Casino games have been a popular pastime for centuries, and today, you can avoid the hassles of traveling to a traditional casino by instead opting to play at an internet-based venue. One of the major differences between online and B&M casinos lies in the fact that online casino bonus deals are widespread. Operators offer casino bonuses to entice people to join up and keep playing. Once you find the best casino bonus for the games you enjoy, you can grab it and boost your likelihood of walking away a winner.
Types of Bonuses
First Deposit Bonuses
One of the most common bonuses around is the first deposit bonus, also called a welcome bonus, new player bonus or sign-up bonus. The casino will typically give a percentage match on the amount of a player’s initial real-money deposit up to a stated maximum. For instance, you may see a banner ad for “100% up to $500.” This means that when you fund your casino account, you’ll receive the same amount of money in the form of a bonus. The largest possible bonus would be $500; if you deposit more than this sum, you’ll still only get $500 for free.
As the premier means for internet casinos to entice new clients, first deposit bonuses often award newly depositing players with 100%, 200% or even more of the sum they deposited. Furthermore, these promos are usually good for hundreds or even thousands of dollars at a time. Anyone who forgoes a welcome bonus, whether through ignorance or laziness, could be decreasing their bottom-line substantially.
No-Deposit Bonuses
Some players are leery of trusting any unknown entity with their hard-earned money. For them, a no-deposit bonus, or free chip, might be best. Although not as widespread as first deposit bonuses, plenty of no-deposit offers exist whereby the casino will credit your account with a few dollars to get you started. The hope is that you’ll like the game-play so much that you’ll later be willing to risk your own funds.
It’s rare to find free chips exceeding $100 in value, and most of them are much smaller, so the profits you stand to gain by them are also limited. Still, they represent a no-risk way to dip your toe into the casino waters without any possibility of a loss.
Free Spins
Slot machines tend to be among the most popular kinds of gaming available at both offline and online casinos. Handing out free spins is therefore a sensible way for companies to draw in new players. You may find 10, 25, 100 or even more spins being awarded to everyone who wants them. These no-charge game rounds might be provided by themselves or in conjunction with a first deposit bonus or free chip.
Reload Bonuses
Customer retention is viewed by many as being equally important as customer acquisition. This is why casino firms will often provide subsequent bonuses on deposits after a customer’s first. A few organizations even run never-ending reloads that will apply to each and every one of a player’s deposits after the initial one. More common are a specific number of reloads available, like 5 or 10, or time-sensitive redeposit offers, for instance between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Reload bonuses don’t tend to be as lucrative as first deposit bonuses. The percentage matches are rarely above 100%, and these offers are mostly worth a few hundred dollars tops. Some free money is better than no free money though.
Wagering Requirements
Virtually every online casino bonus comes with associated wagering requirements. If this were not so, players could just accept the free cash and then immediately withdraw with no intention of ever playing, Only once you fulfill your bonus play-through obligations can you request any payout from a casino.
The wagering requirements are usually stated as a multiple of the bonus amount alone or the sum of the bonus and deposit. A $100 bonus with wagering requirements of “20xB” would have you wager $2,000 before being able to cash out any winnings. If you make a $100 deposit to claim a 100% up to $100 bonus with a wagering obligation of “15x(B+D),” then you’ll have to put $3,000 on the line before your bonus is fully earned out.
Bonus Rules
Even the best casino bonus comes with restrictions. Oftentimes, you’ll find multiple bonuses to choose from at a single casino, and each of them will have its own terms and conditions. Some of the rules you might encounter involve:
- Certain types of games being banned from play with bonuses
- Increased wagering requirements on specific gaming titles
- Expiration dates after which the bonus will be rescinded
- Non-cashable bonuses that are removed from the player’s account at the time of withdrawal
- Maximum limits on the wins possible using bonus funds
- Prohibitions on claiming bonuses on transactions using specified payment processors
As savvy bonus hunters come up with new ways to squeeze extra value out of casino offerings, sites deploy more elaborate structures of restrictions to try to thwart them. This not infrequently has the consequence of inconveniencing legitimate players. Should the rules surrounding any bonus prove too complex or onerous for your liking, you can in most cases contact support and request that the bonus be removed from your account.
Claiming a Casino Bonus
Some casinos are set up to automatically add any bonuses for which you qualify to your account whereas others require the use of bonus codes. Once in a while, you might have to manually contact support to get your bonus.
Don’t Ignore Free Money
Always investigate the casino bonus specials that your gambling site of choice is ready to reward you with. They serve to extend the time you’re able to play, replenish your bankroll when it’s a bit low and enhance your winning chances. The house already has enough of an advantage as it is, so avail yourself of a solid bonus to even the score a little.