There’s no question that when you visit any online casino, the aura of non-stop casino games is almost too much to ignore. And if those online casinos offer dedicated apps, you literally run out of excuses not to sign up or log in to play your favorite casino games. However, when you factor in the sensational casino bonuses that are available on a weekly and, if not on a daily basis, it becomes easy to understand the mania and frenzy surrounding the modern-day online casino revolution. We hope you consider this guide a necessary stepping stone for extending your banking roll and picking up some precious wins.
Understanding Casino Bonuses
The purpose of a casino bonus is to help new members find the courage to join an online or a social casino. Because of these bonuses are so lucrative, including the no-deposit bonuses, many prospective online casino players see it as a win-win scenario and ultimately join. Once in the fold, the other casino bonuses are meant to encourage current members to continue to make deposits and remain engaged.
Types of Casino Bonuses
- Welcome Bonuses: At today’s online casinos for real money, new members will either encounter the deposit match bonus or second-chance credits. The deposit bonus is the most common, which takes, for the most part, a new member’s first deposit and matches it up to 100%. Sometimes, online casinos might match a second, third, or even a fourth deposit by 50% to 75% as an extended thank you for joining. The second-chance credits refund new players up to a certain amount, usually $50, for net losses on their first day.
- No-Deposit Bonuses: While rare among traditional online casinos, social casinos on the other hand, all offer no-deposit bonuses. The purpose of either style of no-deposit bonus is to play real money or sweepstakes casino games for free while having the chance to make real money. In the case of sweepstakes casino games, to win cash prizes like gift cards. Also, in the casino of sweepstakes games, because they use sweep coins at a certain point with a 1x wagering requirement, new members can convert them into cash.
- Free Spins: Because slot games are the most common and available at online and social casinos, it’s only reasonable that they feature the most bonuses. That’s where members can cash in on free spins. Free spins work exclusively for slot games and sometimes for certain slots, a provider, or all of them. At real money casinos, it’s rare that you will find them working on jackpot slots.
- Cashback Bonuses: To help members remain encouraged, online casinos offer cashback bonuses. Cashback bonuses refund their members a percentage of previous losses, usually around 10%, to keep going.
- Reload Bonuses: Reload bonuses work similarly to deposit match bonuses, however they are for established members. Sometimes a reload bonus matches a first deposit or all deposits made on a specific day or time by 30% to 50%.
Many online casinos and even social casinos offer a VIP or a loyalty club. When you accrue enough reward points from wagers, or enough gold coins or experience points at a social casino. With enough points, members can make discount wagers or, in the case of social casinos, can unlock exclusive games like scratchcards.
Maximizing Casino Bonuses
While having access to a rewarding casino bonus is always grand, there are several steps online casino players should take to get the most out of their bonuses and, most importantly, choose the right one. To help you better maximize your casino bonuses, please consider these essential factors.
1) Key Factors to Consider with Casino Bonuses:
- Legal Status: In the United States, only seven states support legal real money casinos. So, the first step is to check to see if it has an official license from reputable gaming divisions like the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, for example. In the case of social casinos, while they might not have official licenses, they are still regulated by reputable organizations like eCOGRA.
- Member Reviews: Another great way to see if an online casino is viable is whether or not other members approve. There are plenty of third-party websites that are dedicated to online casino reviews. And if the online casino offers apps, reading the reviews at Google Play and the Apple Store are other great ways to gain insight.
- Fair Game Results: Every reputable online casino guarantees fair and accurate gaming results. To make that happen, these sites use a random number generator to give online players the peace of mind that their bets are fair and accurate.
- Security Measures: To maintain brand loyalty and reputation, online casinos invest heavily in cybersecurity measures. Because online casinos feature heavy deposits and payments, they can’t afford to be caught sleeping because hackers only need a slight opening to wreak havoc.
2) Know the Bonus Terms
Except for most no-deposit bonuses that kick in automatically after creating an account, most bonuses need members to opt into them. When considering any casino bonus, keep these essential factors in mind.
- Wagering Requirements: The wagering or playthrough requirements are how many times the bonus or bonus funds must be played before the online casino accepts withdrawals.
- Eligible Games: With any casino bonus, there are usually ineligible games. For example, the welcome bonus normally doesn’t include jackpot games, and live dealer games.
- Know the Timing: While most online casinos are gracious with their bonuses, they still have limits. Fortunately, welcome bonuses usually have a 30-day limit for usage, while the others might have a 60-day grace period.
3) Know the Odds and RTP
- Game Odds: Certain bets and games have a higher house edge than others. To maximize casino bonuses, it’s best to stick with games or bets that have the lowest house edge. For example, French and European Roulette have a much more favorable house edge compared to American Roulette.
- RTP: Short for return to player, this is the opposite percentage of the house edge. For every $100, a player can expect a certain amount to come back over time. For example, most blackjack games have a 99% RTP or more.
Conclusion
Before settling on any casino bonus, it’s important to fully understand the terms and conditions for that bonus. For example, some bonuses might conflict with others, so it’s important to know where you stand before opting in. Also, some casino bonuses might have a rollover so that you can combine a certain amount of it with another upcoming promotion. And for a final treat, some casino bonuses might be available for a specific day, a season, or only for mobile play.