Bonus conditions and the volume traps behind them
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2026 7:01 am
Deposit bonuses look like free money, but the conditions attached often make them expensive. Required trading volumes, withdrawal restrictions, and clauses that cancel profits make bonuses a net cost for many.
For scalpers, volume requirements can be met quickly, but the cost of trading that volume, through spreads and commission, may exceed the bonus value. Some programmes restrict short-duration trades or certain strategies altogether.
Reading the fine print reveals details like whether profits can be withdrawn before the volume target is met and whether the bonus can be removed from equity at any time.
Bonuses also affect margin calculations and can change how the account behaves around stop-out levels.
Declining the bonus and keeping clean terms is often the better path for serious scalpers.
Marketing pages rarely mention these clauses up front, which is why reading the full terms document before accepting anything is worth the twenty minutes.
Has a bonus been taken, and did the conditions turn out better or worse than expected?
For scalpers, volume requirements can be met quickly, but the cost of trading that volume, through spreads and commission, may exceed the bonus value. Some programmes restrict short-duration trades or certain strategies altogether.
Reading the fine print reveals details like whether profits can be withdrawn before the volume target is met and whether the bonus can be removed from equity at any time.
Bonuses also affect margin calculations and can change how the account behaves around stop-out levels.
Declining the bonus and keeping clean terms is often the better path for serious scalpers.
Marketing pages rarely mention these clauses up front, which is why reading the full terms document before accepting anything is worth the twenty minutes.
Has a bonus been taken, and did the conditions turn out better or worse than expected?