Understanding Casino Bonus Abuse
Casino bonuses enhance players' experiences and give them more chances to win real money. However, some patrons have tried to find loopholes and take advantage of these generous offers, known as 'bonus abuse fraud.' This guide will walk through the most common areas that trip up beginners, explain why online gambling constitutes these mistakes as 'bonus abuse,' and offer tips to avoid casino bonus abuse.
Creating Multiple Accounts to Double Up on Casino Bonuses
In the early days of online casinos, there were few restrictions around individuals creating multiple accounts to take advantage of welcome bonuses and other promotions.
This quickly became a problem for most online casinos and gambling operators.
Players would create multiple accounts at an online casino to claim the same bonus multiple times using various email addresses and payment methods. Each time this happens, the player poses as a different person to convert a bonus for free cash.
Most bonuses now explicitly state in their T&Cs that they are limited to one per person, per household, per device, and IP address. The aim of these rules is to prevent players from claiming repeated bonuses. Today, collecting a welcome bonus more than once on different accounts is strictly prohibited by all online gambling operators, helping casinos reduce bonus abuse.
Tips to avoid trouble:
- Stick to one casino account linked to your name, address, and payment info.
- Do not attempt to create multiple accounts (this is a big no-no in the online gambling world).
- Don't try to outsmart casino software by spoofing IP addresses or disguising identities to bypass casino server trackers.
- Read all terms thoroughly, so you understand the one bonus per person rules.
Saving Up Multiple Casino Bonuses
Another trick some players attempt is collecting multiple reload bonuses over time and saving them up rather than using each alone. Then, during a gaming session, they combine all the balances, which gives them a much bigger bankroll to play with.
Again, this goes against the intention of casinos providing bonuses periodically to give small, regular boosts.
When caught stacking several bonuses, the casino may revoke those promotional funds and confiscate any pending cash-out requests.
How to properly use bonuses:
- Accept and play sign-up bonuses during the periods they are offered.
- Don't try to accumulate or save them to use down the road.
- Pay attention to expiration dates so funds don't disappear unused.
- Always read the T&Cs so you understand how to avoid gambling fraud.
Claiming the Same Bonus Twice
With sophisticated software, claiming an identical bonus twice is rare. Typically, online gambling operators use systems that recognize if a specific offer was already credited to your account.
But occasionally, a glitch does happen where a player can collect a duplicate deposit match, free spins package, sports betting free bets, free cash, or another promo they already received. While this may seem like a win, this constitutes abuse in the online gambling industry, and it will surely catch up with you.
Any duplicate funds and subsequent winnings will inevitably get confiscated once the casino reviews the account activity. Doing this intentionally or even unintentionally, gambling fraud could also result in a permanent ban from casino sites.
How to claim bonuses properly:
- Keep track of what promotional offers you've already used
- Double-check the account to confirm new funds are deposited just once
- If you receive duplicate credits by accident, contact customer support immediately
Ignoring Game Restrictions
It is rare to find a gambling platform that does not apply some game restrictions to its casino bonuses, especially deposit matches. Therefore, with any signup bonus bonuses you claim, you should always read the terms and conditions and know which games the casino excludes from bonus betting.
Game Weights on Casino Games
First, you need to understand how game weights work. Certain games like blackjack and video poker have higher odds and lower house edges.
The casino would pay more winnings if bonus funds were permitted on these games. Therefore, most casinos will exclude these games from bonus money betting.
For example, blackjack games typically have an RTP of 99.5% or higher and a house edge of 0.5%. Most casinos prefer players not to make bonus payouts on high RTP games, so they use game restrictions.
Game weights can prevent players from making bonus money bets on certain games!
These game restrictions prohibit using bonuses on certain casino games and promote playing slots, which have an average theoretical RTP of 96% (4% house edge) and other high-house edge options. Even high RTP slot games are sometimes blocked/excluded when a bonus is active, and therefore, bets on these games do not contribute to the wagering requirements.
Bonus Abuse by Playing Excluded Slots or Other Games
Whether you play a casino game that the bonus terms exclude or games that contribute 0% to Wagering requirements, any wins from these bets, the casino will classify this as gambling fraud, which is effectively bonus abuse.
The problem is that winnings are invalidated because those games were excluded or won with 0x credit to your bonus balance. This skews the wagering requirement, and the casino will not convert your bonus money into real money.
You will find that there are two types of online gambling sites. Those who try to prevent bonus fraud and those who fail to prevent bonus money bets on excluded games:
- Those that prevent bonus abuse: Most modern casinos will show a zero balance when you open a slot excluded from bonus bets in the bonus terms and conditions.
