Match Deposit Bonuses - Your path to profitable play at the casino

Posted by BonusTracker | February 11, 2008 .

I’ve already discussed no deposit bonuses and some of the things you need to look out for, so here are a few bits and pieces to consider about Match Deposit Bonuses.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but these types of bonuses all share one thing in common - you need to deposit some of your money before you get the bonus, hence the word ‘match’.

Depending on your style of play, preferred game and in some cases skill level, it’s possible to find some bonuses that give you a positive expectation for winning, but that’s not necessarily the only thing you should be looking at if you want to be a successful casino player. A few things I think you should consider are:

1. Read the Terms and Conditions. Same reasoning as with no deposit bonuses, there are some very complex and convoluted conditions out there that you need to meet, and missing even one of them may be cause for a casino to withhold payment to you. It is in your best interest to read and completely understand the relevant terms and conditions for the bonus. If there is something that you don’t understand, contact the casino’s support staff and ask.

2. How much and when do you get it? Most bonuses are pretty straight forward to work out how much your entitled to, they are generally expressed as a percentage of your deposited amount or a fixed value, but it’s worth checking when you get paid. The majority of match bonuses credit the bonus amount to your account immediately, but some won’t hand the money over to you until you have met some wagering requirements.

3. What games can you play? Most match deposit bonuses exclude certain games from play, and depending on the casino you are at, this may completely void your bonus or simply not count towards the wagering requirements. Other casinos let you play any game you like, but have a different set of wagering requirements for each game. For instance, Blackjack, which has a very low house edge would probably require more wagering than slots (which have a relatively higher house edge). These conditions will obviously impact on how you play once you get your bonus.

4. Sticky v Non-Sticky: A ’sticky’ bonus means that the bonus amount will be returned to the casino when you request a withdrawal. Sticky bonuses can be found with either no deposit, or match deposit conditions, so it makes a big difference to the value of the bonus. Non-sticky bonuses let you keep the bonus amount once you’ve met the wagering conditions.

5. Is there a limit on the amount you can withdraw? Most match deposit bonuses let you keep everything you win, however some casinos limit the amount you can withdraw to a multiple of your deposit amount.

6. Are there other conditions that might exclude you from the bonus? Some bonuses have time limit restraints, are only eligible for players from a certain country or only apply to deposits via a specific payment option. Check to make sure you can actually claim the bonus before you deposit your money.

7. Will this bonus lead to further bonuses? The majority of match deposit bonuses that you see advertised are for new players making their first deposit to that casino. What you don’t usually get to see are the type of bonuses casinos make to try and retain their players and make sure that their subsequent deposits are also made at that casino. If you can’t decide between two signup bonuses, it’s often a good idea to email the casinos you are looking at and ask them what kind of retention bonuses they offer once you’ve exhausted their initial promotions.

Match deposit bonuses are some of the most important promotions that any online casino player will need to consider - take your time, make sure you understand the terms and contact the casinos customer support team if there is anything you are unsure about. A bit of research before you deposit your money will make your online casino experience that much more enjoyable.

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