Casino Bonuses – Deposit Less and Play Longer at Online Casinos
In essence, casino bonuses are free money, free spins, complimentary chips or any other extra that a player can receive from a casino with his deposits. Usually, they are not given out for free (with rare exceptions) and in order to receive a casino bonus, players have to either make a deposit or complete a task in the casino such as wagering a specific amount on all or just one particular game.
There are many different types of casino bonuses such as deposit bonuses, free spins or cashback bonuses that it presents sometimes a challenge to understand it all. In this article, we take a closer look at the most common types of bonuses.
Just as varied are the terms for bonuses which often weaken the real value of a bonus, hence, €100 might not be worth the full one hundred in the end but it will be some extra money for the player that will end up being somewhere between zero and the full amount. Wagering requirements are often steep and players don’t always get through it but keep in mind that especially if you are planning to play more, you would still be spinning on slot reels, so why not wager a bonus at the same time. With higher stakes wagering, the player’s profit usually increases as getting through the rounds can deliver big wins. Will cover wagering in more detail in a future article of our Book of GMBLRS.
Why Do Casinos Distribute “Free” Money?
You might have asked yourself why a casino is offering bonuses when players can benefit from them? The answer is simple, competition. The number of online casinos has literally mushroomed over the last years leading to fierce competition to attract players. It can prove rather difficult to get players not only to sign up but also return to a casino unless they have already a stellar reputation and an attractive package.
At the end of the day, bonuses are a marketing tool to lure a player to the online casino, very much like a petrol company can sell gas at a discount or a grocery store puts low-cost bulk candies in a magazine ad; the crowds will come and usually buy more. In the case of a casino, players might return later and spend their own money without a bonus.
A First Deposit Almost Always Gets a Bonus
The very reason why new players get a bonus that is usually better than the average promotion is to get them to sign up and make their first deposit. A common misconception about casino bonuses is that the terms are drafted in such a way that a player cannot win. We dedicated an entire article about this myth simply because bonuses can most definitely benefit a player, starting from an extended gaming experience to more chances of winning and even being able to make a profit. Very often, casinos offer bonuses to their existing customers. These are on average slightly less valuable, but especially VIP players who play a lot usually receive bigger bonuses with better terms.
The Value of Bonuses Varies
Worth noting is that a bonus is not really worth the entire bonus amount because of the terms and conditions attached to it. On the other hand, it is not something the casino can benefit and will be in the long run something between zero and the actual bonus amount. In some cases, bonuses are not profitable for the player, e.g. a 10% bonus with a wagering requirement of 20x deposit + bonus or a bonus with a maximum conversion limit of €500 can make it difficult to turn out a profit.
At some casinos, the terms and conditions are very comprehensive, yet it is imperative that you always read them for each bonus offer. The terms are mainly to protect them from bonus abuse as otherwise players would simply deposit, take the bonus and withdraw it altogether instantly. It would be a sure way for a casino to go bust in a short period of time. To find out about casino promotions and their potential pitfalls, read this article which will help you to avoid breaking rules and to play your bonuses in the best possible way. Some casinos have too restrictive terms, something we will cover in a future article.
In closing, casino bonuses stand for straight deposit bonuses, free spins, cashback and other additional benefits that a player receive from a casino, usually after a deposit. They might be seen sometimes in a negative light but in reality, they offer longer playtime, bigger bankrolls and often extra wins and profits.
Let’s Play!
Team GMBLRS
ps. for Finnish gamblers we recommend s-kasinot.com!
We know that most of our readers, as well as ourselves, would prefer bonuses with no extra terms or requirements and even better no deposit required. Naturally, we’ve listed the so-called NDBs too, but we shouldn’t forget about deposit bonuses as there is a multitude around with plenty of options. It is also often logically smarter to take a £ 10 deposit with a £ 40 bonus, then a £ 20 deposit with 50 bonus spins valued at 10p each.
