Maximum Bet Rule of Online Casino Bonuses Explained
When playing with an online casino bonus, you have to follow certain limits and restrictions. The max bet is one of the most common ones, limiting the size of bets you can place with an active bonus. If you break this rule, the casino will most likely void your winnings, so it is important to be aware of it when claiming a bonus and playing with it.
In this article, we will explain everything related to the maximum bet limit of casino bonuses that you should know before taking advantage of one.
Note that the term 'maximum bet' can also be used to describe the highest bet you can place when playing online casino games in general, i.e., the maximum stake the casino is willing to accept or can accept because of local regulations. However, in this article, we will cover the maximum bet rule related specifically to bonus play.
What is the maximum bet rule and how it works
In essence, the maximum bet rule is fairly simple. When playing with a bonus, you cannot place any bets higher than a certain amount, which is usually specified in the terms and conditions of the bonus offer.
The maximum bet can be defined in one of three ways:
- Absolute maximum bet – This is the simplest form, which states that you cannot bet more than €5, for example.
- Percentage maximum bet – This type of maximum bet is defined as a certain percentage of the initial or current value of your bonus, deposit, or the sum of bonus and deposit.
- Combination of absolute and percentage maximum bet – Some casino bonuses come with both abovementioned definitions of the maximum bet. If this is the case, the lower of the two values applies.
Let's look at some examples to better illustrate this. Imagine you deposited €50 and received a €50 bonus. Here are some possible max bets in this scenario and their explanations:
- Max bet: €5 – You cannot bet more than €5.
- Max bet: 15% of the initial value of the bonus – You got a €50 bonus, which means that you cannot bet more than €7.5 (15% of €50).
- Max bet: 15% of the current value of the bonus and deposit – The sum of your bonus and deposit is €100, which means that your first bet cannot be higher than €15. However, this will change as your balance increases or decreases. If you bet €10 in the first game round and lose, you will be left with €90, which means your next bet cannot be higher than €13.5 (15% of €90).
- Max bet: €5 or 15% of the initial value of the bonus – This is a combination of the first two options. The lower of the two values applies, which means that you cannot bet more than €5.
To stay safe, it is best to always read the terms and conditions of a bonus before taking advantage of it.
Will the casino stop you from placing a higher bet?
As mentioned in our fair gambling codex, we would like casinos to enforce their rules and prevent players from doing something against the rules by accident. In terms of the max bet rule, this would mean making sure that players cannot actually place a higher-than-allowed bet, because the system stops them from doing it, or at least displays a warning message.
Unfortunately, this is not how it works in most online casinos. There are some exceptional casinos that will stop you from placing a bet higher than the max bet limit, but on most sites, you need to watch out for it yourself.
Most online casinos only mention the maximum bet rule in the terms and conditions of each bonus. You should therefore read the rules before claiming a bonus and be mindful of the maximum bet rule (as well as other bonus rules) when playing, to make sure you do not do anything that could cost you money.
We are aware that this is not ideal and can possibly take away from the online gambling experience. Having to watch out for a number of rules when playing can be demanding, and it is relatively easy to make a mistake such as changing the bet size by accident.
The casino can confiscate your bonus winnings even if you only place one bet over the limit and do not profit from it in any way. However, we are trying to get casinos to judge each case separately, so that players without any bad intentions are not punished for making an honest mistake.
Why the maximum bet rule exists
Like most rules contained in the terms and conditions of casino bonuses, the maximum bet limit exists to protect the casino. Casinos need to have a long-term advantage over players to run a profitable business, even after accounting for bonus offers.
Higher volatility (also known as variance
Higher bet sizes increase volatility. By limiting bet sizes using the maximum bet rule, casinos also limit the volatility players can achieve. That is why the max bet rule exists and why casinos reserve the right to cancel the winnings of players who break it.
What to look out for when playing with a bonus
In relation to the max bet limit, you first and foremost have to make sure you do not go over it.
As discussed above, most casinos do not enforce the rule, which means that they will not stop you from placing a bet that is higher than the limit. Instead, this will most likely come up when requesting a withdrawal and be used as a reason to decline it.
This means that you need to keep the maximum bet in mind when playing, just like most other rules associated with bonus play.
You should also be mindful of slot machines that allow you to buy into the bonus feature. The price for triggering the bonus feature can be as high as 100 times the regular bet per spin, or even higher.
