Online casinos are hardly a new industry, but one feature of these online casinos has been under heavy debate over the years. This feature is that of the online casino bonuses. Bonuses are given through nearly every gaming center online, but each one has very different rules, regulations, and stipulations. Before accepting any bonus, you need to weigh the pros and cons of the online casino bonus. Since these casinos are giving out essentially free money, it is always a good idea to make sure you know what you are getting into before you accept the bonus.

Why accept an online casino bonus?

Before you take the casino bonus offer, ask yourself if you need it. Bonuses will always be optional, as you can contact the customer service department or the cashier and ask them to withhold or add the funds. There are several schools of thought regarding these online casino bonuses, to which we will come in a moment.

In order to determine the usability of the bonus, you will have to look at the roll over rate. These roll over rates will force you to play through a certain amount of wagering prior to being able to cash out. These will sometimes force you to play through 10, 20, or even 30 times as much as your total deposit - after the bonus is factored in. Because of this, it can sometimes be a very steep price in order to cash out. Roll over rates are one of the biggest determining factors you should consider when selecting a bonus.

Now, back to the schools of thought. There are three ways to consider this. If you have enough money to make a large deposit, it may be safe to accept the bonus under the pretext that you can afford to wager higher in order to meet the rollover rate. The next way to think of this quandary is that you only have a small amount of money, thus the bonus would enable you to gamble more or play higher stakes. Under these pretexts, you may want to accept the bonus as it will give you more breathing room. Perhaps the only deposit that should definitely not accept the bonus is that of the middle ground. If you couldn't afford to make a massive deposit but could still make one above a very low limit, the bonus may not be in your best interests. If you cannot afford to spend more than you risked, but managed to risk a relatively decent amount, then the bonus may not allow you the flexibility that any gambler should have.

Another disadvantage to many online casino bonuses is that of the restricted games. Since some games carry better odds for the player, the casino will not allow you to use this money on those games. Most bonuses will limited blackjack, roulette, craps, and other table games when using a bonus. Slot games and video poker are amongst the most common type of game to which bonuses can be applied. If you do slot online want to stick to only one type of game, then casino bonuses are probably not for you.

While the prospect of free money may seem enticing, it is always good to keep in mind that this money will not come without a cost. Whether it is from the reduced flexibility of the games or the wagering requirements, these bonuses can be seen as a very bad thing. Some online casinos will actually withhold any winnings earned from a deposit bonus will not apply to certain games. For instance, if you use a bonus that prohibits blackjack and subsequently decide to try to play blackjack with your bonus, then you may have all of your winnings voided entirely. You will still have your deposit, but any luck you had on the tables would be for not.