Casino Bonus FAQs
Bonuses are the primary marketing tool used in the online casino industry. These can come in many forms, including free cash bonuses, deposit match offers and free spins.
Most commonly used to attract new players, they are also used to promote new games. Some operators will also reward loyal and/or high staking players, in an attempt to gain market share from competitors. Here we will answer the main questions regarding casino promo offers, so you can pick the best one for you.
What is a Free Cash Bonus?
As the name suggests, free cash bonuses are given without the need for a player to transact. Typically around $25, these promos aren't as big as others but they also come with lower wagering requirements (covered later). This money cannot be withdrawn until wagering requirements are completed.
How Does Free Cash Differ from Free Spins?
Though conceptually similar, there are some key differences between free cash and free spins. Most notably, free spins are only usable on slots games. With a likely value of around $0.10 per spin, they are commonly awarded to existing players when an operator is looking to promote a particular slot; although new players are often awarded no deposit free spins too.
What are Deposit Match Bonuses?
The most common type of promo you will likely come across is the deposit match. These offers require players to first make a deposit, before the operator matches it by a prespecified percentage (i.e 200% deposit match up to $500).
Whilst these provide relatively lucrative boosts to your bankroll, they also come with stricter requirements. This makes it more difficult to generate profit, but given the size of the initial reward, savvy players can still make huge gains.
Which Requirements Apply to Casino Promo Offers?
As well as the initial bonus amount, there are other requirements players must consider before claiming a promo. These include wagering requirements, bet size and maximum withdrawable winnings.
Wagering requirements refer to the number of times a bonus amount must be wagered, before any winnings qualify for withdrawal. This means for a bonus amount of $25 with 10x wagering requirements, $250 would need to be wagered before any winnings could be claimed.
Bet size relates to the amount of a bonus that can be placed at one time. Some offers may only allow for a small percentage (i.e 20%) of a bonus to be placed at one time, to restrict a casino's potential losses. It is important to know if there are restrictions to bet size, as failing to observe this may result in a promo being voided. This also applies to games, as some games like slots may contribute towards 100% of the playthrough requirement, while other games with a lower house edge (i.e. blackjack) may only contribute 10%.
Finally, maximum withdrawable winnings relate to the highest amount a player can win with a promo offer. This restriction is the least pertinent of the three, but it is still worth knowing what the limit is.
Are Casino Promos Worth Claiming?
Absolutely. Even if they aren't eligible on your favourite games, they provide a risk-free means of trying something new - and potentially a good financial return. As ever, be sure to check the Ts and Cs to avoid any disappointment.