Almost every single online casino in the world offers a welcome bonus of some kind, but there are always a few that don’t follow the herd and choose to opt-out of providing them. We think this is crazy, because what other business do you know that refuses to give you something for free when you first sign up?!
Do bear in mind that most welcome bonuses tend to be based on your first deposit. This means it’s generally a good idea to put a little more money in than you usually would, to essentially ‘top-up’ your account with extra credit. If you want to know more essential information about online casino welcome bonuses, then we recommend that you keep reading!
Top 5 myths about welcome bonuses
Everyone has their own opinion, and often these opinions are formed by complete and utter rubbish that they’ve read or been told somewhere along the line. It isn’t anybody’s fault; misinformation gets shared around all the time. Therefore, we aren’t going to call any of these myths stupid, we’re just going to call them wrong. So, let’s not offend anyone, shall we?
Myth No. 1: “I don’t need to read the terms and conditions”
Believe it or not, but this is probably the biggest myth of all time when it comes to welcome bonuses. It would be nice to think that every single person in the world reads the small print before agreeing to anything, but we all know that this simply isn’t true.
of the World's Largest Casinos Outside Las VegasIt’s understandable why people don’t read the terms and conditions; sometimes they can be longer than War and Peace. However, if you want free stuff you’ve got to earn it, and earning it in this instance involves scrolling down to the bottom of the page and reading through the T&C’s.
If you don’t, you run the risk of breaking rules and regulations without even knowing they existed. Breaking these rules can result in your account being suspended, banned, or worse – having your winnings confiscated.
Here are a few key areas to look out for:
- Wagering requirements - this is how much you have to bet to clear the bonus
- Game contributions - find out which games count towards wagering
- Time restrictions - how long do you have to play through the bonus?
- Qualifying deposits - will any deposit amount trigger the bonus?
These are only a couple of points to get you started. Terms and conditions will vary between casinos, so it’s in your best interest to check them regularly.
Myth No. 2: “Welcome bonuses are designed to make us lose”
This one is actually partly true. Casinos are businesses and ultimately they want to make a profit, they wouldn’t be very good at what they do if they didn’t try to make a buck. With this being said, casinos that give away welcome bonuses know that they might take some hits in the short term, but they will definitely make a profit in the long run.
High RTP Slots You Need to Try at Online CasinosThere will always be players who use the bonus, win a bunch of cash, and then leave. It’s just the nature of the beast.
What casinos are hoping you’re going to do is use the bonus money, enjoy playing the corresponding games, and come back for more when the freebies have run out. They count on the fact that you might receive the bonus, lose your own money, but still walk away feeling somewhat satisfied because you played and lost with money the casino gave you.
Myth No. 3: “All online casino welcome bonuses are the same”
Never, ever, EVER assume anything. If you make the assumption that all welcome bonuses are identical, you’re going to end up looking a bit of an idiot. Okay, we won’t hold it against you if you do make this assumption, but we will prove that you’re wrong.
The value of a welcome bonus can range from as little as $1 up to $9,000. Yes, you’ve read that second figure correctly. Some casinos like to share a little more of the love than others, but you need to remember the wagering requirements for such lucrative bonuses will likely be much higher too.
Deposit matching bonuses will also differ. Again, some casinos will match 10% of your deposit, while others will match 1000%. The type of rewards you can claim later down the line will change, too. Some casinos offer nothing past the initial welcome package, whereas others continue to shower you in gifts until the day you decide to leave.
Myth No. 4: “Free spins from a welcome bonus must be used on specific slots”
Another common misconception is that you will be given a stack of free spins and they must be used on the latest slot released by the casino. Sure, this can happen, but in our experience most casinos will give you the freedom to choose which eligible game you wish to spin your golden tickets on.
We say "golden tickets" because free spins are bloody amazing. Most casinos will add 10/20/30/50/100 spins to your account as part of their welcome package, with winnings paid out in the same way they receive - in other words, you must wager the funds before you can withdraw them.
We've seen welcome packages that have dumped hundreds of free spins into player accounts, but again the wagering requirements are going to be high. You can see some of the best free spins casinos right now over on this page of our site.
