Online Casino Bonus

Online casino bonuses are one of the most popular ways to attract new players and keep them playing. Online casinos offer all sorts of different bonuses, such as deposit match bonuses, free spins, free bets, and more. In this article, we will go through all the different types of online casino bonus and how to get them and provide a list of online casinos and the different casino bonuses that they provide.

Latest Online Casino Bonus Reviews

Online Casino Bonus: An Introduction

Online casinos offer casino players incentives to deposit and continue playing at online casino sites. The online casino bonuses come in different types all with their own rewards and requirements. Some of the most common types of online casino bonuses are Welcome Bonus – sometimes called Registration Bonus or Sign Up Bonus – No Deposit Bonus, Deposit Bonus, Live Casino Bonus, Free Spin Bonus, Loyalty Bonus, and Reload Bonus. These are the most common types of online casino bonuses but each site might also have their own stylized name for each type of bonus.

It might seem daunting to understand all the different kinds of casino online bonuses, but really they are not so difficult to understand. Once you read through this article about casino online bonus you will have all the information you need to decide which bonuses you would like to make use of. If you need more information about the specific online casino site, feel free to check out our reviews above.

Types of Online Casino Bonus

As we mentioned above, online casinos offer different kinds of casino bonuses in many different situations. At the very start of a player’s relationship with an online casino operator, they will be rewarded with a Welcome Bonus. These are also sometimes called a Sign Up Bonus or a Registration Bonus. To make things even more interesting a Welcome Bonus can take on many different forms. For example, it might be a deposit bonus or perhaps a free spins bonus, or it could be a combination of both. On the other hand, there are also Reload Bonuses which are given to existing players rather than new players. Again, a reload bonus can be a deposit match or perhaps even some free spins.

What all bonuses usually have in common is that they entice players to either become a new customer or to continue playing. They also incentivize players to play a particular type of game be it an online slot or live casino or perhaps even transition to sports betting. One final thing to note is that bonuses can also differ slightly based on which country you are playing online casino based on the different regulations. Online Casino Bonus in Canada may differ slightly from casino online bonus in the UK based on the different regulatory requirements.

Let’s start taking a look at the different online casino bonuses that are available and what their benefits are.

Welcome Bonus

The Welcome Bonus, also known as a sign-up bonus or a registration bonus, is usually one of the most attractive bonuses that online casinos offer to their players, regardless if they are Canada online casinos, or UK online casinos, or American online casinos. Some offer a few hundred Canadian dollars / American dollars / British Pounds, while others offer thousands. However, bigger online bonuses do not always mean they are better. This is because big casino bonuses can sometimes have more requirements attached. It is always essential to check any online casino requirements and terms and conditions before taking advantage of a signup bonus.

The only standard requirement for all welcome bonuses is that they are for new players only. All other requirements depend on the particular online bonus offered. The Casino Welcome Bonus comes in many different types and also depends on whether a player needs to make a deposit to trigger the bonus or if it is given straight on registration. Here is a breakdown of all the different potential types of online casino welcome bonuses available:

Deposit Match Bonus

This is by far probably the most common type of welcome bonus which online casinos offer their new customers. The important thing to note regarding a deposit match bonus is that the online casino will match your entire deposit amount up to a certain amount. Deposit Match bonuses are also sometimes called 100% deposit bonus. So, for example, if the Welcome bonus is 100% Deposit Match up to $1000, this means that the online casino will match your first deposit amount up to $1000. If you deposit $25, the bonus will be $25. If you deposit $350, the bonus will be $350. This type of bonus effectively doubles the amount of money an online casino player has available in their account to wager with.

There are also a few variations on this where an online casino will offer a bonus amount above 100%. For example, they could offer a 150% or even a 200% deposit match. The online casino site would then match the first deposit amount based on the percentage advertised on the welcome bonus. Usually, if the deposit match percentage is above 100% then the amount will be lower. Another variation on this is that the deposit match will be made on more than just your first deposit. For example, the online casino site will provide a deposit match bonus on the first three deposits made. It will be important on these occasions to carefully check what the percentages of the deposit match will be for each deposit as they usually vary. A tiered welcome bonus on multiple deposit amounts might look something like this:

• 100% Deposit Match on your first deposit up to $400.
• 50% Deposit Match on your second deposit up to $400
• 150% Deposit Match on your third deposit up to $400.

The above is just an example but gives you a good idea of how the welcome bonuses could be structured.

The final few things to keep in mind is that all online casino bonuses will have wagering requirements. We will discuss wagering requirements further below. And also, casino bonuses can either be a sticky bonus or a non-sticky bonus, sometimes called a parachute bonus. This will also be discussed below.

Percentage Match Bonus

As we already discussed above, a percentage match online casino bonus means that the online casino site gives the player a percentage of their deposit as a bonus. Depending on how big or small the percentage is, this will always increase the player’s available funds by a certain amount. These bonuses can turn out to be quite lucrative but it will always depend on what the requirements are. Many UK online casinos offer 50% to 100% Deposit Match bonuses. An online casino Canada may offer a 100% to 200% Deposit Match. The percentage offered will always depend on the online casino site and what they are prepared to give their new players.

