Online Casino Bonus Guide And Tips
The online casino industry is a fiercely competitive marketplace. Each operator does its level best to attract new players from around the world. One of the most popular ways a casino does this is by extending special casino bonuses and promotions to potential players.
Join us as we explore casino bonus offers in this comprehensive guide. Learn more about which bonus will suit your gameplay more and find out how to make the most of each promotion you claim.
What is a Casino Bonus?
Casino bonus is a special promotional offer provided by the online casino to give players an added incentive to play their games. These offers may come in many different forms, but they all have the same intent – to issue free credits for the enjoyment of gambling entertainment.
From the casino end, bonuses have a three-fold purpose:
- 📣 To invite and welcome new players: These bonuses are usually referred to as Welcome Offers
- 💗 Retain and encourage existing players: Here, the operators may use free spins, reload bonuses, and cashback
- 🎉 Promote customers playing specific games: Some bonuses may promote live casino games, while others will specifically target the promotion of a new slot game or something similar
Those who frequent the online casino realms often become bonus hungry, as they are well aware of the advantages that promotions can bring to their gameplay. This is especially true if your gaming budget is on the lean end.
The Pros and Cons of Using a Casino Bonus
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
1. They are ideal for boosting your bankroll if you are limited to a small gaming budget. | 1. Bonuses do come with wagering requirements which will delay your ability to cash in right away. |
2. They are the perfect tool for high rollers to boost their already steeped deposits. | 2. Some bonuses have cash-out limits which do not justify the amount of time you put into the gameplay. |
3. They provide you with added game time so that you can explore the title library of a casino more thoroughly. | |
4. The casino assumes some of the risk when it comes to losses. If you lose your bonus funds you suffer no real monetary loss. |
Our Top Casino Bonus Offers
If you step into the world of online casinos, you’ll be inundated with bonus offers everywhere you look. While there is a never-ending supply, you shouldn’t just accept every offer that looks good. You’ll have to investigate a few things first:
Casino Legitimacy
The casino should be a reputable operator, or else you’ll run the risk of being ripped off. Use our guides on online casinos or Bitcoin casinos to help you carefully select a reliable operator to sign-up with.
The Fine Print
Be sure to read the bonus policy and terms and conditions of the website before claiming any promotions. While offers may look good at face value, they may provide high wagering requirements and difficult playthrough terms. Read on to learn more about what to look out for in the terms and conditions section of the guide.
Rest Easy with PokCas
Fortunately, our experts at PokCas have done much of the work for you by vetting some awesome deals for you to take advantage of in the list that follows. Rest assured that all these operators are legit and that their offerings are above board.
Top Online Casino Operators to Choose From
- BetUS (USA players accepted): Sign Up
- Las Atlantis (US players accepted): Sign Up
- Bitstarz Casino: Sign Up
- Casumo: Sign Up
- Mr. Green: Sign Up
How to Claim Your Casino Bonus
Claiming a casino bonus offer is usually a super easy process that can be completed in a few easy steps:
- Pick your casino of choice and click on the ‘’sign-up’’ link.
- Register your account by providing some pertinent personal information.
- Be sure to opt in on their sign-up offer. Be aware that some offers may require that you enter a promo code to validate the promotion.
- Once the process is complete, you will need to go to the cashier’s page and sanction your first qualifying deposit.
Once the funds reflect in your account, you can set about playing all your favorite casino games. If you signed up and missed the opt-in option, head to the casino’s promotions page and click on the welcome offer to claim the deal.
The Best Casino Bonus Offers and Promotions Available
If you are a novice when it comes to online casinos and their promotions, then this is the perfect section of the guide for you. In this section, we will walk you through the most popular types of bonuses you are likely to encounter in the market and prepare you for what they offer.
1. No Deposit Cash Bonus
These are highly sought-after bonus types that are hard to come by. The US online casino market is well-known for offering this type of promo when new players register on their platforms for the first time.
