What is bonus hunting?
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Bonus hunting (also called bonus whoring or bonus bagging) is the practice of systematically claiming casino bonuses and following a calculated strategy to complete wagering requirements with minimal risk, then withdrawing and moving to the next casino.
How it works
A bonus hunter identifies bonuses with favorable terms — low wagering requirements, high bonus amounts, and game contributions that allow low-variance play. By betting methodically on games like blackjack or low-volatility slots, they attempt to clear the wagering while minimizing potential losses.
Why it’s increasingly difficult
Casinos have significantly tightened bonus terms in response to bonus hunting. Maximum bet restrictions, game exclusions from wagering, and shorter time limits all make systematic bonus extraction harder. Many casinos also track which players consistently deplete bonuses without returning as regular depositors and restrict or close those accounts. Bonus hunting was more viable a decade ago when terms were looser.
Ben Barber got into the gambling industry through the poker rooms of London in the early 2000s. After building up a solid grounding in casino, sports betting and poker, he made the move to Malta where he spent close to a decade writing for some of the biggest affiliate networks in the region. A few years ago he relocated to Bali, which shifted his focus toward website strategy and affiliate marketing. The casino side never really left, though. He still writes reviews, how-to guides and in-depth pieces on everything from slots and live dealer tables to crypto casinos and sweepstakes sites. His approach is fact-first: help players understand how online gambling actually works before they deposit a cent.