Awesome Casino Barr Lounges You Need to See to BelieveMyth No. 5: “Welcome bonuses can be claimed on mobile devices”
Okay, so this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of players aren’t aware that they can claim a welcome bonus regardless of whether they’re playing on desktop or mobile. In an age where everyone wants to play on the go, it would be silly for casinos not to offer mobile users the chance to benefit from the exact same bonuses, would it not?
Don’t worry if your phone is rather old, too. Online casinos don’t discriminate based on technology. For the most part their mobile platforms are advanced enough to run smoothly on devices as ancient as the iPhone 6. Newer models will obviously provide a slicker experience, but it really depends on what software each casino uses. To learn more, check out our guide to .
Different types of online casino welcome bonuses
You can pretty much lump most welcome bonuses into three categories - deposit match, free spins, or a combination of both. We appreciate that casinos like to mix things up and throw lots of different perks into their promotions, but at the core of it all there is always a deposit match, free spins, or a mixture of the two.
Below we’ve explained each of these types of bonuses in a little more detail, outlining what they are and giving examples of each.
best casino in louisville kyDeposit matches
When a casino says they will "meet" or "match" your deposit, this basically means they will give you a chunk of cash that equals however much you have deposited into your account. For obvious reasons, deposit matching bonuses are one of the most popular types of welcome deals around.
The vast majority of deposit match bonuses are capped. This means no matter how much you deposit, you will never receive more in bonus credits. For example, if an online casino is offering a 100% deposit match worth up to $1,000, you will only receive $1,000 even if you add $5,000 to your account.
Example #1
Customer makes NO DEPOSIT and is given $10 in bonus credits.
Customer makes a $10 DEPOSIT and is given $10 in bonus credits. Total balance = $20. Wagering requirement is unknown so let's estimate at 2x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $40 before bonuses could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $50 DEPOSIT and is given $50 in bonus credits. Total balance = $100. Wagering requirement is 35x. Customer will need to place bets to the value of $1750 before funds can be withdrawn.
Customer makes $1,000 DEPOSIT and is given $1,000 in bonus credits. Total balance = $2,000. Wagering requirement is 40x. Customer will need to place bets to the value of $80,000 before funds can be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $10,000 DEPOSIT and is given $10,000 in bonus credits. Total balance = $20,000. Wagering requirement is 30x. Customer will need to place bets to the value of $600,000 before funds can be withdrawn.
In reality, it would take a lot of time and dedication to reach the final set of wagering requirements.
Example #2
Customer makes NO DEPOSIT and is given $15 in bonus credits.
Customer makes a $10 DEPOSIT and is given 100% match, up to a maximum of $100. Total balance = $120. Wagering is 25x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $300 before bonuses could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $50 DEPOSIT and is given 50% match, up to a maximum of $150. Total balance = $100. Wagering is 30x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $450 before funds can be withdrawn.
Best Online Casinos in Pennsylvania for 2023Customer makes a $200 DEPOSIT and is given 100% up to a maximum of $300. Total balance = $500. Wagering is 25x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $12,500 before funds can be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $1,000 DEPOSIT and is given 100% match up to a maximum of $300. Total balance = $500. Wagering is 25x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $12,500 before funds can be withdrawn.
Example #3
Customer makes NO DEPOSIT and is given $30 in bonus credits.
Customer makes a $20 DEPOSIT and is given a 200% match, making a total balance of $70. Wagering is 40x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $2800 before funds could be withdrawn.
Best Online Poker Sites Ranked (2023) - PokerListingsCustomer makes a $100 DEPOSIT and is given a 150% match. Total balance = $250. Wagering is 30x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $7,500 before funds could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $500 DEPOSIT and is given a 200% match, which is the maximum allowed. Total balance = $1200. Wagering is just 20x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $24,000 before funds could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $2,000 DEPOSIT and is given the full 200% match. Total balance = $4,000. Wagering is just 20x. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $96,000 before funds could be withdrawn.
