How to spot a bad bonus
The clauses and red flags that turn a headline offer into a trap.
The headline is the bait
A big percentage or a large round number is designed to get your attention. It tells you almost nothing about whether the bonus is worth claiming. The terms do that, so read them before the headline convinces you.
Red flags in the terms
Unreachable turnover is the most common trap: a requirement so large that clearing it is unrealistic in the time given. Non-withdrawable credit is another, where the bonus only ever acts as margin and can never be cashed out.
Watch for principal clawback, where withdrawing your own deposit cancels part of the bonus, and for short expiry windows that force overtrading. A maximum withdrawal cap on profits quietly limits the upside of a no-deposit offer.
Red flags about the broker
A generous bonus from a weakly regulated or offshore-only broker is worth less than a modest one from a broker that will reliably let you withdraw. Check who regulates the entity that actually holds your account, not just the brand.
Be wary when the bonus terms are vague or missing. If a broker will not state the turnover and withdrawal rules clearly, assume they are unfavorable.
A simple test
Ask one question: under what exact conditions does this money become mine, and can I realistically meet them? If you cannot answer from the published terms, the bonus is not worth claiming yet.