No Deposit Bonus

No Deposit Casino bonuses are not as common as a deposit match bonus because they do not require a new customer to make a deposit in order to get the bonus. As soon as the player registers they can receive the no deposit bonus. These are the bonuses that are most often called sign up bonuses. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to no deposit bonuses compared to deposit match bonuses. The most common no deposit bonus would be no deposit free spins. For example, once you sign up you will receive a certain number of free spins on a particular online slot. The number of free spins are usually a low amount, perhaps 10 free spins or 20 free spins. Any winnings on the free spins can be either converted to real money or they might be give as an online bonus amount and will have wagering requirements attached to them before they can be converted to real mooney and withdrawn from the online casino account.

Another no deposit bonus could be an actual cash amount, for example, $/£5 to use on different online casino games. The biggest difference between the deposit match bonus and the no deposit bonus is that for no deposit bonuses the amount given is usually much lower than for a deposit match bonus. Typically a deposit match bonus could match your deposit amount anywhere from $/£100 to $/£5,000. A no deposit bonus will typically give $/£5 or perhaps $/£10. It would be very rare to find a no deposit bonus which awards players a large amount of money. Also, no deposit bonuses will also have very strict wagering requirements on any winnings, usually the rollover requirement will be higher than for a deposit match bonus.

The No Deposit Bonus is one of the most beloved bonuses that online casinos offer. It allows new players the chance to test out the site before choosing whether to make a deposit.

Free Spins

Another popular type of welcome bonus is a free spin bonus. These give you extra spins on specific online slots games when you make your first deposit. As we mentioned above, some online casino sites will also offer a free spins bonus on registration with no deposit required. However, a no deposit free spin bonus will typically offer much fewer free spins than for a deposit bonus.

A Free Spin bonus is a good way for an online casino to promote a new online slot. Online casinos also like to offer themed promotions with some games, for example during certain holidays such as Valentine’s Day. Any love themed online slot or anything to do with the specific holiday, will then offer free spins to all players. All players are eligible to receive up to a certain amount of free spins per day without any wagering requirements. Any winnings are converted to real money.

Free Bets

If online slots are not that much interest it is important to note that online casinos will also offer a welcome bonus for table games. These are an online casino bonus in which the player can wager them on any game of their choice with no strings attached. Most often it will be a table game or live casino game. It’s worth noting that these types of bets have to be wagered through before they expire or else it will be lost so players should know how long they’re going to play for and what kind of games interest them most. For example, a typical free bet welcome bonus would be something like: Deposit $50+ and receive a $10 free bet on roulette.

Comp Points

You can also get comp points by making your first deposit at online casinos and these are accumulated as you play games on the site or through promotions. They are usually equivalent to cash so they help make playing even more fun!

There are many welcome bonuses available at online casino sites. Depending on the casino site the bonus amounts will differ and players need to research each bonus properly. It is very important to look at the terms and conditions of each bonus to understand all the requirements around each bonus and when any bonus can be converted to real money.

Reload Bonus

A Reload Bonus is usually a deposit match bonus or a percentage match bonus however, the only difference is that casino reload bonuses are given to existing players rather than new customers. As with all other online casino bonuses, the main reasoning behind these bonuses is to allow players to continue playing and increase their particular bankroll. Most often online casinos offer these to players that have opted-in to receive bonus communications. If you want to make sure that you get notified about these kinds of bonuses you will need to opt into some sort of communication. These will also have a time limit attached to them so the deposit requirement will have to be made before the time limit runs out in order to claim the bonus.

Cashback Bonus

A cash-back bonus is very popular on some online casino sites but they are also quite rare. In some places, like the United Kingdom, cash-back bonuses are all but extinct. However, in Canada they are much more common. The way the Cash Back Bonus works is that a certain percentage of a player’s losses are given back to the player. To be a true cashback bonus the amount should be returned as real money rather than as a bonus. However, there are some online casino sites that give the cashback bonus in the form of a bonus which will have attached wagering requirements. Typically, cash-back bonuses give players back between 5% and 25% of their losses. It is important to always look at the terms of the cashback bonus to make sure the funds will be returned as cash or as a bonus.

Refer-a-Friend Bonus

The Refer-a-Friend Bonus is not as common as it used to be but it is quite self-explanatory. If one player refers another player to an online casino and they become a new customer and make the first deposit, the original player will get a bonus. Of course, as with all other casino bonuses, it is important to understand the terms and conditions attached to the bonus and when it will be paid out.

Loyalty Bonus

A Loyalty bonus is an online casino bonus given to certain players that meet certain playing requirements that clearly show them as consistent and dedicated casino players. Sometimes, these kinds of bonuses will usually not be freely available on the site, players will be specifically contacted in order to receive a loyalty bonus.

However, a lot of online Canada casino sites and UK online casino sites might also have a loyalty programme. The loyalty programme will clearly explain the requirements that must be met by the casino players in order to achieve the different bonuses. Loyalty programmes will be available to all players, but each player must meet certain betting criteria. Loyalty programmes usually come in tiers and the higher tiers have higher rewards and bonuses. Recently many of these programmes are akin to a roleplaying game that has different levels.

VIP Bonus

A VIP Bonus is very similar to a Loyalty bonus, however, the amounts are usually much higher. VIP bonuses are tailored towards high roller players that are making very large bets and wagers. VIP bonuses are usually in the form of a cashback bonus or in a very large deposit match. As with loyalty bonuses, VIP bonuses are not freely available on site. Online Casino sites usually have a dedicated VIP team and they will create VIP bonuses and also take care of all VIP players. VIP bonuses are usually the largest and most generous bonuses that an online casino can offer.

