Understanding Online Casino Bonuses and Promotions
Arguably, one of the best aspects of online casino apps is earning bonuses, rewards, prizes, and other perks toward casino gameplay. While it can be exciting to earn bonus money, rake in cash on losses, or build rewards points toward luxury prizes or vacations, it’s essential to understand how these bonuses and promotions work. In fact, one of the primary sources of disgruntled customers posting negative feedback online about casino apps stems from misunderstanding how these deals work.
Don’t be the misinformed gambler getting mad about something that isn’t even going on—learn how casino bonuses and promos work in our review covering these perks and benefits. We’ll address the types of bonuses, how to review the terms and conditions to get the gist of the promo, and how to maximize these deals to get the most out of your online casino gameplay!
- Welcome Bonuses
- Reload Bonuses
- Cashback Bonuses
- Loyalty Programs and VIP Schemes
- Terms and Conditions
- How to Maximize Bonuses
Overview of Casino Bonuses
Bonuses and promotions offered by online casinos are bonus funds and other perks that gamblers can earn when they perform certain acts on the app, like making their first deposit or staking so much money on certain games. Casino bonuses come in different shapes and sizes and serve different purposes for new and regular bettors.
Purpose of Bonuses
In many cases, online casinos offer these deals to their customers to entice them to join the platform—you see this a lot with welcome bonuses, which end up being the most generous offers casino apps offer. These promos are also a way of rewarding gamblers for their loyalty, which comes in the form of reload bonuses or rewards programs.
Types of Bonuses
Not all bonuses and promotions at online casinos are the same. Some are offered strictly to new gamblers, while others are extended to customers using the app for a long time. There are four main categories of bonuses with a few subcategories worth noting—we’ll get into the details of these promos in the next section of the review.
- Welcome Bonuses (Deposit Match, No Deposit, and Free Spins)
- Reload Bonuses (Weekly/Monthly Reloads and Special Occasion Bonuses)
- Cashback Bonuses (Daily/Weekly Cashback and VIP Cashback)
- Loyalty Programs and VIP Schemes (Points-Based System, Tiered VIP, and Exclusive VIP)
Of course, welcome bonuses are designed for newcomers to casino apps, while the rest are aimed at rewarding regular members for their commitment to using the app. It’s a great way for online casinos to keep their steady customer base happy with extra perks and benefits.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are designed for new or prospective gamblers—they’re usually the largest bonuses offered by online casinos, the reason being to entice new business. Depending on which casino app you’re using, you could look at a wide range of welcome bonuses formatted differently. We’ll discuss how these promos are organized for brand-new casino players.
Deposit Match Bonuses
These welcome bonuses are designed for new gamblers to customize the amount of their first round of bonus funds. Of course, there are limits in place, but the casino app will match the funds you load into your account on the first deposit. For instance, the online casino may offer a 100% deposit match up to $1,000. This means you can earn as much as $1,000 from the app, but you’ll have to deposit $1,000. You could deposit less than $500, and the online casino will reward you with $500.
The amount the online casino is willing to offer will differ from one platform to the next. Plus, the rollover requirements (the amount you must play through the bonus funds before you can cash out) will differ depending on the online casino you’re using.
No Deposit Bonuses
Unlike reload welcome bonuses, where you have to deposit money into your new account, no-deposit welcome bonuses are funds the online casino gives new gamblers without any action on their part. These are free bonus funds that you can get simply by starting a new account. They can be enticing for prospective customers because they don’t have to put any money at risk.
Because you don’t have to do too much work to achieve the no-deposit bonus, they are easier to qualify for and assume into your online bankroll. They still come with rollover requirements, but there are risks involved.
Free Spins
Some online casinos offer free spins as a part of a deposit or no-deposit bonus. For example, a gambler might get a 100% deposit match up to $1,000 and 75 free spins on a select slot. The free spins come along following your first deposit and subsequent bonus.
In some cases, free spins can be earned by playing casino slots, lining up specific symbols on a payline, and collecting so many tokens or scatter symbols while you’re playing. When you play select slots, this will save you money, so they work like bonus bets with an online sportsbook.
Reload Bonuses
We addressed these promos while discussing welcome bonuses, but these deals are available for regular gamblers who have been using an online casino for an extended time. Users can reload their accounts up to a certain amount or simply reload on certain days of the week or month, and they can earn extra to keep their accounts active.
Weekly/Monthly Reloads
Online casinos offer reload deals weekly or monthly. For example, gamblers might get a 25% deposit match at the beginning of each week or the start of the month. This incentive for players to start their week or month off fresh with new funds in their accounts is a good way for online casinos to keep their users totally engaged with their casino game content.
