Thanks a lot Empire...

[Thythe]

I deposited today and got the $100 bonus, but that pesky $10 cash out restricted bonus from two weeks that they deposited to my account is still sitting there. I play a couple of hands and realize it's working off that bonus first. I then e-mail Empire and ask for that bonus to be removed so I can start working on the real bonus and get this e-mail:

With regards to your email, we would like to inform you that the $10 bonus that you got is a cash out restricted bonus. We cannot drop this bonus as the system is not designed to do this. However, we would like to inform you that you have time till 21-MAY-2004 to play the raked hands for the cashout bonus and 15-JUN-2004 to play the raked hands for the SUMMER15.

Now I see what Empire's grand plan is. Drop a few cents in our accounts and then when they come out with a real bonus force us to work off that other bonus first. Instead of 500 hands I have to play 800 hands and I bet a bunch of other people are going to have this same problem.

[Kenshin]

How dare they establish conditions for giving away money.

Kenshin

[csuf_gambler]

lol seriously.

sigh people complain about everything.

1. why didnt u just work off the $10 when u first got it?

2. u can just lose $10 and that bonus will be gone

3. u can just wait till the may 21 and the bonus will be gone

so why all the belly acheing?

[JTrout]

WARNING: I make no guarantee to the accuracy of this post! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

1. why didnt u just work off the $10 when u first got it?
I believe it required something ridiculous like 300 raked hands to get $10.


2. u can just lose $10 and that bonus will be gone
I don't think so. They'll lay claim to the next $10 you put in, until you've cleared those 300 raked hands.

3. u can just wait till the may 21 and the bonus will be gone
I'm not sure of the deadline for the new reload, but it may be before the 21st.

[Thythe]

I'm not complaining about them giving money away. I'm complaining about the forced nature of it. Trout is right. The $10 free required 300 raked hands to clear, definitely not worth the time in most cases. I want them to take the bonus back, but they are saying, sorry, you must have our money and ridiculous conditions. Also, if you lose the $10 bonus, too bad, you're still working it off until 300 hands. Make another deposit and the first $10 of your deposit is theirs. Finally, I'm not sure of the start/end dates of the various bonuses right now, but that's of no importance. They gave me free money, I don't want it, so they should take it back.

Basically it's like Empire has $100 bonus for 500 hands, but a few days before they deposit a penny in your account and say you have to play 2000 hands. Now when you try to the $100 bonus, you have to play 2500 hands. Would this seem fair to anyone? The situation I am in is slightly less severe, but still annoying.

[jasonHoldEm]

I had the same "problem" (I don't really care, free money is free money, right?)

Deposit: $667
Bonus: $110
Cashout: $475 /images/graemlins/frown.gif

Oh well...

[cardcounter0]

Funny, the more hands I play on Empire, the more money I win.

Maybe you guys could be put on some "NO BONUS FOR YOU" list, and that would make your lives much simpler.

What usernames and tables do you guys play at? /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Homer]

This reminds me of how online casinos used to have bonuses like this:

"Deposit $1000 and get a $250 bonus with a 10x(D+B) PR. Oh, and BTW, if you deposit using [list of every possible deposit option] you get another $10 free with a 10x(D+B) PR!"

-- Homer

[The WET BEAVER]

bonuswhiner.com

[MicroBob]

i didn't get the $10 and felt left out.

what is so hard about 300 raked hands anyway...even if it is only for $10.

you play 3 or 4 tables and it takes just a couple of hours...and then a few more hours beyond that for the $100...not too tough.


if i had my choice between 1000 raked hands for $110 or 700 raked hands for $100 i would take the extra dough every time.

in fact, if they gave me $3 for 2500 raked hands i would take that as well. i'm going to be playing anyway afterall.

obviously i would consider working off more profitable bonuses at other sites before tackling that one though.


i understand your point that you didn't ASK for the $10 and you are now kind of stuck with it....but they're giving you MORE money for crying out loud and you're asking them to take it away because you don't want to play a measly 300 extra hands.

[Jim Kuhn]

What they are giving you is usually a rake rebate. If you play $5/$10 you can expect to have $2 raked every hand. After 300 hands you have paid 300 x $2 = $600/10 = $60 in rake. You have paid $60 in rake and they give you $10 back. That is not a good rake rebate (or bonus). However, if you would normally play there anyway it IS free money.

[Thythe]

I tried bonuswhiner.com and it doesn't exist. That's too bad because I have a lot to say on the subject. Empire gave me another bonus later today. $1 but I have to play 3500 hands. I probably can't post for awhile because I'll be working that off.

[Fraubump]

On my bonus account page it lists no expiry date. If I was sure it would disappear I would wait until then (june 1st) to start working off new bonus.

[Lebronomania]

I'm definitely with Bob on this one. I dont care how many hands Party / Empire require to clear a bonus. I'm playing 'bout 25,000 hands a week. Takes all of one evening to work off even the most demanding bonus. Free money, yay! While I may be an extreme case, so long as you're a winning player, and you dont need the money today (and you should NEVER need your poker winnings today), who cares how long it takes?

Now, if its not Party / Empire, I'm now of the firm opinion that its almost never worth playing somewhere else for the bonus money. I used to be a inveterate bonus whore, but no more. Screw you True Poker and your 1000 hands for $50!

[JTrout]

who cares how long it takes?
alot of people. First of all, most people aren't winning players. Second, most winning players aren't winning at a rate to make playing off Crypto and other bonuses not worthwhile.

Now, if you're playing 6 games of 15-30 and winning $250 an hour, that's different.

Many folks are limited in the amount of time they can play, and how long it takes to clear how big of a bonus is a factor.

[MicroBob]

"Second, most winning players aren't winning at a rate to make playing off Crypto and other bonuses not worthwhile."


this is a fun sentence.

[JTrout]

"Second, most winning players aren't winning at a rate to make playing off Crypto and other bonuses not worthwhile."

/images/graemlins/grin.gif sorry. I'm still on my first cup.