Read the Fine Print Carefully: Can a Casino’s T&Cs Work in My Favour?
Accept & close, accept & close. When was the last time you read the fine print for anything? Besides the very important things – perhaps if you’re signing the sale of a house, going for a medical procedure, or agreeing to an insurance policy – you probably haven’t read much of the fine print in a while. In fact, according to a Deloitte survey from 2017, it was found that over 90% of people simply accept terms and conditions rather than reading them. So, don’t worry, it’s not just you – it’s everyone.
But should you read the fine print? And when is it necessary? At a casino? All you’re likely to encounter is “If you lose money, it’s not our fault,” right? In fact, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes the fine print at a casino might see you better off.
Of course, the promise of winning real money is always an attractive prospect for any player. But, apart from being fortunate enough to have the odds in your favor, you also need to read through those much-loathed T&Cs. Is what’s outlined in the list of conditions fair? Or is having withdrawable cash an even more distant dream?
Let’s see where those casino T&Cs can potentially help players rather than simply bore them to tears.
What’s in the T&Cs at an online casino?
Terms and Conditions usually start with some definitions, such as “Games,” “Software,” “Inactive Account,” and “Charge-back.” These outline in full detail what the online casino means when they use one of these words. For instance, an Inactive Account might mean a user account that has not been logged into for six consecutive months. And this can have fairly impactful consequences!
Perhaps you dug down into the T&Cs after reading what an ‘Inactive Account’ meant. And then found out that if you ever had one, you might lose bonuses, winnings on any bonuses, and even be charged a $10 account fee each of that month of inactivity. And this would be charged each month until your balance was at zero or you logged in again! In fact, this case is exactly in the fees of a real online casino. Yes, you read correctly. You can have your winnings slowly dwindled to nothing just because you didn’t log in and wanted to take a break for a while.
Many of the rules outlined in the Terms and Conditions may seem unfair. However, there are also some there to protect players too.
Terms and Conditions that may benefit players
You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that, despite the tedious activity of reading the T&Cs, it may greatly benefit you as a player in the long run. For starters, you gain a better understanding of what your rights as a player are. And, more importantly, if the casino doesn’t adhere to its own stipulated T&Cs that are clearly published on its site, this will work greatly in your favour.
Fraudulent activity on an account
Online casinos will go to great lengths to spot fraudulent behaviors on accounts. This includes in online payments. For some, they will only accept credit or debit cards that have the same name as your account is registered in. So, if someone managed to get a hold of your password for the casino, they wouldn’t be able to switch the payment out to a card in someone else’s name and drain your funds. So, check the T&Cs.
Self-exclusion
It’s okay to admit that your behavior has become somewhat unhealthy, repetitive, and possibly addictive. Online gaming can become an issue for some people, and that’s when it’s time to seek help. The first stop for most players on this journey is self-exclusion. Now, casino operators are usually required by law to offer a self-exclusion option for players on their site. The T&Cs will outline the specific terms of the self-exclusion program, whether there are other websites owned by the operator that the exclusion will also affect, and reactivation periods. There may also be the option to “take a break” rather than do a full-on self-exclusion program.
The rules around self-limits
Casinos will often offer players the opportunity to set limits of how much they’re allowed to deposit into their casino play account per day, week, or month. By putting in place these limits, you can stop yourself from accumulating too many losses. If a casino has these self-limit options – you guessed it – they’ll be in the fine print.
Withdrawal options for your protection
Another one of the T&Cs that can have a positive effect on players is the option to not be able to cancel withdrawal requests. Many casinos won’t have instant withdrawals – they’ll have an option to cancel while it’s ‘processing’. Of course, if you cancel to play another game, you might lose money that you actually wanted to keep. It’s just another item that could be in the fine print that may just turn out to be a blessing.
It’s better to be in the know when there’s money involved
It’s your money you’re putting down to play at online casinos – so you should know exactly what’s happening with it and how it’s being managed. Don’t get caught out by outrageous T&Cs and protect your winnings like a boss.
