“Roulette can be called inconvenient for bonuses”: Andrew Shepard on player expectations versus reality

Bonuses have long been an integral part of online casinos. For beginners, they look like an opportunity to start with a larger balance, and for experienced players, they serve as an additional resource to extend a session. But when combined with roulette, bonuses often create inflated expectations. Many believe that bonus funds can be easily withdrawn, that roulette is ideal for quick wagering, or that it is enough to choose a simple betting strategy to turn a bonus into a guaranteed win. In practice, things work differently. In this interview, we spoke with Andrew Shepard, Head of Product at Roulette77, about the myths most often associated with roulette bonuses, why they have become so entrenched, and how players should really approach such offers.

Andrew, why do many players get the impression that bonuses are free money with no strings attached?

This perception comes from how bonuses are presented. In advertising, they sound like a gift: “Get $100 free,” “No-deposit bonus for new players.” At this stage, wagering requirements, bet limits, or game restrictions are rarely mentioned. As a result, people form the impression that they are truly receiving funds that can be immediately used and withdrawn.

There is also a psychological factor. People generally tend to perceive the word “bonus” as something unconditional, as a reward, and this works in any marketing campaign in any industry.

In reality, things are more complicated. Almost always, bonus funds come with a wagering requirement — they must be staked a certain number of times. On top of that, there are restrictions on bets and the contribution of specific games to wagering. This is especially evident in roulette, where the contribution is minimal or even zero. But the player usually learns this only after activation, which leads to disappointment. Essentially, the problem lies in the gap between marketing presentation and the actual conditions. And as long as advertising is built on the promise of “free money,” the myth that a bonus is a gift without obligations will persist.

What expectations do beginners usually have when they receive a welcome bonus and go to roulette?

In most cases, beginners see a welcome bonus as additional funds that can be used on equal terms with their own deposit, which means they believe they have more chances to win. In roulette, this is especially common because of a simple logic: “if I have bonus money, I can just bet on red or black and quickly clear the wagering requirements.”

This creates several problems at once. First, beginners rarely pay attention to how much roulette contributes to wagering. In most cases, the contribution is minimal — up to 5% of the bet, and sometimes it is even zero. So a person plays, thinking they are meeting the requirements, but in reality, the wagering progress is not moving forward.

Second, players underestimate limits. A bonus almost always restricts the maximum bet, and in roulette, this is felt particularly strongly. As a result, a player assumes they can quickly boost their balance with aggressive bets, but in the end, the rules do not allow it.

Why does roulette almost always have a low contribution to wagering?

The reason lies in the mechanics of the game itself. In roulette, the probability of winning on even-money bets — red/black, even/odd — is very high compared to other types of games. At first glance, this is a plus for the player, but for the casino it means that wagering a bonus through roulette could be turned into an almost “risk-free” strategy. For example, placing bets on both red and black at the same time, or distributing bets to minimize losses. If such actions counted at 100%, wagering requirements would lose their meaning.

That is why operators deliberately limit roulette’s contribution to wagering. It is usually 5–10%, and sometimes zero, especially in the live segment. This is a way to balance the bonus system so that players do not turn it into a tool for guaranteed withdrawals. In slots, for example, such risk is lower because variance is higher and the chance to “bypass” the system is minimal.

I understand that for many users, this seems unfair. A person wants to use the bonus in their favorite game but finds that progress is slow or not happening at all. But this is precisely a matter of balance: casinos try to protect bonuses from abuse.

So, can roulette be called “inconvenient” for bonuses compared to other games?

Yes, that is correct. In the context of bonuses, roulette can indeed be called inconvenient. If you compare it to slots, the difference is clear: slots almost always count 100% toward wagering, bonus funds can be used without restrictions, and progress is fast. In roulette, everything is different — the contribution is either minimal or nonexistent, and strict limits apply to bets. This makes the wagering process long and often ineffective.

That is why at Roulette77 we try to explain: if your goal is simply to try the game or have fun, a bonus can be a nice addition. But if the focus is specifically on roulette, it is better to understand in advance that bonuses rarely provide real value here.

What role do betting limits play in wagering bonuses, and why are they especially noticeable in roulette?

A betting limit is one of the key tools casinos use to control the bonus wagering process. A maximum amount is usually set for a single round, and it rarely exceeds $5–10. In slots, this restriction is less noticeable because the average bet size is already small. But in roulette, players are used to thinking bigger — betting on dozens, combining numbers, or using progressive systems. That is why limits in this game feel particularly strict.

If a player tries to apply a system like Martingale, they quickly hit the ceiling of the maximum bet. The whole point of the system is lost, and the player faces disappointment: the bonus conditions do not allow them to play as they are used to. Even without progression systems, the limits affect perception. For example, if a player has a $100 bonus, they may expect to boost their balance with large bets on straight numbers or combinations. But the rules cut off this scenario right from the start.

If we sum it up, how should players treat bonuses to avoid falling into the trap of false expectations?

To be honest, the only type of bonus that can really be considered useful and relatively transparent in the context of roulette is cashback. All other types of bonuses are tied to obligations: wagering, bet limits, and game restrictions. The player has to study the terms and spend a lot of time trying to understand the real value of the offer.

Cashback works differently. It is the return of part of the lost funds over a certain period, and in most cases it is credited automatically. Even if it comes with a small wagering requirement, it is still clearer for the player: the money returns to the balance and can be reused or withdrawn, depending on the rules. For example, if a casino gives back 10% of weekly losses with a 3x wagering requirement, that is genuinely a valuable offer. I would advise clearing that 3x not in roulette, but with just a few spins in slots, preferably low-volatility ones. This is how we try to explain the value of cashback. It does not change the mathematics, but it can give the player more time at the table and reduce the frustration of losses.

In summary, cashback is the closest to what players originally expect from bonuses: simple, straightforward, and without hidden conditions. Everything else requires caution and careful reading of the rules.