Online Casino Bonuses & Promotions Explained
One of the most important things to look for when considering the online casino you want to play at is the bonuses they have on offer. Each online casino has its own set of unique, daily and irregular bonuses and promotions.
You’ll know which online casino is right for you by the types of bonuses they offer.
- For instance, if you are a table and card game fanatic, then free spins on online slots won’t do the trick.
- The key is in finding a casino that offers bonuses that suit your style, whether you are a newcomer or a high roller.
Becoming more familiar with the bonuses and promotions and how they work will also give you a better idea of the user-friendliness of the casino.
- For instance, if the bonus system is optimised to provide you with a smoother process and customer support is always ready and effective in assistance, then chances are better for you to enjoy the entire experience.
- These simple factors can determine whether or not you’ll have a long and happy partnership with your online casino of choice.
CasinoWow Recommends: Whether you are new to online gambling or just in need of a quick refresher, we’ve created this bonuses explained guide to give you all the information you need. By reading through the list of bonuses, you’ll better understand how beneficial they are. You’ll also find it easier to find a casino that offers the right type of bonuses to suit your gambling style.
We’ll also go into depth on the different types of bonuses offered to both existing and new online casino players. Often, certain bonuses are exclusive to either new or existing players.
You don’t need to be a professional to know that online casino bonuses are vital to a better online gambling experience. Bonuses often have the power to make or break a casino, especially since there are hundreds of online casinos, each competing to be the best among players.
The Most Popular Types of Bonuses
There are many bonuses available at different casinos and for different games and promotions. However, there are two types of bonuses that are the most popular among players:
- Deposit Bonus
- No Deposit Bonus
Both have their perks and specifics, so we'll take a closer look and help you understand them better before you start playing and claiming any bonus promotion.
The Deposit Match Bonus
Most of the deposit bonuses are match bonuses and linked to a particular set of wagering requirements. As a new player in the online casino world, you might not fully understand this. It is important to have a basic idea of how these match bonuses and wagering requirements affect you and your wins at the end of the day.
- Let’s say you have a 100% match bonus of up to $100 that is linked to a 20x wagering requirement restriction.
- This means you will receive $100 on top of the $100 you deposited, but you will have to wager $2,000 before you can withdraw your winnings.
- In simpler terms, if you have a $100 bonus, you must multiply it by the wagering requirements (20), which gives you a total of $2,000.
Keep this in mind and always read the terms and conditions to find out what the wagering requirements are attached to your bonus.
These bonuses are given to you when you make a qualifying deposit at the casino of your choice. These are considered the most traditional bonuses offered at basically every old or new online casino. In simple terms, a deposit bonus is a matched percentage of your deposit amount that is added to your account on top of your deposit amount.
Our team has picked the top three deposit bonus offers worth taking advantage of:
NEW PLAYERS ONLY: 420% up to $4,200 + 175 Bonus Spins
NEW PLAYERS ONLY: 500% up to €3625 + up to 350 Bonus Spins
NEW AND EXISTING PLAYERS: $10 Free Cash Exclusive Bonus
Types of Deposit Bonuses
Now, let's take a closer look at which bonus promos can be considered Deposit bonuses:
This is a match bonus with play-through requirements on both the bonus amount and the deposit. It’s a bonus that you can withdraw after the wagering requirements have been met.
Non-Cashable Bonus (Sticky)
This match bonus comes with wagering requirements on both the bonus amount and the deposit. As the name suggests, the bonus can’t be withdrawn, and it will be deducted from your balance as soon as the wagering requirements have been met.
These are often used as welcome bonuses and award you a range of different bonuses with wagering requirements on both the deposit and bonus amount. With these bonus packages, you will often need to make one single deposit to unlock multiple rewards such as deposit match percentage, free spins and free cash.
As the name suggests, exclusive bonuses are special bonuses we’ve negotiated just for you. If you ever find an online casino on our site with an exclusive bonus attached to it you’ll be one of a few who get to claim it. These bonuses can’t be found anywhere else and can only be obtained by heading to the selected casino via a special link on the page.
