Jean LP
Do you ever wish that there was a way of guaranteeing a win when playing at online casinos? Unfortunately, there’s no magic genie to conjure up a win - but you can recover some losses by claiming a casino cashback bonus.
A cashback bonus acts as a safety net, giving you back a portion of your money if you lose. It’s a nifty little incentive that can be a big help, provided you understand how to use it. Cashback bonuses never used to be commonplace, but thanks to their growing popularity, they’re now much easier to find in online casinos.
Whether you’re new to cashback bonuses or just looking for details on how to make the most of these promos, we’ve got the lowdown right here. Below, you’ll find our in-depth guide to claiming casino cashback bonuses, including what to look for, what to avoid, and how to develop the best strategy.
How Cashback Bonuses Work
As we mentioned above, cashback bonuses have rocketed in popularity in recent years, and that’s because they bring an element of insurance to the gameplay. When there is an active cashback bonus on your account, you can bet with more confidence, knowing that you’ll get part of your stake returned if you lose.
Sounds good, but are there any hidden catches? There are terms and conditions to check, and we’ll go into more detail further on in this guide. But in essence, cashback bonuses are simple - there are no tricky terms and conditions. As long as you meet the qualifying criteria, a cashback bonus will give you back a proportion of the money you gambled, typically 10-20%.
Although the principles are the same for all cashback bonuses, the terms can be slightly different. Some cashback bonuses are calculated based on your net losses, while others are based on your total wagers. There’s nothing wrong with either approach, but it’s important to understand what the terms say from the start, as this will allow you to calculate the amount you could receive back.
In other words, if a casino based its cashback bonus on net losses, the percentage would be applied to the amount you had lost over the specified period. This could look something like this:
€500 gambled - €300 lost: 20% cashback bonuses on losses = €60
However, the cashback bonus calculated on total wagers would look a little different:
€500 gambled - €300 lost: 20% cashback bonuses on total wagered = €100
Cashback bonuses based on total wagers don’t always have to end in a loss. Some casinos pay out a proportion of the total wagers, regardless of whether they won or lost. Needless to say, these are particularly attractive types of cashback bonuses as you don’t need to lose to get money back.
The terms will specify how often the cashback will be calculated. This may be daily, weekly, or monthly. It is also sometimes included as a perk in VIP programs or as part of a loyalty scheme.
How to Get a Cashback Bonus
Cashback bonuses can be offered at different times and may be available to different players. Not all players at a casino will automatically be eligible to get a cashback bonus, depending on the qualifying criteria.
VIP schemes may include a cashback bonus as standard, automatically applying it to your account every week or month. This means you can only receive the cashback bonus if you are eligible to be part of the VIP scheme.
There may be tiered levels within a VIP cashback scheme, rewarding players at a higher level with a greater percentage. It’s usually possible to climb through the tiers on a VIP scheme with regular gameplay.
In other cases, a cashback bonus is available to all players at a casino and can be claimed like any other promotion.
However, eligibility criteria apply to all types of cashback promotions. These set out who can receive the cashback and what you have to do to qualify.
As always, it’s vital to read the terms and conditions so you are crystal-clear about what’s involved. There may be a minimum deposit requirement, meaning you won't receive the bonus if you’ve wagered below this amount during the qualifying period. In some cases, only certain games will be included in the cashback. This is more common when it’s a specific promotional cashback bonus. In all cases, there may also be limits on how long the cashback bonus is valid.
Terms and Conditions You Must Know
Even if you’ve claimed a cashback bonus previously, it’s still essential to check the terms and conditions. This is because there are multiple clauses that can differ from one bonus to another.
The terms and conditions will explain how to qualify for the bonus, any restrictions that apply, and how your cashback will be paid. Missing out on these details could mean you don’t meet some of the vital qualifying criteria or misunderstand exactly what you could be receiving.
Some of the most important points to look out for in the T&Cs include:
Cashback Percentage
This is the big headline that most players will check, but we’ve included it here for completeness. The cashback percentage determines what proportion of your losses or total bets you will receive back at the end of the qualifying period.
The higher the percentage, the more you could potentially receive back - but it’s important to view this figure against all other key facts. A high cashback percentage combined with tough terms could mean you receive less overall, or possibly even nothing. It’s therefore advisable to aim for the highest cashback percentage while also ensuring that the other bonus terms are attractive too.
Monetary Caps
In addition to the cashback percentage, there may be a monetary cap. This is the maximum you will be permitted to receive under the terms of a bonus and may restrict the cashback percentage.
For example, with a 20% cashback bonus against losses of €1000, you would be eligible to receive €200. However, if there was a monetary cap of €100, the maximum you could receive is €100, not €200.
Minimum Losses
It’s not uncommon for casino bonuses to have a minimum entry point, such as a minimum deposit on a match bonus. For a cashback bonus, there may be a minimum level of losses you must have incurred before you are eligible. Alternatively, there may be a minimum amount that you must have bet.
Look for cashback bonuses with low minimum entry requirements for maximum returns.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements don’t typically apply to cashback bonuses, but you may find them at some casinos. In such a case, the cashback is applied to your online casino account as a bonus, not cash. However, the wagering requirements are usually much lower than you’ll find on other types of bonuses. Cashback bonuses without wagering requirements are preferable as it means you don’t need to meet any additional criteria to receive the money.
Game Restrictions
If you’ve been eying up your favourite games to use for this bonus, just hold fire. Not all games are automatically included in the terms of a cashback bonus. This is particularly the case when a cashback bonus is part of a special promotion for a specific game.
Some cashback bonuses allow a far greater range of games, so check the fine print, and you may find you can play your favourite title after all!
