welcome bonus cancelled because i deposited before clicking the email link

deposited first, then checked my email and realized there was a link i was supposed to click before sending any funds. now the support is saying i’m not eligible for the welcome bonus and it’s final, even though i literally just made the account like five minutes before. pretty frustrating, was hoping to use the bonus spins for my slots routine. anyone else dealt with this? i try to keep things by the book, but sometimes these bonus rules feel like you need a law degree just to get started. experiences?