Guide to Understanding Bonus Terms and Conditions

Getting a nice fat bonus when you sign up for an online casino can be an exciting proposition. Extra free cash to play more games and hopefully win more money! What’s not to love?

Before you go on a virtual spending spree with that bonus cash burning a hole in your virtual pocket, it’s important to understand the fine print attached to these types of offers. Terms like “playthrough requirements,” “expiry dates,” and “maximum cashouts” can significantly impact how much of that RocketPlay bonus cash you actually get to withdraw and keep.

This guide will explain what these common bonus terms mean so you can make informed decisions about which offers to accept and how to optimize them to get the most value:

What is a Playthrough Requirement?

The playthrough requirement (sometimes called the wagering requirement) refers to the amount you need to bet before you can withdraw any winnings from a bonus. Playthrough is stated as a multiplier – for example, 30x. This means you need to place bets totaling 30 times the amount of your bonus to “unlock” it for withdrawals.

So, if you get a $100 bonus with a 30x playthrough, you would have to place $3,000 worth of bets before you could withdraw any winnings from playing with that bonus money. Essentially, the casino wants you to gamble extensively before letting you keep anything you win with the bonus funds they gave you.

• Higher playthroughs like 40x or 50x mean you have to work harder to unlock the bonus.
• Lower playthroughs like 20x or 10x are more favorable for players.

Why Do Bonuses Have Expiry Dates?

Most casino bonuses come with a time limit, usually between 7 to 90 days. This means you only have that window of time to meet the playthrough requirement and withdraw your winnings.

If you don’t place enough bets to complete the playthrough by the expiry date, any remaining bonus funds and associated winnings are forfeited and returned to the casino.

Shorter expiry periods put more pressure on players to use the bonus quickly, within just days or weeks. Longer expiry dates give you more breathing room.

• 30-90 day expiry dates are preferable
• 7-14 days is tough to complete a playthrough

When evaluating offers, pay attention to the combination of playthrough rules and expiry limits to gauge if the terms are achievable or not.

What is the Maximum Cashout Limit?

Most bonuses also come with a maximum cashout limit on winnings, often stated as a dollar amount or multiplier of your deposit and/or bonus amount.

For example, a bonus may have a max cashout limit of 2 times your deposit plus bonus amount. So, if you deposit $50 and receive a $50 bonus, your max cashout would be $200.

Sometimes, the limit might just be a fixed dollar amount, like $100 or $500.

Hitting a big win that exceeds the limit means you’ll only get to withdraw up to that pre-set maximum, and the rest of your balance is forfeited.

• Higher max cashouts are ideal
• Low limits like $50 or $100 are very restrictive

Getting a big win only to have most of it taken back due to low max cashout limits is frustrating, so pay close attention to these rules.

Other Common Bonus Terms

Here are some other key bonus rules and restrictions to be aware of:

• Eligible Games – Bonuses often only apply to certain games and exclude others, usually slots vs table games and live dealer games. Slots usually contribute 100% to playthrough, while other games contribute less or don’t count at all.
• Minimum/Maximum Bet – To prevent bonus abuse, there may be limits on the size of bets allowed, like a minimum of $0.20 per spin up to a maximum of $5 per bet. Bets outside these bounds may not count or could risk forfeiting the bonus.
• Withdrawal Restrictions – Some bonuses block you from making cash withdrawals entirely until the playthrough is met and the bonus is unlocked. Others let you withdraw your cash deposit amount but not win until the bonus unlocks.
• Country Limitations – Bonus availability and terms sometimes vary based on your country or region. Always check if any geo-restrictions apply.

While bonuses seem very attractive, understanding the attached strings is key to avoiding disappointment. There are some great offers out there, but also plenty of mediocre or downright bad ones. The fine print makes all the difference between bonus bucks that payout and those that seem impossible to ever withdraw.

So don’t ignore those terms and conditions! Taking the time to understand playthrough rules, expiration dates, max cashout limits, and other fine print will help you spot the best bonuses to take advantage of.

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Steven Schuster

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