- Those that do not prevent bonus abuse: Some casinos have not implemented the technology to prevent players from betting bonus cash on excluded games. Therefore, these games allow bonus wagers, which is bad business for the casino because it only angers players, and angry players result in a lower player retention rate.
Why is this Classified as Bonus Abuse?
From a player's perspective, this is not casino bonus abuse but a mistake. Mostly, players play games excluded from a casino bonus by accident. Yet, from the casino's perspective, they classify it as bonus abuse fraud.
Either intentionally playing restricted games with bonus funds or doing so accidentally causes major issues. The system credits wins it shouldn’t, which must later get clawed back and funds forfeited. Sticking to approved games is important when avoiding online casino bonus abuse.
Tips for avoiding trouble:
- Check every bonus for game restrictions BEFORE playing
- If a game allows a restricted bonus bet, don't play
- Regularly consult your account to see permitted games for active bonuses
Attempting to Guarantee Wins
In the past, an expert bonus abuser would often take advantage of attractive bonuses that allowed them to play table games. Due to the high RTP on table games, lowering bonus payouts for table games is common. In the beginning, including table games in bonus offers, iGaming operators attracted more bonus abuse.
They could do this because certain casino games with even odds open themselves to guaranteed win scenarios with the right combination of bets. It is impossible to guarantee a winning spin playing online slots. Conversely, you can guarantee a win in games like Roulette, Baccarat, Dragon Tiger, Hi-Lo, and Sic Bo.
Common examples of table game promo abuse to guarantee a win include:
- Betting both red/black 'or' high low 'or' odd/even simultaneously on roulette
- Betting on all columns or dozen bets on roulette
- Betting on even/odd 'or 'big/small' simultaneously on sic bo
- Betting on both 'Banker' and 'Player' bets in baccarat
- Betting on both 'Dragon' and 'Tiger' on the Dragon Tiger table game
- Betting on both 'High' and 'Low' on Hi-Lo games
Staking More Than 70% of Bets Available
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Players have tried to take advantage of this mathematical edge for decades. Virtual and live dealer tables present opportunities for this type of bonus abuse because, unlike slots, players have control over which bets they select.
When you cover more than 70% of the bets available on the table, this is classified as trying to guarantee a win.
- Placing bonus money bets on over 70% of Sic Bo bets
- Placing bonus money bets on over 70% of roulette inside bets
Live casino game shows are similarly open to bonus abuse
Live casino Wheel of Fortune games have more complex bonus rules when guaranteeing a winning bet, but iGaming operators are also on top of this type of bonus abuse.
- In Wheel of Fortune games, bonus abuse depends on the number of segments multiple bets cover on the wheel instead of the number of bets available.
- If the number of segments exceeds 70%, the casino site will classify this as bonus abuse fraud.
When caught, guaranteed win attempts have huge consequences. The casino will always void any earnings generated this way and likely ban the account altogether.
Don’t risk ruining the integrity of casino games or your membership by trying to tip the odds so extremely in your favour. Fair play maintains the fun for everyone.
How to avoid promo abuse by ensuring you are not placing guaranteed winning bets:
- Never place combination bets that cover over 70% of table outcomes
- Stick to wagering on one or few random outcomes per spin/hand
- Aim for lower bets with lower bonus payouts using a workable bankroll management strategy
Exploiting High Bet Sizes
Another abuse of bonus funds involves new customers placing extremely large wagers that are way higher than the bonus amount. iGaming operators and sports betting sites have systems to detect players using large bet sizes. They do this when reviewing player accounts that have converted bonus money to cash before approving the conversion.
For instance, someone may deposit $50 and receive a $50 bonus, then place a $100 spin bet on a slot. Even if they deposited an extra $450 cash, this still skews the appropriate use of the bonus.
The Max Bet Rule
The maximum bonus amount you can bet is the 'Max Bet' limit. For most bonuses, this is $5.00 per bet. Most bonus abusers who used to use high bet sizes are now out of business because of this rule.
- Your bonus is void if your spin bet or bets on other games exceed the maximum bet allowed.
- Be wary of using 'Bonus Buy' slots because these often exceed the maximum bet amount.
The deposit match and other promos will give you extra funds to extend playtime and enjoyment.
Throwing down big bets well beyond the total bankroll defies responsible play. Casinos, therefore, have bet limits attached to all deposit bonuses. Exceeding these can invalidate the entire offer plus any winnings.
