it's not break even, but proper play gives the house a very small edge (less than 0.5%, iirc). the bonuses usually more than cover this edge.

that being said, bj can have a lot of variance. this has three implications:

1) you need to have a big enough bankroll to have a very low risk of ruin (i.e. you run out of money before you clear the bonus).

2) it is not uncommon to lose money (sometimes a lot) when trying to clear a bonus.

3) it is best to commit to a long-term plan in order to improve your chances of profitability.

The guys at do some of this, so it might be worth reading what they have to say. I know that they refer to some very good websites.

I decided not to try it when I read about some guy dropping $500 trying to clear a $100 bonus. To be fair, sometimes you can win $500 for clearing the same bonus, but still, it's too much variance for me.

From what i have read, these casino bonuses can be quite profitable, but what Kuso says is true, as the variance can kill you if you are not adequately BR'd. I did a little investigating on this same sujbect last week, and I came away with the idea that it is worth it, but only if you have the time and energy to devote to it, as well as a healthy BR. I decided it was not for me...I love playing poker, that's my game, and it works for me. Most of my info came from the BW's site (casino forum)...I would not post there, since they seem to take tons of pleasure flaming ANYONE who may not be as saavy as they are...If you have time to learn the ropes, it may not not be a bad idea...Not for me though....