Bankroll management is arguably the most important part of any online casino gaming strategy. Knowing how much to risk, sticking to a plan, staying within your limits, and knowing when to take profit (or accept losses) are all part of experienced players’ game plans.
The same, of course, could be applied to any type of financial activity. Trading stocks, for example, usually requires the same style of discipline. But there are differences for casino players, notably with the use of casino bonuses and promotions. The art of using a casino bonus is one of the mainstays of casino players’ strategy. But sometimes we can get a little bit more frivolous with bonus money, using it in different ways than what we would with “real” money.
One of the reasons we can be a bit more thoughtless with casino bonus money is due to the wagering requirement that is often applied to these rewards. If you weren’t aware, a wagering requirement means you must bet the bonus amount a certain number of times. For instance, a 20X wagering requirement for a $20 bonus would be $200. After that, the bonus money – and any additional winnings – would become withdrawable cash. Simple, right? It might be, but, as we said, there is an art to using bonus funds.
Developers’ Characteristics Are Important To Know
Perhaps the most important question is deciding which games to play with your bonus money. You should be aware that most casinos will have a long list of rules on which games you can play. As a general rule of thumb, card and table games will count less towards wagering than slots. And it’s for that reason that most experienced players tend to choose slots for bonus wagering.
But saying “slots” is a broad term. After all, many casinos will have hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of online slots in their library. And each of those slots will have different characteristics. Some might be highly volatile, whereas others might offer a little more dependable returns. Indeed, it’s often the case that different slots developers bring different styles of games to the table. And knowing about them is advantageous if you want to turn your casino bonus into real money.
For example, we can pick out three slots providers – Pragmatic Play, Push Gaming, and No Limit City – which are known for creating mostly high volatility games. Everyone will have a subjective opinion on the matter, but it’s generally held that high volatility games aren’t the best options for wagering a bonus. They are, for want of a better term, too “undependable”. Yes, the hits can be bigger than an average slot, but you can also see your balance evaporate.
Get To Know The Games With Low Volatility
Most experienced players would advise you to play low-volatility games from developers like NetEnt, Playtech, and perhaps Microgaming. Now, not all of the titles from these developers are low volatility. Dead or Alive from NetEnt, for example, is one of the most popular high volatility games around. But, generally speaking, this trio of developers has many low-volatility games. Steam Tower, Starburst, Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven, Leprechaun’s Luck, and Starlite Fruits spring to mind as games with low volatility that can be useful for bonus wagering. Of course, this is still casino gaming – so nothing is guaranteed.
Above all, the advice is to always read the terms and conditions. Some bonuses might be capped with a max win, meaning there is little point in playing a game with a top prize of $10K when the maximum you can earn from your bonus is $500. This is not always the case, but it is worth taking a few minutes to read the Ts and Cs before you decide which games to play. And if you are really serious about it, take a look at casino games review sites online (or check YouTube and Twitch) to get a handle of the different traits of the developers.