Casino Bonus Code

A casino bonus code is a code that a player can exchange in order to trigger a certain type of bonus. A lot of online casinos may also make their welcome offers redeemable only if a player inputs a casino bonus code. For example, if the Welcome Bonus is attached to a bonus code, a new player can get a 100% Deposit Match up to $1000 if you put the code BONUS100 when you make your first deposit and use the code.

The good thing about a casino bonus code is that they offer extra protection to the player. Once the code is entered the player will have the casino bonus available within their account. Codes are applied automatically with no need for input from the player. The most common casino reward code offered is a Welcome Bonus code. Other times, you’ll receive bonus code offers for reload bonuses. Most bonus codes consist of money, but some will also provide extra spins.

When you sign up for a casino bonus, be sure to read the terms of the bonus code. Most are only applicable for your first deposit, such as a welcome offer. Some bonus codes have limits on eligibility. Other times, bonus codes are only available during certain time periods. For example, this would include bonus codes that are only offered on Mondays or during a certain event.

Live Casino Online Bonus

In the world of online casino bonuses, live casino bonuses are designed for players who prefer to play live dealer games. Unfortunately, live casino bonuses are not as regular as online slot bonuses or deposit match bonuses. We will go into why this is the case later in the article, but practically this means that it is not easy to find an online live casino bonus.

Like any other welcome offer, live casino bonuses are offered to new casino players who can use them on live dealer games. Most live casino bonuses are deposit match bonuses but the bonus is only allowed to be played on live dealer games. The deposit match amount varies from casino to casino. Most of the time it will be a 100% deposit match amount up to a certain amount of money.

When people join an online casino, they often are given the opportunity to receive a ‘welcome bonus’. This typically means that new visitors to the site can benefit from receiving additional funds in order to play and get onto the gambling scene or have more fun while they gamble. The welcome bonus is meant as an incentive for newcomers to try out different games. However, when it comes to Live Casino, these promotions are not offered regularly. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly the payout on live casino games is quite volatile and the house edge is lower than in an online slot game. Since the online casino has a higher chance of losing money on a live casino game they are not very comfortable with giving out free money to use on a live casino game. Second, online slot games are purely games of chance with no real strategy attached. Live dealer games require some skill and good players know how to maximize winnings and mitigate any losses.

There are still some casinos that offer bonuses and promotions for live dealer games. Below are the top three bonus types they can come in:

Live Casino Reload Bonus

Unlike welcome bonuses, which are rewarded for your initial deposit, reload bonuses can be claimed for different deposit amounts and possibly on a weekly or monthly basis. Reload bonuses may also be part of the casino’s loyalty scheme.

Live Casino Cashback Bonus

This is one of the more common types of live casino bonuses. With a cashback bonus, you can cover some of your potential losses on live dealer games. These promotions are usually more popular with online casinos since they are just refunding a portion of your loss. Sometimes the online casino will not give real money back but a bonus, which means that it will have wagering requirements attached to it before it can be withdrawn. The cashback amount can be a percentage rate between 5% and 25% of a loss up to a certain amount of money. For example: Get a 10% cashback up to $50.

Live Casino Rewards

These are specific promotions where you need to perform a specific task in order to get the bonus. For example, one Canada online casino recently had a live casino reward on a branded Roulette table. Any winning on numbers 7, 14, or 21, entitled the player to a live casino reward voucher. Each voucher could then be exchanged for a live casino bonus amount.

Live Casino Tournaments

These are usually network promotions with a leaderboard that have a prize pool as the winning prize. You compete against other players to rank on the leaderboard and win a share of the prize pool. As with other prizes it can take the form of a cash prize or as a bonus.

Online Casino Loyalty Programs

When joining an online casino site one of the ongoing bonuses that they will offer is the loyalty program. Not only are online casinos full of big bonuses and cool prizes, but they offer other benefits as well: loyalty programs and personal managers for example. Loyalty programs have a profound effect on the player’s experience but what exactly is one? Let’s go through all the components that make up an online casino loyalty program and which casinos offer the best loyalty program bonuses.

What is a Loyalty Program?

As we have mentioned previously, one of the ways that online casinos attract new players is by their bonuses. However, bonuses are not solely used just for new players, but also to keep existing players engaged and enthusiastic. A loyalty program is designed to fulfil the same function. It is a program for players who are active on the casino site. As they continue playing they are spending more real money at the casino and are considered loyal customers. As a reward for that behaviour, the online casino will give them more and better promotions.

How do Loyalty Programs work?

All loyalty programs are quite similar. Casino players typically earn points based on how much they bet per game. The number of loyalty points a player has accumulated equates to a certain status or rank. As a player gains different ranks they get better rewards and benefits.

As an example, you earn 1 point for every $10 wagered. Therefore, if you wager $1,000, you get 100 points. The number of points you have determines your status. For example, if a player has 1 – 100 points they have Bronze status, 101 – 1,000 points is Silver status. Each specific status gives different benefits such as cash bonuses, free spins, reduced wagering requirements, VIP support, access to tournaments, and so on. The different rewards of a loyalty program vary depending on the casino site.