Yep, yes, as old casino veterans, we understand that the higher the percentage, the smaller the deposit, the more fun you get. Unfortunately, over 200% casino bonuses are rather rare to find, but exactly 200% bonuses are still widely available. “Deposit £ 10 and get £ 30” is probably a familiar slogan for you too.
Being avid gamers ourselves, we scour the world wide web on a daily basis to find the best bonuses with the most lenient terms, lowest wagering requirements and possibly no restrictions for withdrawals. Please note that these bonuses are often time-limited, so you might want to hurry and claim them before they are gone. Below you will find a list of the best casinos bonuses handpicked by GMBLRS.
Our preferred bonuses! A No Deposit Bonus is the best way for a casino to build its customer base and usually offered when a casino wants new sign-ups, such as a brand new online casino. A No Deposit Bonus is usually an offer of bonus spins or bonus cash, in return for you registering your details and signing as a new customer. But, these are few and far between because they are normally less profitable than giving away bonuses in return for a deposit. Some come with special requirements and limits on winnings, and every now and again, some, come with zero wagering requirements at all – the Holy Grail of No Deposit Bonuses.
Not having to deposit for a bonus is the best possible offer for every casino player. Sign up and enjoy the first spins without a deposit. These bonuses are attractive for players and casinos alike as they are a fairly affordable way for casinos to attract new customers. So, for once, is this a situation where both parties are always happy and satisfied? We divided bonuses without deposit requirements into three categories. The first is bonus money, the second is free or bonus spins and the third is our own special list of no deposit bonuses that don’t even have wagering requirements. The latter are a rare treat, but they can still be found on the market from time to time.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch or so the saying goes. No-deposit bonus money, however, comes pretty close to it. Some casinos will offer a modest amount of bonus money after you completed your registration without asking for a deposit. That’s the first part which you will have to do before being eligible for the no-deposit bonus. Some might ask to register a payment method before crediting the amount.
The second part which makes it not absolutely totally free are the wagering requirements attached to these bonuses as well as limits to what amount you will be able to withdraw, usually not more than EUR/GBP 100. Still, once you got through the wagering, the money is yours to do as you please. We highly recommend withdrawing winnings from no-deposit bonuses as casinos will never process more than the limit even if you win more after the wagering was done. Better is to withdraw and re-deposit.
The alternatives to crediting your account with a straight bonus amount are Free, Extra or Bonus Spins or whatever other name the casino can come up with. Once the registration of your account is completed, you will be able to simply open the advertised game to play the free spins, no deposit needed. Winnings will be added as bonus money, meaning you will need to wager them a specified amount of times on casino games (check for restrictions) before they are converted to cash. Typically, casinos will convert up to EUR/GBP100 as a maximum. Again, we do recommend withdrawing these winnings and redeposit if you want to carry on playing at the same casino.
“Keep what you win!”. If you’ve seen more than two casino ads in your life, it is almost guaranteed that you heard this famous slogan. “Keep what you win” means exactly what it says. You get to keep everything you win when claiming these offers as there are no wagering requirements for these bonuses to risk your initial winnings. All pure cash for you to do as you please. Worth noting again is that casinos usually impose a minimum and a maximum withdrawal limit for these offers.
LIST COMING SOON!
A new type of bonus has cropped up in the last year or two as more and more players started to despise the sometimes ridiculously high wagering requirements that were imposed on standard bonuses. Some casinos caught up with the trend and offer now low-wager bonuses. While the percentage of what will be added to your deposit will be less than usual, there will be also lower wagering requirements attached, e.g. 10x B instead of 30x D+B.
LIST COMING SOON!
Bonuses are as varied as there are stars in the sky. Well, maybe not as much but still, there are an awful lot of different types out there. To assist you in finding the right offer for you we set up a separate page where you can browse through all currently available casino bonuses to find your favourite offer and casino by using the extensive search tools.