Special Occasion Bonuses
Online casinos run special promotions during holidays or even on users’ birthdays. This is an excellent way for the casino app to show its generosity and continue to build customer relationships.
Cashback Bonuses
These are technically loyalty rewards, and they’re popular with online casinos that don’t have a rewards system affiliated with land-based casinos or resorts. Cashback bonuses provide a percentage of losses back to players, an excellent way for customers to recoup lost money weekly or daily. When you play a losing hand, you can’t consider it a complete loss because you can earn some of that money back on the same day or by the end of the week!
Daily/Weekly Cashback
You must check the terms and conditions of any cashback program to understand how much you can earn and how often you can redeem the lost money. An example of a cashback scheme would be an online casino that offers 25% cashback up to $1,000 within a week. To earn the maximum cashback, you would have to bet $4,000 or less throughout the week and have all those bets lost to gain 25% cashback ($1,000).
VIP Cashback
Online casinos that have rewards programs will include a feature called VIP cashback. Gamblers can earn cashback as a reward based on how much they spend playing online casino games. It’s a valuable perk for high-rolling gamblers who deposit money into their accounts and place high stakes on their games.
Loyalty Programs and VIP Schemes
Casino loyalty programs aren’t just for VIP members or aggressive high-rollers; they’re also available for regular gamblers with modest budgets. Loyalty programs are designed to reward players of all different backgrounds for their commitment to using the casino app. There are several kinds of rewards programs to enjoy, each of which is well-suited for a wide range of gamblers or bettors.
Point-Based Systems
Players can earn by playing games, participating in promos, or depositing to replenish their accounts with new funds. After building their points total, players can redeem these loyalty points for perks or prizes like luxury items, vacation packages, or hotel stays at select resorts nationwide. Points-based systems mean that the more players participate, the more they can earn in points to redeem for exciting prizes.
Tiered VIP Levels
Some casino apps have rewards programs where the prizes and perks are organized into tiers, and members must work their way up various levels to experience the best rewards the app has to offer. They must work their way into the higher tiers through increased participation and play on the app.
For example, the bottom tier of a rewards program might offer customers a modest deposit match and some free spins. However, as players move through the tiers, they’ll encounter better rewards like a weekly cashback scheme, gain access to customer service via 24/7 live chat, or have their own VIP concierge.
Exclusive VIP Perks
Some rewards programs extend special perks, but only to those who have bet large amounts of money on the app and use the platform consistently. In a tiered VIP program, these are the gamblers who have worked their way to the top. They’ve spent a lot of time and money on the app’s casino games.
Examples of VIP perks include:
- Higher withdrawal limits
- Higher betting limits
- Faster payouts
- Access to a personal account manager
- Earning luxury rewards
- Access to VIP-only events
- Invitations to VIP tournaments or events
- Enhanced customer service experience
- Exclusive bonuses or promos
- Birthday and exclusive gifts
- More game variety
- Personal bonuses
- Enhanced cashback schemes
Terms and Conditions
Familiarization with the bonus terms and conditions is critical to successfully redeeming the perks and rewards the online casino offers. You must keep several aspects of the promos in mind to qualify for the bonus in the first place and then to cash out what you earned. We’ll explain this process in more detail below for your convenience.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements are sometimes referred to as rollover or playthrough requirements. These are in place so that online casinos can make a profit. Think about it. You wouldn’t just give money to a new player only to have them cash out and never play the casino games in your library. Playthrough or wagering requirements ensure that gamblers use these funds to support their online casino gameplay before they can redeem the money. Some playthrough requirements range from 5-15%, but they could go higher or lower.
You can cash out these funds once you’ve played through the funds to satisfy the wagering requirements. Online casinos would be crazy to give their users the funds and expect them to do the right thing. Wagering, playthrough, or rollover requirements ensure the online casino doesn’t lose money!
Game Restrictions
Promos may only work if you play certain games, so check the terms and conditions to clarify these details. Looking into this information can help you avoid confusion, like mistakenly thinking that you can redeem your bonus by playing any game in the library. Misunderstandings like these cause misinformed players to declare that an online casino is trying to scam them or rip them off.
| Game Category | Contribution Percentage |
|---|---|
Most Slots, Rocket, Keno & Virtual Sports | 100% |
Blackjack, Other Table Games, Live Dealer Games, Roulette, & Select Slots* | 20% |
Craps, Video Poker, Baccarat & Other Variety Games | 0% |
Time Limits
Another critical distinction to understanding bonuses and promotions from online casinos is knowing which deals are seasonal and evergreen, essentially those available year-round. Some bonuses can only be used during a specific window of time—you can find any time limits in the terms and conditions of the bonus. Sometimes, these are listed outright in the graphic used on the promo page, so there’s no confusion.