Validity Period
If the cashback needs to be gambled again or there are wagering requirements to meet, there may be a time expiry. This means that the bonus will only be active in your account for a specific period. If it’s not used or you don’t meet any qualifying criteria within this time, the bonus will be removed.
Cashback bonuses given as a cash balance are less likely to have a validity period.
Type of Cashback
The best types of cashback bonuses award the money as a cash balance. This means you have the option of whether to bet it again or withdraw it via your usual payment method.
Some cashback bonuses are awarded as account credits rather than a cash balance. This means that you can only use them to gamble, and you can’t withdraw them as cash.
Strategies to Maximise Your Cashback Bonuses
Cashback bonuses offer many advantages and if you want to dive right in and claim, you’ll still reap the rewards. However, to get the maximum returns from a cashback bonus, it’s a good idea to have a strategy that makes the most of what’s on offer.
The right strategy will depend on your budget and style of play, but here are some tips to consider:
Don’t Blow Your Bankroll
With a tempting bonus offering sweet cashback, it’s easy to throw caution to the wind. Remember: a cashback bonus isn’t a licence to forget your budget and gamble recklessly.
Use the bonus as part of your overall strategy. When used as part of responsible gaming, it can help your planned bankroll last longer without encouraging you to spend more.
Try Riskier Games
With the opportunity to get money back if you lose, now could be the time to consider a little more risk than usual. If there is a game that you want to play that has higher volatility, this bonus is a great chance to try it out.
Sticking to the low-volatility, safer games is fine, but experimenting with higher volatility and/or progressive jackpots allows you to take full advantage of the cashback. Just double check that the casino game of your choice is not excluded from the promotion!
Go up to the limit - but not over
If it fits with your bankroll, make the most of the available cashback by going up to the limit without going over. This ensures that when the cashback is calculated, you’ll get the maximum possible without exceeding the safety net.
Plan Your Gameplay
Rather than just diving in to play for a long period whenever the mood strikes, plan your gameplay for the period to coincide with the bonus. This will allow you to track your wagers and your losses and calculate what cashback you’ll receive.
If you usually have a long session at some point in the week, making sure it falls within any time limits for the bonus and meets eligibility criteria will give you the most bang for your buck.
Don’t Get Caught Out
If the bonus doesn’t pay out, the chances are that you have fallen foul of one of the qualifying criteria. Cashback bonuses are comparatively easy to claim, but there are still a few eligibility rules.
Before you play, make sure you know exactly what you need to do to ensure you get the full payout when the bonus period ends.
How to Track Your Cashback
Whether you need to manually claim your cashback or whether it’s awarded automatically, it’s important to keep a close eye on your account. Mistakes can occasionally happen, so it’s advisable to check that you’ve received the full cashback amount you were expecting.
One easy way to do this is to look back through the credits to your account. If it’s a regular cashback, you should be able to easily see what day of the week or month your credit is usually received.
However, if you suspect that there might be a mistake in the amount credited, you might want to double-check your bets. Keeping a separate spreadsheet with a list of bet outcomes and expected cashback will help you track the payouts.
Comparing Cashback Offers
There may be times when a cashback offer seems to be way ahead of the crowd, offering more generous terms than other casinos. It’s essential to ensure that you understand the terms of each bonus so you are comparing like with like.
Look at the key terms of each bonus to see if there is a reason one seems to be more generous. There may be more onerous requirements tucked away in the fine print which mean that it’s not the best bonus for your needs.
Some factors you might want to include in any comparison are:
- The percentage cashback you’ll receive
- Whether it’s paid as a cash balance or game credits
- Any monetary limits on the total cashback that can be received
- Any restrictions that apply, such as specific games
- Wagering requirements
The importance of checking the terms of each bonus when comparing them cannot be overstated. Licensed casinos are required to be transparent and offer clear information, but not all restrictions or limitations are included in headline banners. The terms and conditions of any promotion should have all the information you need to make an informed choice.
Pros and Cons of Cashback Bonuses
Cashback offers are attractive to many players as they offer the opportunity to limit losses and play the same games with less risk. However, like all casino bonuses, it’s important to weigh up cashback promotions carefully to make sure they deliver what you want.
Below, we’ve summarised the pros and cons of casino cashback bonuses for easy reference:
Pros:
- Provides a safety net against larger losses
- Zero or low wagering requirements
- Lowers the overall risk of playing
- Can help with bankroll management
- Minimal eligibility criteria
- Allows you to play for longer within the same budget
Cons:
- Cashback amounts can be low
- May provide a false sense of confidence
- The bonus may be restricted to specific games
- There may be a monetary cap on the cashback
Top Casinos Offering the Best Cashback Deals
If you like the sound of cashback bonuses, the next step is to look for casinos offering this type of promotion. It’s common for players to have accounts at multiple casinos, as this provides the greatest chance to claim the most lucrative bonuses on the market.
Casinos are constantly trying to attract and keep players, so this means promotions and bonuses will regularly change.
To find out more about each casino, you can check out our online casino reviews from both CasinoGrounds and other players. This is a reliable way to find out what the casino is really like, and can be helpful in deciding where to play.
Final Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Cashback Bonuses
Cashback bonuses offer real opportunities for players to cover some of their losses while still enjoying their favourite games. Not every casino will offer cashback bonuses but there are a growing number which have recognised how attractive these promotions are.
Remember never to bet more than you planned or allow the cashback bonus to determine the amount you spend. However, when used as part of your overall bankroll, a cashback bonus is an excellent way to maximise your budget and give you more chances to try out different games.
As we mentioned earlier in this guide, online casino promotions change frequently, so it’s good to check what’s currently available. By keeping a close eye on the market you’ll be able to find the most generous cashback bonuses with terms that guarantee you the best returns.