If you bet online, you will have noticed that the modern online betting sector is extremely competitive. It seems sometimes as though every day brings a new operator to the industry, and the profit potential of online sports betting is enough to incentivise many new bookmakers to go through the rigorous licensing procedures required to enter the legal betting market in nations like the UK.
The challenge for modern bookmakers is to find ways to increase their customer base, and the most common method is by offering promotions and deals, like those listed at https://legalbet.uk/betting-offers/, to players, most of which are aimed at new customers.
With so many offers around, it can be difficult to find the best deal if you are looking to sign up with a new sportsbook. So, how do you read and assess a betting offer?
Ignore the Headline
Ignoring the headline and focusing on the detail is often a good way to interpret newspaper stories, and it also applies, to an extent, to weighing up online sportsbook offers.
Bookmakers want you to be grabbed by the headline amount on offer and to sign up on that basis. They don’t necessarily want you to read the small print. While the amount of a bonus will of course be a significant factor in your decision, it is important to read the terms and conditions of any offer.
Wagering Requirements
Of all the terms and conditions associated with betting offers, wagering requirements are the least popular and yet the most important, and it is vital to check for these before taking up any offer.
A wagering requirement is a rule that says the amount of any bonus, along with winnings earned on that bonus, must be turned over a set number of times before it can be withdrawn as cash. The wagering requirement can be as low as x5 or as high as x40, and while it is far more common in the world of online casino gaming, it sometimes pops up in bookmaker offers and can make a significant difference to the attractiveness of an offer.
For instance, consider the following two bonus offers:
·Offer A: 100% deposit match bonus up to £200 with x10 wagering requirement
·Offer B: 50% deposit match bonus up to £100 with no wagering requirement
The first offer has a higher headline figure, but that is outweighed by the x10 wagering requirement, making Offer B the better option.
Time Limits
One condition of bookmaker betting offers that is sometimes overlooked is the use of time limits. Typically, a bookmaker will put multiple time limits on any betting offers. Take, for example, a typical deposit match promotion offered as a welcome bonus to new customers, which will often have the following time limits:
·Maximum time limit between sign up and making a qualifying deposit
·Maximum time limit on using bonus
·Maximum time limit on satisfying the wagering requirements
Sometimes these time limits are extremely short, and it is important to be aware of any limits as failure to stay within the limits will usually mean the betting offer is void.
Other Restrictions
Bookmakers can apply a wide range of terms and conditions to their bonus offers and these will vary from operator to operator. Some of the most significant to look out for include:
·Maximum winnings from bonus funds
·E-wallet deposits invalidating the bonus
·Geographical restrictions on bonus availability
·Bonus funds only useable in certain markets
·Odds and market restrictions on qualifying bets
No list of terms and conditions can be comprehensive, so it is vital when assessing a bookmaker offer that you read through the terms and conditions carefully and clarify any detail that you are unsure of with the bookmaker. That way you will reduce the chances of unpleasant surprises and make the most of any bonus offer that you take up.
