Welcome bonus terms and conditions explained

Almost every site requires you to fill in some or all fields in your profile before you deposit. This means your full name and often your date of birth and address.

If your profile is incomplete when you deposit, the bonus won't be credited.

To get your welcome bonus, most sites require an activated phone number before you deposit. Some also require an activated email.

You activate it by entering a code the site sends you. Do this before you deposit, or you won't get the bonus.

You must agree to receive bonuses in your account settings or on the deposit page before you make your deposit.

This is usually very easy to see on the registration page. Shouldn't be a problem.

Most sites offer two welcome bonuses: one for sports and one for casino. You must select which one you want before you deposit.

You can't switch after your first deposit.

You must deposit at least a set amount to trigger the bonus. Deposit less, and you get no bonus at all.

Remember that the different deposit methods have their own minimum deposit values.

An example: The minimum deposit for a welcome bonus might be 200, but the ewallet you're using has a minimum of 500.

The bonus is a % of your deposit, but only up to a maximum. Anything you deposit above the max gives no extra bonus.

Some bonuses require you to deposit within a set time after registering. We've seen everything from 1 day to 30 days.

If you register and wait too long, the offer expires, and you can't get it back.

You get one welcome bonus per person. Sites take this further: one per family, address, computer, IP address, and payment method.

This is actually an account rule, not just a bonus rule: you're only allowed one account per household. If you register a second account to get another bonus, the site will void the bonus and can close both accounts. A block can even carry over to other sites run by the same company.

Want another welcome bonus? Register at a different site instead. Our promo code articles list the best offers.

Most sites in our markets accept crypto deposits. But crypto is not always allowed for bonuses.

Some sites do not give you any bonuses for crypto deposits. Others allow crypto for every bonus. If you plan to deposit with crypto, check this term first.

A welcome pack gives you bonuses on your 2nd, 3rd, and sometimes 4th deposits too. These come with chain rules:

• You must finish wagering one bonus before the next deposit counts.
• If you switch bonus type, decline a bonus, or cancel one in the chain, you normally lose all the remaining bonuses.

So if you want the whole pack, take the bonuses in order and don't decline any of them.

You get a set number of days to complete the wagering. 30 days is common for sports, while casino bonuses often give just 7 days. Some sites give as little as 3 days.

If time runs out, you lose the bonus and all bonus winnings. Your own deposit stays with you.

Sports bets must be at or above a set odds level to count. The site requires this because low odds would make cashing out the bonus too easy.

Example: If the minimum odds are 1.50, a safe bet at 1.30 won't count toward your wagering.

Many sites only count accumulator bets (combo/parlay) toward the wagering. A typical rule: each accumulator must have 3 or more selections, each at odds of 1.40 or higher.

The odds multiply, so the real minimum odds are high:

1.40×1.40×1.40 = 2.74 in total odds.

Single bets are easier, but rarer. If a site accepts singles for wagering, that's a nice plus.

Some markets don't count toward wagering. The most common exclusions are totals (over/under) and handicaps. A few sites even exclude bets on the weather.

Bets on excluded markets aren't lost. They just don't count toward your wagering progress.

Bets that are refunded, cancelled, settled at odds of 1.00, or closed early with cash out don't count toward wagering.

Cash out means closing your bet before the event ends, for a guaranteed amount. Avoid it while wagering a bonus.

There's often a maximum on how much you can bet per bet while wagering. You can't clear a big requirement with one huge gamble.

Bets above the max won't count toward your wagering. At some casinos, they can even break the bonus terms, so stay below the max.

Different casino games count differently toward wagering. Slots normally count 100%. Table games like blackjack count very little, sometimes close to nothing.

This is because blackjack can be played for a long time with small losses. The casino protects itself by counting it low.

Check the games contribution list before you play, or your hours at the tables may count for nothing.

Many casinos let bets in their own game section count twice toward wagering. A bet of 100 counts as 200.

This cuts your real wagering in half: 35x becomes 35/2 = 17.5x. The casino does this because it earns more on its own games. But it's still a great deal for you.

Note the exceptions: some games are excluded, and blackjack usually doesn't count double.

Only bets that are settled within the bonus period count. A bet on a match that finishes after your bonus expires won't count, even if you placed it in time.