Some loyalty programs also allow loyalty points to be spent to get certain rewards. You can exchange loyalty points for free spins, casino bonuses, special gifts, merchandise, and real cash.

What’s the difference between a VIP program and a Loyalty program?

Some online casinos treat these concepts exactly the same. Upon registration, you become a loyalty program member or VIP member right after registration. However, in reality, a loyalty program and VIP program is handled differently. They are different on a fundamental level.

The main difference between a Loyalty program and a VIP program is eligibility. As mentioned above, a Loyalty program includes all players upon registration. For example, Jackpot City has a very good loyalty program where players get 2,500 Loyalty Points as soon as they complete the registration process.

A VIP program is usually only open by invitation and will very much depend on how much money a player wagers and deposits.

How to move up the Loyalty Point rankings

You can earn points each time you wager at an online casino. Points levels are predetermined and you will advance to the next level once you reach the limit. It is as simple as that.

Online Casino VIP Program

At some online casinos, after all loyalty program points have been earned, you can get an invitation to the VIP program. Generally, only high-rollers enter the VIP club.

Loyalty Program Benefits

As we have already mentioned above, loyalty programs have several levels. So, for a player to be eligible for the best possible promotion they need to become loyal to the casino. Apart from free spins and match bonuses, loyalty programs also include a higher standard of customer treatment and faster banking processes. Other loyalty program perks include:

  • A personal account manager
  • More casino bonuses
  • Enhanced cashback offers
  • Lower wagering requirements
  • Exclusive promotions
  • Faster withdrawal times
  • Increased cashout limits

Depending on your rank in the Loyalty program you can even win exotic holidays, concert tickets, tickets to sporting events, and other interesting holidays.

Loyalty Program Rewards

As online casinos introduce more loyalty and VIP programs, they are taking the opportunity to offer participants varying promotional offers. And as is the case with most things in life, you should take advantage of these opportunities for deals that will help you save money on your favourites: video poker, slots or roulette, for example.

We recommend reviewing the reward type that suits you best. While there are a variety of rewards available, these are the most common types.

Cashback Rewards

Building loyalty by enticing customers with cashback rewards is one of the most common bonus strategies. Players appreciate a little extra money in their accounts. While specific conditions vary, typically these bonuses are earned as a percentage of all losses.

Tournament Entries

Poker sites often offer seats in tournaments for poker players as a reward for frequent play.

Free Spins

Free Spins are a very popular bonus for online casino players.  Almost every online casino provides free spins to players. These are popular because they do not cost the casino a lot of money. Also, any winnings will have bonus terms attached to them so will not be converted to real cash right away. We will go through the different online casino bonus terms below to give more insight into how casino bonuses work.

Prizes

Prizes are a rare commodity these days, but they can still be found at some casinos through loyalty programs or special VIP offers.

Prizes are usually part of a tournament and in loyalty programs that have it, loyalty points can sometimes be exchanged for certain physical prizes. This can be in the form of branded merchandise, or electronic items such as a mobile phone, high-end stereo equipment or headphones.

How do Wagering Requirements work?

Wagering requirements are also sometimes called rollover requirements. When looking at the terms of an online casino bonus many of them will contain a term that looks something like this:

The bonus amount must be wagered a minimum of 35 times within 30 days before you can make a withdrawal. For example, if you claim a $/£25 Bonus, you will be required to bet a total amount of €/£875 (which is €25 x 35) in the online casino.

The reason behind wagering requirements is to reduce online casino bonus abuse. If there were no wagering requirements attached to an online casino bonus players would make a deposit, claim the bonus, and then cash out their funds making an instant profit and the online casino would just lose money. To reduce the number of bonus abusers, casino sites in Canada, casino sites in the UK, and casino sites in the USA, introduced wagering requirements.

The wagering requirement just lays down the requirement of how much must be bet or wagered until the bonus and any winnings can be converted into real money and withdrawn from the account. It is important to note that bonus cash can never be withdrawn from an account, only real money can be withdrawn.

The final important piece of information to keep in mind is that not all games contribute the same amount to wagering requirements. Again, all of this information should be clearly stated with the specific bonus terms of the online casino promotion. Here is an example of what that term might look like:

Wagering on games in Casino will contribute towards wagering requirements but certain games contribute more than others. The following is a list of contributions towards wagering requirements for each individual game type:

  • 100%: Slots
  • 10%: All Roulette, Caribbean Stud & Casino Stud Poker Games
  • 10%: All Casino Hold’Em, Red Dog, Pai Gow, Poker Games, Oasis Poker & Texas Hold’Em Poker Games
  • 5%: All BlackJack, Baccarat, Video Poker, Pontoon, Beat Me, Punto Banco Games

Taking the above into consideration, if a player wagers $/£5 at an online slot that will count as the full 100%, or $/£5. That amount will be deducted from the wagering requirement. However, if the player then goes on to wager $/£10 on European Roulette, it will not count as a $/£10 wager but as $/£1 based on the contribution table above.

This is why it is always so important to look at the terms and conditions in the bonus to understand all requirements beforehand.

Can I still get a Bonus if I use an e-wallet?

