Online casino bonuses are easily some of the best deals out there. Where else will you find a promotion that doubles, sometimes even triples, the money you put in? However, not everything that glitters is always gold. There are some nuances to casino bonuses, and there can be a wide variety with different terms and conditions. This quick guide should help you navigate casino promos listed on sites like Bonuses, helping you get the most bang for your buck.
How to Utilize Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are probably the first online casino bonus you'll come across. It's like an online casino holding the door open, waving you in. They're meant to get players to sign up and play. They often offer high percentages, with it not being uncommon to see 200% or higher for new players. There may be a limit to how much you can get with the promo, so don't expect to deposit $10,000 and get a full match. Some sites offer an unlimited deposit welcome bonus, but be wary of the fine print.
Understanding the Fine Print
The fine print is what makes or breaks online casino promos. The terms and conditions will dictate what games the bonus funds can be used for, as well as other things like expiration dates and, most importantly, turnover requirements.
Turnover requirements are often represented by a number with an 'x', such as 10x or x10. A turnover, or wagering, requirement of 10x means that you must wager the bonus funds and any winnings by 10x their total amount before they are eligible for withdrawal. This is why you can't just take your bonus and run. You are forced to play with it and give the casino a chance to win its money back.
A high wagering requirement can make that inevitable. Wagering requirements are really what make some online casino bonuses great and others... well, not so great. You'll see that wagering requirements vary from site to site, and it's typically based on the value of the bonus. Reload bonuses, as you'll see in a bit, are typically lower percentages than welcome bonuses and therefore tend to have lower wagering requirements.
Other Popular Casino Bonuses
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses are for players who are making a deposit that isn't their first deposit ever on the site. Like a welcome bonus, reload bonuses give you a percentage of your deposit as bonus funds for you to use, albeit typically a much smaller percentage.
Some sites limit how many reload bonuses you can get within a certain time period while others simply have "reload days" where the bonus is available for everyone on a certain day. Reload bonus can be unlimited, meaning you can deposit as much as you want with no limit on the bonus funds, but they can also have a cap.
Free Spins
Free spins are another popular way casinos reward players for making deposits or playing games. If you're a fan of slots, you want a site that regularly has promotions giving out free spins. These spins are typically a smaller wager, and there may be a wagering requirement associated with any winnings. They can also only be redeemed at certain slots or certain game development companies.
Sports Bet Specials
Online casinos also often have sportsbooks, but not all do. If sports betting is something you're interested in, look for an online casino with a robust array of options and decent promos to go with it.
Online casinos will often run three kinds of sports betting promos: tournament, parlay, and bet bonuses. Tournament bonuses will often focus on a specific game, like the NCAA Championships or the Super Bowl. Parlay bonuses reward players for taking riskier bets and pairing them together on the same slip.
Bet bonuses are the most common and are almost like a welcome bonus. Typically, online casinos will reward players with free funds to bet with the first time they place a wager. Typically, players need to wager $5-20, but some sites reward players even for betting only $1. Some sites will periodically run these promotions, even for existing members. Some will give you free funds to bet with just for making a wager, while others will increase your reward if you get a winning bet.
Gambling Responsibly
Promotions and bonuses are enticing, that's the point. It's important to recognize this and keep responsible gambling in mind. Don't make a deposit just to claim a promotion if it's outside your gambling budget for that month. Speaking of which, setting a proper budget is equally as important as knowing the games you're playing. Keep track of how much you can set aside comfortably, and stick to that limit. This will keep you from dipping into any necessary funds and ensure you don't get carried away with online casinos and their bonuses.