Cashback: a partial refund, calculated your way
Cashback returns a share of what you lost over a period — a day, a week or a month. Of all bonus types it is the most straightforward, and often the lightest in terms of wagering. It is also easy to misread, because "net loss" can be calculated in different ways, and the difference decides whether you get anything back at all. Boomerang's current cashback terms, if an offer runs for your account, are published by the operator; the examples here are illustrative.
What "net loss" usually means
There are two common definitions. In the first, net loss = deposits − withdrawals − current balance over the period. In the second, net loss = total bets − total winnings on qualifying games. Both usually exclude bets made with bonus money, and some exclude certain game types. If you deposit, play and withdraw in the same week, the first definition may show no loss even if you lost in between.
A worked example
Illustrative example, not Boomerang's terms. Weekly cashback of 10% on net losses, credited on Monday, wagering 1× on the cashback amount.
| Week | Deposits vs. withdrawals + end balance | Net loss | Cashback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 200 in, 40 out or left | 160 units | 16 units |
| Week 2 | 100 in, 130 out or left | no loss | 0 |
| Week 3 | 150 in, 0 out or left | 150 units | 15 units |
With 1× wagering, the 16 units from week 1 must be bet once — 16 units of bets — before they become withdrawable. Compared with a match bonus at 30× or more, that is a very light requirement, which is why cashback is often the most player-friendly offer in a casino's set.
Things that reduce or cancel cashback
- Minimum loss: some offers pay only above a threshold.
- Cap: a maximum cashback per period limits the refund on big losses.
- Active bonus: losses made while wagering a bonus may not count.
- Game exclusions: certain games may not qualify.
- Claim window: cashback that must be claimed manually can expire if you miss the window.
How to think about cashback
A 10% cashback does not change the house edge into your favour; it trims the result of sessions that went badly. Used well, it is a cushion that makes a fixed budget last longer. Used badly, it becomes a reason to keep playing after a loss to "earn" more back — which only increases the loss the cashback is based on. Decide your weekly budget first, then treat any cashback as a small rebate on it. If keeping to that budget is hard, the tools on our responsible gambling page can help.
Cashback versus other offers
Cashback suits players who prefer flexibility: it rarely blocks withdrawals and its wagering is usually low or zero. A welcome bonus adds more money up front but ties it to heavy wagering, while a VIP programme may raise the cashback percentage at higher levels. For the maths behind wagering, see the wagering guide.