The history and legacy of casinos and gambling in general are illustrious. It’s rich and full of interesting developments. It has influenced not only human civilization at one point but continues to affect popular culture and lifestyle.
And the best part? Now, you can immerse yourself in the world of gambling without even leaving the comfort of your home. Isn’t that truly remarkable? Chances are, you haven’t really thought about that in a while.
That being said, it’s imperative that you understand a few things about online casinos before you take a dive. After all, nobody wants to be burned. You’d do well to remember that the house always wins. Games are designed in a way that favors the casino – not the player, that is, you. In that light, what should you keep in mind? Well, the list goes on and on. For starters, good bankroll management, sufficient practice, proper avoidance of chasing any losses, not overhyping winning streaks, learning any rules and strategies, etc.
But there’s one thing that’s often neglected in all this. In fact, a lot of unsuspecting gambling amateurs end up signing up at online casinos without being equipped with this instrumental and highly consequential knowledge. And that’s the knowledge of the bonuses and promotions. Casinos find it almost too easy to lure amateurs with half-promises. In a world where nobody really has the time to read terms and conditions or spend time researching anything, you can easily see how the problem is further aggravated.
Well, fret not. We’re here to provide a detailed lowdown on the different types of online casino bonuses you can find on casino sites today. Just make sure you understand them all and don’t get burned in the process of signing up for something too shiny to be true! Let’s begin.
1. Welcome Bonuses & Packages
When you play at a casino for the first time, you will be met with welcome bonuses. These are extended to you when you make a new account. Sometimes, these are actually “packages” meaning you get bonuses on multiple deposits, up to three or even four in some cases.
You get a matched deposit bonus of up to a particular amount. Let’s say it’s a 100% welcome bonus of up to $500. This means that whatever amount you deposit will be matched by the casino and added to your account. If you deposit $100, the casino will front $100 from its side.
The bonus funds are not added to your withdrawable cash balance. You must meet a minimum wagering requirement to transfer these bonus funds to withdrawable cash.
However, beyond these welcome bonuses, you can also take advantage of additional promotions –be it permanent or recurring ones. With specific promotions, online casino bonus codes can help you access various types of incentives, such as free spins, match bonuses, and more. These codes are designated to specific promotions, often found in promotional emails or the official website of the casino platform of your choice.
2. Free Spins
Free spins often come bundled with matched deposit bonuses in the welcome offer itself. These are spins you can redeem on particular video slot games on the casino platform. Keep in mind that casinos might tie these bonuses to low-RTP games sometimes (games with a low payout).
These free spins are also subject to wagering requirements.
3. No-Deposit Bonuses
A no-deposit bonus is essentially some free spins (and in some rare cases, free cash) that you can play with without depositing anything. All you need to do is sign up to activate such a bonus. You can abandon the account if you’re not satisfied with the winnings.
Just keep in mind that once you do win, the casino might place a minimum deposit requirement before you can cash out. This is mentioned in the terms. People who like to assess risk in their everyday tasks will love this type of bonus, as it allows you to go risk-free, basically.
4. Reload Bonuses
A reload bonus targets existing players and not new ones like the majority of bonuses above. These bonuses are handed out to you based on how much you deposit. These are often weekly and the cleanest, most valuable form of bonuses on online casino sites.
You deposit a particular amount and get a matched deposit – every time, every week.
5. Cashback Bonuses
A cashback is precisely what it sounds like, just that it’s calculated on your net real cash losses. This means you don’t cashback on your winnings. So, let’s say a casino has an offer for a flat 10% cashback every week. This means that the platform will calculate your total losses and give you 10% of that amount at the time of reset.
6. Loyalty Programs & High-Roller Bonuses
These are not exactly direct promotions but are a little more nuanced. A loyalty or VIP program is for existing users. These often have levels. The higher you go (the more you play and spend), the more perks you will get. Not all loyalty programs are the same – some are infinitely better than others.
High-roller bonuses are for high-rollers, of course. If you like to spend big, you want to play on a casino platform that is high-roller friendly and offers additional perks such as cashback and reload bonuses for bigger deposits.
Becoming a high-roller online is fairly easy, and a lot of casinos offer this perk, as a result. A high-roller in real-world casinos is a wholly different lifestyle.
Wrapping Up
So, those were the most common types of bonuses you can expect in online casino sites. We tried to give you the most practical and actionable intelligence that can make you smarter and help you make more informed decisions, and of course, take advantage of the promotions, as well as monetary incentives, that you shouldn’t miss.
There are some other types of bonuses as well, such as a refer-a-friend bonus, but all of that is either rare or self-explanatory.