Why not play without a bonus

I have been around for a very long time and have always avoided bonuses on deposits since the beginning. Most of the complaints i see are about not following rules on the bonus you take after a deposit. A lot of head ache IMO. I have read the terms on some of the bonuses and find some of them down right designed for you to lose even if you win. I understand more playtime but if you do manage a withdraw you will have to make darn sure everything was followed to the T or you will lose. I just never felt like having to follow the strict bonus guidelines. A good freebie i will take but a deposit bonus is just something else for me. Maybe it has to do with where the USA is allowed to play which is mostly the casinos that show up on either the warning list or in direct support. (this is all from my observation and my opinion). 8'|

The reason why I hate playing with any kind of deposit bonus: https://lcb.org/onlinecasinobonusforum/casinos/chances-to-wager-100-bonus-with-wrx40  

I don't mind a good bonus from time to time assuming that the rules are easy to follow and don't have any traps.
Which most places I play it, they tend to spell out the bonus terms pretty easily to where there isn't much to be trapped by.
I hate the bonuses that are dreamed up like the following list:

1) I hate the slot bonuses that are machine specific.  Like your only allowed to play these 5 machines, or else the other 200 don't count towards wagering and void your winnings.
- Reason why I hate these is to me a slot is a slot.  If your going to provide me a bonus why tell me only certain slots qualify and others don't. That since all slots pretty much perform the same, that we are restricted to only 5 of them.  They all play the same, granted some bonuses are season themed, but still seems like a lot of BS to me.

2) Ones with max cash out
-Reason why I hate these is to me you've already wagered your money anywhere from I have seen a simple 10 times over to up skies the limits on wagering requirements.  So since you've had to go thru all of the work of having a wagering requirements.  I hate having a limit put on me in the end that says your winnings are only partially yours if you win big.
I get that some of these bonuses are rather huge matches, and I suppose I could see the risk.  Why offer such a bonus if your not prepared to pay out rather largely on it.

3) Bonuses that clearly from the beginning don't specify in clear terms.  What the max bet can be, what percentage of a certain game can be played, or any other restriction on how the bonus can be played.
-To me this seems like a trap in itself.  If the casino can be bothered to make clear what they see as bonus abuse.  Which pretty much what this statement is covering.  Then really the casino shouldn't offer bonuses period.  The whole you can only wager 10% of the bonus at a time, can only play 20% of the wagering on one single game, or some other percentage ordeal.  Seems like a lot of work for the player and almost makes it a were going to take your money in the end bet.  So really let's not make it bonus where to player has to do the math.  Let's make simple terms that are easy to follow across the board.

4) My final pet peeve is offering a no deposit bonus, yet before taking it or after you finished wagering it.  Your required to deposit.  Especially after you've already made a few deposits in the casino.
- I get that they want to verify you a bit, and sometimes that can be done by making a deposit.  Yet after your first deposit.  If your going to make me pay more into the pot to withdrawal.  I'm not interested.


That's a few of my pet peeves about bonuses.  I could go on, but those are the ones that annoy me the worst.

maybe for USA bonuses is not friendly, but for EU i think this is the best way how to play..because netent playtech always allow to play all slots with low wagering (not all) and also few of them has max bet, but as low roller i dont care about it..

The reason why I hate playing with any kind of deposit bonus: https://lcb.org/onlinecasinobonusforum/casinos/chances-to-wager-100-bonus-with-wrx40  

I missed that thread but a good example was one of the members (read the thread to see who)has asked for direct support a number of times because of the bonuses but still play them. It is up to them if they like them,it is their money and who am i to tell someone how to play?. As far as the USA is concerned (that is all i can speak on)when you take the bonuses you have to go over them with a fine tooth comb and even then you have to watch for the trap that is just waiting to close. Try winning 10,000 or above and see what happens(IMHO). I think if more players stir clear of the bonuses maybe the casinos will change. RTG in particular. I have seen enough non USA players post that they would not touch RTG with a ten foot pole. Wonder why?

I myself if I'm making a small deposit like $20 I will take a bonus but not more than 100%. In my opinion anything more than that would take forever to make the play through. When I first started online gambling I didn't know any better and I was taking 200%, 300%, etc.  I just looked at how much more money I had to play with and not so much the play through. Now it's only 50% of the time that I take a bonus. 

I only like to take a bonus at a casino i am familiar with and know the rules and only when i am making a small deposit to give me that playing power lift.  Wagering requirements can not be more than 25x and there can't be no silly max withdrawal limit either!

But all in all i prefer straight deposits cuz it is hassle free without worrying about any play-through requirements.

If you are a low roller than deposit bonus gives you a better chance to win IMO but wageiring must be under 30x and if max cash out term is in place at least 10x deposit should be free for withdrawal.

Wow very interesting article . Now you really got me worried. Seven months ago I  signed up with inetbet casino because I always read what a great casino they were the best US casino.

When I registered I sent  in all my documents and got approved because I didn't want to deal with the paperwork if I won. I am not a high roller I usually deposit between $25-50 dollars and use a bonus.

Your right about all those damn stipulations your were referring to on the bonuses and inetbet has all the ones that were referred to.

At Inetbet I would try and just use the simple straight forward ones with the simple slot bonus.

Well on Sept 4th this month I hit my first random bonus for $15,000 . I only made a $25.00 dollar deposit with a 100% match bonus with no restrictions.

I was blown away and couldn't believe it. I thought wow they were right about this being a great casino. I was thrilled because I had read so much about how they don't jerk US players around when it comes time to pay players plus I had all ready been approved.

