Most online casinos offer bonuses and promotions. They can regularly provide you with anything from free spins to bonus funds, access to tournaments, red-carpet events, VIP perks, and much more. Of course, while some casinos have their own bespoke and unique deals, most gambling sites tend to stick to the same tried and tested options.
If you’re new to the concept of betting online, you may not necessarily be familiar with how online casino bonuses work. Don’t worry, though. I’m here to introduce you to five of the most common bonuses in the online casino world. I’ll touch on how they work, why they are offered, and what you can expect to get from them when claiming these deals today. Let’s begin with the most popular and commonly offered casino bonus online – the match deposit bonus.
#1 – Match Deposit Bonuses
Match deposit bonuses are so commonplace that you can find them on virtually every online casino site. The most typical is the ever popular 100% match deposit bonus. This is frequently provided as a welcome bonus to new members, and it essentially ensures that whatever you deposit (within the limits) will be doubled by the casino. For instance, let’s pretend that you pop a crisp $100 into your account. You’ll then receive the exact equivalent of that (100%) as a bonus.
In short, you’ll start with $100, your 100% bonus ($100), giving you $200 to play with. Of course, some casinos go above and beyond and may offer you matches worth upwards of 500%, while others will ensure that their match deposit bonuses span your first several deposits or include free spins, to boot.
#2 – Loyalty Rewards and VIP Clubs
It isn’t just newbies at online casinos that are going to benefit from rewards. Many casinos support loyalty clubs that reward already-existing members with perks and privileges. In most cases, you’ll earn points (known as loyalty points or LPs) when betting. These can be used to climb tiers; with each new membership level you attain giving you improved offers and deals. Some of these can include additional match bonuses, free spins, higher withdrawal limits, and other goodies. LPs may also (in some cases) be exchanged for bonus cash, or at certain casinos, they can be spent in a loyalty shop to acquire free spins, cash bonuses and more.
#3 – Special Offers
Special offers don’t correspond to one specific bonus. They can be anything and everything. The key thing is that they will be short-term deals. For instance, online casinos that feature special offers may only be available for a day, a week, a month, or for a specific event, such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween, or St. Valentine’s Day. The entry requirements to claiming these offers can vary – perhaps you need to deposit or play specific games. They may also include free spins and more. Ultimately, it is up to you to head to the casino’s promos page and see what’s available here.
#4 – Re-deposit/Reload Bonuses
As touched on, it isn’t just new members who get to claim casino bonuses. Match deposit bonuses may also be available for already existing members. For instance, there are frequently re-deposit and reload bonuses at the best sites. These work in much the same way as welcome packages and bonuses, although they tend to be worth a touch less than the opening offer from a casino. Some may also be rather specific and tied to specific depositors. For instance, crypto casino bonuses or high-roller promos won’t be everybody’s cup of tea.
#5 – No Deposit Bonuses
Lastly, let’s touch on no-deposit bonuses. Again, these aren’t going to be available at every casino. Furthermore, some countries prevent their licensed casinos from offering them. There’s always a workaround, though. For instance, if UK bettors can’t find them at UKGC-licensed sites, they can always try USA casino sites for UK players, many of which are offshore and based out of Curacao.
These types of no-deposit bonuses may include free spins or cash matches, but we’re generally talking about small sums. The basic idea is that no deposit bonuses give newbies a taste of what life is like at the casino or reward existing members by giving them a handful of free spins on their favorite slots. These are just examples, though.
What Should I Look for in a Top Casino Bonus?
Every online casino bonus will come with a few terms and conditions attached. These can be overwhelming, but I’ll show you exactly what the key terms are that you need to look out for if you wish to claim the best casino bonuses below. They include:
- Don’t assume that you can use your bonus on everything at a casino. There may be specific offers valid for slots, live dealer casino games or table games. Check them out to ensure that your offer is tailored to the games you want to play.
- Similarly, ensure that any free spins bonus you claim can be used on the slots you want to play. Check the game eligibility terms and only claim deals which are valid on your favorite slots.
- Always make sure that any bonus you claim has low wagering requirements. You’ll need to wager your bonus (or whatever you win) a number of times before withdrawals are permitted, so ensure that they are under 40x where possible.
- Many cash bonuses have bet limits. It isn’t uncommon to claim a $100 bonus and be limited to wagering just $5 per spin. Check the bonus T&Cs for more information about these.
- Some casino bonuses have maximum win or withdrawal caps. You’re going to want these to be as high as possible, and the best bonuses won’t have win caps at all.
Where to Find the Best Casino Bonuses Online
Virtually every online casino will have some form of bonuses and promotions to offer you. However, only the best online casinos will have deals which genuinely benefit you and your balance, with fair terms and conditions and decent wagering requirements. You are, of course, free to explore any casino and check out their bonuses. However, I recommend that you peruse the reviews found on this site. Each has been written from an unbiased perspective and accurately covers all the best bonuses that the casinos have to offer.
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