In short, a casino will offer bonus credits to players for signing up without the player having to deposit funds first. This means that you can play a few games before making up your mind about whether you want to spend your hard-earned money on the site or not. If you then win and decide to cash out, you may have to place a deposit to release the funds.
Because none of your own money is spent on retrieving the bonus, you should expect higher wagering requirements with a capped cash-out limit.
In many cases, you can use no deposit bonus cash to play a variety of games, including online slots and table games, like roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. Be sure to read the bonus policy to find out what games will qualify, as each operator has different rules in this regard.
2. Deposit Match Casino Bonus
This is one of the most popular types of bonuses offered at online casinos. They are most commonly used in Welcome Offers, to attract new players.
Here, a casino pledges to match a deposit (a capped amount) you make by a certain percentage. For example, an operator may offer you a 100% Match up to €600. In this case, the casino will match any deposit you make, as long as it does not exceed €600. So, if you deposit €250, you will receive €250 extra in bonus funds, which ultimately means you have €500 to play with.
Be aware that there are terms and conditions attached to the usage of these bonus credits.
3. No Deposit Free Spin Casino Bonus
Like all other no deposit bonuses, this one is also rare. Here, the operator provides free spins on selected slot games to players who sign-up for a new casino account. It means that you will be able to play a few rounds on slots before you need to place a deposit.
Wagering requirements will usually accompany such deals, and the casino will normally cap the wins you can cash out. Despite this, it’s a great way to experience the gameplay on the site without spending a penny.
4. Deposit Free Spins
Unlike the promotion above, this offer entitles you to free spins on slots once you have placed a qualifying deposit. These are regular deals at casinos around the world and are well sought-after by slot enthusiasts.
Because you deposit funds, you’ll find that the wagering requirements are lower than its no deposit counterpart and that your cash-outs will seldom have restrictions.
5. Deposit Match + Free Spins
The best welcome offers are generally comprised of a deposit match deal and free spins combo. This way, players can spend both funds and bonus spins on their favorite games. This type of deal usually gives you the best value for money, as it is usable on a diversity of game options.
6. Cashback Casino Bonus Offers
This is a popular bonus option if you are part of a VIP rewards club or loyalty program. Some casinos will guarantee you a certain percentage of your losses back over the course of a promotion/week/month.
A deal may look like this: Get 10% Cashback up to €100 on your losses for January when depositing at least €20 per week. If you make the qualifying deposits, you can recover 10% of all losses back, but up to a capped amount of €100.
So, if you deposit €1,500 over the course of the month and lose it all, the casino will pay you €100 in bonus funds. Although 10% of the loss is €150, the cap on the offer is limited to €100.
In most cases, you will receive the cashback as bonus credits. You can then use these to play games and cash out the winnings after satisfying the wagering requirements.
Terms and Conditions – What to Look Out for When Claiming Casino Bonus Offers
When claiming your casino bonus, you should know there are always terms and conditions involved. We know that the fine print can be very annoying, but you must know what to expect when claiming a deal. Here are some of the things to look out for in the bonus policy of any promotional offer.
1. Minimum Deposit
All deposit bonuses will require that you place a minimum deposit to qualify for the offer. This is usually anywhere between €5 and €20, depending on which site you are on. If a deposit match deal is split into more than one deposit, be sure to make the qualifying payment for each.
2. Player Restrictions
Pay attention to player restrictions. For instance, some offers will have an age restriction (either 18 years or 21 years). Others will be restricted to new players only. In most cases, the casino will only issue the promo once per person/household/email address/payment method/IP address.
3. Payment Method Restrictions
In some cases, the casino will revoke certain payment methods, like Skrill and Neteller, from bonus deals. Make sure that you use another safe payment method that complies with the rules of the deal to make your qualifying deposit.
4. Wagering Requirements
Most bonus cash and free spins must be wagered several times before they are converted to withdrawable cash. Wagering bonus funds differs slightly from wagering free spins.
