@rmeeuwsen 242414 wrote:
Great in depth discussion on ‘normal play’.
But is it really abuse? The name of the activity is ‘gambling’. If I open one account and follow the casino T&C’s and hit a winning streak I could be wagering randomly or in a steady focused manner as you describe. If I ‘hang around’ just long enough to make the winnings cashable I am still up against the house edge and actually gambling.
Being short sighted, I think I have ‘beaten’ the casino and want to do it again elsewhere. The next time I may not be so lucky. The odds will catch up to me eventually and I will end up with a net loss. Unless there is something I do not know – that’s what the game is all about, isn’t it.
Aren’t the wagering requirements just a way for the game odds to ‘take back’ any short term wins.
The distinction outwardly is subtle: “a winning streak” is legitimate as is “wagering randomly” (ref the quote above), but where a casino may see ‘bonus abuse’ is a systematic accumulation of wins using one of the betting patterns I described above – things very un-random and quite robotic. “Hanging around long enough” is also fine; by contrast the bonus seeker does the opposite – as soon as he wins or reduces his losses to a zero he stops (and logs out to refresh).
Here is the big difference between gambling onland and online: on land, I think what I’m describing as ‘bonus abuse’ would attract the pit boss’ attention and may get that player shown the door. Online, there is no shame – no one will look at you suspiciously if you play one or two rounds of roulette for every login you make: login, spin, win, logout…
With discipline like that, you can beat the casino – and lots of players are doing just that (with and without bonuses)