This will depend on the online casino site. The terms will vary depending on the payment method. Some e-wallets carry no restirctions. At other times a bonus will not be valid if a deposit is made using a certain payment method. As with all other restrictions and terms these should be easy enough to find if you take a look at the specific online casino bonus terms. Here is an example:

  • Customers depositing via the following are not eligible for the Casino Welcome Offer: Moneybookers, Skrill & Neteller.

Also, in certain jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, players are no longer allowed to make online casino deposits using certain payment methods. Again, these restrictions are clearly stated within all the terms of the online casino site. Alternatively for online Canada casino bonuses, Interac is a very popular payment method and carries no restrictions at all.

Unfortunately, not all payment methods are valid for casino bonuses because many of these payment methods are utilised by bonus abusers. Therefore online casinos began opting to not allow players to claim bonuses if they used these certain payment methods.

Are Online Casino Bonuses Game-Specific?

Again, this will depend on the specific online casino site and the games or online slots they are trying to promote. Many welcome bonuses that contain free spins will be limited to one game, or one collection of games, usually from the same casino software provider. A deposit match bonus will not be limited to a certain game, but as we mentioned above there will be restrictions in place when it comes to the wagering requirement contribution. Also, some games will not contribute to wagering at all. All of these restrictions must be clearly stated with the casino bonus terms and conditions.

So, to be safe, pay close attention to the terms in which different games count towards a bonus requirement. For example, while many casinos will restrict certain table games from counting towards a bonus requirement, slots are usually fair game.

Does a Casino Bonus Expire?

Yes. online casino bonuses do expire, usually within 30 days of the deposit date. This means players have a set amount of time to make use of that online casino bonus before it expires and the online casino site will withhold any winnings associated with it.

However, there are exceptions where online casinos will offer a longer bonus, or even put no limit at all.

Generally, online casinos providing online casino bonuses to new players are inclined to keep the online casino bonus active for as long as possible.

Can you withdraw a bonus?

As we mentioned above, the reason that wagering requirements were introduced is that many bonus abusers were claiming bonuses and instead of playing they would just withdraw the funds and take the money. Bonus money can no longer be withdrawn and only real money can be withdrawn from an online casino account. In order to convert bonus money into real money, the wagering requirements must be fulfilled.

Read the terms and conditions of any casino bonus that you are interested in to find out about wagering requirements and how much a specific game type contributes.

Cashout and withdrawals will also be limited if the bonus is a sticky bonus or a non-sticky bonus. This will be explained in more detail below. If you withdraw your real money funds before wagering requirements are ready then the bonus and any winnings from the bonus will be forfeit.

Are Online Casino Winnings Taxable?

We have some great news for you here. Online Casino winnings are not taxable. So if you strike it big on an online slot or live table game, you do not need to pay tax on the winnings. However, there is one important caveat to all this. If you are a professional gambler or all of your annual income comes exclusively from gambling, your winnings are subject to tax. Professional gamblers in Canada should consult an accountant or tax attorney for more information on taxes.

What are online casino bonuses exactly?

An online casino bonus is a reward given by an online gambling website to new players who have made their first deposit with the site.

Online casinos may offer different types of bonuses, such as free bets, free spins or free cash.

There are three main categories that we will discuss in this article and each category has its own benefits for the player:

Free Bets

A free bet is a promotional offer from an online betting site that allows new players to make a deposit and receive money in the form of bonus bets on their first bet or series of bets. The odds are typically very good for this type of promotion, so it’s important not to cash out any winnings until you have taken full advantage of your offered bonuses.

This can be especially beneficial if there is a sportsbook promo code available which will allow you to get even higher value from these offers by providing greater odds than those given without using one.

Free bets and free spins are different promotions because they have very different rules.

You can for example get a new set of free bets every 24 hours up to 100% match on your first bet (as long as you made a qualifying stake).

For example, if there’s an online casino that offers this promotion for their players, once per day you’ll be eligible for £200 in total winnings without needing to make another qualifying bet or placing additional stakes. The catch is that it has to happen within one hour and betting more than £50 will forfeit these odds forever. If at any point during the promotional period your total deposits plus bonus funds

Free Spins

When people hear “free spins” they usually think about slot machines but this term also refers to other types of games such as roulette where a player can be given a free roulette spin.

Free Cash

This type of bonus will not only offer a new player an opportunity to play their first few hands for free but they may also be given the option to withdraw some or all of this money.

You should always make sure that you read any terms and conditions before accepting your bonuses, as these will dictate how much time is available in order to claim your benefits as well as what happens if there are any issues with your account.

Oftentimes players can get more from playing slots online than actually going into a casino and betting on slot machines because it’s just so easy now without having to worry about driving anywhere.”

How do deposit Bonuses work?

The player might be given a certain amount of cash or casino chips for free when they make their initial deposit, meaning that some money has already been won.

This type of bonus can provide players with the opportunity to gamble more than they would have usually afforded to do so and may also give them an added incentive.”

So, if an online casino offers you a bonus which is called 100% up to $100 upon making your first deposit, you will get $100 worth of casino chips instantly.

What’s the difference between a sticky and non-sticky online casino bonus?

One of the terms that you may come across when hunting for online casino bonuses is whether the bonus is a sticky bonus or a non-sticky bonus. Non-sticky bonuses are sometimes called parachute bonuses. While these terms may sound funny, they are quite important and refer to the mechanics behind the bonus and how they can be wagered and/or withdrawn.