When wagering bonus funds, you will need to wager your bonus amount a set number of times before you can withdraw. So, if your bonus amount is €100 and the wagering requirement is 30x, you will need to wager an amount of €3,000 (30x€100) with the bonus funds before you can cash out. Be sure to check whether the wagering requirement applies only to the bonus funds, or if it includes deposit + bonus, as this will make a big difference to the total you’ll need to play through.
When playing through free spins, you need to wager the wins you muster several times. For instance, if a deal offers you 10 free spins with 20x wagering and you win €50 from the spins, you will need to wager a further €1,000 (20x€50) with the funds before you can withdraw any cash.
5. Wager Weighting
Usually, a casino will want you to play out the bonus on games with higher stakes. For this reason, they will change the wager weighting on certain games to suit the bonus. For instance, if you wager on slots, you will usually redeem €1 for €1 (100%) of your wagering requirement. However, if you use the bonus on blackjack, you may only redeem €0.20 for every €1 (20%) you spend.
You’ll, therefore, have to wager 5 times more before you can withdraw your funds. So, if you must wager €3,000 on slots, you’ll need to wager €15,000 with blackjack.
If you want to play table games with a bonus, be sure to look out for exclusive live dealer bonus deals, as the wager weighting suits this game type better.
6. Max. Cash Out
Some bonuses (particularly no deposit promotions) may include cash-out limits. This might mean that the bonus is not worth your time and effort, so be sure to check on this.
7. Betting Restrictions
Most casino bonus offers will come with betting restrictions. In many cases, you may not be able to spend more than €5 on any one game round. This condition is applicable to prevent bonus abuse. Just one bet of more than the stipulated amount could disqualify you from a cash-out.
8. Timeframe
All offers are subject to a time limit. This can range between 24 hours for free spins and up to 30 days for a big deposit match deal. You will need to complete your wagering requirements within this set timeframe.
Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your Bonus
Tip | Explanation |
---|---|
Look for a High Payout bonus | Matching a high bonus with decent playthrough requirements is the trick to getting the best bonus. This way you can well and truly test a casino platform and try out all sorts of games. |
Choose the correct games | To ensure that you make it to the end of your wagering requirements without losing your funds first you will want to make sure that you play slots with a low to medium variance rather than those with high variance maths models. Low variance games will keep you flush for longer. Once you have made it through the wagering process you can switch over to more volatile titles and go for the big wins. |
Read the Ts and Cs | You will need to know the terms of the bonus policy to be a successful bonus player. Any wrong moves could see you forfeit your promotion. Be sure to understand what is expected of you. |
Plan and Strategise | You should always treat bonus funds like real money because they have the potential to give you real rewards. Plan and strategize like you would with your own money and you will stand a better chance of success. |
Maximize the bonus | Always opt for the maximum bonus if you can afford it. While the wagering requirements will be pretty high – your ability to place higher bets is increased significantly. |
The PokCas Verdict – Are Casino Bonus Offers Worth It?
We truly hope that your understanding of casino bonus offers and promotions is a little clearer after reading our expert guide. Be sure to use the principles we have shown you the next time you are looking for the best bonus deal.
We always recommend using good bonuses when you play. Free credits are free credits, and nobody should overlook the chance to make money from nothing. If you are looking to mitigate your risk more, then be sure to claim a top offer from our selection of top-rated casinos provided on this page.
Casino Bonus FAQs
What are the best casino bonuses?
You can only rank which ones are best based on your game preferences. Those who are looking to get a great overview of what's available on the site should try to claim a deposit bonus with added free spins. Those looking for minimal wagering requirements should look for a free spin only deal.
Which online casino has the highest bonus offer?
Bonuses change from week to week, but right now Wild Casino offers a whopping $5,000 welcome bonus, which is hard to beat. Las Atlantis is also known for a stellar reload bonus for existing players.
Do all casino bonuses require promo codes to activate them?
No, some casinos will allow you to activate the bonus when you sign-up or you can click on the promo of choice from your account when you sign in.