Refer a friend: the rules behind word of mouth
Refer-a-friend schemes reward an existing player for bringing a new one to the same operator. This page explains how they work — not how to use them — and why involving other people in gambling deserves a second thought.
Typical structure
The referrer receives a personal link or code. If the invited person registers and meets certain conditions, such as a minimum deposit or a level of play, the operator credits a reward to one or both of them. Each reward normally has its own terms: wagering, expiry, eligible games.
Conditions to read
| Clause | Question |
|---|---|
| Condition for the invitee | What does the other person need to do? |
| Form of reward | Real money or bonus balance with wagering? |
| Cap | How many people can be referred? |
| Exclusions | Same address, device or payment method? |
Many operators exclude referrals between people in the same household or on the same device, to stop abuse. A referral that breaks these rules can lead to rewards being voided and accounts closed.
Privacy
Sharing a personal link often lets the operator associate your account with someone else's. Before sending an invitation, consider whether the other person would want to receive marketing from a gambling operator.
The bigger question
Inviting someone means encouraging them to gamble with real money. If that person has less experience or less control over a budget, the invitation can have consequences no reward makes up for. Gambling is for adults only, and many countries also restrict how gambling can be promoted, including by individuals sharing links.
Back to the mechanics
The value of any bonus, including a referral reward, depends on the wagering and the games that count. The arithmetic is on the wagering page and slot behaviour on the slots page.
Rewards that depend on someone else's play
Some schemes release the referrer's reward only after the invited player has staked a certain amount. In practice that ties your reward to another person's losses. It is worth being honest with yourself about that link before sharing anything.
If someone invited you
An invitation does not change the checks you should make. Look up the operator's licence, read the terms of the reward offered to you and set a deposit limit before your first session. The review explains the licence check.
This page explains a contractual mechanism. It contains no offer. Terms are set by the operator, change over time and must be read in the cashier or promotion page; in some countries advertising gambling bonuses is restricted or banned.