How do Gambling Bonuses work

To give you a clear picture of what gambling bonuses are, let us break down the different components of any poker, slot, betting, or casino bonus.

The Offer

When you receive a bonus, you will also receive a reward or an incentive. Typically, these rewards are offered to new members who join a casino or to those who make a deposit into their account. These rewards can come in different forms, such as additional funds or casino credits, including deposit bonuses or free spins. These bonuses can be substantial, often amounting to half or twice the deposit amount. For example, if you deposit $300 to take advantage of a casino’s bonus, you could receive $150 or $300 in casino currency.

Rewards are not limited to credits. They can also come in the form of free spins for slots, allowing you to play qualified games for free several times. Any winnings from these free spins are considered bonus money, exclusive to casino games.

For punters, there are free bets available for qualified sports wagers offered by sportsbooks. You can use these free bets on various odds markets, such as straight bets, money line bets, and total line bets.

Operators use bonuses and free bets to attract paying customers.

The Requirements

It’s rare for online casinos to give away free spins, bonus money, extra bets, and other bonuses without any conditions. To be eligible for these rewards, you must first meet certain requirements. The easiest condition is to simply sign up for the online casino, which entitles you to a bonus without any additional deposits required.

However, for most bonuses, you are required to deposit at least the minimum amount. For instance, a welcome bonus package that offers a 100% deposit bonus and 50 free spins when you deposit a minimum of $50. If you deposit less than $50 or the casino’s minimum deposit, you will miss out on these bonuses.

The Terms and Constraints

While bonuses like a $200 bonus, 40 free spins, or $100 free bets may appear generous, they come with certain conditions. Here are the typical terms and conditions for casino bonuses:

Free casino and sportsbook bonuses must be wagered a specific number of times before they can be withdrawn. Free spins can only be used on qualifying slots. Each free spin has predetermined wagering requirements and open paylines. Sportsbook currency can only be used on specific sports odds markets, such as football matches. Bonuses are non-transferable. Any winnings from free spins must be wagered before they can be withdrawn.

Different types of bonuses

To entice players to use their website, casinos provide a variety of bonuses. Here, we will explore each of these bonuses to give you an idea of the rewards you can receive.

Welcome Bonus

Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses as the first promotional offers to attract new players. Some players may encounter sign-up bonuses through referral banners or promotional ads.

Upon signing up for a bonus, you can expect to receive three different rewards.

Deposit Bonus

Deposit bonuses are incentives that are awarded when you load your account with real money or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The amount of your sign-up bonus often depends on the sum you deposit, such as half the total amount you add to your account.

For instance, Pure Casino’s Welcome Package Bonus offers half of your deposit amount, provided it is at least $10. There is a limit to this bonus, however, which is $400 on your first deposit. So, if you deposit $900, you will only receive $400, the limit, instead of $450, which is half of the amount you deposited.

No-Deposit Bonus

No-deposit bonuses are among the most appealing rewards offered in online casinos. Simply by registering, you receive casino credits that can be used on all games on the website or on a selection of games chosen by the operator. Furthermore, in some casinos, you can withdraw this bonus after meeting the requirements.

888 Casino’s $88 No Deposit Bonus is a type of welcome bonus that provides FreePlay credits upon sign-up. Your FreePlay credits remain valid for 14 days after you receive them, giving you a two-week window to utilize them before they are removed from your account.

100% Match Bonus

A 100% match bonus is a reward in which you receive casino currency equal to the amount you deposit into your account. For instance, if you deposit $400, you will receive $400 worth of credits that can be used on select games. Other variations of these bonuses include 200% and 1000%.

Casino Cruise’s welcome package includes a 100% match bonus along with other incredible offers. Upon registering, you are entitled to 55 free spins on Starburst. You will also receive 200 free spins on qualifying games.

Reload Bonus

Reload bonuses are bonuses that are offered on a recurring basis where you receive a certain number of in-house credits upon depositing on specific days. These bonuses are similar to deposit bonuses in that you can receive a percentage of the amount you deposited. Some casinos are more generous with their reload bonus, matching the amount you deposited.

Shambala Casino offers this type of bonus with their Monday Reload Bonus. You can receive 50% of your deposit amount up to €300.

No-Wagering Bonus

Bonuses without wagering requirements eliminate the need to bet any winnings from free spins a certain number of times before being able to withdraw them. You can keep any winnings you receive from these bonuses when playing certain games.

Paddy Power Games provides a no-wagering bonus that grants you 200 free spins on any daily jackpot game upon spending €10. Each free spin has a €0.10 bet per game and expires seven days after being awarded.

Free Spin Bonus

Free spins bonuses are a type of reward that grants you the ability to play specific games a predetermined number of times for free. Each free spin comes with a fixed bet value, which cannot be altered. If the free games are for slots with adjustable paylines, then each spin will have a set number of paylines that cannot be changed as well. Any winnings you earn from your free spins will be subject to the terms and conditions set by the casino, such as their wagering requirements.

