Discover Online Casino Bonuses & Learn About How They Work

Guide to assist players better understand online casino bonuses.

Fred Stafford  Updated: June 18, 2022

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Online casino bonuses are promotional tools used by online casinos to promote and market their gaming business, attract new casino players, and retain existing ones. They are offerings of “free” casino money given away as rewards for registering new real money player accounts, depositing funds, achieving higher tiers in the online casino’s VIP Club, referring friends, and so on. Online casinos also offer casino bonuses as parts of promotions. Sometimes online casinos offer special deposit bonuses to celebrate anniversaries, sports and political events, birthdays, and so on.

Online casino players love bonuses because it gives them an opportunity to try out the casino’s gaming services without parting with their own money. They can use their “free” casino money to play games and win jackpots, and once they have satisfied the online casino’s wagering requirements, they can withdraw their bonus amounts and winnings to their personal banking accounts. Many smart online casino players use bonuses to build huge bankrolls and make a profit out of their online gaming activities.

An online casino bonus need not be the best because it is the largest; in fact, the wagering requirements of large bonuses are very difficult to fulfill, owing to which players need to be careful.

No Deposit Bonuses

A no-deposit bonus is free casino money given away as reward for registering at the online casino, which means that players will receive the bonus even without making a deposit and they can use it to play their favorite casino games and win cash prizes.

While some casinos allow players to withdraw their bonuses, others allow them to withdraw only winnings. However, they should first satisfy the wagering requirements, or in other words, they should play through their bonuses a specific number of times before being allowed to withdraw their bonus amounts plus winnings or just winnings depending on the casino.

About No Deposit Bonuses

Online gaming sites attract new players and encourage them to register accounts by offering them no-deposit bonuses. As the name suggests, a no-deposit bonus is an online casino’s way of welcome a new player who has just registered at the site, even before he/she makes a deposit. In other words, a no-deposit bonus is free money players receive just for signing up.

No-deposit bonuses are boons to players who are reluctant to spend their hard-earned money at online gaming sites and would like to get a feel of the site before wagering real money on its games. Players can use no-deposit bonuses to play their favorite games and even keep their winnings.

Not many online gaming sites offer no-deposit bonuses these days because players tend to abuse these bonuses. Online gaming sites, therefore, protect themselves by making it slightly difficult for players to withdraw their bonuses plus any cash prizes won using those bonuses. Sometimes, no-deposit bonuses are “sticky,” which means that players can never withdraw them, but can only use them to wager on games at the casino.

Online gaming sites prevent players from withdrawing their bonus or winnings or both until and unless they satisfy all the wagering terms associated with the bonus.

General Terms and Conditions on How No Deposit Bonuses Work

Before claiming a no-deposit bonus, players should read the various terms and conditions associated with the bonus to avoid future disappointment. Usually, online gaming sites require players to wager their bonuses a certain number of times within a specified time frame to be able to withdraw their bonus or winnings or both. For instance, if an online casino’s wagering requirement is 10x, players are required to wager their bonus multiplied by 10 before they can withdraw their winnings.

Besides, the bonus might not be available to players from certain countries or it might be available only for a limited period of time.

Match (Deposit) Bonuses

Match bonuses are offered on players’ deposits and given away as percentages of players’ deposit amounts. Match bonuses can be given away on players’ first deposits, weekly and monthly deposits, or any subsequent deposit. Some top casinos are also in the habit of splashing around match bonuses as special deposit bonuses to promote their business and encourage existing players to wager more. Special match bonuses are also offered to the casino’s loyal players.

For instance, a casino might offer a match bonus of 100 percent up to $600 on players’ first deposits. This means that players will receive a bonus of $600 if they deposit $600.

About Deposit (Match) Bonuses

Match bonuses or deposit bonuses are percentage-based bonuses offered by online gaming sites not only to promote their gaming business and attract new players, but also to encourage existing players to keep wagering. The most popular form of match bonuses is the first depositors’ bonus, which is paid on players’ first deposit amounts. For instance, if an online casino offers a match bonus of 100 percent on players’ first deposits up to $600, it means that players will receive a bonus of $600 if they make an initial deposit of $600, making a total of $1,200 in their gaming accounts. Players can use their free bonus to play their favorite games at the online casino and keep winnings, if any.

Online gaming sites also offer match bonuses on weekly and monthly deposits and any subsequent deposits. For instance, if an online casino offers a 50 percent reload match bonus up to $100, it means that players will receive as bonus 50 percent of their subsequent deposits up to $100. Online gaming sites also offer special deposit bonuses as part of promotions, birthday bonuses, loyalty bonuses, high roller bonuses, slot bonuses, blackjack bonuses, and many more.

