Grinding the Bonuses: Can "Casino Hunting" Be as Profitable as Rakeback?

If you are a seasoned online casino player, you probably know most of the tricks and loopholes when it comes to finding ways to boost your funds. You probably spend time comparing different bonus packages and sign up for casino newsletters to be the first to know about the latest promos before they are gone.

As a savvy gambler who likes to make your money go further, you might be a regular “casino hunter” who knows when a bonus that is too good to miss comes along. Signing up with casinos that offer regular cashback is probably second nature and you always prefer to play poker games that offer rakeback.

What is "Casino Hunting”?

Casino hunting involves searching through different casino offers to find the ones that provide the best value to a player. The player registers with casinos with the biggest bonuses to try and meet the wagering requirements so they can claim the bonus. If they make some money, they then withdraw it and move on to the next casino and repeat the cycle. The idea is that they can build up sums with each different casino to either transfer into their bank account or to use to play at their preferred casino.

What is “Rakeback”?

Rakeback refers to a percentage of money that is paid back to a casino player, usually if they are in a VIP scheme. It is most commonly applied in poker, where the “rake” is a percentage of funds that are taken by the casino for each poker hand dealt.

The rakeback is a regular payment to players who participate in peer-to-peer poker games. However, some players might regard cashback as “rakeback” which is available across other games like slots. One of the promos for a casino might be a weekly 10% cashback amount on any losses made, for example.

If you are wondering whether casino hunting for the best bonuses can be more profitable than rakeback, we’ll dissect the key factors to consider when you are weighing up the values:

Both bonuses and rakeback provide opportunities for gamblers to claim extra funds. Rakeback is a predictable payout that is based on how much you wager on games and how often you play. It is more realistic for poker players to boost funds through rakeback but they will have to meet the eligibility criteria for becoming a VIP, which usually requires you to meet a large wagering total.

With bonuses, there is always a house edge towards the casino on the games that the bonuses apply to, making it harder to come away with more money than you have deposited. Wagering requirements make it difficult for players to achieve bonuses, and many bonuses are staggered over several deposits, to prevent new players from placing one deposit to claim their bonus and then leaving immediately afterwards.

Time restrictions on when the bonus must be claimed by, also plays into the hands of the casinos, as players will often have to wager 40x or more the wagering amount within 30 days in order to claim the bonus. Hunting for bonuses is less predictable than rakeback, as the player may encounter losing streaks, and the outcomes are unpredictable, depending on the volatility of the games they are playing.

How to Find Good Bonuses?

The most important factor to consider is what terms are attached to claiming bonuses at the casino you are considering registering with. Casinos should clearly provide this information on their website. For example, on PowerPlay's online casino, when you click on the offers, there is a ‘Terms and Conditions’ section that explains what requirements must be met to claim each bonus. The deposit match shows that 35x rollover is required, with a max win of $4,000 and an expiry of 30 days. The terms also include that stakes over $25 will not count towards the rollover.

A fast way to compare the different offers provided by casinos is to use a comparison or review site, which provides an overview of bonuses at each of the top casinos. Finding the bonuses with the lowest rollover and the longest expiry length will usually give you more chance to meet the wagering requirements, but whether you make more money than you deposit is not guaranteed.

How to Get Rakeback?

Check the details for the VIP scheme for a casino to see what you need to become eligible and whether they offer rakeback on games like poker. Not all casinos offer rakeback but typically, the ones that do offer between 30% and 60% back on the money that has been taken as rake when you have played eligible games.