Understanding Bingo Bonus Terms and Conditions

Last Updated on March 3, 2023, written by Amelia Cassiday

The online bingo space has very quickly become an over-saturated marketplace. With hundreds of UK-based platforms to choose from, how do you know which operator to open an account with? The truth of the matter is that in some cases, there is very little to separate one bingo site from another.

As such, platforms will attempt to lure new players over to their website by offering highly lucrative bonuses. If you’re still a newbie in the online bingo arena, then it’s crucial you have a firm grasp of how the best bingo bonuses work – with a specific focus on the underlying terms and conditions. Here we outline the most important factors you need to look out for.

Wagering Requirements

The first, and arguably the most important factor to look at when assessing the terms of a bingo bonus is the wagering requirements. For those unaware, this refers to the minimum amount of times you will be required to wager the bonus before you can withdraw it.

For example, let’s say that you obtain a £50 bingo bonus with a wagering requirement of 3x. In layman terms, this means that you need to play at least £150 (3 x £50) worth of bingo games before you can make a withdrawal request.

The good news for you is that online bingo websites typically offer much more favourable wagering requirements in comparison to their casino counterparts. In fact, while bingo bonuses rarely come with a wagering requirement of more than 5x, casino bonuses are significantly higher at around 40x.

Nevertheless, until you meet these requirements, you won’t be able to make a withdrawal. As such, always check what the wagering requirement is. If you deem it is too high, simply walk away and choose another bingo site.

Payment Methods

Often overlooked by newbie bingo players, some platforms will dictate that you can only claim a welcome bonus if you deposit with a specific payment method. In the vast majority of cases, debit and credit cards are preferred, as the platform is able to verify that you are the true owner of the card via an AVS (Address Verification System).

On the other hand, certain payment methods are sometimes prohibited. This includes e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller. Other less popular payment methods that are often excluded from bingo promotions includes pay-by-phone, Paysafecard, and Entropay.

The key point here is that you should always check the terms and conditions to ensure that your preferred payment method qualifies for the bingo bonus. You don’t want to go through the process of opening an account and depositing funds, only to find out that you cannot claim the bonus.

Ultimately, if you are ever unsure as to whether or not your payment method is eligible for the bonus, simply contact the bingo website via live chat.

Expiry Date

On top of the bonus’s wagering requirements and payment method eligibility, you should also check whether or not the bonus in question has an expiry date. This is actually more common than you think. The reason for this is that online bingo websites want you to try and play through as many games as possible so that you get to experience their gaming suite in full.

Although the amount of time you are given to wager the bonus before it expires will vary from site-to-site, you will typically get at least 7 days. In fact, most of the bonuses that we come across permit upto 30 days. This is more than enough time to meet the wagering requirements, especially when you consider just how low these usually are in the online bingo arena.

Game Eligibility

As a final tip, you should also check whether or not the bingo website will allow you to use your bonus on any game of your choosing. Always this particular specification is more common in the traditional online casino space, some bingo bonuses do come with their restrictions.

For example, if the bingo website links-up games with other websites, then this is likely to be for a lucrative jackpot prize. In these cases, you probably won’t be able to use your bonus. On the other hand, if the game that you want to play is hosted on a stand-alone basis – then you should have no issues.

Once again, it’s always best to check with the bingo website in question if you are ever unsure on the terms of the bonus that you want to claim!