Guide to Online Casino Bonuses

Online casinos know that the only thing better than a great casino experience is the same experience plus free cash. These sites compete for players by enticing them with fantastic welcome bonus offers and other deals. All you usually have to do to get these casino bonuses is what you may be doing anyway: signing up and playing online. Online casino bonuses come in all shapes and sizes – from High Roller bonuses to Cashback bonuses, choosing among the web gaming world’s various promotional offers and VIP and casino comps can be difficult. Claiming some casino bonuses requires players to refer a friend or use online casino bonus codes while others, like a free casino no deposit bonus, may have no strings attached.

Review our bonus glossary to better understand the differences among the many types of bankroll building offers, and check out the table below for a breakdown of some of the best online casino bonuses.

What is a Casino Bonus?

A casino bonus is a promotion that a casino hands out exclusively to newly registered players or existing members of its community. Casino bonuses can include free cash, free spins, free sportsbook bets, or other prizes which can be claimed by making a deposit, signing up with a casino, or by performing certain actions on the site.

In fact, all casino bonuses are optional. As you need to meet a series of conditions before you can redeem them, you may select these offers according to your bankroll, deposit amount, or what games you want to play. Some of these conditions may prevent you from being able to withdraw money without spending a specific amount at the site first.

In any case, most casinos offer you the chance to redeem bonuses and then opt out whenever you feel like it.

Bonus Glossary: Types of Online Casino Bonuses

Below you’ll find the most common types of online casino bonuses you’ll find at most gambling sites. The value of each deal can vary greatly, as can the terms for using them, but we’ll cover more on that later!

Deposit Casino Bonuses – A deposit match bonus is one of the most standard types of bonuses you’ll find at online casinos. The principle of this type of bonus is to match the percentage of the player’s deposit amount. This type of bonus almost always carries a wagering requirement, which is a condition that the player must meet before they can cash out their winnings.

Cashable Bonus – This is a match bonus with a percentage amount of the deposit covered. Like a typical match bonus, this also comes with a wagering requirement that must be met before the player has the right to withdraw the bonus money.

Non-Cashable Sticky Bonus – This is also a match bonus with a percentage of the deposit amount covered. The “non-cashable” part refers to the fact that you are not eligible to withdraw the bonus amount. Instead, the bonus money is added to your balance once you’ve completed the wagering requirement.

Package Bonus – This type of bonus offer is a package of several deposit bonuses that either come with free spins, free cash bonuses, or free play. Like most bonuses, there are usually requirements attached to both the bonus amount and the deposit amount, i.e. player must deposit a minimum sum of cash to claim the deal.

Cashback Bonus – This bonus does what it says on the tin, and comes in the form of a real cash amount that’s given back to a player after they have made a certain number of deposits or wagered over a certain amount in bets. These are dished out as part of loyalty programs for returning customers, and are a casino’s personal way of saying “thank you.”

VIP Bonus – This is another bonus that’s handed out to existing customers, only these bonuses are specially designed for VIPs and high rollers. These bonus deals can come in many different formats, but most come in the form of a no deposit bonus, match bonus, cashback, comp points, or a free gift of some sort, i.e., meal voucher, hotel room upgrade, or a free vacation.

Free Spins Bonus –  This kind of bonus gives a player a specific number of free spins to use on a casino game – normally slots. Sometimes free spins bonuses are subject to a minimum deposit, and other times they are subject to any deposit amount at all. If a customer has just signed up to a casino, free spins are usually a given when they claim their welcome package.

Free Play Bonus –  Most online casinos let you play their games for free these days anyway, but some still haven’t transitioned over to offer their games in both modes yet. However, the sites can compensate for their lack of upgrades by offering players a free play bonus to use instead. This essentially gives them free credit to use and play various casino games without depositing a real wager. As is the case with all bonuses, there are still certain terms and conditions which apply for using these types of bonuses.

Max Cashout Bonus – This type of bonus comes with requirements connected to the deposit and bonus amount. In a nutshell, the deal allows players to cash out their winnings with no fixed withdrawal amount. So if they won $2,000 as a result of using the bonus, they would be able to take out the full amount rather than withdraw it in increments.

No Deposit Bonuses – This kind of bonus is what it sounds like and typically comes in the form of free spins or free cash to use on a game or range of games. While there is no deposit required, these bonuses do still come with wagering or playthrough requirements to prevent players from signing up, redeeming the bonus, winning loads of money, then leaving.

