If Online Casinos Didn’t Offer Bonuses, Would Anyone Play?

Bonuses are part of the online casino experience and it’s one of the first things that new players will have their direction pulled towards. By offering lucrative-looking incentives for both new and existing players, online casinos have a very powerful marketing tool on their hands which can be beneficial.

The amount credited to a player via a bonus, will, more likely than not, be easily recuperated by the casino from the regular gambling that the player does over the long term. Promotional bonuses offered by the likes of online casino 50 minimum deposit platforms are something that’s almost expected now by players.

But what if they weren’t there? What if casinos pulled bonuses from their repertoire, and it simply wasn't a part of the landscape any more? Would players still use online casinos?

The Role of Bonuses

The role of bonuses at online casinos is either to capture new players or to keep existing ones engaged as much as possible. It’s common to see new customers enticed by matching deposit deals, where a sum of bonus cash is credited for making a valid initial payment on the account.

Welcome bonus offers are specifically designed to appeal to new players. Customer acquisition is a lot costlier than customer retention, so casinos have to go big to try and get people in the virtual door. Other offers like reload bonuses, VIP rewards levels and special game competitions are all part and parcel of regular casino promotions. But would players miss them?

Not for Everyone Anyway

Interestingly, casino bonuses already are not for everyone. They can be complicated things due to being all wrapped up in terms and conditions. The biggest stumbling block for many players with welcome bonus offers in particular are the rollover requirements linked to the bonus amount.

A rollover such as 35x on a bonus means that the value of the bonus has to be gambled 35 times with real money before its value is released as withdrawable cash. So if the bonus amount is high, players often have to risk a lot of money just to try and complete the requirements, which are time-limited as well. So there are people who just don’t bother with them as the risk isn’t worth the reward. 

Already Without Bonuses

In some jurisdictions, igaming bonuses, which cover both sportsbooks and online casinos, are restricted.

For a long time, operators in Sweden for example had not been allowed to provide welcome bonus offers on their sites (this restriction was lifted in 2021)

Italy, Australia and Cyprus are among some of the other countries that have tighter restrictions when it comes to online bonuses. The main reason behind limiting them is to try and aid the fight against problem gambling by making it less appealing. 

But regardless of any limitations, igaming is still thriving in those countries. Italy for example has one of the biggest online gambling industries in Europe, and Australia has an annual gaming turnover of more than $150 billion. So the lack or restriction of bonuses doesn’t seem to hurt. 

The Land-Based Casino Case

There is another clear case to suggest that if online casinos didn’t offer bonuses, players would still play, and that’s land-based establishments. While players can join rewards clubs to earn points for their play to redeem against things like dining and drinks, it’s very rare to find any kind of welcome bonus offer at one.

It’s never really been a part of the operations of land-based casinos, as they get players through the door by other means. Casinos are vast, sprawling hubs of entertainment where players can enjoy any game they like in a social environment, as well as shop, watch a show, and even catch a film. Land-based have survived for decades without the need for flashy promotions.

The Show Would Go On

So more likely than not, if players no longer had access to bonuses, they would still play. It is hard to imagine any other situation because the industry simply wouldn’t grind to a halt as even now, only a small percentage of players bother with extra incentives on their gaming.

A lot of the time people just want casual play without extra distractions of meeting terms and conditions. If bonuses disappeared, it may help online casinos be less appealing to vulnerable demographics, but it simply wouldn't change the industry very much. 

Essentially, if there is a willingness to gamble, then people are simply still going to seek out places to do that. Online casinos offer fantastic convenience and ease of use, so would still be frequented as much as they are now.