 5 rules you can follow to avoid committing it:
#1. Scrutinize the T&Cs
Read the T&Cs. Understand the T&Cs. Abide by the T&Cs. That’s our advice. In most cases, if you stick to the T&Cs, you’re good.
#2. Bet Naturally
Don’t overthink when you play with a casino bonus. Casinos are expecting you to trial the casino, not to flaunt your carefully crafted betting strategy based on the latest quantum physics.
#3. Only Create One Account
This is salient. The golden rule is one-per-player. If you forget your login details or the bonus isn’t credited as it should have been, contact customer service. Do not – I repeat – DO NOT(!) try to create another account.
#4. Only Try to Claim One Bonus
Casinos offer a variety of welcome bonuses. You get to choose one of these. That doesn’t mean one no deposit bonus and one deposit bonus – it means one or the other, but never both.
#5. Play Valid Games
Unsurprisingly, casinos know the odds of their own games. They know, for instance, that blackjack provides better odds than slots. This is why slots tend to be eligible whereas blackjack tends to be heavily restricted.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of casino bonuses can be challenging, but with a little guidance, you’ll be cruising through it like a pro. By understanding bonus abuse, its consequences, and how to avoid it, you’ll be able to play safely and enjoy your gaming experience to the fullest.