Depending on which country you play online casino in, a sticky bonus is usually more common than a non-sticky bonus. A sticky casino bonus is one that ‘sticks’ to your account so you cannot withdraw it until all wagering requirements are fulfilled. Your initial deposit amount and the bonus amount are merged into one amount and you are not able to withdraw that money until you either complete any bonus wagering requirements or cancel the bonus.

Sticky casino bonuses are the more popular of the two among online casinos because it allows casinos to attract new players and keep them entertained while promising them high bonus amounts.

A non-sticky casino bonus on the other hand keeps your bonus account and real money account separate. You are also able to cash out your real money at any point, without having to fulfil any wagering/turnover requirements. However, if you decide to withdraw your real money your bonus amount is forfeit. Once you begin to play with your money, you first start playing with the real money balance. If your real money balance is depleted you then start using your bonus money. As we mentioned above, this is why this type of bonus is sometimes called a parachute bonus.

Online casinos do not use these terms on their sites. The only way to find out which bonus you will get is to read the terms and conditions carefully and understand which online casino bonus you will get.

Online Casino sticky bonus example

Bonus: 200% First Deposit Match up to $1,000

You deposit $500 and get $1,000 in bonus money. Your account balance will show $1,500. All your funds are now locked into the wagering requirements set out in the specific terms. Your deposit, bonus funds and any winnings will be locked until the wagering has been completed.

Online Casino non-sticky bonus example

Bonus: Get a 100% Deposit Match up to $100

Deposit $100 and get a $100 Welcome Bonus. You will have two balances, a bonus balance worth $100 and a real money balance of $100. You begin to play whatever games you like and your real money balance will be used. If you have any winnings they will automatically be added to your real money balance. You can withdraw your real money balance at any point. If your real money balance drops to $0, you begin using your bonus money. If you manage to meet the bonus wagering requirements for the $100 bonus money, that money will convert to cash and you can withdraw it.

Understanding Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions

Before claiming an online casino bonus, players must read the terms and conditions associated with it. In 2021, casinos are required to make these T&Cs quite visible and easy to understand. They usually contain few variations between one another, but some differences will impact which ones are worth pursuing more than others.

Let’s go through the different terms & conditions casinos attach to their bonuses. It is important to understand what the terms mean and how they affect how good or not a bonus is.

Before you accept an online casino bonus, make sure the fine print is clear.

We can’t stress enough how important it is that you read the T&Cs of the offer. These will include things like expiry dates and wagering requirements. Things to look out for are:

  • What is the minimum deposit required for the bonus?
  • Is there a time restriction on using a bonus or completing wagering requirements?
  • Do you need to use a promo code to get the bonus?
  • Which games are included in a bonus offer?
  • Are there any restricted payment methods?

Checking for things like who is eligible to receive the bonus, what games they need to play on their first deposit and at minimum wagering requirements will help casino players get the best use of their welcome offer. It would be silly to accept a casino bonus offer only to find out later that your favourite online slot is not eligible for the bonus.

Are there any additional online casino bonus conditions to check out?

The above points are the top things you need to check out before accepting a casino bonus. But there are still plenty of other conditions that you need to check out. Most importantly you need to check out the wagering requirements and when you can withdraw your casino bonus as real money. The higher the wagering the requirement the less likely you will be able to convert all the money into cash. Let’s go through the complete list of other terms to check out and understand.

Bonus Wagering Requirements

The most common limitation attached to any casino bonus offer is a wagering requirement. This is also referred to as the rollover requirement. This number is how many times you need to wager the bonus before the bonus and any winnings convert into real money and they can be withdrawn. Both winning and losing rounds count towards wagering requirements.

Until rollover requirements are finished the money will be in your bonus account and can only be used to play and cannot be withdrawn. Most online casino bonuses have a wagering requirement of between 30 to 50. Sometimes the wagering requirements can also reach levels like 70x. Usually welcome offers have higher wagering requirements than other bonuses.

Bonus Amount Limit

Usually, casino bonuses have an upper limit. For example, a deposit match bonus may be given up to a certain amount like $1,000. So, even though you deposit over $1,000 you will still get a $1,000 bonus.

Maximum win

Some Canadian casinos enforce a limit on the amount of money you can win when you play with casino bonuses. This is done partly to protect the casino and enforced most heavily on no-deposit bonuses.

Minimum deposit amount

Deposit bonuses often have a minimum deposit amount that is attached to the offer. You can get the match deposit bonus with a $10, $20, or $50 minimum deposit. If you do not deposit the correct amount of money then you will not receive the bonus amount.

Payment Method Restrictions

So payment methods are barred from receiving casino bonuses. This is because bonus abusers and syndicates were using certain payment options for some unsavoury business practices. The most common payment methods that are excluded are e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller. This only affects deposit methods, not withdrawal methods.