It is nice to have loyalty and VIP bonuses, as the casino gives you back a percentage of the money you’ve wagered or deposited and played. Cashback bonuses are generally linked to a loyalty program at most online casinos.
When making a successful deposit, you will be awarded several free spins that can be played on a certain slot game. These types of bonuses are generally linked to wagering requirements, but there are some online casinos like Guts that offer free spins bonuses without any wagering requirements attached.
You’ll be awarded free casino bonus money that comes with a set of special terms and conditions. These bonuses allow you to test the games before you start playing them for real money. When using free play bonuses, you can score bigger cash bonuses when making the minimum deposit at the selected online casino.
This is a percentage match bonus or cash amount that is linked to wagering requirements. These bonuses are very rarely awarded and are generally only given after wagering requirements have been met. As soon as this bonus has been added to your account, however, it is completely wagering requirement-free.
If you’re a high roller, then these VIP bonuses are definitely something you’ll look forward to. These bonuses often vary from a matched percentage of your deposited amount to exclusive rewards such as free gifts, cashback or other casino specials.
Our high-roller bonuses include amazing offers to play slots and table games. With a minimum bonus value of $/€/£1000, you can enjoy your favourite games with high stakes and get a chance to win a life-changing jackpot.
Like the Wagering Bonus, the Max Cashout Bonus is quite rare and not encountered often. It is a match bonus that comes with wagering requirements on both the deposit and bonus amount. These bonuses are guaranteed to have a maximum withdrawal limit attached to it.
When you choose the bonus that sounds most suitable for your gameplay, head over to a licensed casino and see if they offer similar bonuses. Keep in mind that if you are a new player at any casino, you'll most likely get a welcome bonus as such.
Not to mention that, as a CasinoWow reader, you are treated to a special selection of exclusive bonuses you won't be able to find anywhere else. Here are the top three exclusive offers for this month, hand-picked from our team:
NEW PLAYERS ONLY: Up to 500 Bonus Spins Welcome Offer
NEW PLAYERS ONLY: 450% up to $/€ 4000 + 325 Bonus Spins
NEW PLAYERS ONLY: 15 No Deposit Bonus Spins
The No Deposit Bonus
These bonuses most commonly appear in the form of free cash and free spins and are generally awarded to new players. These bonuses are also frequently used as a lure to get more players to sign up for a casino.
While these are great gifts that don’t require you to make any deposits, they do come with strings attached. No Deposit Bonuses mostly come with strict wagering requirements, which require you to play through the bonus funds or spins a certain number of times. You will also note that these bonuses often have a maximum limit on the amount you may withdraw.
If you’re new to online gambling, these restrictions and requirements might seem a tad bit unfair, but they are there to protect the casinos from bonus abuse.
Not all players are sincere, and some have been known to abuse bonuses without ever actually sticking with an online casino. These restrictions and requirements ensure players spend time at the casino and don’t just abuse the bonus system.
In terms of the maximum amounts of cash you may withdraw from these no deposit bonus funds or spins, it varies from casino to casino. It can be anything from $100 or $5,000, depending on how generous the casino is feeling and whether or not you are a new or existing player. As a new player, you can always expect maximum withdrawals to be relatively low.
Types of No Deposit Bonuses
Let's take a closer look at which bonus promos can be considered No Deposit bonuses:
These are quite popular nowadays, thanks to online slots being a favourite among players. You will be awarded a certain amount of free spins which can be used on a specific slot game. These free spins are played to the end, and the total wins are then available for you to play with. Most often, the wins are considered bonus money and can only be withdrawn once the wagering requirements have been met.
A free cash bonus is a little bit of free money added to your account, which always comes with wagering requirements and mostly with a maximum cashout limit. These are incredibly popular in most online casinos and give you, as a player, the chance to win real cash without making a deposit.
We'd like to remind you to always read the T&C of the bonus, get familiar with the wagering requirements and play at only licensed and safe online casinos!
Terms & Conditions of Bonuses
Terms and conditions are a legal agreement between the casino (service provider) and the player (customer). While it might be a boring task to read the terms and conditions, it’s important, especially for bonuses and promotions.
