All you need to know about casino bonuses
A casino bonus is an offer you don’t want to miss out. Casinos usually give players casino bonuses as a reward for creating an account, making a deposit, or reaching a certain milestone within the online casino. Although different casinos promote different casino bonuses, our in-house experts have detected a pattern players can expect to come across. In general, a casino bonus can take the form of:
- Free spins
- Cash
- Bonus games within slots
- Cashback
- Loyalty rewards
These different forms of bonuses make up the most common bonus types, and it’s paramount that you, as a player, understand the difference between each of those bonus types to make the most out of it.
Understanding different types of bonuses
To learn how to recognize the best casino bonuses and make the most informed decision, it’s important to understand the essence of casino bonuses, how they work, and the difference between various types of bonuses you may stumble upon. First off, let’s start with the most common types of bonuses casinos usually offer.
Welcome Bonus
A welcome online casino bonus is a reward a new player receives when joining a particular online casino. Think of it as a way of the casino saying “thank you” for signing up or making your first deposit. In most cases, this casino bonus type consists of a matching deposit bonus and free spins. Keep in mind that the best welcome bonuses usually come with free wagering requirements.
Free Spins
From our experience with players, free spins is definitely one of the most attractive bonus types, and it is available on virtually every online gambling site. If not from a deposit, every now and then, new online casinos will issue free spins to their players to show gratitude and keep them entertained! And it works like a charm.
No-deposit
In layman’s terms, a no-deposit bonus is… exactly that… a bonus that is given with no deposit required. This bonus type is usually given after registration, newsletter subscription, or other types of action the casino wants the player to take. The rewards might be cash or free spins that you can use to play and get to be introduced to the casino. Most of the time, this type of online casino bonus usually comes with high wagering requirements, and winnings are capped!
Matching
A matching deposits casino bonus helps you get the most out of your deposit, allowing you, in most cases, to play with at least double the money you put in! Bonus funds can be used to play select slot games and come with wagering requirements attached. For example, if you deposit $300, the casino will give you an extra $300 for you to spend.
Referral Bonus
Players who recommend a friend or someone they know to the casino receive a referral bonus. You often receive the referral bonus money once your friend has finished a specific goal, such as making his first deposit or just joining up.
Cashback
Luck may not always be on your side! As a result, the majority of casinos have cashback incentives set up to reimburse players for some of their lost deposits. Cashback amounts range from 5 to 100% and are often based on your level of loyalty and the total amount of lost deposits.
Reload
Reload bonuses are pretty much the same as welcome bonuses in terms of the promotion they include. The one difference between the two is that reload bonuses are given to existing players, whereas welcome bonuses are granted to newcomers. Consider reload bonuses as loyalty rewards top online casinos usually use to reward consistent players.
Exclusive
The key traits of exclusive casino bonuses are that they are either only given to players who sign up via a particular website or they are available only for a specific amount of time. This means that not everyone who becomes a player can receive these special bonuses, so keep your eyes open for such promotions.
VIP Program
VIP programs are created by online casinos to reward their most loyal players. They are simple, easy to understand, and fun to participate in. In a nutshell, VIP programs work by collecting loyalty points by playing games. The points help you level up and receive exclusive bonuses and rewards.
What is a bonus code?
A bonus code, as the name suggests, is a special code that grants the player a bonus. You can enter your bonus code on the Cashier, the promotions tab or the dashboard, usually before making a deposit.
All you have to do to receive the bonus code reward is to enter the code in the right place, and the bonus will be instantly credited to your account! This is generally in the form of cash or free spins! A bonus code has an expiration date, so don’t sleep on them. So if you find a new one, don’t hesitate to take advantage of the deal.
How do casino bonuses work?
Casino bonuses are quite simple! You can use your bonus cash credit to play select slots or table games at certain bet amounts. See, most casino bonuses come with a maximum bet limit (for example, the maximum spin value is set at €5). Another important detail about casino bonuses is the wagering terms. It is the entire amount of bets you have to place throughout eligible games before you are allowed to withdraw any winnings that come from bonus bets or when playing with an active casino bonus!