Kerching’s welcome package includes 150 free spins on eligible slot games, as well as a deposit bonus that can go up to £500.

Free Bet Bonus

Credits for free bets can be used to wager on different sports matches, and they work in a similar way as casino bonus credits. The amount of free bets you receive often depends on the deposits you make, and you will need to wager them several times before you can withdraw any winnings. Additionally, certain criteria must be met for the bets to be valid, such as minimum odds of 1.50.

If you’re a new customer and use the promo code ‘SPORTS60,’ you can receive £30 of free bets after betting £10 in real money at Betfred.

High Roller Bonus

Bonuses for high rollers are rewards for individuals who gamble with larger sums of money or play high-stakes games. These perks typically take the form of match or deposit bonuses, triggered when the high roller surpasses a certain deposit threshold. What distinguishes high roller bonuses from standard bonuses is their considerably larger limit. While average bonuses may cap out at $300 to $500, high roller bonuses can exceed $1000.

For instance, Bitkingz Casino’s high roller bonus offers a 125% match of your deposits up to €1000, exemplifying this type of incentive.

Game-Specific Bonus

Bonuses that are exclusive to certain games are called game-specific bonuses. These rewards are often in the form of free spins, which allow players to play a set number of rounds at a pre-determined bet size and number of paylines. Another type of game-specific bonus is live dealer credits, which are typically only available for live dealer games from a specific software provider or a single game.

Fairway Casino offers a game-specific bonus of 1000 virtual tokens for Visionary iGaming’s live dealer games, such as Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, and Live Baccarat.

Cashback Bonus

Cashback bonuses are designed to motivate players to continue playing by giving back a portion of their total wagers. Typically, the amount offered through a cashback bonus ranges from 5% to 20% of the total money lost. These bonuses are often available on a regular basis, such as certain days of the week, or as seasonal rewards for players who participate on specific dates.

For instance, Yako Casino offers an “”Always 10% Cashback”” promotion as an example of a cashback bonus. This bonus is available to any player who deposits at least £20.

Loyalty Programs

Casino loyalty programs are designed to incentivize players to continue playing at a particular casino. These programs typically allow players to earn points by playing various casino games, such as slots or blackjack. Once enough points have been accumulated, players can redeem them for rewards like casino credits, free spins, and other benefits.

At Casimba, members can participate in a robust loyalty program that rewards them with one point for every €10 bet they make. Even bets made with bonus money are eligible for points. Players can exchange 1000 points for €5 of casino credits to use on games.

Referral Bonus

A referral bonus is an incentive given to players for inviting friends or acquaintances to join a casino. When your referral signs up and meets the requirements, both you and your friend will receive various rewards such as bonus credits. These requirements typically involve your referral entering your unique referral code and depositing a specified amount of money.

An excellent example of a referral bonus is the Tell-a-Friend promotion offered by Ignition Casino. With this program, you receive a 200% match bonus up to $100 when your friend deposits a minimum of $20. Additionally, if they use cryptocurrencies, you’ll receive an extra $25 in casino credits.

Bonus Requirements

Before you can receive casino bonuses, you need to comply with certain terms and conditions. Moreover, most bonuses require you to fulfill specific conditions before you can claim them. Here are the bonus requirements that you should anticipate when accepting a casino offer.

Deposit Requirements

In order to claim most bonuses, you are typically required to deposit an amount higher than the minimum requirement. This is a common condition imposed by most casinos for you to qualify for their promotional offers, with the exception of no deposit bonuses.

For instance, the Wednesday Reload promotion offers a bonus of up to $100, but you need to make a minimum deposit of $10. You must deposit at least $10 to receive a minimum of $5 worth of casino credits.

Wagering Requirements

When it comes to bonuses, wagering requirements specify the amount that you need to bet before you can withdraw the bonus. To meet this requirement, you have to bet the bonus credit several times over. However, not all games contribute equally to the requirement amount. For example, while slot games generally contribute 100% of each bet towards the requirement, high RTP games like blackjack contribute around 40% or less.

For instance, if the wagering requirement is 35X and you got a $100 bonus, you have to wager the bonus until you reach at least $3,500. If you choose to play games that contribute only 50% to the requirement, you need to wager up to $7,000 to meet the wagering requirement.

Minimum Bet Amount

Minimum betting requirements are common in promotions where players receive a bonus for playing specific casino games, such as cashback offers. In such cases, you must meet the minimum betting amount to qualify for the promotion.

For instance, suppose there is a cashback promotion offering 20% cashback with a minimum betting requirement of $10. In that case, you must wager more than the specified minimum amount to receive the bonus credit of at least $2.

Minimum Spins

Although very uncommon, there are bonuses that you can acquire by making a minimum spin on specific slots. These bonuses are often associated with slot tournaments where multiple spins earn you an entry into the leaderboards.

