Casino Bonuses – The Complete Guide

Last updated on August 4th, 2024

The Guide to Casino Bonuses

Online casino gambling is fun and exhilarating by nature, which is why so many players are fond of this type of entertainment. From the thousands of online casinos that come in different themes and designs to the thousands of casino games that are the essence of iGaming, it is not hard to see why online casino gambling has become so popular ever since it first emerged on the scene in the late 90s. However, no matter how good the online casino is or how many games it has, it would be nothing without casino bonuses, the number one reason why players decide to give their trust to a certain operator.

Back in the 90s, or at the beginning of the iGaming industry, online casinos weren’t quite familiar with the concept of bonuses. In fact, all you got was a website and several games, nothing more – nothing less. As time went by, online casinos started to realize that the best and most effective way to get new players and retain the old ones was by giving them incentives in the form of bonuses. 

This marked the start of a trend that has since turned into one of the most crucial aspects of the entire online casino experience. Today, it is completely unimaginable for an online casino to work without casino bonuses. Starting with the welcome bonus and ending with tailor-made bonuses for VIP players, online casinos are constantly coming up with unique and creative ways to reward their players.

In this in-depth guide, we will break down every type of casino bonus that currently exists in the industry, how to claim them, as well as how the casinos use bonuses to keep their players happy.

Online Casinos and Casino Bonuses

Thanks to the evolution of online casinos, the competition between operators, as well as the fact that there are millions of online casino players around the world, today, we have a plethora of casino bonuses. In fact, it is safe to say that online casinos are constantly trying to come up with creative ways to reward their players. Consequently, this race for players led to the creation of various bonus incentives that can satisfy the needs of every type of online gambling enthusiast out there.

The best part about this competition is that the number and the type of casino bonuses that an online casino can have is different for every online casino. This means that the number and the type of bonuses you can encounter will differ from one casino to another. This usually depends on several crucial factors such as the size of the casino, the finances, and even the reputation of the operator.

Usually, an online casino can have anywhere from one to dozens of casino bonuses. In our experience of reviewing online casino platforms, we have come to the conclusion that the average number of bonuses per casino is around 5-6 promotions. This also includes the welcome bonus, which is usually the biggest out of all, a rather normal occurrence given that it is the first interaction between the player and the casino and the introduction to the website.

However, we have also reviewed online casinos that have up to 20 different bonuses and promotions. Needless to say, a casino that packs such an extensive number of bonuses usually means that we are dealing with an operator who understands that the best way to keep its players happy is to make their effort worthwhile. 

To conclude, any online casino that has a bonus count that goes into double digits deserves your undivided attention, period. Sure, bonuses are not the only indicator that you should take into account when deciding which casino to join, but they sure are one of the most straightforward signs about the nature of the casino you are about to join.

Types of Casino Bonuses

Now that we have covered how online casinos and casino bonuses are related, we can dive deep into the different types of casino bonuses.

The two main classifications of bonuses include Registration & No-registration bonuses, and Deposit & No-deposit bonuses. All other bonuses fall under one of these two categories.

Registration/No-registration Bonuses

The first thing you need to know is that all bonuses are categorized in two ways: Registration and No-registration bonuses. Just as the name suggests, this classification helps you determine whether the casino will require you to register/create an account to claim the bonus. 

Registration bonuses require you to join a casino and create an account. Once you complete the registration procedure, the casino will then give you a bonus for joining the casino.

No-registration bonuses don’t require creating an account or joining a casino. This is usually reserved for dedicated crypto casinos where all you need is to enter a nickname and a password without sharing personal information with the casino (ID, utility bills, etc.), and the bonus is yours.

Deposit/No Deposit Bonuses

The next on the list are deposit and no-deposit bonuses. 

Just as the name suggests, deposit bonuses are bonuses that you can claim after making a deposit at the casino. Not to be confused with registration bonuses that are credited for just registering an account, in order to claim a deposit bonus you will have to deposit a certain amount.

Opposite to deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses don’t require making a deposit after joining the casino. You are still required to create an account and register with the casino, yet you don’t need to make a deposit in order to claim the bonus.

One good example of a no deposit bonus is when you download the official app of a certain casino. By completing this action, you instantly become eligible for a no deposit bonus, as many casinos use exactly this tactic to motivate players to download their app.

*Note: Both registration/no-registration and deposit/no-deposit bonuses are usually welcome bonuses.

Welcome Bonuses

Undeniably the most popular type of casino bonuses, welcome bonuses are always the biggest and the best bonuses that the casinos offer. This is because the welcome bonus is the first interaction between the casino and the player and as such, it is always the most rewarding out of all other promotions. The only bonuses that can be more rewarding than the welcome offer are the VIP, i.e. custom-tailored bonuses, which we will cover in a bit.

As we already said above, welcome bonuses can come in various shapes and sizes, including:

• Registration & No-registration
• Deposit & No-deposit
• Reload Bonuses
• Free Spins
• Cashback

Reload Bonuses

Another one of the most popular and most commonly used bonuses in the online gambling industry is the reload bonus. The reload bonus requires you to make a certain deposit amount in order to get a percentage of your deposit back as a bonus. Moreover, depending on the casino and the offer, reload bonuses are usually awarded together with free spins, which is another reason why they are so popular among players.

Some examples of reload bonuses include:

• 100% up to $100 + 10 free spins – this means that if you deposit anything between $1 and $100 (eg. a $10 deposit will get you $10), you will get a 100% return on your investment + 10 free spins. Keep in mind that if you deposit more than $100 you will still get $100 as a deposit as that is the maximum limit. This is why it is important to always carefully read the terms of the bonus.

