Casino advisors will tell you that, when you're deciding on your preferred casino venue, one of the most important things to identify involves finding the best online casino bonuses. A good bonus program can make the difference between enjoying some basic payouts and amassing significant wins.
Some people review a number of different bonus programs before signing up for a casino but others give up on this step because they find that the fine print and variety of offers is too confusing. If you understand how casino bonuses work, what types exist and the terms that you'll need to understand how to maximize them, you can simplify the process and make the best decision for your gaming entertainment.
Types of Bonuses
Casinos generally offer multiple types of casino bonuses. Every casino features its own listing but the bonus programs generally include several of the following:
- Welcome Bonus – generally, credits that matche your first deposits. There are also, often, free spins presented. The Welcome Bonus is meant to attract new players and boost their bankroll
- No-Deposit Bonus – a bonus that lets you test casino games without spending your own money. No deposit bonuses are typically given in small amounts of casino cash or free spins.
- Loyalty/Comp Point programs – players are rewarded for real money games played with points that can be exchanged for additional gaming points or cash. The more games you play, and the more time that you play, the more comp points you'll earn
- Free Spins – for slots players, a chance to spin he reels of selected slot machines for free and add the winnings to the player's Win Box.
- Cashback Deal -returns a percentage of your losses over a set period, to provide a safety net for unlucky streaks.
- Crypto Bonuses – special deals that the casino gifts to players who deposit with crypto.
Key Terms and Conditions to Know
Every casino bonus comes with key terms and conditions that you need to know if you're going to maximize those give-aways. If it's going to be difficult for you to apply the casino bonuses to your gaming activities, they aren't worth much. Some of the terms and conditions that you should be aware of include:
- Playthrough – The term "playthrough" is also expressed as ”wagering requirements". It refers to number of times you must wager the bonus (and sometimes, also, the deposit) before you can withdraw winnings. For example, a $50 bonus with a 20x requirement means you must bet $1,000 before you can cash out bonus winnings.
- Game Restrictions – not every bonus is applicable to every game. Check the bonus's "Terms and Conditions" to determine to which games it can be applied.
- Time Limits – some bonuses expire if they are not used within a set period.
- Max Win/Withdrawal Limits – Some bonuses cap the amount that you can win or withdraw from bonus funds.
- Minimum Deposit – the minimum that you can deposit to qualify for a bonus.
- Maximum Bet – the highest wager allowed when playing with bonus funds.
Maximizing Casino Bonuses
It doesn't take a lot of planning or effort to maximize your casino bonuses but it does demand that you be aware of the ups and downs of using a bonus gifts. Some things that you can do to make the most of your casino's bonus program include:
- Read the fine print so that you collect everything that's due to you.
- Focus on low-wagering or no-wagering bonuses which are easier to convert into real cash.
- Choose bonuses that suit your gaming preferences. If you enjoy the slots, look for bonuses of free spins. If you are a high-stakes player, check out the VIP Club.
- Play responsibly. Don't chase losses with bonus money. Stick to your budget and avoid using bonuses as a way to recover losses – if you keep playing, you may win but you may lose.
- Compare offers -- Stick to a budget and avoid using bonuses as a way to recover losses.
Keep in Mind
It may seem obvious but you have to stay alert to make the most of your casino gaming adventure. Pay attention to the wagering requirements because if you don't, you may find that your winnings are unclaimable. Review the bonus expiry dates.
Just because a bonus is featured on a casino website is no indication that it's still applicable – it may simply mean that the website hasn't updated yet. Do a quick check of the bonus's expiration dates to ensure that the bonus package that you think that you're getting will, in fact, be delivered to you!
Game Weighting
Understanding game weighting is crucial for you to utilize casino bonus wagering requirements efficiently. Game weighting refers to the percentage of each bet on a particular game that counts toward fulfilling your wagering requirement. For instance, if you're focusing on accruing Comp Points, you should know that slot machine play contributes the highest percentage to your comp point collection.
Understanding how the various games are weighed can help you maximize your bonus offers. For instance, you can avoid wasted bets by avoiding games with lower weightings (10% - 20% for many table games) while concentrating on games with higher weightings (slots generally have 100% weighting).
By focusing your play on games with the highest weighting, you reduce the total amount you need to wager and increase your chances of successfully converting bonus funds into cash.
Payout Clauses
You may assume that the money in your Win Box is yours to withdraw at your leisure but that's not necessarily true. Some casinos reserve the right to delay withdrawals, especially after big wins.
Make sure that everything is clear so that your expectations line up with casino policies. Avoid surprises by reviewing the casino's payout clauses so you know exactly what to expect.