A Microgaming Slot Tournament is a case in point, where you only have to play any game from the software provider to be eligible. To earn a position that qualifies you for a share of the prize pool, you must continue playing until you accumulate more credits than the other competitors.

Game Selection

Typically, free spins are limited to particular slots, usually from the software provider that owns the casino platform used by the operator.

For instance, if you were given 100 free spins by a casino that employs SoftGaming, a platform from Microgaming, those free spins would likely only be valid on Microgaming’s games, such as Thunderstruck or Egyptian Tombs.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

In order to withdraw your bonuses, casinos typically require that you use the same deposit method that you used to receive them. This means that if you deposited with a credit card, bank transfer, or cryptocurrency transfer, you’ll need to use that same method to withdraw your bonuses.

For example, if you deposited with Bitcoin and received a welcome package from your chosen casino, you’ll only be able to withdraw your bonuses to a cryptocurrency wallet.

Deadlines

All free spins and bonus credits come with an expiration date, which means that players have a limited time to use them once they become eligible. Casinos typically offer a timeframe of a week or a month for players to use or wager their bonuses.

A good example of this is the welcome bonus offered to new players, who have a deadline to make their first deposit and claim their welcome package. Once they have received their welcome bonuses, they must wager the bonus credits within the timeframe specified by the casino.

Promo Codes

Casinos usually require players to input bonus codes to claim their bonuses, which adds an extra step to the process. These codes can be found on various platforms such as review websites, banner ads, and social media.

Typically, bonus codes are in the form of alphanumeric combinations like SPORTS40 and SLOTS200. To redeem these codes, players can simply look for the corresponding option in their account menu.

Bonus Clearing Strategies

Clearing the wagering requirement can be challenging, but playing progressive jackpot slots can help you meet the conditions. Unlike high RTP games with low variance, progressive jackpot slots have a high payout potential. These games have a lower hit frequency but can pay out massive jackpots that can help you meet the wagering requirement quickly.

Another way to meet the wagering requirement is to play in a calculated manner. This means placing bets that are proportional to the size of your bonus. Doing so helps you prolong your gameplay, giving you more opportunities to win and meet the wagering requirement.

Furthermore, it’s essential to manage your bankroll carefully when playing with bonuses. Stick to a betting strategy that allows you to play longer and meet the wagering requirement with minimal risk of losing your bankroll.

Lastly, always keep track of your progress towards meeting the wagering requirement. Most casinos offer a tracker that helps you monitor how much of the requirement you have fulfilled. This way, you can plan your gameplay accordingly and maximize your chances of clearing the requirement before the bonus expires.

Casino Bonuses: FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about bonuses for online casinos, poker sites, and sports betting apps.

What are casino bonuses?

Casinos offer bonuses as incentives for players to join and play their games. One common example of such bonuses is the welcome package, which encourages new customers to sign up and make their first deposit.

Are casino bonuses worth it?

Bonuses provide a great opportunity for players to win big since they are essentially free. However, in order to obtain them, you need to meet certain minimum requirements such as depositing at least $30 to receive the welcome package.

Can you make money from casino bonuses?

You can withdraw your casino credits and free spin winnings once you fulfill the wagering requirement. Once you have cleared the requirement, you are free to withdraw your bonuses to your credit card or cryptocurrency wallet.

How to use the online casino bonus effectively?

To effectively use online casino bonuses, it is important to review the terms and conditions of the casino to understand which games are eligible for the bonuses. If there are options, consider trying out new titles or games with a lower return-to-player (RTP) rate to help fulfill the wagering requirements.

Are online casino bonuses only for new players?

While welcome bonuses are exclusive to new players, existing members can also receive promotional or regular bonuses. These may include cashback and reload bonuses, among others.

What games are casino bonuses valid for?

The validity of casino bonuses varies based on the casino platform used. Typically, casinos will only allow their bonuses to be used on games from the same software provider. For instance, if a casino platform is provided by Playtech, the bonuses are likely to be valid only for Playtech titles like Ugga Bugga.

How long will it take to receive my bonus?

Your bonus will be credited to your account shortly after the platform verifies your payment or registration. Typically, this process is either immediate or completed within an hour.

Can you withdraw a casino bonus freely?

If there is no no-wagering incentive with your bonus, you will have to bet the winnings from your free spins or casino credit on different games.

Why do online casinos offer big welcome bonuses?

Welcome bonuses are a way for casinos to distinguish themselves and encourage most visitors to become paying customers, with offers ranging from substantial matching bonuses to hundreds of free spins.

How are casino bonuses calculated?

Simply check on what is on offer. If the bonus says “”up to $100″” for example, your bonus is half the amount you deposited. 100% match promotions mean your bonus credit is the same amount as you deposited.

What is a wagering requirement?

You must meet the wagering requirements to convert your bonus into real money. To satisfy this requirement, you must bet your bonus multiple times on eligible games.