The welcome bonus is claimed once. If you play regularly, recurring offers decide what you actually earn โ and they are usually structured far more honestly.
Cashback: a share of losses
Returns typically 5% to 15% of net losses over a period, and crucially it carries little or no wagering. Compare properly: a $100 welcome bonus at 40x demands $4,000 of playthrough; $100 of wagering-free cashback is simply $100. 1GO applies it in tiers based on volume played.
Rakeback: a share of everything wagered
Better, because it pays whether you win or lose. Wild.io built its VIP programme on it. The subtlety worth noticing: while you are clearing a bonus, rakeback refunds a slice of the very playthrough the bonus demands โ effectively a discount on wagering.
Which to prioritise
Rakeback first if you play volume, cashback if you play occasionally, and welcome bonuses last. Most players rank them in exactly the opposite order, because the welcome offer is the one that gets advertised.
The one caveat
Both reward frequency, which is precisely why they are offered. Do not increase your volume to earn a rebate โ that arithmetic never works. See our responsible gambling guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is cashback better than a welcome bonus?
Per dollar, usually yes, because it rarely carries wagering. The welcome bonus is larger on paper and much harder to convert.
What is rakeback?
A percentage returned on everything you wager, win or lose โ more generous than cashback, which only returns a share of losses.
