Bonus Abuse Issue/Question

[ditchwitch]

Hey gang, I had this happen to me a while back and thought I would get your thoughts on it. I play at one online casino/sportsbook which offers a 5% reload bonus (up to $50) for any deposits made on a certain day of the week. I typically will only deposit on this day, and withdraw any money earned to redeposit it on this date.

Anyway, I was playing craps and betting both the Pass Line and Dont Come Bar, trying to wait to bet when what I thought was a favorable Point (or number was rolled). $5 on each bet. Now this is a pretty safe bet, because the only way you lose is if a 12 is rolled, as this is a loss for the Pass Line bet, and a push for the Dont Come bet, meaning I lose $5 everytime a 12 comes up. I think this is actually a stupid bet to make, but I was trying to see if I could make some money when I thought a good number was the point. I also thought it was a pretty good way to wager to earn the bonus money.

Now this site did not indicate that you can not use blackjack/craps or any other game to earn the bonus, all are eligible. Also, you only need to bet 3 times the deposit to earn the bonus. Both of these rules seem very favorable compared to other casinos.

I recieved a warning via e-mail that betting the Pass Line and Dont Come at the same time was a violation of the bonus rules and that I would not earn this money towards the bonus. This sounded reasonable to me, but they simply warned me and allowed me to keep the bonus. On my next deposit I bet this way a couple of times for low stakes, maybe $30 total. I bet enough to earn the entire bonus and more playing other games.

So I then notice that they have removed all of the bonus money for the recent deposit from the account. I talked to them and said I understand that you would not put any of the "illegal" craps bets toward the bonus, but since I bet enough to earn the bonus on other games why did you take it all away? They said that was their decision and that was that.

Given that I think they have a liberal bonus policy, and I know casinos are very strick in trying to keep abusers out, I dropped the issue and continue to play there.

I have two questions.
1. Does it sound like this bonus structure (5%) is good compared to other casinos.
2. Do you think I should have been more aggressive in trying to recover my bonus money? (It was $50).

Thanks for your input.

[Thatchatch]

“Does it sound like this bonus structure (5%) is good compared to other casinos.”

5% is a very small bonus, or a small incentive to make players deposit on a certain day. And at a DX3 rollover (a few years ago that was the WR for a 100% match bonus!), it may not be a good deal.

That some games don’t count toward earning the bonus should in no way allow them to remove that small bonus. That’s bad business, especially if you are a regular that puts $1,000 at risk weekly… unless you have a pattern that shows clearly that you aim at small regular weekly profits. Disregarding that last sentence, I would play somewhere else if I were you.

”Do you think I should have been more aggressive in trying to recover my bonus money? (It was $50)”

We all play different. The more aggressive, the more action! Larger action can bring larger potential wins! - But also the larger potential risk/losses…

Some players favor medium-to-low stake flat bets and see ‘where the wind blows’, then adjust their pattern according to their own playing strategy. You can safely put me in that category.

My 2 cents.

Regards,

[ditchwitch]

Thanks for the input Thatch.

First off, I do have a pattern of aiming at small weekly profits, and the 5% bonus is a big part of that. If I put in $1,000 and can take out $1,100, that is good enough for me. I like to get my money out quick and make a new deposit for the next week. This casino also accepts credit cards, so I am getting a 2% reward from my credit card company as well. I do not have any net banking account, so this works great for me.

Can you tell me any casinos that will give you a 5% or better bonus and allow you to play BJ and only require a 3x deposit wager to earn the bonus? I have not really searched, but the ones I have seen are usually 20x deposit and that just seems to high to me.

You used the word "WR" which I assume means standard - but what does it stand for?

Also when I talked about being aggressive, I meant in talking to the Casino in trying to get the bonus money, rather than aggressive in my betting style.

Thanks again.

[Thatchatch]

Hi ditchwitch,

Like your DX3 rollover condition are wagering requirements, thus WRs.

I don’t see a casino now offering a low WR like that, no matter what the bonus is.
The rule seems to be the bigger the bonus the bigger WRs!

Well, my friend, that casino doesn’t want to hand you out a weekly allowance!

Try Intercasino for BJ with a matching 100% - $90 per month, every month! A1!

Win ten in a row and they don’t give a rat’s ass – they will pay you timely!

Regards,

[ditchwitch]

I will keep that name in mind - thanks.