Promo codes, reloads and seasonal offers — a field reading.
Promo codes are distinct from welcome bonuses: most promo offers reload a returning player rather than credit a first deposit. The headline number is usually smaller, the playthrough tighter, the time limit shorter.
The three shapes of promo offer
A promo offer fits one of three shapes. The desk reads each shape against the same four-item disclosure list.
Reload
A reload credits bonus balance on top of a returning-player deposit, typically at 25-50% rather than the welcome rate of 100%. Playthrough is normally tighter at 3x.
Leaderboard
A leaderboard pays the top finishers of a timed format a prize pool, allocated by final standing. Eligibility is restricted by stakes tier; playthrough is zero because the leaderboard pays in withdrawable cash.
Seasonal
A seasonal offer runs around a tournament window (IPL, Diwali) and may stack a reload, a leaderboard and a draw. Reading the small print matters more for stacked offers because each layer carries its own terms.
Editorial cadence
Promo coverage is updated on the same cadence as news: a new leaderboard or stacked seasonal offer is filed on the news desk with a pointer to the underlying terms. The desk does not maintain a running top-10 promo list; promo terms rotate often enough that a snapshot ages out.
Editor's note
The desk treats any "guaranteed" copy on a promo banner as a red flag. A leaderboard may guarantee a prize pool; it cannot guarantee a payoff to a specific player.
Reading route
For an adult reader comparing promo offers, the order of operations is:
- Read the bonus code explainer to understand the anatomy of an offer.
- Open the operator's offer T&Cs in a separate tab.
- Check the four-item disclosure list (playthrough, eligible games, time limit, pro-rata withdrawal).
- Cross-check against the reviews desk note on the same operator.
Reading further: