How Do Online Casino Bonuses Work? A Beginner’s Guide to Casino Campaigns

The online gaming market has more and more fans every day, so it’s not surprising that the competition among gaming venues is growing. To attract as many players as possible and retain the existing ones, online casinos offer different types of bonuses and promotions.

In this article, we’ll explain the differences among various types of bonuses and address the question—how do online casino bonuses work? We’ll provide information on how to use campaigns to your advantage and all the other details you need for a pleasant gaming journey. 

Casino Bonuses 101

Casino bonuses are popular among players because they provide added value and offer more chances to win. They come in various forms, but the six most common ones are:

1. Welcome bonuses
2. Deposit bonuses
3. No-deposit bonuses
4. Free spins
5. Cashback offers
6. Loyalty rewards

Some online casino bonuses, such as welcome bonuses, are available to new players as a standard part of the casino offer. Most other types occur as temporary offers or  part of a promotion the casino is running at the time. But how exactly do these bonuses work, and what do you have to do to get a bonus for online casinos?

Different Types of Online Casino Bonuses Explained

Gaining valuable insights about the different types of bonuses that await you at online casinos will help you make informed choices and optimize your gaming experience. Here’s how each one of them works and how to make the most of them.

Welcome Bonus

As its name suggests, the welcome bonus is an offer that the casino gives to its newcomers. All players visiting the casino’s website for the first time are entitled to a welcome bonus after registering, which includes filling out the registration form with personal data and confirming your email address.

The most common type of welcome offer is a bonus of a certain percentage on the first deposit. With most operators, this means that you’ll receive a 100% bonus match up to a certain amount of the first deposit. For this reason, this bonus is often called the first deposit bonus.

In combination with the first deposit bonus, as part of the welcome bonus, many casinos also offer free spins that you can use for one of the predetermined online slot casino games.

Deposit Bonus

These bonuses are similar to welcome bonuses, but they’re available to both new and existing players. They typically offer a percentage match on subsequent deposits, encouraging you to keep funding your account.

No-Deposit Bonus

No-deposit bonuses, as their name says, are given without a prior deposit. This means that this type of bonus doesn’t represent any financial risk. This bonus isn’t very common and most often doesn’t hold large amounts of casino money, unlike the bonuses that require some kind of deposit.

Sometimes casinos offer bonuses without a deposit as a part of the welcome bonus, but they’re more often used to attract old players who haven’t played in a while.  

No-deposit bonuses sometimes consist of a certain amount of money that you can use to play your favourite game, but they can also include free spins for a specific game.

Source: welcomia

Free Spins

Another common form of casino bonus is free spins. These bonuses allow you to spin the reels for free on certain slots. Any winnings you make during free spins will usually be added as a bonus amount to your account. Casinos often use this bonus to promote a certain game that’s a part of their collection—for example, a game that’s just been added to the game library. The advantage of free spins over other bonuses of this type is that slot games can bring you high winnings with small initial stakes, which is part of the reason why they’re so popular.

Cashback Bonus

Some casinos provide cashback on players’ losses within a specific period. For example, a 10% cashback offer means that if you lose $100, the casino will refund $10 back to your account. Although the returns are smaller—usually 2%–20%—it’s certainly a bonus that’s worth using if you catch an unlucky streak.

Loyalty Rewards

Casino loyalty rewards are designed to enhance the overall casino experience for players and create a sense of appreciation and exclusivity for those who choose to frequently play at the establishment. They’re offered by casinos to reward regular and loyal players. These rewards typically come in the form of points or credits that you accumulate based on your gambling activity within the casino. You can redeem these points for various benefits, such as:

• Free play
• Access to special events
• Travel or spa vouchers
• Hotel stays 

The more you engage in gambling activities and spend at the casino, the higher your loyalty status and the greater the rewards and benefits you can unlock.

How Does Online Casino Bonus Work?

Using bonuses for casino games or betting is a great way to maximize your chances of winning.

To get the bonus, you must first register on the casino website. Due to casinos’ anti-money laundering and anti-fraud politics, you’ll be asked to verify your identity. This is usually done by providing a photo or a copy of a government-issued identification document, like:

1. Identification card
2. Passport
3. Driver’s license

After you’ve chosen the bonus you want to use, it’s important to carefully evaluate if you can meet all the requirements connected to the use of the bonus.

The most common conditions that need to be met to withdraw the winnings made with the bonus are the wagering requirements. In the case of sports betting, it’s the minimum odds or the number of pairs that need to be played on one ticket.

Pay special attention to any other bonus restrictions that may apply. Don’t forget to check the period of validity and availability of the bonus you want to use.

You can also use these deals to:

• Test new games
• Try out new strategies
• Familiarize yourself with how the casino or betting platform works

Wagering Requirements

Before you can withdraw any profits from bonus funds or free spins, you must fulfill the wagering requirements or playthroughs that the casino specified.

These requirements are commonly expressed as a multiplier, indicating the number of times the bonus amount or winnings must be wagered before they become eligible for withdrawal. For example, if a casino offers a 100% match bonus of $100 with a 40x wagering requirement, there are two possibilities:

1. Requirement on the additional amount—You must wager $4,000 (40 x $100)
2. Playthrough for the deposit and additional amount combined—You must wager $8,000 (40 x $200)

Different casino games vary in contribution towards meeting the wagering requirements, with slots often contributing 100%, while table games or video poker may contribute a lower percentage or be excluded altogether.

Here’s a breakdown of typical game contributions in online casinos: 

It’s important to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions associated with any bonuses or free spins you receive, including the wagering requirements. This will help you ensure you meet the necessary criteria for withdrawal and know what to expect.

The Best Online Casinos To Get You Started

All online venues offer some kind of incentives that you can take advantage of and that can help you advance your casino experience. Nevertheless, it might be difficult to choose the ideal online casino. Some unlicensed operators provide promotions that can lead you to believe they are top-notch establishments when in reality, they want to trick you and take your money. 

To stay on the safe side of online gaming, our experts made a list of the top ten reputable online casinos that are safe and reliable. Here are the casinos that made it to our list:

Responsible Gaming

Source: rupixen.com

Casino bonuses are a marketing tool that provides added value to casino games. They can help you increase your odds of winning and prolong your gaming experience. Still, it’s essential to gamble responsibly and within your means.

You should always enjoy your gaming activities in a controlled and balanced manner while prioritizing your well-being. There are no guarantees for winning when talking about casino games, so never chase losses and always make informed decisions based on personal circumstances and limits.

If you start to feel like you can’t control your gambling habits, seek help. This can be done through:

• Self-exclusion programs
• Counselling services
• Helplines dedicated to assisting individuals with gambling-related issues

Whichever option you choose, know that there are professionals specializing in this issue who will gladly help you control your gaming habits.

Featured image source: AidanHowe