The first thing I did was to request $1,500 to see how smooth that would go. Well right away the usual bullshit started. The first e-mail I get after my request said ( we received your request for $1,500 and that is fine) but you will need to resubmit all you documents because this is your first deposit request.

I thought wow no congratulations on my win they tell me that's fine. Right then and their I knew this might be a fight for my money. That is why I only ask for $1,500 to start.

I sent all my documents within an hour of getting that e-mail. I sent the documents to security@inetbet .com. Well an entire week went by and I heard nothing.So I sent another e-mail asking about my withdrawal to support@inetbet.com.

I get a response two days later telling me I need to send all documents to support@inetbet.com

After I received that e-mail I sent the documents to both e-mail address. Well as of Today Tuesday the 16th I am still waiting for a response.

A few days ago I read on a review site were someone posted that they had a difficult time claimimg a withdrawal of just a few hundred from inetbet . They said inetbet did not want to pay because they said the player was a bonus abuser. This person said they were shocked when that happen because they thought they were a great customer for the casino. They also stated the exact same thing I did is what he did. Depositing between $25.00-50.00 per deposit using a match bonus.

He said they finally paid but no longer allowed him to use any bonus coupons . He said that he was so pissed off he told them to cancel his account and never played there again.

I never used a non deposit bonus  at inetbet and I thought they encouraged the use of bonuses
because they sent me e-mails 2-3 times every week begging me to use them.

For me bonus is worth claiming if:
  - rules are transparent
  - wagering requirement do not change house edge significantly on games I intend to play (Sommi posted a link above where calculation of house edge depending on bonus amoount and wagering is explained well)
  - there is absolutely no withdrawal limit (I find it silly to deposit and than have a withdrawal limit)
  - I can play the games I like with the bonus I claimed

If all above is valid Im all for a bonus and will take it every time, but if any of it doesn't apply I will not claim the bonus (and that is absolutely without exceptions)

I will rarely take a bonus however, I will take a bonus at a reputable microgaming casino very occasionally but even that is rare.  i hate havng to follow bonus rules as they certainly can stitch you up if you put a foot wrong.

@gwolfman - I hope you get your withdrawal.  I don't understand why they have asked for your docs twice.  You said you sent them in straight away and now again, they require them in order to process your withdrawal.

Congratulations on your win!

It kind of bothered me to check rules every time I'd take a bonus and then worrying if everything was going to be okay. Nowadays, I play only with my deposits and I will take a bonus if it really is a good offer and I think it could be worth playing.

              Hey Chocolateman,  first off,  congratulations !  that's a great jackpot  any way you look at it.
  I hope you get paid.  I  wanted to say I've been with Inetbet for a few years now and only started really depositing in the last year or so.  I almost  never take a deposit bonus anymore from anyone just because I don't want to have restrictions on what I can play.  Unfortuneately I have never had a cashout from  Inetbet so I don't know how that's going to play out---I,  too have heard and read good reviews about their fast payouts so I hope you don't have to wait much longer. 

        Oh,  sorry Chocolateman,  I just  saw that was a quote from Gwolfman.  I'm so embarassed.  Totally
missed it.  I think I need glasses.  Congrats Gwolfman,  that's a great random,  keep us posted on the payout.

I agree with Rena 100%, I play at Club World almost exclusively now and thats one of the main resasons. CWC does not automatically apply a bonus to your deposit like  some casinos do. Nor do they try and hard sell you a bonus when you don't want it. I would rather take my chances with a small deposit than take a bonus and have a limit put on my withdrawal. With my luck I would hit a jackpot and have to forfeit most of it because of withdrawal limits. Just think of all the problems that it would solve if there were no more bonuses. If you played just  like at a land based casino? I vote no bonuses!!!!!

i also avoid bonuses always but since i got 2 times a huge amount of cash won i try to keep getting deposit bonuses lots of times! like from thrills and ladbrokes! both not high wager and it just give you that extra mone y to score big money! i like it more now then before!

I do not personally think a bonus is worth the hassle it can potently bring to a player. Sure, more play time but then when it is time to press the withdraw button is when the fun really starts. If you make one mistake it could be bye bye to maybe a once in a lifetime win. (IMHO). Just take a look at the casino complaints at any forum and a lot if not 99% of them are about bonuses. I play the free chips but i refuse to take a bonus on my deposit, unless it is at 3 dice casino where i sometimes take them.

Hello Lcb-ers,

I agree with Rena in some way when it comes to complaints ,you either take a smaller bonuses and less wagering and no withdrawal limits than bigger ones where there is a withdrawal limit .Of course you should read the rules and terms for every single one of them .

There are places to play like Cyberbingo that give good bonuses without restrictions other than if you withdraw you forfeit any remaining bonus in the account.  And they don't only have bingo though your casino and slots cannot be played with bonus money.

I have been gaming it seems for ages I like to play games plain and simple.There are particular sites that do offer cash withdrawls on non deposit. There are always terms to read closely..you must read them if you don't then having played and thinking you will receive that cash out you are screwed :'(All that play time devoted to pushing that spin button will be for not.There are literally hundreds of gaming sites that are cash out friendly,then there are the sites that you have to fight and claw though to get your cash!I like trying a casino with a bonus to see if I will enjoy playing there.Why wouldn't I?I'm not going to give out my moolah to a site that sucks So it is advantageous to get any bonuses offered and either have a good time playing or say "I'm getting the heck out of here".No one wants to give away their hard earned money  am I right?I would love to be able to cash out without giving up a dime anyone else agree with me?Gaming and finding a great site that caters to your enjoyment is what we all desire!!As I end this post I'm going over to CoolCat casino and play on their dime,I'm hoping to make some money!