What the bonus code is
The bonus code is a route through which the platform credits a sign-up bonus to a new account. The route is published by the platform itself; the reading room does not invent or guess the route. The route is the same on every well-run platform: enter the code at sign-up, complete verification, the bonus credits to the wallet.
What the bonus code covers
The bonus code typically covers a sign-up credit to the platform wallet. The credit is locked to the platform's terms and can usually be used for entry-fee contests but not withdrawn as cash until the platform's play-through threshold is met. The exact threshold is published in the platform's bonus terms.
What the bonus code does not cover
The bonus code does not cover a guaranteed win, a fixed payout, or a tournament entry fee waiver. The reading room does not publish any claim that implies a guaranteed outcome. If the platform's bonus terms imply a guaranteed outcome, that is a red flag and the platform should be left.
The reading-room rule on bonus code claims
The desk's rule is to publish only what the platform itself publishes. The platform's bonus terms are the source of truth. If the platform updates its bonus terms, the desk updates the reading. If the platform changes the code, the desk changes the code. If the platform withdraws the bonus, the desk withdraws the route.
How to read the fine print
The fine print on a bonus code usually contains: the play-through threshold, the eligible contests, the expiry window, and the country or state restrictions. The reading-room recommendation is to read all four before any deposit. A bonus that does not match your usual play pattern is not a bonus; it is friction.
