Why Are Online Roulette Bonus Offers So Rare?

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As you probably know by now, reading through the terms and conditions of any online casino before signing up is important. Likewise, shopping around to ensure you get a solid incentive as a new customer makes sense.

The trouble with online casino bonuses is that they aren’t always what they appear to be. Head to the ‘Bonus’ section of the terms and conditions and you will typically find a whole bunch of caveats attached to the deal on the table.

Caveats which, in many instances, dilute the appeal of the whole thing.

But what you will probably notice when shopping around for a decent bonus offer is that one casino table game is often ruled out entirely. Irrespective of the nature and generosity of the bonus, it is extremely rare to be allowed to use the funds to play roulette.

In terms of fulfilling wagering requirements, roulette is almost always out of the question.

But why is it that casinos tend to be so strict when it comes to the inclusion of roulette in their welcome bonuses? Why are online roulette bonuses so rare, and is it worth checking out those that you do come across on occasion?

A Simple Case of House Advantages

There’s nothing complex about the reason behind the exclusion of roulette from most casino bonuses. Instead, it’s simply due to the fact that roulette has the lowest overall house edge of any conventional casino table game.

If considering the European version of roulette – without the extra 00 – the house edge when placing wagers on near-even outcomes is just 2.7%. For obvious reasons, this does not tip the balance in the favour of the house nearly enough to ensure they generate a decent profit.

In addition, it also gives the player a pretty decent chance of pocketing a prize with their bonus funds, or satisfying the attached wagering requirements quite quickly.

Casino bonuses only work because they work in favour of the house. While there is a very small chance of winning a prize with bonus funds after satisfying the wagering requirements, it rarely happens. If roulette was to be included in the mix alongside other games, it would make it far easier for the player to profit at the expense of the casino.

Something the average establishment isn’t in the habit of allowing to happen.

Where Roulette Bonuses Are Available 

Of course, you will always come across the occasional exception to the rule where a roulette bonus is available. Or at least, a broader bonus offer that allows the funds to be used at the roulette table.

Two things to bear in mind when this happens – the first of which being whether or not roulette contributes to the wagering requirements. If not, you’ll still be able to play, but will have literally zero chance of winning so much as a penny.

Not that this is necessarily a bad thing – free roulette is never something to turn down where available.

Secondly, in instances where roulette does count towards wagering requirements, there may be additional terms and conditions attached to this kind of bonus. Examples of which include how quickly the wagering requirements need to be fulfilled, limitations on maximum wins, how much you can withdraw during a certain amount of time and so on.

Across the board, all of these restrictions are imposed to augment the added risk of enabling players to use bonus funds on roulette. Given that the outcome is more or less akin to flipping a coin, there’s just too great a risk of the house losing to allow players to use bonus funds on roulette. 

A Word on Roulette Strategy…

If you’re reading this right now, it’s safe to say you have an interest in roulette.  In which case, you’re probably also interested in the various strategies and systems that can (apparently) be used to tip the odds in your favour.

Several of which exist – all sharing one thing in common…they don’t work!

If there was a roulette betting system that worked, it would have been exploited to the point where the game would have been rendered completely unviable.  Irrespective of what you may hear and read, there is no way of guaranteeing profits at the roulette table.

For example:

  • The Martingale betting system doesn’t work because not only would you need a bottomless bankroll to make it happen, but casinos cap bets at the roulette table to prevent people exploiting this particular loophole. 
  • Predicting the outcome based on what’s taken place before is impossible, for the simple reason that each and every spin is unique, the odds are reset with each spin and forecasting the future isn’t an option. 
  • Weighted wheels and issues with damage/wear used to work in players’ favour in times gone by, though these days are completely extinct. Casinos keep roulette wheels in flawless condition to make accurate predictions impossible.
  • All the superstition in the world isn’t going to help you win at the roulette table. Hence, you either need to accept it’s purely a game of chance, or take your money elsewhere.

You can convince yourself any given strategy works until the cows come home, but the only person you are fooling is yourself!

Can I Trust Online Roulette Is Fair?

Rounding things off, the fairness of online roulette is often called into question by concerned gamblers. This is due to the fact that when a physical wheel is replaced by a computer algorithm, the whole thing is indeed open to tampering.

Nevertheless, sign up with a reputable casino that is appropriately licensed and regulated and you have nothing to worry about. All licensed establishments in the UK undergo regular external audits and random inspections, in order to ensure the fairness of their games.

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