Bonus offers and the fine print that conflicts with scalping
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2026 8:16 pm
A deposit bonus appears to give free capital. For scalpers, the conditions attached often cancel the benefit.
Common rules include minimum trading volume before withdrawal, bans on trades under a certain duration, limits on hedging, and clauses that void profits if the broker judges the trading style abusive. Some bonuses disappear if equity drops below a threshold.
The volume requirement can push traders to overtrade, paying spreads and commissions that exceed the value of the bonus. The duration rule can make a scalping strategy impossible.
Calculating the true cost is straightforward. Estimate the number of lots needed to unlock the bonus, multiply by the average cost per lot, and compare with the bonus amount. Often the result is negative.
Declining the bonus keeps the account clean and free from restrictions. Some brokers offer to remove it later, but the process may involve forfeiting some profits.
There is also the question of what happens to the bonus after a drawdown. Some terms reduce or remove it once equity falls below the starting balance, so a bad week can quietly eliminate the cushion that was supposed to justify accepting the conditions.
Have you taken a bonus, and was it worth the conditions?
Common rules include minimum trading volume before withdrawal, bans on trades under a certain duration, limits on hedging, and clauses that void profits if the broker judges the trading style abusive. Some bonuses disappear if equity drops below a threshold.
The volume requirement can push traders to overtrade, paying spreads and commissions that exceed the value of the bonus. The duration rule can make a scalping strategy impossible.
Calculating the true cost is straightforward. Estimate the number of lots needed to unlock the bonus, multiply by the average cost per lot, and compare with the bonus amount. Often the result is negative.
Declining the bonus keeps the account clean and free from restrictions. Some brokers offer to remove it later, but the process may involve forfeiting some profits.
There is also the question of what happens to the bonus after a drawdown. Some terms reduce or remove it once equity falls below the starting balance, so a bad week can quietly eliminate the cushion that was supposed to justify accepting the conditions.
Have you taken a bonus, and was it worth the conditions?