Online Bingo Bonuses, Cash, or Tangible Prizes: Which is Best?

If you’re thinking about taking advantage of an online bingo promotion, you might be wondering whether there’s a certain type that’s better than others. After all, there are plenty to choose from, particularly around the time of seasonal events like Christmas, New Year, Halloween, and Fireworks Night.

You may have noticed that as well as the theme of each promo, the prizes often differ. We don’t just mean that with one, you could win tea for two at The Ritz, and in another, the prize is a trip to Legoland. Sometimes, there are BBs (bonus bingo bucks) up for grabs; other times, there are loyalty points, cash gifts, and physical prizes on offer.

So, which prizes are best?

Well, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question, as it really depends on personal taste and whether you consider what’s on offer tempting or not. However, there are positives and negatives for all these options, so let’s take a look at each one in a bit more detail

BBs

Bonus Bucks are complimentary free-money rewards that are often given to players as an acknowledgement of their loyalty. They’re not the same as cash, and therefore cannot be withdrawn directly from your account. However, depending on the site, they can often be exchanged for free game cards (more fun for you, and more chances to win!), free slot spins, cash, or even small prizes from the site’s online shop.

Cash

Promotions and regular games offering real cash prizes are often extremely popular, particularly those with £100’s and £1000’s up for grabs. The biggest amounts tend to be offered by the most popular bingo sites, such as Mecca, Jackpotjoy, and Tombola, who have the funds to do so and at networked sites, for example Sky Bingo, which offers special Bingolinx games.

However, make sure you read through each promotion carefully, as the title doesn’t always reflect quite what you might think. For example, a site may state “£1,000 Up for Grabs,” which you’d probably think was the top prize, but when you look closely, you’ll find that the £1k may be broken down into mini cash prizes, meaning that if you’re a winner, you may only get £150 and not £1,000. Before you start to feel ripped off, remember that the promotion must clearly state the actual prizes on offer, and this is almost always done in the terms and conditions link, if not the promotions description itself.

With big cash prizes, you may also see in the small print that the amount will not be credited all-at-once. It may be split into several monthly instalments, and there may also be specific terms and conditions about how quickly you can withdraw your winnings, as well as whether you need to meet any play-through requirements before cashing out. N.B. Play-through or wagering requirements mean that you’ll have to ‘reinvest’ an amount of your winnings once or more at the site before you can withdraw them.

That said, cash can be a very valuable asset, so as long as you know exactly what you’re playing for, and are happy with the specifics of the promotion, it can give you the flexibility to put your winnings to use elsewhere, rather than just use them on bingo.

Tangible prizes

Winning a physical prize can be fantastic, particularly if it’s something that you really want, or that a loved one would appreciate. However, you might not want or need a new car, or an iPhone 5 may not pull at your heartstrings if you’re in love with your Blackberry or Android. However, not many people would turn down a free holiday for example, unless they have a phobia of flying. 

This is where cash alternatives can be very beneficial, although sadly, not all sites offer this option. Look at the T&C’s to see if anything’s mentioned about a cash alternative being offered if the winner chooses not to accept the physical prize. If it is, you may find that the cash value is not as much as the value of the original prize, but it could still be worth taking if you wish to enter the promotion. Plus, if you win something of value that you don’t really want, you may well have the option of selling it on via eBay etc., or to a friend.

Now that you’re aware of the different pros and cons of each type of prize, it’s time to get perusing those promotions! The golden rule is to read everything closely, before making an informed decision on whether you wish to enter or not.