As you can see, the value of the deposit match is not always proportional to the size of the deposit. Sometimes casinos will offer huge percentage matches to encourage small deposits, while drastically reducing the percentage match for larger deposits. It seems counterintuitive that someone who deposits $2,000 is rewarded with double that amount, while someone who puts down $100 gets six times more than they did.
However, there is method to the seeming madness. A player depositing $100 is now working with $250, meaning they have a greater chance of losing their original bankroll. Conversely, the individual who put down $2,000 now has $4,000 to play with. Yes, they have a bigger balance, but it's not proportionally bigger compared to their deposit. In many ways, the $100 depositor has more to lose.
Free Spins
Although not as common as they once were, free spins remain one of the most popular types of online casino welcome bonuses. Players adore spinning the reels and, quite frankly, casinos love it because certain slots contribute heavily toward wagering requirements.
Just like deposit matching bonuses, free spins can come with ridiculous wagering requirements. Although rare, some casinos will give you hundreds of free spins with no deposit required. The problem is, you'll probably only be able to win a few bucks regardless, thanks to low caps on how much you can win from no deposit free spins.
Example #1
Customer makes NO DEPOSIT and is given 20 free spins.
Customer wins $2 per spin = $38 from their 20 spins. Total balance including deposit = $38. Wagering is 50x on free spins. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $1900 before funds could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $10 DEPOSIT and is given 30 free spins.
Customer wins $3 per spin = $92 from their 30 spins. Total balance including deposit and free spin winnings = $10+$92 = $102. Wagering is 30x on deposit only = $3060.
Customer makes a $50 DEPOSIT and is given 50 free spins.
Customer wins $4 per spin = $182 from their 50 free spins. Total balance including deposit and free spin winnings = $50 + $182 = $232. Wagering is 35x on deposit + free spin winnings = $10,040.
Customer makes a $1000 DEPOSIT and is given 100 free spins.
Customer wins $5 per spin = $430 from their 100 free spins. Total balance including deposit and free spin winnings = $1000 + $430 = $1430. Wagering is 40x on deposit + free spin winnings = $172,200.
Example #2
Customer makes NO DEPOSIT and is given 50 free spins.
Easy Ways to Withdraw Casino Winnings OnlineCustomer wins $5 per spin = $78 from their 50 free spins. Total balance including deposit = $78. Wagering is 25x on free spins. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $1950 before funds could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $10 DEPOSIT and is given 100 free spins.
Customer wins $6 per spin = $140 from their 100 free spins. Total balance including deposit and free spin winnings = $10 + $140 = $150. Wagering is 25x on deposit + free spin winnings = $1750.
Customer makes a $50 DEPOSIT and is given 150 free spins.
Customer wins $7 per spin = $245 from their 150 free spins. Total balance including deposit and free spin winnings = $50 + $245 = $395. Wagering is 30x on deposit + free spin winnings = $4805.
Customer makes a $200 DEPOSIT and is given 200 free spins.
Customer wins $9 per spin = 580 from their 200 free spins. Total balance including deposit and free spin winnings = $200 + $580 = $780. Wagering is 25x on deposit + free spin winnings = $19,520.
Combo Welcome Offers
A lot of casinos lump together deposit matches and free spins to create combo welcome offers. These tend to be the most generous bonuses, although the terms and conditions can be brutal. As you can see from the table below, it doesn't take much to start racking up eye-watering wagering requirements.
Example #1
Customer makes NO DEPOSIT and is given $10 bonus + 10 free spins.
Best Casinos in Pennsylvania - Update 2023Customer wins $2 per spin = $22 from their 10 free spins. Total balance including deposit = $12+$22 = $34. Wagering is 50x on free spins. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $1900 before funds could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $10 DEPOSIT and is given a 50% match, up to $100, plus another 30 free spins.
Customer wins $3 per spin = $93 from their 30 free spins. Total balance including deposit, deposit match, and free spin winnings = $10+$50+$93 = $153. Wagering is 30x deposit match + free spin winnings = $3060.
Customer makes a $50 DEPOSIT and is given a 100% match up to $100, plus another 50 free spins.
Customer wins $4 per spin = $182 from their 50 free spins. Total balance including deposit, deposit match, and free spin winnings = $50 + $100 + $182 = $332. Wagering is 40x deposit match + free spin winnings = $172,200.