Match bonuses can be used to build huge bankrolls.

General Terms and Conditions on How Match (Deposit) Bonuses Work

Casinos usually give away match bonuses in the form of bonus dollars, which can only be used for wagering purposes and cannot be withdrawn. Players need to satisfy the wagering terms and conditions within a specific time frame in order to convert these bonus dollars into real money and withdraw them.

For instance, an online casino might require players to wager their bonus plus deposit amounts 10x within 90 days to be able to withdraw their bonus plus winnings. Some casinos credit the bonuses in small increments as and when players meet the wagering requirements, while some wait till players clear their entire bonuses.

High Roller Bonuses

High rollers bonuses are special deposit match bonuses offered to players who wager loads of cash on games of chance. High rollers usually deposit large sums of money, and in order to encourage this and to give high rollers value for their money, online casino offer special deposit match bonuses called high roller bonuses.

The wagering terms and conditions associated with these bonuses are quite tough, but high rollers can easily meet them because they deal with large sums of money. While some casinos offer high roller bonuses on first deposits, others offer them at random or as part of their loyalty schemes.

About High Roller Bonuses

High roller bonuses are match bonuses given as percentages of the amount deposited by players. The only difference between high roller bonuses and ordinary deposit match bonuses is that high roller bonuses are much larger and paid only to high rollers who deposit large amounts of cash. They are meant to encourage high roller activities and give high rollers the opportunity to build their online casino bankrolls in no time. High roller bonuses are, therefore, marketing tools adopted by online casinos to attract high rollers and encourage them to continue depositing and wagering large amounts of money.

High roller bonuses work the same way as any other deposit bonus. Casinos might offer high roller first deposit bonuses, reload bonuses, loyalty bonuses, or special bonuses; all players need to do is deposit a large amount and just claim their bonus.

High roller bonuses are also associated with a number of terms and conditions, including wagering requirements. High rollers can withdraw their bonus amounts plus winnings or just the winnings, depending on the policies of the online casino, only after wagering their bonus plus deposit amount or just the bonus amount a certain number of times within the time frame specified by the casino.

General Terms and Conditions on High Roller Bonuses Work

High rollers bonuses are associated with a number of terms and conditions, which players should read and understand before claiming them.

Online casinos might offer these bonuses only to high rollers using particular payment options. Needless to say, these bonuses are associated with play through terms, requiring players to wager their bonus plus deposit amounts or just bonus amounts a particular number of times before withdrawing their winnings.

The bonus might be “sticky” at certain casinos, which means that players can withdraw only their winnings, and not the bonus. Players should also note that not all games contribute 100 percent to satisfying the wagering requirements.

Slots Bonuses

Slots bonuses are boons for online casino players fond of slot games. These bonuses are usually given away as match bonuses on players’ deposits, but players can use their bonuses on slots alone and keep their winnings, if any. Slots bonuses are also associated with wagering terms and requirements, owing to which players should put in a lot of wagering activity to be able to withdraw their bonuses.

Slots bonuses are a great way to plump one’s bankroll, provided players really love playing slots. Casinos even offer slots bonuses in the form of free spins, wild symbols, bonus games, and so on.

About Slots Bonuses

Online casinos attract new players and promote their business through attractive casino bonuses, which are usually given away as percentages of the amount deposited by players. Claiming casino bonuses is a great way to start one’s online gaming adventures, and usually online casinos allow players to use their casino bonuses to play their favourite slot games.

Since slot games are immensely popular, some smart online casinos offer special slots only bonuses, which players can claim if they want to play a wide range of slot games. Slots usually have a house edge of anywhere between four percent and 10 percent, owing to which players stick to classic slots with low jackpots. However, the temptation to try hitting one of those elusive six-figure progressive jackpots is great, and players can use the special slots bonuses available at online casinos to play large progressive slots at minimum risk.

Slots bonuses work just like any other deposit bonus given away at online casinos. Players will receive a percentage of their initial deposits as slot bonuses and will have to satisfy the online casino’s wagering requirements before they can withdraw their slot bonuses and winnings or just winnings, depending on the online casino’s terms and conditions.

General Terms and Conditions on Slots Bonuses Work

Slots bonuses are usually offered only on players’ first deposits and only if players fund their accounts using a particular deposit option. Players cannot combine their slot bonus with any other bonus offered at the casino. They must also deposit the minimum amount specified by the casino to claim this bonus.