Near your deadline, avoid bets on events that are far in the future.

The welcome bonus can't be used together with other promotions. While wagering, other offers like free bets or cashback are usually paused or won't count.

Finish your welcome bonus first. Then enjoy the other promotions.

You can't withdraw money until you've completed the full wagering requirement. If you withdraw early, the bonus and all bonus winnings are lost.

At many sites, even transferring money from sports to casino counts as breaking this rule.

Some sites let you give up the bonus and take your own money back. A typical rule: you can withdraw up to your total deposits if your remaining balance is at least twice the bonus amount.

You lose the bonus and all bonus winnings, but keep your deposit. This is a fair escape hatch if you regret taking the bonus.

Most sites cap what you can keep from the bonus, often at the initial bonus amount. Some cap it at a multiple, like 3x or 5x the bonus.

KYC (Know Your Customer) means the site must verify your identity before paying out. This is a legal requirement for licensed gambling sites, to prevent money laundering.

Expect to send a photo of yourself holding your ID. If you refuse, the bonus and winnings are forfeited.

This is normal and nothing to worry about, as long as you registered with your real details. Never register with fake information. Check that you enter your names exactly as they are in your ID documents.

If a bet placed with bonus money settles after the bonus has expired or been canceled, the bonus part of the winnings is removed.

One more reason to avoid far-future events near your deadline.

The site can review your betting history at any time. If it decides you're using strategies it "deems to be abusive", it can revoke your bonus and reclaim winnings.

What counts as abuse is up to the site. Typical examples: betting both sides of a match, only placing risk-free combinations, or coordinating with other accounts.

Some sites even define abuse with numbers. For instance, Megapari treats it as abuse if 70% or more of your funds come from bonuses across 5 to 9 deposits.

Bet normally and this term will never touch you.

Sites reserve the right to amend, cancel, or renew the offer at any time, without notice.

In practice, this rarely affects a bonus you've already started. But it means the terms you read today may differ from last month's. Always read the current version.

Sites can limit or refuse any customer's participation in an offer, sometimes without giving a reason.

Some offers are also personal: only available if you received a direct message or email from the site.

If the site suspects fraud or money laundering, it can close your account and freeze the balance.

This is standard at all licensed sites. It only matters if you deposit with someone else's payment method or fake identity. Don't.

In a dispute about what a term means, the site's own interpretation is final and binding.

This is why we always say: if a term is unclear, assume the stricter reading. Or ask the site's support before you bet.

You normally must withdraw to the same payment details you used to deposit. If you deposited with several methods, withdrawals are split in proportion to your deposits.

If your method can't receive money (like some eVouchers), the site decides which method you must use instead.

We recommend you deposit with a method that can also receive withdrawals. Decide this before your first deposit.

Separate from any bonus wagering, most sites require you to bet your deposits at least once before withdrawing. One big site we checked requires odds of at least 1.1 on these bets.

This is an anti-money-laundering rule. It stops people from using the site as a money transfer service.

Example: You deposit 5,000 but only place 2,000 in bets. The site can refuse your withdrawal until you've bet the full 5,000.

Depositing from another person's e-wallet, card, or bank account is a serious problem. The site can flag it as fraud, block your transactions, and deny withdrawals to payment details that aren't in your name.

Sharing wallets with family or friends can be common. Don't do it on betting sites. Use your own payment method, in your own name, every time.

Sites have daily withdrawal limits. Amounts above the limit need manual review.

Very large winnings often get an extra check. At one big site we checked, all wins above a set amount are reviewed and approved manually before you can withdraw them.

So a big win arrives in chunks, over several days. The money isn't gone, it's just slower than you'd hope.

Standard KYC checks are usually done within a few days. But payment verification can take much longer in rare cases. One big site we checked allows up to 180 days for some payment systems.

Your account can be blocked while the check runs. You can't speed it up, but you can avoid triggering it: use your own payment method, register with real details, and keep your ID documents ready.

Placing bets on opposite outcomes to move money through the site with no risk is treated as abuse. One big site lists the games it watches for: roulette, baccarat, craps, and dice.

These bets don't count toward the "bet your deposit" rule, and they can get your withdrawal refused.