There are a lot of “hacks” I use to make my life better. Most of you would know all the ways we can hack betting. Bonuses, arbing, trading, and so on.
For many years one extra way to get even more out of my betting was by earning frequent flyer points for each dollar I bet. Every credit card deposit into a bookmaker would give me 1 point per $1 deposited. This allowed me to earn millions of frequent flyer points. Unfortunately, credit card companies were forced to classify these deposits as cash advances a few years back and now the fee is more expensive than the points you receive.
Over the years, the points have allowed me to cover flights for myself and 5 mates to head to Vegas (in economy), business class upgrades for me and mates when we went to the Superbowl and Union World cup, and Business class and First class flights for me and family members when flying to Europe. All up I’ve spent a little over 4 million points to fly myself, mates and family members all over the globe. I’ve used so many Velocity points, I was in the top 1% of members.
Because of hedonic adaptation, I’ve now grown accustomed to business class. The major issue here is that I’m also a tight arse (I call it frugal), and would never spend the ridiculous amount of money it costs to fly business class. This was not an issue when I was turning over millions each year and earning enough points. But with the end of bookmaker credit card deposits, I needed to either find a new way to continue to earn points or get used to economy seating once again.
Credit Card sign up offers
Thankfully, like bookies who try and lure you in with a sign-up bonus, so do credit card companies and banks. By signing up and spending a certain amount (turnover requirements), you get frequent flyer points. Just like bookmakers, these companies hope you get addicted to their product and end up paying much more than the initial bonus cost them. If you are reading this site, you are probably a pretty savvy punter and know how to take advantage of offers like these.
Current best offer
Currently, the best sign up offer is from the American Express Qantas card, but the offer ends on the 10th of April 2018.
If you sign up and are accepted (almost everyone is instantly accepted) you will receive 100,000 Qantas points if you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
The card has a $450 annual fee, but you get that back if you are going to travel anyway. For the annual fee you get:
- $450 Qantas travel credit
- 1.5 FF points per $ spent on the card
- 2 Qantas club lounge invites
- 2 American Express Lounge invites
- Domestic and International travel insurance
- other perks
Make sure you follow the rules and pay off the card before the end of each month. Once you have taken advantage of all the perks, cancel the card and wait 18 months before applying again and getting the sign-up bonus all over again.
Unlike bookies, unlimited people who live at the same address can apply for and get the bonus points.
You can also sign up to bank credit cards and receive a heap of points.
Over a year, an individual can easily make 500,000 points (with sign up offers)
How to turn over the $3,000 minimum
I love combining one promo with another and turning over $3,000 on a credit card might be an issue for some people. The best way I have found to complete the turnover is to spend the money on something I would have paid for already (AND get a 5% discount on it).
We all need to shop for groceries. Did you know you can buy Wollies gift cards online and get a 5% discount? You can use these gift cards to pay online or at the store with a simple app.
To do this you just sign up at Cashrewards (you will also get $10 when signing up) and then search the site for Woolworths. That link will take you to the site where you can buy as many wollies gift cards as you like. I buy 6 $500 gift cards for $2,850 which covers most of the $3,000 I need to spend on my card.
These cards have no expiration date and can be used at all wollies owned businesses (hello BWS, Dan Murphies, BigW, Caltex, so on).
Round the World Business class flights for 280,000 Qantas points
If you want to start earning points and flying around the wolrd in luxury, sign up to the American Express Qantas card now.
This is an affiliate post. If you sign up and get 100,000 points, I will receive 30,000 points. If you sign up to cashrewards and use their service I will receive a $10 credit on my account.