There are different types of bonuses at different online casinos, which often lead to misunderstanding, confusion and unnecessary stress if you don’t understand what they are. Here I will try to briefly explain to you the different types of bonuses. All bonuses have a wagering requirement before you can cash out your winnings, so make sure you know what they are and which games are allowed and which are not. Use the free online casino bonus calculator to calculate the amount you need to bet.
What do the wagering or betting requirements mean at online casinos?
Before we get into the different types of bonuses, let me try to explain the wagering or wagering requirements. This is where most of the controversy and confusion arises.
Example: You must wager your deposit plus bonus 20 times before you can withdraw your money. (These numbers vary from casino to casino).
You make a $100 deposit and get a $100 bonus – this gives you $200 to play with. Now you have to wager that $200 at least 20 times before you can think about withdrawing your winnings. That means you will need to wager $4,000.
Sometimes the casino says you only have to wager your bonus a certain number of times. So, in the example above: you start with $200, but $100 needs to be wagered 20 times, which means you will need to wager at least 2000 bets to cash out.
Another thing you need to know is which games are allowed and which are not. Almost all casinos exclude certain games from this process. This means that even if you wagered $10,000 in blackjack, for example, your total replay rate will be zero and you will not be allowed to withdraw your money. Some casinos allow you to play blackjack using a bonus, with higher playing requirements. This would be the case where playing blackjack counts (say) only 50% of the wagering requirements.
As you can see, it’s all math. But it’s very important if you plan to withdraw your winnings at some point.
I can’t stress this enough – make sure you read these terms and conditions at each casino you join, because most of them will be different from each other.
A good starting point would also be our online casino bonus calculator, where you can just play around with different amounts and percentages to better understand the concept of wagering requirements.
No deposit bonus
This is the simplest of all bonuses. All you have to do is register a real player account at the casino offering this bonus and you will receive the money. You don’t have to make a deposit to receive it. Sometimes it will be automatically added to your account, and sometimes you will have to apply for the bonus via email or the application form on their website. But in general it is very simple.
Different casinos may have restrictions on this bonus, but you need to make sure you read their terms and conditions and make sure you understand the rules. One of the restrictions may be the maximum amount you can withdraw with this bonus. Also, some casinos may not have this limit, but require you to make a token deposit before withdrawing your winnings.
Match Bonus
This is a bonus that you receive when you make a deposit at a casino. They match your deposit up to a certain percentage of your total deposit. For example, the casino offers a 100% bonus up to $200. This means that they will give you 100% free money on every deposit up to $200, e.g. you deposit $100 and get another $100 in bonus, making your bankroll $200, or you deposit $150, get an additional $150, bringing your total to $300.
This bonus is usually used for new players who make their first deposit at an online casino. The factor that is usually looked at for these bonuses is the percentage to work out the value you get for your money.
Free money bonus
This is a first deposit bonus where you know what you’re going to get regardless of the deposit amount. An example would be if the casino offers you a free $80 if you deposit at least $20. This will give you a bankroll of $100 to play with. But if you deposit $50, you still only get $80. Again, this is a math thing. If you compare it to a match bonus at another casino, you may find that by depositing $20, you get more for your money. In this case it would mean that you get 400%.
So before you reject a casino that offers you a bonus that initially seems low, check what it will mean if you deposit the required minimum amount.
Sticky Bonus
This is a bonus that the casino offers to play, but you can’t withdraw it. This means that you will get free money to play with, and after meeting the “playthrough” requirement, you can only withdraw winnings that are above the initial bonus amount. The bonus money will be removed from your account when you make a withdrawal.
These casinos are usually very generous in their bonuses for this reason, so you can end up playing with a really huge bankroll. Some casinos offer up to $3,000 in bonuses alone. This means you can play games with the maximum number of coins and bets, giving you a much better payout ratio when you hit the big wins.
Exclusive Bonus
The name says it all. These are bonuses that you see on certain websites where the casino has an exclusive deal with the site owner to offer it to its members. These bonuses can be any of the variations listed above, so always make sure you read the details of the offer and the casino’s terms and conditions.
Loyalty bonus
Loyalty bonuses are awarded to players who have reached a certain status at an online casino. Bonus amounts and types vary from casino to casino, and some casinos do not require the player to make a spin – but only some. In order to withdraw them, the token requirement must be met.