Keys to Finding the Greatest Casino Bonuses
Casino bonuses are everywhere. Every online casino advertises some hot new bonus to players, but is it really worth it? This quick guide should give you all the 411 on the best casino bonuses and how to find them. Regardless of whether you’re a casual player or a veteran looking for the best casino bonuses, this guide has everything you need to know for getting the most bang out of your buck.
Reading the Fine Print
We do it every single time. When was the last time you read the terms and conditions for something before clicking ‘I Agree’? Never. And that’s completely normal. There’s no way for someone to understand all the legal mumbo jumbo in those walls of text that they call T&Cs. Luckily, casino bonuses are a bit more straightforward. There’s often three main things to look for in the terms of a casino bonus: the timeline, the games you can use it on, and the wagering requirements.
The timeline is easy to understand. Casino bonuses can either be indefinite, or have to get used by a certain time before they expire. The second requirement is also easy to grasp. Some bonuses only work with certain games. This is a common theme for free spins or slot bonuses. It doesn’t change the value of the bonus too much but it can definitely influence your decision if the games are uninteresting. Then there’s the wagering requirement, a concept even professional bookkeeping services might have a hard time understanding if they’re unfamiliar with your casino lifestyle.
Taking Advantage of Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are there for a reason, and you’re leaving a lot of dosh on the table if you don’t redeem them. It’s the easiest way to increase your bankroll right off the bat if you have a tight budget and give you extra cash to play with. You’re also free to immediately jump ship after your welcome bonus runs out and redeem another casino’s welcome bonus like those at https://time2play.com/nz/casinos/bonus/. There’s generally no hidden terms (outside the ones we outlined above) on welcome bonuses. Typically the only conditions are that welcome bonuses are only good once per household/player. This is to cut down on bonus abuse, which is a huge problem plaguing online casinos. Some players will create multiple accounts and redeem welcome bonuses on each one at the same casino, which is a big no no.
What is a Wagering Requirement?
Easily the most overlooked aspect of casino bonuses. Without knowing what a wagering requirement is, a welcome bonus of 300% can seem like an easy way to triple your bankroll before you even get started.
Not so fast! Wagering requirements are how the casino ensures that you don’t just make a hit and run, depositing money and then withdrawing it immediately. A wagering requirement is how much you have to wager before the bonus and winnings are eligible for withdrawal.
Here’s an example. A 10X wagering requirement means you have to wager the bonus and winnings ten times before you can withdraw it. So, your $100 bonus now has to be bet ten times over, totaling $1000 in total bets until you can withdraw it. If you didn’t know what wagering requirements were before, you probably are now beginning to realize why you were unable to withdraw your funds at a previous casino.
Wagering requirements can easily turn what looks like a good bonus into a horrible one. a 300% welcome bonus can have wagering requirements from 20X, 25X, or 30X and more. There’s no set standard across the industry, but you can be sure that any large bonus comes with a high wagering requirement, especially on games where the house edge is low. You 100% need to keep wagering requirements in mind when looking at promos. It’s the easiest way to separate good bonuses from outright scams.
Loyalty Programs and What They Mean for You
Another promotional incentive online casinos offer are loyalty programs. These can be invite only or accessible to everyone. Not every online casino has a loyalty program. Some may call it a cashback program or a rewards program. The big similarity between them all is that you are rewarded for being loyal and staying with the online casino. There are usually different tiers, with each one offering better rewards to players.
Rewards are different from iGaming site to iGaming site. They can be anything from increased deposit limits to access to new games. Really common rewards include a VIP customer representative line, better reload bonuses, free spins, birthday gifts, and more. If you’re a high roller, you’ll have access to the best rewards. Players with smaller wallets can still benefit from loyalty programs, but they might not make as much use of them. Some sites have monthly betting requirements to stay at certain tiers while others award you tiers for life. When in doubt, contact customer service.