We all know that the most exciting part of gaming online is getting to find and claim bonuses that extend your game time. But, if you’re new to online casinos, bonuses can often seem confusing. What types even are there? Should you claim each offer you find? Is it okay to skip the boring Terms and Conditions? How do you maximise the winnings?
This article will tackle these and similar questions so that you can better navigate the iGaming world and get the most out of each time you play!
Types of Bonuses
As you’re probably aware, there are many types of offers out there. Let’s take a look at the most common ones and what they entail:
- Welcome offers: These are awarded to new players and can be a great boost for your bankroll right off the bat. They allow you to explore the casino a bit without spending your own money. Welcome bonuses most often come as match bonuses, but can sometimes include free spins.
- Match bonuses: Every time you see an offer like “100% up to ₹10,0000”, you’re actually looking at a match bonus. They don’t have to strictly be included in welcome offers, as you can find them as standalone bonuses for new and regular players, too. If we look at the example above, this offer means that the casino will give you bonus money in the amount of your deposit, for deposits up to ₹10,000. So, if you deposit ₹1,000, you will get another ₹1,000 to play with. The percentage and max deposit limit can vary depending on the casino.
- Free spins: These are perfect for slot players, as they let you test out a new game without using your money. Free spins can be used at the casino’s discretion, meaning that the operator chooses the eligible games. This can either be one specific title, multiple games, or all slots by one provider, depending on the offer.
- No deposit bonuses: The rarest and best of them all, no deposit bonuses allow you to start playing with bonus money right after registration— no deposit needed. These usually aren’t as generous as match offers, but they’re still a great way to get to know an operator and their selection.
- Cashback: Some casinos give you a percentage of your daily, weekly, or monthly net losses back. Cashbacks are usually recurring bonuses and they are most often found in loyalty programs. In this case, the percentage you get back can depend on your loyalty status. So, the better the rank— the better the bonus.
- Referrals: You’ll likely come across some casinos that offer referral bonuses. That means that you can get rewarded for inviting your friends to join. Whether it’s a free spins bonus, cash, or small match bonus, referrals are always welcome. Not only will you get a bonus, but you’ll now also have someone to play with!
These are just the most common types out there. Find out more about online casino bonuses and discover casinos with the best offers.
The Terms and Conditions of Bonuses
Each bonus you find will come with a set of Terms that you will need to respect in order to claim, use, and pay the bonus out. The most common mistake less experienced players make is that they skip the Terms, thinking they’re just not worth reading.
In reality, the conditions can help you adjust your expectations and help you determine if what you’re looking at is an offer worth your time.
To save you time and help you understand the T&Cs better, here are the key aspects you should pay attention to:
- Qualifying deposit: If you are looking at an offer that requires a deposit to claim, find out what the qualifying deposit is. The minimum deposit amount will be written either under the offer or in the main T&Cs. This is the most common stipulation for claiming bonuses, but it’s not the only one. Sometimes, casinos will exclude certain payment methods from the offer in question. So that means that even if you meet the minimum deposit, you won’t be able to claim it if you used a payment method that wasn’t eligible.
- Wagering requirements: Offers usually come with a turnover, meaning that you will have to wager your winnings a specified number of times before you can withdraw them. The industry standard for this is between 30x and 50x. Naturally, the lower the rollover, the better the offer, as the path to the withdrawal is shorter. You may sometimes come across offers with no wagering requirements. These are, of course, the best types to claim, but they are rare gems!
- Eligible games: Not all bonuses are created equally so you won’t be able to use each one for all the games in the casino. Before you claim, check what types of games the bonus is for. Some offers are meant to be used for live casino games, while others are only valid for slots. As well as that, you should check whether the bonus applies only to specific titles. This will save you a lot of time and heartbreak, as well as allow you to claim just bonuses that are in line with your playing style.
- Time limits: It’s very likely that you won’t have your next bonus indefinitely. Casinos impose time limits on their offers to make sure players actually play. Depending on the offer in question, this could be anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days. One-time promos usually come with longer time limits, while recurring ones naturally have shorter use periods.
How to Make the Most out of Your Bonus
Now that you know what to look out for, you may be wondering how you can make the most out of the offers you claim.
Don’t Claim Every Offer
Though it may seem counterintuitive, being selective with your offers can actually significantly improve your strategy. Remember how we said that you should check what games the bonus is eligible for? Well, this tip isn’t here just to make sure you’re playing what you like. It’s also important because it allows you to get the most out of each session.
It’s easy to fall into the trap that every bonus is a good bonus, but this can easily lead to overstepping your budget and not getting any enjoyment out of your gaming time. By being selective, you are streamlining your gaming experience and improving the overall quality of your sessions.
Play in Tournaments
Tournaments are a great way to stay an active member of the casino’s community, hone your skills, and win some cash. Popular casinos often have various tournaments, ranging from slots to live casino games. Keep an eye out, join the one with the games you’re familiar with, and see if you can use the bonuses you have for it.
Sometimes, casinos will even have special promos that you can use specifically for their tourneys. Slot tournaments are the perfect example, as some of them come with a bunch of free spins.
Placing high on the leaderboard will give you either a cash prize or even gadgets and tickets to exclusive events.
Sign up for Loyalty Programs
If you’re the type of player who likes to stick to just one online casino, then choose an operator with a good loyalty program. This way, you’ll be earning points or climbing levels as you play and wager. In other words, you’ll be unlocking special bonuses more often.
The trend that most reputable casinos follow today in regard to loyalty programs is to offer personalised rewards to players. This means that the casino keeps an eye on how you interact with the site and what games you play. So the next time you unlock a bonus, it will be one tailored to your playing style. Whether that’s a match bonus for table games or free spins for a slot that holds a special place in your heart is up to you.
Compare Casinos
As we mentioned earlier, not all bonuses are created equally. The same logic applies to casinos. Some are more popular than others for a reason. And that reason is usually that the playing conditions are more fair. How does this translate to bonuses? Well, to put it simply, these types of operators usually run promos more often and with better conditions.
So, you won’t have to put up with 70x wagering, high minimum deposit requirements, short time limits, or small winning caps. That’s why you shouldn’t be afraid to shop around and see what different casinos have to offer. Opening accounts with popular operators, researching social media, and reading casino reviews can help you make comparisons more easily.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve managed to break down casino bonuses for you and show you that they’re not so complicated. Always read the fine print, claim only offers valuable for you, and make use of tournaments and loyalty programs— you’ll surely have the best time!