Casino Bonus

In the world of online gambling, its different types of bonuses that often make all the difference in the world when players are deciding whether to play on one online casino or another. While live venues attract players with free food and drinks, accommodation, and other perks, internet casinos don’t have a chance to do any of this. So, instead, they offer bonuses!

Casino Bonuses in a Nutshell

Although bonuses come in different shapes and sizes, they mostly follow a certain pattern. The operator provides the player with a certain amount of cash, which can either be fixed or determined as a percentage of their deposit. For example, a 100% bonus up to €200 means that any deposits you make will be fully matched by the casino up the maximum of €200, so you could start playing with €400.

It may seem strange that casinos would give away free money but the competition in the online gambling sector is fierce and operators are fighting hard for the players. And, what better way to attract new customers and keep the existing ones loyal than throwing some money at them? After all, we all play to win and when you get to start with twice as much money, for example, the odds of this happening are improved quite significantly.

Different Types of Casino Bonuses

As already mentioned, there are different types of casino bonus offers out there as every operator tries to tailor their promotions in a way that they believe will attract most players. However, with most sites, you’ll find several main types of bonuses, namely:

• No deposit bonuses

• Welcome bonuses for new customers

• Deposit bonuses for existing players

Like the name suggests, no deposit bonuses are issued without players required to make any deposits or risk their own money. Usually, these bonuses are issued in a form of free cash (€10 or €20), giving players a chance to try some games for real money and even potentially win and cash out, all with no risk involved. Naturally, these are the most popular type of casino bonus offers out there.

Welcome bonuses are available on pretty much all casinos. Every reputable site that wants to attract new players understands they have to offer something more than just a bunch of games. A welcome bonus will usually boost the players first deposit by a certain percentage (anywhere from 50% to 200% or more), so you could deposit €100 and have €300 to play with.

Finally, casinos also need to cater to their existing players, otherwise they could easily move on to a different operator and claim a new welcome bonus. To prevent this from happening, most venues also offer deposit bonuses on a monthly or weekly basis. These function in the same way as welcome bonuses but percentages and the maximum cash amount you can get from these are often lower than what you’ll find with most welcome packages.

Casino Bonuses & Wagering Requirements (and other Terms)

Casino bonus offers are a great way to attract new players and keep the existing ones happy and coming for more. However, they also represent a risk for the casino as not everyone is interested in having fun and trying their luck. If there is free money up for grabs, there will be people lining up to take it without a mistake.

For example, if a casino were to offer a 100% welcome bonus up to €100 and if people were allowed to withdraw the entire amount immediately, it is safe to say that particular casino would quickly go out of business. There be thousands of people signing up, taking their free €100, and taking it to the bank without ever placing a single bet.

Bonus Wagering Explained

To avoid different types of abuses, casinos usually attach a range of terms and conditions to their bonus offers. Wagering requirements are the most important factor in the whole scenario as they prevent players from simply taking the extra money and run. The wagering, also often referred to as rollover or turnover, represents the number of time the entire amount needs to be played before it can be withdrawn.

For example, if you get a €200 bonus with 35 time wagering, this means you’ll need to place a total of 35 x 200 = €7,000 worth of bets before a withdrawal is possible. By doing this, casinos ensure not only that players can’t immediately cash out their funds but also that the bonus value is such that it makes the offer profitable enough for the operator.

In addition to wagering requirement, casinos also set other terms and conditions, such as the games that bonus funds can be used on. Most sites will let you play slots without too many restrictions but games with a lower house edge such as blackjack, for example, are often excluded or their contribution is significantly reduced.

Sticky vs. Non-sticky Casino Bonus

Depending on their licenses, casinos can structure their bonus offers in many different ways. For the players, one of the most important distinctions they should be able to make is between sticky and non-sticky bonuses.

Sticky bonuses will immediately get attached to your real money and until you’re done wagering, you won’t be able to withdraw any money. Non-sticky bonuses are added separately and will only come into play once you lose your original deposit. As long as you don’t touch the bonus funds and are playing with your own money, you’re allowed to withdraw at any point with no restrictions and you’ll only forfeit the bonus.

Clearly, you should always be on the lookout for non-sticky bonuses as these give you much more freedom and if you happen to get lucky early on, you’ll be able to get your money with no problems. This isn’t to say that some sticky bonuses aren’t pretty good as well but, given choice, you should always go for the non-sticky variety.

Casino Bonuses Give You More Fun & Help You Win More

Online casino bonuses are a great way to give your gambling bankroll a nice boost, improve your chances of winning, and give yourself more play-time, all without having to risk any additional funds. As such, they are definitely worth taking and you should play with a bonus as often as you can, especially if you’re primarily playing to have fun.

Of course, you should always make sure to read all the terms and conditions of a particular bonus offer before you start playing. That way, you’ll avoid any problems down the line and make sure you’re playing by the rules. As long as you stay within the rules set by the casino, there is nothing to worry about and you can take full advantage of your bonus funds to have more fun and give yourself more shots at big wins!