• 50% up to $100 – this reload offer means that you will get 50% of your deposit back as a bonus for any amount up to $100 (eg. a $10 deposit will get you $5).

It is important to keep in mind that all reload bonuses usually have a low limit on the least amount you can deposit. Depending on the casino, this may range anywhere between $5 and $20. To prevent this, we always advise reading the terms and conditions of the bonus prior to claiming it.

Free Spins Bonuses

Without any doubt whatsoever, free spins bonuses are the second most popular bonus that you can encounter at a casino right after welcome bonuses. Simply put, there is hardly an online casino out there that doesn’t have at least one promotion that involves a free spins bonus. This is because free spins cost the casino nothing, yet they are highly sought-after by players, and as such, they are perfect for bonuses.

Depending on the instance, free spins bonuses can be credited for performing various activities such as:

• Registering an account
• Making a deposit
• Holidays
• Sports events
• Birthdays

As you can already tell, free spins can be credited for literally everything. Even if you are not satisfied with the casino or you feel mistreated, certain casinos will credit you a free spins bonus as a token of appreciation. In other words, online casinos simply cannot operate without free spins.

Cashback Bonuses

Cashback bonuses are another popular form of casino bonuses that were specifically built to cover your losses. More specifically, the way that cashback bonuses work is that the casino will pay you back a certain amount of your losses. How much you will be reimbursed will depend on both the cashback percentage and the loss limit set by the casino.

For example. Let’s say that the casino has a cashback offer where you can get 15% back on any losses more than $1000. This means that you will get $150 back as a cashback bonus if you lose more than $1000. 

Depending on the offer, the cashback bonuses can be either weekly or monthly. This means that you are eligible to get the cashback bonus once per week or once per month, being that the casino will wait for your losses to accumulate before crediting the bonus.

There are even cases where an online casino will create a cashback bonus in the form of a welcome offer. If that is the case, then you will have to deposit, lose, and then get the percentage promised by the casino.

Referral Bonuses

Referral bonuses are one of the easiest ways to claim a bonus without spending a dime. This is because all that is required in order to claim a referral bonus is to get someone to join the casino through you. And it doesn’t get more straightforward than that. The best part about referral bonuses is that both you and your friend will get a bonus if you get him/her to join the casino. 

Even more awesome, however, is that the more people you get to join, the more bonuses you get. Some casinos will even exponentially grow the percentage of the bonus for each person that you bring, which is pretty cool since you get to do real affiliate business.

All you need to do is find a casino with a referral program and convince your friends to join. You will be getting a sweet bonus without spending your money, plus you will have your friends with you at the casino. Perfect!

Wager-Free Bonuses

Though a bit harder to find when compared to other bonuses on this list, wager-free bonuses are one of the most sought-after by casino players. In fact, if you ask us, wager-free bonuses are one of the best casino incentives ever created simply because they come with absolutely no wagering requirements. 

This means that you are not obliged to rollover the bonus amount if you wish to withdraw your funds, which is quite awesome being that all other bonuses come with certain wagering requirements that prevent you from withdrawing your money.

Moreover, wager-free bonuses can come in the form of either free spins or cash rewards. Regardless of the type of wager-free bonus you encounter, just know that you can instantly make a withdrawal request and not worry about the rollover.

Crypto Bonuses

Just as the name suggests, crypto bonuses are bonuses that you can claim by depositing with cryptocurrencies. One of the biggest benefits of depositing with crypto is the lightning-fast transactions and low wagering requirements.

Online casinos usually create crypto bonuses to motivate players to deposit with cryptocurrencies, and consequently, credit the bonus also in the form of cryptocurrencies, usually by crypto casinos.

The most frequently used cryptocurrency by casinos for both deposits and crediting bonuses is Bitcoin, which is no surprise given that Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency on the planet, and as such, players trust it the most.

Special-VIP Bonuses

Last, but most certainly not least, we have the special, i.e. VIP bonuses. Now, you can tell just by looking at the name that these are not your regular casino bonuses, but rather bonuses that are reserved for the most loyal players. 

Most of the time, these bonuses can be found in either the VIP Club of the casino, or they can be claimed by participating in a special promotion or a tournament organized by the casino.

Furthermore, special bonuses are tailor-made for each player individually, being that they are credited to the biggest spenders at the casino. When it comes to special promotions, however, there are instances where the bonus/prize can be a crazy reward such as a brand new car, a trip, expensive/luxury gifts, etc.

Either way, keep in mind that in order to claim one of these fantastic bonuses you will have to show your loyalty to the casino and be prepared to spend your money. 

Watch For Wagering Requirements

Claiming bonuses is exciting and fun, but that doesn’t mean that you should get complacent. We say this because every bonus comes with a rollover, i.e. its own wagering requirements that prevent you from withdrawing the bonus amount. The casinos know that the probability of players claiming a bonus, withdrawing the money, and never coming back is very high, so they implement wagering requirements in order to protect themselves.

The only bonuses that don’t come with wagering requirements are the wager-free bonuses. This means that unless you see the words “wager-free”, chances are that you are going to have to rollover the amount a certain number of times before you can request a withdrawal.

This is why it is imperative to diligently read the terms and conditions before claiming a bonus, or even depositing, for that matter. 

Final Thoughts

Thanks to the evolution of iGaming, today we have a long list of casino bonuses that we can choose from. This is because casinos know that you simply cannot retain players without a constant influx of incentives, and there is no better way to make your players happy than with a casino bonus. 

Regardless of your personal preferences as a casino player, there is always a new and exciting bonus to be claimed. Just make sure to be responsible with your budget, set limits, and always make sure to gamble responsibly. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)