Game Restrictions

Sometimes casino bonuses are restricted to certain slot games. Also, not all games count towards the wagering requirement at the same rates or at all. For example, here is a list of contributions towards wagering requirements for each individual game type that you can find at a popular online casino:

  • 100%: Slots
  • All Live Casino games: 15% – Except Dream Catcher: 50%
  • All Roulette (except Live), Caribbean Stud, Crash & Casino Stud Poker games: 10%
  • All Casino Hold’Em, Red Dog, Pai Gow Poker Games, Oasis Poker & Texas Hold’Em Poker Games: 10%
  • All BlackJack (except Live BlackJack), Baccarat, Video Poker, Pontoon, Beat Me, Punto Banco Games: 5%

This will be the case at most online casinos, where many live dealer games contribute very little to wagering requirements and even some online slot games will be excluded from wagering requirements. The list of excluded games will also be included within the bonus terms. The games are usually high volatility games or progressive jackpot games.

Bonus Expiry Date

Be sure the bonus credit will not expire. Most casinos require you to deposit and bet your bonus within a specific time period, which could be somewhere between 5-30 days.

Bonus Betting Limits

All casino bonuses usually have an upper bet size on the spin. For example, you will need to wager on an online slot but the upper bet size per spin is usually around $5 – $6. If you wager more than that it will not count towards your wagering requirement. Sometimes, an online casino might even remove your bonus completely if you breach the terms.

Best Online Casino Games for a First Deposit Bonus and Free Spins

When playing at online casinos, one of the most common types of bonuses that you can find is a free spin slot bonus. Online slots are perfect for first deposit bonuses because slots always count 100% towards any wagering requirements. Especially if the max allowed bet of around $5 – $6 per spin is used, wagering requirements can be completed relatively quickly.

The list of online slots that you can bet on for your casino bonus money is quite comprehensive and only a few dozen games will not qualify for wagering requirements. The list of slot games that do not qualify for bonus wagering requirements will always be available in the bonus terms and conditions. As we have already mentioned above, live dealer games have high payout ratios, so every online casino will limit you from playing them with bonus money and they will only contribute a low percentage amount to the bonus wagering requirements.

There are also a few slot games that are always used for welcome bonus free spins. These games are some of the most popular online slot games out there, plus they are low to medium volatility slot games which are perfect for beginners to online gambling.

Gonzos Quest Online Slot Game Logo

Gonzo’s Quest (NetEnt)

Gonzo’s Quest is a 5 reel 20 payline slot released in 2011. At first glance, it seems quite standard. However, this slot was the first to feature avalanche reels, or cascading reels. The symbols drop from above like falling rocks. Any symbols that form a winning combination crumble into dust leaving gaps that are filled with more falling symbols. As new symbols fall into the gaps this gives the opportunity for new winning combinations to form meaning you can get multiple wins from just one ‘spin’.

Gonzo’s Quest slot has 5 reels and 20 paylines and was developed by NetEnt. The slot has a Mayan theme with a Spanish conquistador as the main character, Gonzalo Pizarro (Gonzo). He is travelling through the Amazon rainforest looking for the hidden city of gold, El Dorado.

The minimum bet is 20c and you can also select the number of paylines up to 10 levels. The coin values range between 0.01 up to 0.50. The slot also features an Autoplay function where you can select between 10 to 1,000 continuous spins. The slot game can be played on all devices. The Avalanche Reels feature can lead to 5x multiplier. There is also a Free Falls feature where you get multipliers up to 15x for consecutive wins/avalanches. This means that there is 37,500x stake wins available on each free spin.

Gonzo’s Quest has an RTP of 95.97%.

Starburst (NetEnt)

The Starburst slot is a 5 reel 10 payline game from NetEnt released in 2012. Starburst is considered to be NetEnt’s most popular online slot and one of the most popular online slots ever. There are a few things that make this online slot game special. First is the Starburst Wilds. These wilds appear only on the 3 middle reels and can expand to give you up to 3 re-spins with wild reels. This can lead to some potentially high payouts. Second, Starburst paylines also work both ways. For example, if you get a winning payline it is not just calculated from left to right, but also from right to left.

The game has a very arcade feel to it with a type of space theme. The music is also pretty good for a slot game giving the game a very relaxed vibe. The bet level ranges from 0.10 a spin to as much as 100 per spin. The autoplay function allows you to select from 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 or 1,000 spins.

One of the reasons that Starburst is so popular is because it is a low volatility slot that gives you plenty of frequent wins, but of small amounts. This makes the slot a great one for new casino players. The max win per spin is 500x stake.

The Starburst RTP is 96.09%.

Starburst single logo
Mega Moolah Logo Transparent

Mega Moolah (Microgaming)

Mega Moolah is a progressive jackpot slot released in 2006 with 5 reels, 3 rows and 25 fixed paylines. This online slot is the most popular progressive jackpot game of all time and has been nicknamed ‘The Millionnaire Maker’. This online slot has created more new millionaires than any other game. Winning combinations are formed from 3 or more matching symbols across a payline, starting from the first reel.

The Mega Moolah slot has an African safari theme and is set in the Serengeti. To be honest, the slot has a very dated feel and it is obvious that this game is quite old. However, there are a lot of slots in the Mega Moolah portfolio now with updated graphics but which still have the same gameplay and will trigger the Mega Moolah jackpots. The music resembles traditional African tribal music. The bets per spin range from 0.25 to 6.25. The AutoPlay function allows you to select between 10 to 100 autospins.

However, wins on the main reel are not what makes this game so popular. Mega Moolah is all about the Jackpot Bonus Game feature. The Jackpot Game triggers randomly, however it has been noted that the percentage chance of it triggering increases with higher stakes. But we still recommend spinning at a bet level that can extend your bankroll as long as possible.