Tips for reasonable play to avoid promo abuse:
- Check terms for max bet allowed per betting round, per pay line, and/or per spin
- Wager small percentages of your bankroll per spin (5% or less)
- Don’t chase losses with progressively higher bets
Bonus Hunting - A Common Form of Casino Bonus Abuse
Bonus hunting is the practice of claiming signup bonuses designed for new customers and deposit bonuses at multiple online casinos or sports betting platforms.
The player either fails to convert the welcome deposit bonus into real money or converts the signup bonuses into real money and then moves on to another casino and claims more deposit signup bonuses. If a player does this too often across multiple casinos owned by the same brand, the operator will classify this as online casino bonus abuse.
It is relatively straightforward for an operator to detect bonus abuse when the bonus abusers are unaware they are signing up to a casino using the same affiliate or operator when bonus hunting.
How to avoid bonus hunting
- Check the casino operators running the casinos you plan to claim bonuses
- Check the affiliates running the casino bonuses for different brands are not the same
Repeated Withdrawal Attempts
Lastly, some players are eager to cash bonus wins before completing wagering requirements. They attempt multiple withdrawal requests, hoping that one will somehow process prematurely.
Depending on the casino rules, this may classify as bonus abuse fraud. It is extremely common with free bet bonuses.
To avoid violating policies, ensure the bonus terms are 100% fulfilled and the system recognizes your withdrawal availability. Never make more than one request if declined on the first try. And above all else, carefully read the specific wagering details so you aren’t surprised later.
Follow best practices by:
- Understanding every game’s contribution % rates to playthrough
- Using a bonus tracker tool to monitor running progress
- Only attempting cash out once fully meeting (not almost!) all requirements
While nothing beats the thrill of playing casino games, bonuses make winning all the sweeter. Avoid the mistakes above, play rigorously by the rules, and these extra funds will keep the good times rolling!
Why Online Casinos Suffer from Bonus Abuse
Generous bonus offers give casinos an extremely valuable tool for customer acquisition and retention. However, they come with the inherent risk of exploitation bonus abusers. Abusers who abuse bonuses are motivated by the following:
- Monetary incentives – Bonus funds, free bets, and free spins hold cash value. Most bonus abuse stems from players wanting to extract as much money as possible.
- Beating wagering requirements – Clearing WRs to withdraw bonus winnings takes considerable gameplay. Abuse lets players shortcut rules and profit quickly.
- Risk-free gambling – Even if identity verification is required, creating throwaway bonus accounts provides risk-free gambling, given that the casino already provides funds.
Impact of Bonus Abuse on Online Gambling Behavior
Ideally, casino loyalty bonuses enhance players’ experiences and prolong their lifecycle at sites. Responsible casino operators balance bonus sizes and WRs to incentivize loyalty while generating reasonable profits.
Unfortunately, rampant bonus abuse disrupts this balance. Operator revenues suffer when bonuses and bonus payouts go out significantly more than what players deposit. In response, they curb bonus abuse operations by:
- Lowering bonus sizes and raising WRs – Now affecting all players rather than just abusers
- Restricting eligible games – Profitable low-house edge options like blackjack get excluded from accepting bonus funds
Ultimately, this diminishes the entertainment value and catches regular players in overzealous anti-abuse efforts. Customer experience drops across the industry.
How Online Casinos Detect and Prevent Bonus Abuse
Sophisticated gambling platforms have ample tools to identify and halt unethical bonus activity. Common detection methods include:
- Analyzing deposit patterns – Repeated new player bonuses correlated to the same payment method signal bonus abuse at online casinos.
- Tracing IP addresses – Casino server trackers link multiple accounts back to one device/location.
- Player loyalty tracking – Platforms recognize telltale activity like large total bets without corresponding losses.
Various responsible gambling measures also proactively deter abuse:
- Completing stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) checks – Verifying ID, address, and payment details makes anonymous abuse and identity theft virtually impossible.
- Enforcing account activity limits – Prevents players from claiming endless bonuses by restricting daily, weekly, and monthly deposit totals.
- Requiring phone verification – Adds an obstacle to instantly creating new throwaway accounts.
Ongoing improvements around machine learning mean online casinos can pinpoint bonus abuse quicker, and with more advanced behavioural analysis tools, bonus abusers are being etched out. However, the reality is bonuses inherently carry abuse risks.
From stopping multiple account creation to preventing players from placing guaranteed win bets, managing this without compromising everyday players’ enjoyment is a balancing act for online casinos.
All participants in the online gambling industry must play their part. This includes regulators establishing reasonable practices, operators mitigating bonus abuse risks, and players using common sense when claiming sign-up bonuses and other promotions at online casinos.
This shared accountability provides the healthiest way forward for the online casino sector, and in the future, with AI, bonus abusers will become less common.
