Online casinos use bonuses as a way to reward loyal players and to ease in the newcomers. Bonuses come in many shapes and sizes, and not all of them are as valuable as they seem. In this article, we’ll try to explain how to choose a casino based on its bonuses.
The key is to keep in mind that the best online casinos to play gambling games aren’t always the ones that provide the highest bonuses. In fact, by carefully studying the bonuses casinos have to offer, a player will learn that most of them aren’t nearly as generous as they seem.
What are Wagering Requirements?
The most important term to learn when it comes to casino bonuses is “wagering requirements”. It refers to the amount or percentage of funds you need to bet on your own before you’re allowed to withdraw the bonus.
For instance, if a bonus has a 10x wagering requirement, you’ll need to win ten times the amount you got as a bonus so that you can withdraw the whole amount. In many cases, the requirements are higher than the player is aware of, and the bonus isn’t worth it.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are the most common out there, and almost all online casinos will offer them. It’s a bonus that every user gets as soon as they sign up for an account. In most cases, it’s a direct deposit to your account, and it’s a fixed amount.
The wagering requirements for these types of bonuses are somewhat lower than with most other bonuses. That way, the casinos help new players get a taste of the games early on and with less risk. The amounts are a bit on the small side, however.
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses are the most generous bonuses available. As the name suggests, this bonus is deposited into your account before you deposit any of your own money. It’s a way for a player to test a game first and decide whether to bet based on a risk-free experience.
The amounts casinos provide without requiring a deposit are usually nothing to write home about. It’s also an advertising tactic that is most common with new and unestablished casinos that use a no-deposit bonus as a way to get new players. Take advantage of them when you can.
Monthly Bonuses
Monthly bonuses are exactly what they sound like. They are issued to players once a month as a reward for loyalty. In most cases, the amount is the same, and it can only be used to bet on certain games. There are, however, some casinos that increase the amount for every month you have the account.
There are also similar seasonal bonuses that some casinos offer. The wagering requirements and conditions can vary on these, depending on the amount and the casino. Players should carefully study them before using the bonus.
High Roller Bonuses
A high roller bonus is a bonus issued to players who play for large amounts. These high rollers get bonuses for spending big bucks and for staying loyal to the casino. The casinos often organize big league tournaments, and bonuses are usually issued as a part of these tournaments. They come in the form of match bonuses or no-deposit bonuses in some cases.
The wagering requirements for the high roller bonuses are usually lower and more generous than with other bonuses on our list. High rollers are valuable to the casino, and that’s why they get preferential treatment in everything, including bonuses.
Match Bonuses
Match bonuses are a common option provided by many casinos. The casino matches the amount the player has deposited into their casino account. There’s a limit as to how large the amount can be, but other than that, the casino doubles the deposit the player has made.
The part of the deposit the casino has made can’t be withdrawn since it has a wagering requirement attached to it. For the most part, these wagering requirements are the same as with a simple cash deposit made by the casino. This is, therefore, a very valuable bonus and one that the player should use.
Game Specific Bonuses
These are the bonuses that a player can only use within a specific game. For the most part, these are the free spins that a player can only use in a slot game (which is the most popular gambling game out there). There are others as well- for instance, many casinos offer a unique bonus to be used on sports betting alone.
Free spins are often not worth it since they require too high a wager to be used. However, they can be a good starting point for players who aren’t familiar with slots and want to try the game out for the first time.
Device Specific Bonuses
These bonuses come in many different forms, sometimes as match bonuses and sometimes as direct deposits. They are issued to players only if they use a certain device – usually any mobile device with specific apps for them. In most cases, this bonus is used by the casinos to promote an app version of their establishment.
The bonuses are usually more generous than others since they are a promotional device and they are most often issued for a limited time. However, the wagering requirements still apply, and players should be aware of them.
Payment Method-Specific Bonuses
This is also a rare bonus, but there are casinos that offer it as a part of a deal with a payment option. For instance, casinos will offer preferential treatment if you’re using PayPal or Skrill. These bonuses usually come in the form of reduced fees with no other strings attached.
In some, much rarer occasions, the casinos will offer a deposit to a casino account once you set up a preferred payment method. These are usually small amounts, and they do come with wagering requirements or additional conditions as to where you’re allowed to spend them.
How to Choose?
There are a few major things to consider when choosing which casinos to use when it comes to their bonus policy. The first is who is eligible for the bonuses and could use it. The second is the actual amount that you’re getting, and the third- is the hoops that you need to jump through to withdraw the bonus.
The bonus is only worth it if you can justify it on all three accounts. In most cases, bonuses are promotional tools and not free money that some casinos will promise you. Learn the guidelines and read the fine print before making any calls.
To Sum Up
Casinos offer bonuses to their users, usually as some form of free bet or as an addition to their betting budget. These are sometimes offered for specific games, devices, or payment methods. In other cases, bonuses are used as a way to reward loyal players.
When choosing which casino to use, players should carefully study their bonus offer and the strings attached to the bonuses as well. It can be a way for novice players to try some games risk-free, but if a deal seems too good to be true – most likely that’s because it isn’t.
