Interview: Slotozilla on Slot Bonus Selection in a Highly Competitive Environment

Players have a lot of choice when it comes to which casinos to play at and which bonuses to claim. A bit of expert guidance goes a long way, especially in developed gambling markets like New Zealand. But there’s also a lot of misinformation out there, and this is where sites like Slotozilla come in. 

We sat down with an expert representative of Slotozilla NZ to discuss the process of selecting slot bonuses in such a highly competitive environment. 

Q: How would you describe the current situation in the slot bonus market? What has changed in the last few years?

A: The current situation is complex, and the landscape has really shifted over the past few years. A lot has changed, including a tightening of regulations in a number of big global markets. But, on the plus side, players are more informed than ever, and they now expect high levels of transparency and decent terms and conditions. 

Q: How has this influenced bonuses themselves?

A: There are still lots of slots bonuses around, and casinos are doing their best to keep them as attractive as possible, but some margins are pretty fine. These days, a casino bonus guide, like the ones we offer, is more necessary than ever.

There are a lot of bonuses out there that — if you look at the wagering requirements and the overall value of the promo — just aren’t worth players’ time. Our team combs through the terms and conditions to determine which are the best from a player’s perspective.

Q: What types of bonuses are currently the most popular among players, according to Slotozilla?

A: Well, free spins are still hugely popular. You can’t beat these sometimes. We’ve found that spins are especially favourable when they’re connected to slots that players love, games like Big Bass Splash or Book of Dead. 

Deposit matches are still popular in terms of welcome bonuses, but there aren’t a huge number of these available to existing customers, because they can cost the casino quite a lot to offer. 

But, at the end of the day, anything with low or no wagering requirements, or any no deposit bonus, is the gold standard.

Q: How important is the role of personalised bonuses in the competitive battle between operators?

A: Vitally important. Casinos have recognised that players want different things. The type of bonus should be tailored to the player, and a personalised bonus is always going to be more attractive. 

Plus, it really helps a casino to stand out from the crowd if they’re doing this. This trend has been driven by tech, with data-collecting tools revealing player habits and preferences that can be used to inform bonuses. 

Q: What mistakes do beginners often make when choosing bonuses?

A: Easy question. Not reading the T&Cs, or at least not understanding them fully. When looking for the best casino bonus, new players tend to look at the headline. It says something like “500% bonus up to $500”. But what they don’t always consider is the overall value of a bonus, which factors in things like wagering requirements, per-spin values and win caps.

Q: How important to players are terms like wagering requirements or max win limits?

A: They’re very important, whether players know it or not. It can be easy to get drawn in by bonuses that promise big things, but if the terms are too strict, it’s a waste of time and money. 

Wagering requirements, for example, force players to re-wager their spin winnings, often until there’s nothing left. Max win limits also make a huge difference. A promo could offer the player millions of dollars, but if the win cap is $100, then that’s all they’ll get.

Q: Which bonuses are most typically recommended by Slotozilla and why?

A: We look at the overall value. Basically this includes everything in the terms and conditions of the bonus itself, but also our perspective on the casino itself, which is usually expressed in our online casino review of the site in question. Most of the time, those with the highest overall value are welcome bonuses and free spins.

Q: Has the rise of mobile gaming impacted how Slotozilla functions?

A: Yes. For quite a few years now, sites have had to offer a great mobile-optimised version of their site, or even a dedicated app. These are more players than ever before using portable devices to gamble. But we’re also seeing more mobile-specific bonuses coming up. They’re still relatively rare, but when they do appear, we’re quick to signpost players towards them.

Q: What trends in bonus selection do you think will dominate in the next one to two years?

A: That’s the big question in many ways, but we’re always trying to anticipate future trends and stay ahead of the curve. There are a few specific things that we’re expecting to see. These include things like more emphasis on the gamification of loyalty programs. Things like bonuses connected to ‘missions’ or ‘quests’ that the player has to complete.

We can be fairly certain that, as tech becomes more advanced, we’ll see more personalised bonuses. Also, as regulations shift in a more player-friendly direction, which is happening all around the world, bonus terms will have to meet these.

Q: How does Slotozilla help players navigate the vast number of offers and find truly profitable bonuses?

A: What we do isn’t just listing bonuses. We review them in detail, in such a way that helps players to make an informed decision of their own. We’re not simply telling you which bonuses to claim – we’re showing you the best of the best, and explaining the pros and cons of each. The bottom line is that all players have different preferences, and we want to respect that. 

Q: What advice would you give to new online casinos looking to stand out with their bonus policies amidst the competition?

A: Good question. Casinos need to get creative if they want to make some noise in this already-overcrowded market. It’s important that they’re generous, and that they absolutely don’t use murky terms and conditions or nasty surprises. But it also helps if they can do something a bit different, such as connecting a free spins bonus to a wider range of casino games online, and giving players a choice of which to play. 

Conclusion

That wraps it up for our conversation with the Slotozilla team representative. We’ve learnt a lot about how selecting free casino bonus offers works, and why they’re more important than ever in the current dynamic and competitive gambling environment. It’s clear that Slotozilla’s success relies on putting players first, giving them all the information they need to make their own choice.