Once the Jackpot Bonus game triggers you get to spin the Progressive Jackpot Wheel. In the Jackpot Wheel you can win the Mini, Minor, Major or Mega prize. The prize amounts vary but here are the guaranteed starting amounts of each prize:

JACKPOT BONUS

Mini Jackpot

Minor Jackpot

Major Jackpot

Mega Jackpot

MINIMUM GUARANTEED AMOUNT

Starts at $10

Starts at $100

Starts at $10,000

Starts at $1 million

The Mega Moolah RTP is 93.42% overall. However, the real RTP is 88.12% with around 5.3% going into the Jackpots.

Book of Dead (Play’n Go)

Rich Wilde and The Book of Dead was released in 2016 and has 5 reels 3 rows and 10 paylines. Winning combinations are formed by getting 3 or more matching symbols across any of the 10 paylines, starting from the first reel.

The Book of Dead online slot has an Ancient Egypt theme and follows adventurer/archaeologist Rich Wilde searching through an ancient burial chamber. The bet amount can range between 0.01 per payline and you can also select the number of paylines from 1 to 10. This means that the bet amount per spin can range from 0.01 to 100. The Auto Play feature allows you to select between 10 and 100 spins.

Book of Dead is a high volatility slot with a potential max win of 5,000x stake. The RTP of the online slot is 96.21%.

Book of Dead Logo Single

Online Casino Bonus Payment Methods

The launch of the first online casino sparked a revolution. The ability to gamble without ever leaving home was an innovation in ease of use and technology. However, it was also important to understand the security risks and functions required in order to make this possible. There are different risks and rewards that depend on your first deposit and online casino bonus type.

Online casinos also facilitated the development of online banking methods which allow players to both deposit and withdraw funds in a swift and convenient manner. Also, we need to consider that some banks ban payments and deposits from online casino sites, so certain alternate means needed to be developed in order to allow people to continue playing at online casino sites.

Nowadays online casino players have many options to choose from regarding their payment methods including a number of eWallet and prepaid card solutions. Selecting an online casino that supports your preferred payment method is important. All online casino sites clearly state:

  • The accepted payment methods
  • Which payment method is used for deposits
  • Which payment method is used for withdrawals
  • What is the minimum deposit amount
  • What is the minimum withdrawal amount
  • How long is the withdrawal time
  • If there are any fees associated with a particular payment method

Several of the most popular banking options work with online casinos to provide an easy means of performing financial transactions. Companies such as Visa, Mastercard, Instadebit, Paysafecard and Interac all offer fast, secure and reliable ways of making online payments. We will go through each payment option in further detail below.

However, it is important to note that some payment methods are excluded from certain online casino bonus terms. If you want to make use of a welcome bonus or a deposit match bonus always read the bonus terms and conditions to make sure that the payment method you want to use qualifies for the bonus. The most commonly excluded payment methods are Neteller and Skrill.

Here are the most common payment methods used for online casino deposits and withdrawals.

Visa

Visa is one of the largest credit card companies in the world. They carry out more than 100 billion transactions a year. With such a huge network, they also have one of world’s best fraud detection security in place. Online casino deposits using VISA are instant. It is important to note that in the UK online casino players can no longer use credit cards to deposit money. However, debit cards are still acceptable.

Mastercard

Mastercard is one of the oldest credit card companies in the world. Mastercard offers high levels of security to customers and deposits are usually processed within an hour. Online casinos allow customers to use debit and credit cards as well as loading a prepaid card with funds.

PayPal

PayPal is the most popular online payment method in the world. It’s also a popular payment method at online casinos. Note that PayPal is not accepted as a payment method in all markets.

Bank Transfers

Bank transfers were originally the most popular way to make deposits to casinos, however, these have recently fallen out of popularity as most people do not want to share their banking details. This payment method would allow transfers directly into and out of your account.

Interac

Interac is a system that links international financial institutions and customers. It facilitates the exchange of electronic banking transactions, serving as the Canadian debit card system. It is one of the most popular online banking methods in Canada and a must-have for any online casino providing their services in the Canadian market.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin is digital money that has the advantages of being instant, private and free from bank fees. With a decentralized distributed network, it was the first cryptocurrency to be successful and now accounts for the largest share of currencies in circulation. There are many casinos that accept Bitcoin as payment.

INSTADEBIT

Instadebit Inc. is a trusted Canadian bank payment method, available to all Canadian residents.

MuchBetter

MuchBetter is an app-based payment provider that offers instant, safe and convenient online payments. It is one of the fastest growing providers in the world.

iDebit

iDebit is an online wallet and payment processor and is trusted and well-used in Canada.

Paysafecard

Paysafecard is an independent payment method, not tied to bank accounts or credit cards. Customers can purchase prepaid vouchers that can be used online.

Skrill

Skrill is an online payment method that allows payments at almost all online casinos using an account. Payments are anonymous and casino winnings can be cashed out. This is also one of the reasons that most online casinos do not allow Skrill deposits for their online bonuses.

Neteller

Neteller is an online money transfer service that provides security and easy access.

Online Casino Bonus FAQs

Here are the most common questions that we get asked about Online Casino Bonuses.