If there’s no end date listed, you can assume this is an evergreen bonus. Many welcome offers are designed this way. Even the ones that have an end date at the close of the calendar year typically renew in the new year as the same bonus or a slightly different interaction.
Maximum Win Limits
Almost all online casino bonuses come with a cap on winnings. There are times you can figure out these limits within the title of a promotion (100% match up to $1,000, for instance), but there are times when you must consult the terms and conditions for these details.
You don’t want to get your hopes up. Once you know the cap on how much you could earn from a bonus, it makes it simpler to determine if the risk is worth the reward.
For instance, it might be difficult for you to swing a deposit of $1,000 to take full advantage of 100% match up to $1,000, but it would be more realistic and doable to deposit $500 to earn $500 more.
How to Maximize Bonuses
To get the most mileage out of your bonuses, you must choose the right offer, meet the wagering requirements, and do your best to sidestep the common pitfalls that have occurred to those who didn’t quite understand what they were doing. Follow these tips and strategies for making the most out of your online casino bonuses:
Choosing the Right Bonuses
It’s essential to select bonuses that best suit your playing style. For instance, if you’re not big into slots, you might not accept every free spins bonus that comes your way. You might try them occasionally, but you’d be better suited to going with a reload offer or using the loyalty program as you play something like blackjack, poker, roulette, or other table games.
You’ll also want to choose bonuses with appropriate rollover requirements. If you don’t have the funds to back up a 15x rollover or more without completely blowing through everything you have, you should focus on offers with lower rollover of 10x or less.
You don’t have the resources of an aggressive gambler or a risk-taking high roller. You should stick with online casinos that have points-based rewards programs instead of those that focus on tiered VIP rewards.
Meeting Wagering Requirements
The top strategy to meet wagering requirements quickly is to play slot games. These games offer the best return-to-player percentages and can quickly help you clear the criteria and not blow through your entire bankroll like you would with lower RTP games.
Table games are another good category to focus on if you’re trying to meet rollover requirements. Using a basic strategy can help reduce the house edge and increase your chances of winning.
Avoiding Pitfalls
Earlier, we talked about some common mistakes new gamblers make when using online casino apps. You don’t want to become one of those who get jaded with online gambling simply because you don’t understand how the bonuses or promotions should work. Avoid this common pitfalls when taking advantage of real money bonuses at your favorite casino app:
- Forgetting to Read the Fine Print: You fail to look over the terms and conditions of the bonus and miss things like wagering requirements, time limits, game restrictions, or max win limits. This can cause frustration or confusion and could lead to your distrust of the casino app, even though it’s rooted in a misunderstanding.
- Attempting to Cash Out Early: If you’re unfamiliar with wagering requirements, you could be under the misconception that you can qualify for your bonus money and then cash it out immediately. These online casinos would be out of business if that were the casino. You must repeatedly play through the funds before you can withdraw that money.
- Thinking Your Bonus is for All Games: This is another pitfall you could encounter if you’re not reading the terms and conditions. You may believe the bonus is suitable for all games in the library. Check the terms to see if any game exclusions come with the promo.
- Failing to Meet Time Limits: Some promos have time limits, and you must make your deposit and play through your bonus funds within that time frame to qualify. If you’re not checking for time limits, you could be claiming a bonus and not having it work out for you!
Understand How Casino Bonuses Work
Don’t wind up like uninformed gamblers who have an ax to grind with online casinos because they didn’t take the time to understand how the bonuses worked. To successfully use real money bonuses to your advantage as you use an online casino, keep these key ideas in mind:
- Choose bonuses that work for your time and money budgets.
- Welcome bonuses are great for newcomers; in many cases, you can customize the amount of bonus money you earn.
- High-rolling, aggressive gamblers can benefit from competitive loyalty programs and VIP rewards.
- Look over the terms and conditions on all bonuses you encounter. Read up on max win or time limits, wagering requirements, and any game exclusions.
- Reload bonuses or cashback schemes are good for regular members who want a steady stream of extra money daily, weekly, or monthly.
Knowledge is power. We encourage you to explore other sections of the Online Casino Guide for more detailed information and tips!