Cashback: the loss refund and the small print around it
Cashback returns a percentage of what you lost over a period — a day, a week or a month. It has a reputation as the most honest promotion, because it does not depend on winning or on meeting an impossible requirement. Sometimes that is true; sometimes the refund arrives as bonus money with its own wagering. The difference changes everything.
How it is calculated
The base is usually net loss over the period: deposits minus withdrawals minus current balance, or bets minus wins. If you deposited 200 in the week, withdrew nothing and have 40 left, net loss is 160. At 10% cashback you would receive 16.
Every figure on this page is an illustrative example, not a Dorado condition. Amounts are in whatever currency your account uses; the live conditions are in each promotion's terms.
Real money or bonus money
| Refund type | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Real money | Withdraw it or keep playing | Any minimum to qualify |
| Bonus money | Carries its own wagering | Multiplier and deadline |
| Low wagering (1x–5x) | Close to real money | Which games count |
A 10% refund in real money is worth more than 15% in bonus money with 30x wagering. That line in the terms is the first thing to look for.
Which games and bets count
Not every loss enters the base. Some cashback offers count only live casino, others only slots, and others exclude bets made with bonus money. It is also common for losses in a period when you had an active bonus not to count.
A behavioural trap
Cashback can make losing feel «cheaper». It is not: losing 160 with 10% back is still losing 144. If you notice you play more because «some comes back», it is a good moment to set a deposit limit — see responsible gambling.
When it is credited
The refund is calculated when the period closes and usually credited one or more days later, sometimes only if you claim it in the bonus section. If it does not appear, check whether your activity met the minimum loss and whether you played eligible games.