Many casinos catch players by posting bonuses that look too good to be true, but once you read the terms and conditions, the bonus might not look as good anymore. It’s always better to have your basis covered by reading the fine print. It could save you a lot of trouble and frustration later on.
Important note: One of the most important things to do when viewing a bonus is to go through the terms and conditions. It’s never fun to do the admin side of things, but when it comes to online casino gambling, the terms and conditions are vital to your success. You will find all the limits, restrictions, and information on your selected bonus.
Terms commonly found in casino bonuses
To give you an overview of what terms you need to look for, let’s take a closer look at the most common casino bonus terms and how they impact you:
- Deposit amount - There is often a minimum and maximum deposit amount stated in the terms and conditions.
- Claiming the bonus - Check if you need to opt into the promotional offer or enter a unique bonus code.
- Excluded payment methods - Some payment methods are not deemed eligible for a bonus offer.
- Game restrictions - Some games can be excluded from the list of eligible games.
- Maximum bet - With most casinos, you won’t be able to make bets larger than $/£ 5 per spin when using your bonus.
- Wagering requirements - The number of times you will have to play through your bonuses before withdrawing your winnings.
What are Bonus Codes?
Bonus codes are letters and/or numbers that players enter on an online casino site to unlock special offers. They work like a key. When you enter the code during registration or deposit, it activates a bonus such as free spins, extra funds, or cashback. Some casinos require them for every offer, while others use them only for exclusive promotions.
Key points about bonus codes:
- Purpose - They activate specific offers like welcome bonuses, free spins, reload bonuses, or cashback.
- How to use - Enter the code when creating an account, making a deposit, or in the promo field.
- Where to find them - On the casino’s promotions page, newsletters, or affiliate sites.
- Why casinos use them - They help track promotions, reward loyal players, and give access to exclusive deals.
Important to note! Bonus codes just like the regular bonuses usually come with terms like wagering requirements, game restrictions, or time limits.
Bonus codes are an easy way to unlock extra rewards and special offers at online casinos. By using the right code and understanding its terms, players can get more value from their gaming experience.
The Future of Bonuses - Crypto
With the rise of crypto and Bitcoin casinos, it's understandable why casinos began to include more and more crypto bonuses. In general, crypto bonuses are not that different from other bonuses. The only thing is - you get your wins in crypto.
You can still claim a Deposit Bonus, No Deposit Bonus, Free Spins Bonus, Welcome Bonus or any other, but with the difference that you'll not be using fiat payments.
These types of bonuses are most popular at crypto casinos or hybrid casinos, where both regular bonuses and crypto bonuses are available.
What Makes Crypto Bonuses Attractive?
Crypto bonuses are tailored for players who deposit and play with digital coins. Their advantages are:
- Bigger rewards for crypto users who often get higher match bonuses or extra free spins compared to standard payment methods.
- Faster transactions for deposits and withdrawals with crypto that are usually quicker and sometimes fee-free.
- Exclusive promotions at some casinos that run special events, jackpots, or cashback just for crypto players.
- Privacy and flexibility with crypto payments that can offer more anonymity and broader availability across regions.
Claim any one of these top 3 crypto bonus offers and upgrade your gameplay in an instant:
20% Cashback after the first 7 days
150% up to 1BTC + up to 500 Bonus spins
100% Bonus up to 1 BTC + 100 Bonus Spins
T&Cs apply, so make sure you read those to judge if the offer is a good fit before you claim it.
Ready to Play!
As you can see, various attractive deposit and no deposit bonuses are waiting for you at the online casinos listed on our site. Take a look at some of the best promotions offered on our list of top-rated bonuses. Each of these bonuses has been vetted and reviewed to ensure they have the best value for money, fair bonus terms and conditions and offer superior gambling entertainment.
Once you’ve selected the casino you like, you can start by cashing in on the fantastic bonuses on offer, including some exclusive bonus offers for CasinoWow players. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions and make sure the wagering requirements are doable for you.
Gambling is all about fun and entertainment, and it’s essential to find bonuses that add to your enjoyment rather than steal from it.