Casino Bonuses Explained

Updated: 13 Feb 2023

casino bonuses explained

Spending some quality leisure time gambling on slots can be a great way to relax, but it’s often difficult to know which online casino to register with. Rivalry between the different casinos is incredibly intense as they compete for new custom resulting in players being tempted by a bewildering array of welcome bonuses. Some packages have wagering requirements while others include a no deposit bonus or offer free spins on sign up. Every online casino formulates its own bonus policy, although the majority follow fairly typical structures.

Initial Cash Deposit Bonus

This type of welcome package is one of the most common. It usually requires an initial deposit of perhaps £100 or £200. The casino then adds its bonus which can be an equal amount of cash or an increased percentage such as 300%. Players nearly always have to deposit further payments at set intervals before the welcome bonus is considered to be complete. Packages typically include wagering requirements.

What are Wagering Requirements?

These are often displayed alongside the bonus in the form of multipliers such as twenty, thirty or even forty times. They indicate how many times a player must bet the equivalent of the initial deposit before the account is fully active. Until then a player isn’t usually allowed to withdraw any winnings from the account. Alternative descriptions for this category include cash bonus, wagering bonus and play through bonus.

Free Spins Bonus

Nearly every welcome package includes an exciting free spins bonus. The exact number can vary enormously from one spin on a wheel of fortune packed with prizes to fifty or more on a slot game that’s chosen by the casino. Alternatively, players may be offered free spins on a choice of games from a specific provider such as Microgaming. Exceptionally large numbers of free spins such as 250 or more are often allocated in small batches distributed over several cash deposits.

On rare occasions, free spins are offered as free spins no deposit no wager, which means there are no wagering requirements and you can play free spins and keep what you win – you can cash out real money from the free spins!

No Deposit Bonus

This category has a huge variety of exciting offers. On the whole, they allow players to enjoy a set number of free spins as soon as they have registered, without having to pay a deposit. Players sometimes have to use their allocation of free spins on a game of the casino’s choosing. Titles may include free spins on Starburst from NetEnt, a fast-paced, entertaining slot packed with fruit, multipliers and free spins. Another possible game could be free spins on Book of the Dead, Play N’Go’s thrilling adventure set amongst Egypt’s ancient pyramids.

Loyalty and Cashback Bonuses

Loyalty or reload bonuses are available for regular customers. They usually offer incentives such as free spins, but can be dependent on how much a player invests in time or money. Cashback bonus schemes that return some of the funds a player may lose in a specified time limit are often connected to VIP bonuses and high roller accounts.

How to Choose a Casino Bonus

Becoming a member of an online casino involves considering how your long-term betting aims might develop. If you want to enjoy free spins on sign up, consider taking a closer look at our no deposit bonus casino list. There are more tempting bonuses to choose from than ever before, so take your time to research what each casino offers. Ultimately, your bonus should have access to the most exciting games, great entertainment and provide high-quality services.