Online casino operators, software providers/game development studios, licensing authorities, regulators, gaming commissions, payment providers, independent third-party online casino testing agencies, such as eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), and many other organizations linked to the iGaming sector work closely together and are constantly looking for ways to enhance transparency as a whole and make things safer for players.
On this page, we will be taking a closer look at whether transparency behind online casino bonuses, such as free spins bonuses with no wagering requirements attached, reflects a broader shift to digital trust, so let’s dive straight in to find out.
What Does No Wagering Mean In Online Casino Bonuses?
Before we discuss whether these promotional offers are helping to promote transparency in the iGaming industry, we must first answer the question, “what are no wagering free spins?”
In short, a no wagering (aka zero wager or no wager) free spins bonus is an online casino bonus that players can claim where they don’t need to wager any money before they can withdraw their rightful winnings, as opposed to most other bonuses that come with wagering requirements, whereby players must wager X amount of money before they can withdraw any winnings they have left over after they have completed the so-called wagering requirements.
Wagering requirements are also sometimes referred to as playthrough requirements, turnover requirements or rollover requirements, depending on the casino, but they all mean the same thing. Players can always easily find out how much money they must wager when they claim an online casino bonus by reading the terms and conditions attached to any bonuses they claim.
The golden rule for players to remember is that the lower the wagering requirements are, the better it is for players, for obvious reasons. Online casino bonuses with ZERO wagering requirements attached are the most highly sought-after and lucrative promotional offers, but also the most elusive bonuses.
On top of the wagering requirements, players also usually have to wager the initial deposit amount on top of their bonus amount or bonus winnings.
Each bonus is different, so always read the Ts and Cs to ensure you don’t miss out. Additionally, wagering requirements usually have to be completed within a certain time frame, which could be 24-48 hours, one to two weeks, or as long as one month.
Here is a quick breakdown of what is considered low, medium, and high wagering requirements when it comes to online casino bonuses:
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Super low – between 0x and 4x times the bonus amount (always worth claiming)
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Low – between 5x 29x times the bonus amount (also worth claiming)
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Medium/average – between 30x and 50x times the bonus amount (30x to 45x is worth claiming, but some players won’t claim bonuses with higher than a 40x to 45x wagering requirement – it’s up to you)
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High/above-average – 51x to 70x times the bonus amount (many players, especially seasoned pros, avoid claiming online casino bonuses with a 50x or high wagering requirement attached)
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Super high – some online casino bonuses have even been known to attach up to 200x times wagering requirements to their bonuses. These sites are usually unlicensed and unregulated, and must be avoided at all costs
When claiming online casino bonuses, just remember to gamble responsibly and sensibly, and to avoid confusion, consider claiming just one bonus before moving on to the next one.
How Do No Wagering Free Spins Promote Transparency In The iGaming Industry?
Zero (or low) wagering requirements are significantly helping to promote transparency in the iGaming industry for various reasons. For example, no wagering bonuses enhance confidence and trust between the player and the casino operator, and foster a sense of fairness and transparency.
Operators also help foster trust in the industry by providing clear and concise terms and conditions/general casino policies, and won’t try to trick or mislead players in any way. Back in the day, it was quite the opposite.
Claiming online casino bonuses back then was hit and miss and more of a minefield. The Ts and Cs were often misleading, and the industry in the early days could be likened to the Wild West.
However, tighter regulations and more of a commitment to protecting players have helped improve the overall trust in the online casino industry.
The fair and realistic approach by today’s most reputable operators, by offering low/no wagering free spin bonus offers, has raised players’ expectations and made these sites more appealing than ever. No wagering bonuses reflect a much broader shift in digital trust and transparency than any other type of promotion in many other industries.
Final Thoughts
Before claiming an online casino bonus with no wagering requirements attached, it’s important that you conduct some basic background checks first, just to see if that site can be trusted.
In other words, always read the expert reviews to give you a much better insight into the casino, and then remember to read the Ts and Cs BEFORE claiming an online casino bonus.
The terms and conditions will also tell you how long you have to complete your wagering requirements, whether your preferred online payment methods are included/excluded from the promotion, the minimum deposit amount required to unlock the bonus (unless it’s a no deposit bonus) the capped/maximum winnings you can make from your bonus, which games are included/excluded from the promotion, which devices/platforms the bonus can be claimed from, (e.g., Mac, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, etc.) and so on.
Reading the Ts and Cs will tell you everything you need to know about the promotional offer to ensure you get the most out of it. Too many players still fail to read the Ts and Cs, which often leads to disappointment.