The slot bonus must be used to wager on slot games, and depending on the casino, players can withdraw their winnings plus bonus or only the winnings after satisfying the wagering requirements. Casinos might require players to play through their bonus plus deposit amounts a specific number of times before they can request payouts.

Blackjack Bonuses

Many smart online casinos have realized the fact that blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games. Online casinos therefore have begun offering blackjack bonuses to lure blackjack players to their premises.

Blackjack bonuses might be offered in the form of match bonuses on players’ initial deposits. Players might have to input a special bonus code in order to claim these bonuses; however, this depends on the online casino. Players can use their bonuses to play blackjack games and win plenty of money. Once they have played through their bonuses the required number of times, they can withdraw their winnings.

About Blackjack Bonuses

Online casinos attract several new players and retain existing ones by offering a wide range of bonuses such as first depositors’ match bonuses, reload bonuses, loyalty bonuses, refer-a-friend bonuses, birthday bonuses, and many more.

New players love welcome bonuses and first depositors’ cash match bonuses; however, if they happen to be fond of blackjack, they might be disappointed to find that they will not be able to clear their welcome bonuses playing blackjack. Online casinos, which are aware of the fact that blackjack is one of the most popular of online casino games, offer special blackjack bonuses for the benefit of blackjack fans.

Blackjack bonuses work just like any match bonuses, except that they are meant exclusively for blackjack players who would like to build a nice little bankroll playing blackjack. Most casinos are generous with their blackjack bonuses; unfortunately, the wagering requirements associated with blackjack bonuses, especially if they are cashable, are quite high. Sticky blackjack bonuses, on the other hand, are easier to clear.

Online casinos usually require players to wager their blackjack bonus plus deposit a certain number of times within a deadline before they can cash out their winnings plus bonus, or just the winnings if it is a sticky bonus.

General Terms and Conditions on Blackjack Bonuses Work

Blackjack bonuses are associated with a number of terms and conditions depending on the casino. The online casino might offer blackjack bonuses only to players using certain banking options to fund their accounts.

Needless to say, blackjack bonuses are attached to play through requirements, owing to which players will have to play through their bonus plus deposit amounts or just bonus amounts a certain number of times before they can be allowed to withdraw their winnings.

The blackjack bonus might also be a non cashable or sticky bonus in which case players can withdraw only the winnings, but not the bonus.

Wagering Requirements

Online casinos associate their bonus offerings with wagering requirements to protect themselves from fraud and encourage players to wager money on the casino games. The bonuses, therefore, are not really “free”; players need to do a lot of playing to have the bonuses released into their real money accounts.

Online casinos might require players to play through their bonus amounts a specific number of times before they can withdraw their winnings. For instance, if a no-deposit bonus has a wagering requirement of 10x, players need to wager 10 times their bonus to be allowed to withdraw their bonus plus winnings or just winnings.

About Wagering Requirements

Online casinos offer free money in the form of deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses, refer-a-friend bonuses, special bonuses, loyalty bonuses, and so on. However, these bonuses are not really “free,” but associated with wagering requirements, meant to protect the casinos from fraud.

This means that players cannot withdraw their bonuses and winnings until and unless they have wagered their bonuses plus the deposit amount that helped them earn this bonus a specific number of times within the deadline specified by the casino.

Different online casinos have different types of wagering requirements associated with their bonuses. For instance, some casinos might offer only “sticky” bonuses, meaning that players can never withdraw the bonus amount, but only the money won using the bonus after they have satisfied the wagering requirements. Some casinos require players to play through only their bonus amounts in order to release the winnings.

For instance, if a casino offers a deposit bonus of 100 percent on players’ first deposits and if a player deposits $10 and gets a bonus of $10 and if the casino’s wagering requirements are 10x players’ deposit plus bonus amounts, players are required to wager $20 ten times or $200 before they can withdraw their winnings.

General Terms and Conditions on How Wagering Requirements Work

Players can satisfy their wagering requirements by wagering on casino games. For instance, if the wagering requirement for $100 bonus is 10x, players have to spend $1000 on casino games. Once they have spent $1000, they are free to withdraw their winnings plus bonus amount.

Players should also note that some casino games, especially those with a low house edge, will only contribute only a small percentage toward fulfilling wagering requirements. For instance, if players spend $100 on slots, they would have cleared $100 of their bonuses; but if they spend $100 on video poker, they would have cleared only $40 of their bonuses.