No Deposit Free Cash Bonus – This is also a form of no deposit bonus where players can win real money without needing to make a deposit. Free cash bonuses tend to come with what’s known as a playthrough requirement, and some deals also come with a maximum cashout limit.

No Deposit Free Spins Bonus –  This kind of bonus is the same as a normal free spins bonus only the player isn’t required to make a deposit before they can redeem it. Like the above, however, these bonus deals may still be subject to a playthrough requirement and maximum cashout limit.

The Best Online Casino Bonus Codes

As you can see, there is a multitude of different online casino bonus deals available these days. The sheer number of options available can be a little perplexing if you’re new to online gambling and don’t know which deal is best for you. Many players will tell you to only opt for no deposit deals, whereas others may tell you to only claim cashback bonuses or offers that come with free spins.

This is all good advice, but as there are so many other factors that come into choosing, such as how much you’re prepared to deposit, whether you can realistically meet the terms for using the bonus, and whether you’re happy with the withdrawal limit, these can all affect which deal might be the most appropriate. This is why we always recommend checking the T&Cs for using a bonus and trying out different ones to see which suits you and your bankroll the best.

 

 

How Do I Claim an Online Casino Bonus

Now you’re familiar with the different types of casino bonuses available, let’s discuss how you go about actually claiming them. Redeeming an offer is very simple and takes just a few minutes.

If you’re new to a casino, you’ll instantly be offered a welcome bonus which will either be sent to you in the form of a code or as a link in an email. To claim this offer, simply register your player account, make your deposit at the Cashier (if required), enter your unique bonus code, and then the funds or free spins should be in your account ready to use instantly. If the bonus has come to you as an email link, simply follow the instructions for claiming the deal in the email.

If you are an existing player, your chosen online casino should email you or notify you of new offers you can claim regularly. The process for claiming these deals will be the same as if you’re a new player. In the event that the casino doesn’t notify you and you still want to see if there are any current deals that you can redeem, just head over to the casino’s promotions page, where you’ll be able to view all the latest offers and see which ones you will be eligible for. In rare cases, you may also need to get in touch with customer support to claim a bonus. A member of the team should then credit the bonus to your account manually.

Understanding Terms and Conditions

Now, what do all of these terms and bonus requirements we’ve just discussed even mean? While the terms and conditions are quite generic across the board for using online casino bonuses, it’s important to realize that not every casino has the exact same terms and conditions. So, even if you have read through the terms for using bonuses on one site, that doesn’t mean you should skip through the small print if you plan to sign up to another casino.

Many gambling sites don’t expect most of the players to read up on the T&Cs anyway, which is how they catch people out with extortionate wagering requirements, or they slap on an expiry date that the customer isn’t aware of. Before you know it, any money they have won is claimed back by the casino along with the original deposit because they failed to meet the requirements in time. This is why, even if you’re with the best and most credible casino in the world – always, always check the terms and conditions before using a bonus!

Here are the common bonus terms you’re likely to come across when using online casino bonuses:

General Terms – Certain casino bonuses may only be available to players from certain countries. You may also discover that only certain currencies are accepted when claiming some bonuses. The exact currency or currencies will always be stated somewhere in the fine print.

Wagering Requirements – As mentioned, wagering requirements/playthrough requirements are possibly the most common term associated with online casino bonuses. This is where players are required to wager the bonus amount a specific number of times before any winnings can be cashed out.

Game Restrictions – Some casinos only allow certain bonuses to be redeemed and used on certain games. This is because not all casino games contribute an even amount to the wagering requirement. Slots tend to contribute 100% to the wagering requirement for a bonus, whereas, a game like blackjack may only contribute around 20%.

Time Limits – Most offers have an expiry date on them. This means that the player must either have met the wagering requirement or fulfilled any other terms and conditions within a certain timeframe. If they don’t, they risk losing their deposit and any winnings they have accumulated as a result of using a bonus.

Maximum Winnings – It’s not unheard of for some online casinos to limit how much you can win when playing with bonus money. If you’re playing games where you can win large sums of money (like slots) you may find you can only win up to a certain amount that’s relative to your stake size rather than the full jackpot amount.

