If you have ever visited online sports betting sites, then you know that almost all of them offer a welcome bonus.
While these introductory packages come in a variety of forms like a matched bonus, a fixed bonus like in bet 10 get 20 offers, etc, they are usually offered as bonus cash or free bets. No matter what type of bonus it is, a truly great welcome bonus gives punters a chance to make some extra money.
In some cases, a sports betting operator will offer the same welcome bonus for one or two years. Other online sportsbooks change their offers more frequently. After all, there are no rules that dictate when a bookie can change their bonuses. It’s entirely left to the discretion of the bookmaker. So, at what point does an online bookmaker decide it’s time to change their welcome bonus? What prompts a bookie to make the change?
Competition
The sports betting business is a highly competitive one. Seeing how a lot of punters are motivated by fair and attractive bonuses, it behoves bookmakers to make their offers as attractive as possible. A bookie’s welcome offer might look good when it’s first released, but it can lose its charm after a while as competitors make theirs more attractive. This would be a good reason for any operator on your preferred UK betting sites list to change its bonus offer. For instance, a 20X rollover may have looked fair a year or more ago, but the bookie’s rivals now have similar offers with lower wagering requirements. It’s time to update the welcome bonus to reflect the modern times.
Changing Sports Seasons
Some sports are way more popular than others. Not only do sports like football and basketball boast much larger fan bases than competitions like handball and darts, but they also generate far more betting activity. Knowing this, a bookmaker could easily be motivated to offer a football-related bonus before the EPL season commences or a basketball-specific bonus leading up to the NBA season.
It seems that a lot of American online bookmakers take this approach. Many new NFL-related welcome bonuses become available as the NFL season approaches. This is because they know that a lot of their customers bet on NFL games and are therefore drawn to these offers. Similarly, British bookmakers are not lagging behind their American counterparts. As the highly popular event, the Cheltenham Festival, approaches, you will almost certainly notice changes in the welcome offers of several major British bookmakers. These changes will likely include perks specifically designed for betting on Cheltenham races.
Lack of Interest
Let’s face it. There are some pretty bad bonus offers out there. So many seemingly great offers are completely spoiled by things like egregiously high rollovers or ridiculously unfair minimum odds requirements. In fact, some welcome bonuses are more likely to cost you money than make you money.
Even the most novice of bettors with only a basic understanding of bonuses will usually pass on such a terrible deal without much thought. This lack of interest can prompt a bookie to change its welcome bonus to something more realistic and attractive to potential new customers. After all, the main purpose of a welcome bonus is to attract new bettors.
Current Bonus is Expiring
One common reason for changing welcome bonuses is that the old bonus’s validity period is expiring. While a few bookmakers might simply renew the same offer, most of them either tweak or totally revamp their welcome offer so that it’s fresh and in line with what rival bookies offer.
What Lies Behind the Offer
Bookmakers offer welcome bonuses in the hopes that the offer will attract new customers. If the bonus is doing the trick, then there isn’t much reason to change it unless it has run its course. Still, modern bookies like to keep their bonuses fresh and in line with what other competitors offer. As such, they have to change things up from time to time.
The most important thing you need to know about bookmaker bonuses is that you can’t properly assess a sports betting offer’s true value until you have taken in and understand the various terms and conditions that are attached to it. Be sure to focus on the wagering requirements, time limits, and other limitations like minimum odds and available betting markets.
