OK I’m in danger of ranting now…but hey…Nicole @ Roxy (jokingly) accuses me of riding my “hobby horse” on Reverse Withdrawal so I’ll have an “open day” at my stable…
What will be interesting is when the first casino steps forward and removes (or replaces) the signup bonus. Opinion on whether this will happen is divided in player circles…I appear to be in the minority thinking it is inevitable…one day.
This is my theory (I’m no Richard Branson mind!). As bonuses get tighter, more players will start to voice their discouragement in taking bonuses, and more players will look for other incentives to play. Right now, there are probably only one or two casinos that could get away with removing the sign-up bonus, and even then it would probably significantly dent turnover (if not profitability) simply because of the choice offered elsewhere.
It’s only logical that if casinos continue to tighten bonus offers to the extent where they don’t make a loss, players will realise and start to consider whether they are worth the aggro. Ironically, this will probably place the signup bonus exactly where it was originally intended – as a means for a player to test out a casino, and only that.
But as we see more consolidation, the competition will become more focused on service and loyalty IMO. And reverse times will be a small but significant part of that equation. It may be years away, who knows, but at worst, I think we’ll have two player markets to target as we move in that direction.
Yee-hah.
Simmo!