How Norwegian Operators Fight With Bonus Hunters

Bonus hunters are people who sign up at online casinos to use welcome offers, then leave. They often register with false details or use multiple accounts. Some use VPNs to hide their location or change their identity. Their goal is to collect as many offers as possible without staying active.

Anton Zlov
CEO at Gamblescope, Fact Checker
updated on: Sep 18, 2025

For online casinos in Norway, this causes big problems. Operators must spend money on offers, hoping players will return. But bonus hunters move on quickly, taking the value and giving nothing back. This creates fraud risks and hurts long-term profits.

In this article, we will look at how these players operate. We’ll explore the tools and tactics they use. We will also see how Norwegian casino operators try to stop them, using tech, laws, and smarter rules.

Common Tactics Used by Bonus Hunters

Bonus hunters in Norway use many tricks to take full value from casino offers. These tactics are often hard to track. Here are some of the most common methods:

  • Multi-accounting. They create many accounts using fake names or stolen IDs. This helps them claim the same offer more than once.

  • Bonus stacking. They register with several operators at once. They collect sign-up offers from each site, switching between them often.

  • VPN use. Some sites block players from outside Norway. To get around this, hunters use VPNs to hide their true location.

  • Low-risk betting. They place bets that have little chance of loss. This helps them clear the offer's play-through terms with less risk.

  • Targeting no-deposit offers. They search for a unique free spins offer that doesn’t require a deposit. Then they use several fake accounts to claim these multiple times.

These behaviours are not just dishonest. They can also break local gambling laws. Operators in Norway must stay alert to catch and block such players.

Why Bonus Hunting Is a Problem for Operators

Bonus hunting creates serious problems for casino operators in Norway. These actions lead to both money loss and extra work.

When many users abuse bonus offers, their value drops. Real users may stop trusting them or avoid using them, which weakens future promotions and affects long-term plans.

Manual checks become more common. Staff must review accounts, handle fake data, and track repeated behaviour. This increases costs and slows down other tasks. Support teams also face more complaints and refund requests.

Bonus abuse may also break local laws. Operators must follow strict rules set by the gambling authority. If they fail to spot fraud or data issues, they could face penalties or lose their licence.

Fraud is another big risk. Bonus hunters often use stolen IDs or hacked accounts. This puts real users’ data at risk and raises legal concerns.

To protect the system, operators need stronger checks, better tools, and fast action. If they ignore the problem, the cost keeps growing.

How Norwegian Operators Detect Bonus Abuse

Device fingerprinting is one key method. It tracks the type of device used, even if the account name changes. If many accounts use the same device, it raises a flag.

IP address tracking works the same way. It shows if many accounts come from one location. This helps catch users running several fake profiles from one home or office.

Pattern recognition is also used. Operators look for users who only play during offers, make the same bets, or stop right after a bonus is used. These patterns point to abuse.

Operators also work together. Licensed sites share blacklists and warn each other about fraud.

Experts at Gamblizard also help. They study the bonus market in Norway and understand abuse tactics. Their team helps casinos test offers and block known abusers. Their advice helps lower fraud and protect long-term plans.

Methods Used to Prevent Bonus Hunting

Norwegian online casinos use strict rules to block bonus abuse. These rules help protect offers and stop fraud.

One key rule is KYC (Know Your Customer). Players must show a valid ID before they can get any bonus. This stops fake accounts and checks the user’s location.

Some sites now limit bonuses to verified users only. If ID is not confirmed, no bonus is offered. Operators also use IP and device limits. One player can get one bonus per IP address or device. This blocks people from claiming the same offer many times.

Bonus cooldown periods are also common. Players must wait, often 30 days, before they can claim a new offer. This helps control bonus abuse patterns.

Operators work with ROFUS, a national self-exclusion system. This helps prevent users from bypassing bans or using different sites after abuse. Here is a quick table of key measures:

Measure Description Effectiveness User Impact
KYC Enforcement Requires ID verification before bonus is given High Medium
IP Limit One bonus per IP address Medium High
Bonus Cooldown Players can’t get back-to-back bonuses Medium Medium
Pattern Detection Algorithms flag suspicious play High Low

These systems help operators protect their business and follow rules.

Are These Methods Effective?

The anti-abuse measures used by Norwegian operators work well in many cases. KYC checks, pattern tracking, and bonus limits help reduce fraud. Many fake accounts are now stopped before they can claim anything.

But there are downsides. Stricter rules can slow down new user sign-ups. Some users give up if the process takes too long. Others complain about bonus limits or blocked accounts, even when they play fairly.

Bonus cooldowns and device rules also reduce new player numbers. Fewer sign-ups mean fewer long-term users. This affects growth and daily revenue.

Operators must find a balance. If the rules are too soft, fraud increases. If they are too strict, they lose real users. The key is smart filters and faster checks. Tech must block abusers without hurting real players.

In short, the methods are helpful but not perfect. Success depends on constant updates, good data, and smart risk control.

What the Future Might Hold

In the coming years, Norway may take stronger steps to stop bonus abuse. One likely path is the use of AI tools. These systems can detect strange patterns faster than manual checks. They may flag abuse before a bonus is even claimed.

Data sharing across Nordic countries could also improve. Regulators may work together to track repeat offenders. This would stop users from switching between markets to avoid detection.

Advertising rules may get tighter too. Some expect fewer sign-up offers and more limits on how bonuses are promoted.

Another possible change is bonus-free onboarding. New users might get access without any offer. This could lower fraud, but may also slow down sign-ups.

Operators and lawmakers must watch user feedback and fraud rates. The goal will be to balance protecting platforms without pushing away real users. If changes are tested well, the system could grow stronger and safer over time.

Our Recommendations

If you’re a player, follow the rules. Use one account, verify your ID, and avoid tricks. Bonus abuse may lead to bans or legal trouble. Play fair, stay safe, and respect the systems in place.