One of the standout differences between playing at an online casino and their land-based counterparts is the ability to claim an array of bonuses and promotions. Any reputable casino will carry fair and yet prosperous promos that can bolster your balance and improve your chances of landing a big casino win.
Of course, not all bonuses are alike, straightforward, or indeed fair. It pays to become familiar with each of the main offerings that a casino has. This is something that GambleHero can help you with.
Below, you will find the most common types of casino bonuses located on the net. We will detail what each of them offers and how they work. If you do not know your match deposit bonuses from your monthly specials, let us begin.
The All-Important Welcome Bonus
The first bonus any prospective new casino player will come across is the welcome bonus. These can vary from betting site to site, and they include:
- Match Deposit Bonus: An offer that boosts your cash balance. A typical 100% match ensures that players receive the equivalent of 100% of whatever they deposit. For instance, a 100% match on a €100 deposit means that you get another €100 on the house. The percentage and the total value of the offer will vary from casino to casino.
- No Deposit Bonus: An offer which supplies you with free spins or a small sum of cash, with no deposit necessary. While you can win real money with them, no deposit bonuses are primarily used to give you a taste of what life at the casino is like.
Some match deposit bonuses may extend to the second, third, or even fourth or fifth deposits you make. Moreover, they may come with free spins on selected slots included. As each differs, it is worth checking out several to ensure that you get a top deal.
Special Offers and Time-Based Promotions
Most casinos worth their salt provide special offers. These are usually calendar-based and may include daily, weekly or monthly deals. It is not uncommon to see special offers at Christmas, on Valentine’s Day, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day or over Easter.
Some are more regular, occurring on specific days of the weekend, such as weekends. Special offers tend to be time-based with short lifespans. They can include free spins on selected slots, additional deposit bonuses, double loyalty points and more.
Re-Deposit Deals
A re-deposit deal (also known as a Reload Bonus) works much the same way as a conventional match deposit welcome bonus. However, this promo is not for new players. Instead, it is designed to keep already existing members funded with bonus cash. These percentage-based deposit bonuses tend to be worth smaller sums than the initial welcome package and may solely hand out free spins to depositing players instead of money.
Tournaments, Competitions, and Prize Draws
Playing in tournaments, competitions and entering prize draws at casinos is an option at some sites. Most tournaments involve slot gameplay, during which players earn points for wagering or winning. These points see you climb a leaderboard. At the end of the competition, the player or players who have accrued the most points will win a share of an overall prize pot. In the event of prize draws, once a player has qualified by accomplishing whatever the criteria dictate, they could be in with a shout of being drawn to win. In both cases, prizes can include free spins, real money, or cash bonuses.
Loyalty Goes a Long Way at Casinos
Top online casinos usually carry a loyalty rewards program. Most work in the same way: players earn loyalty or status points by depositing and wagering on games. The number of VIP points you can earn is weighted based on the types of games you play. You can use acquired points to climb the tiers of a loyalty club, and in some cases, exchange them for real or bonus money. Other perks of a loyalty scheme include free spins, cashback, and additional bonuses.
The upper echelons of a casino’s loyalty rewards program are known as the VIP club. Here, perks tend to be magnified. Advantages can include faster withdrawal times and higher withdrawal limits, as well as a series of bespoke promos, tailor-made to fit your gambling habits. Some VIP clubs – usually those dedicated to high rollers (big spenders) – may be accessible by invitation only.
Pay Attention to Those Ts & Cs
It is not solely the value of a casino bonus that makes it attractive. Even offers worth extensive amounts of cash can be bad deals. To ensure that a bonus is worth your time, there are things you need to look for. These include:
- Wagering Requirements: You must usually wager bonus funds (or winnings acquired via bonuses) several times before you can withdraw. It is common to see wagering requirements (or playthrough rates) of 35x or so. The lower this figure is, the better.
- Minimum Deposit Limits: The minimum amount you will need to deposit to claim an offer.
- Maximum Bet Limit: The maximum amount of bonus funds you can spend per spin, hand, or bet.
- Maximum Win Cap: The maximum amount you will be able to win in bonus funds with the offer.
- Max Withdrawal Cap: While the amount you can win may be limitless, there may be a cap on how much of your bonus winnings you can cash out.
- Game Eligibility: Not all bonuses are valid on all games. For instance, a live casino bonus cannot be used on slots and vice-versa.
- Bonus Codes: Some bonuses require codes to be entered to trigger them when you deposit. These can often be found in e-mails or on the casino’s promotions page.
Always read the terms and conditions attached to any promotion you intend on claiming. By looking for the following terms, you will be able to gauge whether an online casino bonus has value for money and if it is worth your time. The casino world is laden with top bonuses, but it is up to you to decide the right ones to fit your gaming style.