For instance: You received a 100% matching bonus for your €50 deposit. The bonus funds come with a 30x wagering/playthrough requirement. Before you can withdraw any winnings, you have to meet the 30x deposit playthrough conditions: (30 X €50 = €1,500). Don’t let the wagering requirements get you down, though. With some luck on your side, you can reap great wins!
How to claim a bonus?
To claim a casino bonus, all you have to do is make a valid deposit or reach a certain loyalty level, and you will be rewarded with extra free spins, cash, or other benefits! As a goodwill gesture from the casino, most players will receive a matching bonus on their first deposit!
Other sites go the extra mile and offer no deposit free spins on sign up! Although not much, this is a great welcome bonus, as players can get to understand how the site works and play for real money without spending any of their own!
EkstraPoint pro-tips about online casino bonuses
Even though there are many variants of promotions and similar offers, the goal is always the same – get the best value out of existing online casino bonus promos out there. To help you recognize the best online casino bonus opportunities, we at EkstraPoint prepped a small checklist focusing on the most important things you need to know:
- The most lucrative welcome bonuses are usually given by recently opened casinos, as their main target is to build a player base, and they use welcome bonuses as a powerful incentive.
- Keep your eyes open for time-limited exclusive bonuses. Many online casinos pump up their online casino bonus game from time to time, and it’s up to you to stay alert and snatch them.
- Always read the wagering requirements of the casino before claiming the online casino bonus and check whether the casino has a valid license. The casino license is usually displayed at the bottom of the homepage.
- Not all casinos offer the same value with their online casino bonus promotions. Try to look for that golden ratio of a high welcome match bonus and low wagering requirements.
- Sign up for an online casino that includes a loyalty program. They usually offer many rewards and other promotions on multiple occasions for their most loyal players.
And lastly, we’ll leave you with one very important tip, and that is to search for live casinos that are legally operating within your jurisdiction. Search for casino bonuses within your proximity to get the best deals and boost your chances of making the most out of your bonus.
Looking for the best online casino bonuses? We’ve got you covered
There is an endless list of online casinos out there, each offering its own special casino bonus. But not all of them are good and trustworthy! Some bonuses come with unfair terms, like high wagering requirements or small maximum bet limits. This is why we have compiled a diverse collection of different casino sites and their bonuses that come with fair terms, and rules that are easy to follow by players! Thank us later!
✔️ VipCoin Casino: 20 No-Deposit Free Spins
VipCoin casino is a popular online crypto gambling site that happens to offer 20 free spins, on sign up! That’s right! No deposit is required, and all new players qualify for this bonus! The free rounds are given on the popular and volatile slot game from Betsoft, Take the Bank. Best of luck!
✔️ Cosmic Slot Casino: Up to 10% Cashback on Mondays
With cashback on your side, there is always a chance! In addition to their amazing welcome bonus package, Cosmic Slot Casino is offering 10% cashback every Monday! To qualify, players need to deposit at least €50 from Monday to Sunday! The maximum cashback amount you can receive in a week is €300.
✔️ SlotBox Casino: Weekly Rewards Club
Finally, a loyalty program that actually rewards players! Weekly Rewards Club by SlotBox Casino is created as a way of giving back! Every Friday, this online casino will give out free spins and cash bonuses. The amount of cash, and value of spins, depends on the loyalty level of each player!
✔️ Ruby Vegas Casino: 100 Free Spins on Sign-Up
Every new casino player at Ruby Vegas is entitled to 100 free spins! The bonus rounds are added to Book of Dead by Play’n Go! To qualify for this bonus, players need to subscribe to the offer and make a qualifying deposit of at least €20! If you ask us, it is an online casino bonus you should not miss!
✔️ Bodog Casino: Refer a Friend Bonus
It is always a pleasure to play with friends at Bodog Casino! The site rewards players that refer a friend with a matching deposit bonus of up to €100. All your friend has to do to qualify is make a deposit starting from €20. The bonus credit will then be instantly added to the player’s account.