Tips for Finding the Best Online Casino Bonuses

The best online casinos will always have a fantastic range of lucrative bonus deals available for new and existing players. The problem lies in finding the best and most appropriate one. There are plenty of casinos advertising bonuses that may look like world-class deals on the surface, but once you take a closer look at the small print, they’re actually a big rip-off.

As reviewers of casinos and their bonuses ourselves, we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a great casino bonus and the things you need to look out for when you’re planning to redeem one. Check out our top tips below!

Refer to Our Bonus Lists

You can save yourself bags of time and hassle of looking for a top online casino bonus just by checking sites like ours for the best and most up-to-date deals. Our experts spend hours each week trawling the internet for the best and most lucrative bonus deals that will add value to your bankroll and help you get the most out of your playing sessions.

We don’t just look at the bonuses themselves, we also check the terms to make sure they are fair and realistic. We also carry out extensive checks on the casinos to make sure they are legit, secure, and guaranteed to have high-quality games you’ll want to play.

Review the Terms and Conditions

If you’d rather do your own homework when it comes to casino bonuses and find your own deals, we can’t stress enough how vital it is to pay attention to the terms and conditions. Ensure you read through the terms thoroughly before you claim an offer to prevent yourself from being caught out by things like game restrictions, time limits, and wagering/playthrough requirements.

If you do go down this route of finding your own casino bonuses to redeem, also be sure to check out the casino you’re planning to claim it from like we always do. You should make sure the casino is fully licensed, secure, and approved by an official gaming authority before you sign up and deposit any money. Don’t forget to check out the game collection as well!

Look for Bonuses That are Lucrative AND Realistic

As tempting as it may be to read through every online casino offer just to gauge how awesome it seems, you may find that the deal is actually pretty crummy once you’ve checked the terms, even though it looks incredibly generous at first glance. For example, you might come across a deal that gives you 1,000 free spins and $1k in bonus cash for a measly $100 deposit. Sounds too good to be true right? That’s probably because it is.

You’ll likely find that as soon as you've read through the terms and conditions, this deal is either subject to a crazy-high wagering requirement, has a maximum cashout limit of $200 every week, or expires in a few days. These things are easy to overlook when you’re looking to claim an attractive-looking bonus, but you can pretty much always bank on there being some kind of “catch” when casinos offer these types of deals.

Always view lucrative bonus deals with skepticism, and don’t be afraid to look for signs of a scam. Not all legal online casinos are legit and have the interest of players at heart, and some truly are only out to get their hands on your hard-earned bucks. This is why it’s so important to only sign up to reputable sites and read up on casino reviews like the ones we provide here at GamblingCity.

Avoid Unlicensed Gambling Sites

In order to operate legally, every online casino must have an official license. The world’s best online casinos are all licensed and regulated by an official gambling authority depending on their country of operation. These regulators ensure gambling sites are providing players with a safe, fair, and secure environment to play their favorite games.

In order to make sure you’re getting a fair and valuable bonus deal, it’s always a good idea to check who regulates the site you’re planning to claim it at. If it’s not a name you recognize or something seems a bit untoward, it’s best to look elsewhere regardless of how appealing the offer and site may be.

Don’t Fall for Empty Promises

It makes sense that online casinos want you to play at their sites, and they will therefore do anything they can to entice you to play. Some will even go as far as offering you a deal that simply isn’t feasible, let alone practical. If you are approached with any offer of this kind, don’t fall for the charm and consider it a scam.

Everyone is vulnerable to empty promises at one point or another, don’t let it be a casino that dupes you out of your money, and make sure you avoid these sites/deals at all costs!

Casino bonuses FAQ

Our readers ask us many of the same questions about casino bonuses and gambling sites in general. The following answers should give you some clarity if there’s anything else you’re still questioning to do with online casino promotions.

What is a casino bonus?
A casino bonus is a deal offered to players that gives them extra funds to play with or another reward. These deals come in many different shapes and sizes, but the goal is always the same – to incentivize players to sign up, return to the site, or play a new game.

What is a no deposit casino bonus?
A no deposit bonus is a one-time promotion that players receive upon signing up to an online casino. The site gives the player a small amount of money to play with so they can try out the games without needing to front any of their own cash as a deposit.

What are wagering requirements?
Wagering or playthrough requirements are the amount of bonus money you must wager before you can withdraw your winnings.

Can you make money with online casino bonuses?
As long as you meet all of the requirements and can adhere to the terms and conditions, it is definitely possible to make money using casino bonuses.