Customer makes a $1000 DEPOSIT and is given a 100% match up to $300, plus another 100 free spins.
Customer wins $5 per spin = $430 from their 100 free spins. Total balance including deposit, deposit match, and free spin winnings = $1000 + $300 + $430 = $1730. Wagering is 30x deposit match + free spin winnings = $1,395,000.
Example #2
Customer makes NO DEPOSIT and is given $30 bonus + 20 free spins.
Juego Online Casino No Deposit Bonus Offers to Claim in Espańa - #1 RankedCustomer wins $5 per spin = $68 from their 20 free spins. Total balance including deposit = $48+$68 = $116. Wagering is 40x on free spins. Customer would need to place bets to the value of $27,200 before funds could be withdrawn.
Customer makes a $20 DEPOSIT and is given a 200% match, up to $250, plus another 30 free spins.
Customer wins $6 per spin = $146 from their 30 free spins. Total balance including deposit, deposit match, and free spin winnings = $20 + $250 + $146 = $416. Wagering is 20x deposit match + free spin winnings = $24,160.
Customer makes a $100 DEPOSIT and is given a 150% match, up to $200, plus another 50 free spins.
Customer wins $7 per spin = $335 from their 50 free spins. Total balance including deposit, deposit match, and free spin winnings = $100 + $200 + $335 = $635. Wagering is 25x deposit match + free spin winnings = $96,250.
Are online casino welcome bonuses worth claiming?
We've proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that online casino welcome bonuses can be extremely valuable. But do they always add real value to your bankroll? Not necessarily, no. There are plenty of bonuses doing the rounds that appear great at first glance but, upon closer inspection, are nothing more than a pile of steaming dung.
How can you spot a bad welcome bonus? Simple: refer to the section. Anything with cripplingingly high wagering requirements, obscure , or a cap lower than a flea's arse will be tough to turn a profit with.
That doesn't mean you should discount these bonuses altogether. Sometimes it makes sense to accept a substandard welcome deal, especially if you plan on playing the relevant games for hours on end. Any reputable online casino will have demo modes you can practice in before you commit real money bets, too.
But if you come across a welcome bonus with absolutely dreadful terms and conditions - i.e. one which looks almost impossible to beat - you might want to give it a wide berth.
How do I claim my casino bonus?
Claiming a casino bonus couldn't be easier. Provided you've registered an account and made your first deposit, the bonus should be automatically added to your balance.
2023's Best NJ Gambling Apps & Sites for Online Casino GamesSome casinos will require a bonus code. This is usually mentioned in the terms and conditions, and is typically sent to you via email. Double check the promo is still active if you can't find it advertised proudly on site.
Do I have to download casino software to get a welcome bonus?
No. Whether you choose to download an online casino's software onto your desktop device or play directly through your browser is entirely up to you. Some bonuses may be excluded, but for the most part you can claim a welcome package regardless of how you choose to play.
Checking which is a good idea, by the way. Top-tier online gaming platforms will have several versions of their casino available, allowing players to switch between them at will.
Can I claim a welcome bonus on mobile devices?
Yes. Mobile welcome bonuses are incredibly popular because people are constantly on their phones. If an online casino doesn't offer a bonus you can claim on mobile, it's falling behind the competition. That's not somewhere you want to play.
For a list of the , headed on over to that page on our site.
Why don't all online casinos offer welcome bonuses?
Honestly? We haven't got the foggiest. From a business perspective, it makes zero sense to operate without some sort of introductory promotion. After all, nobody likes to feel like they're getting a raw deal. If you turned up at a grocery store and saw no offers or discounts, wouldn't you go elsewhere?
Perhaps some casinos assume people will sign up anyway, despite there being no welcome bonus. Either that or they think potential customers will do exactly that - potential. They'll come and look, but they won't stay. We can't imagine a world in which anyone would join a site with no incentive to deposit and play, but hey - what do we know?
What's the largest online casino welcome bonus in existence?
At the time of writing, is arguably home to the internet's biggest welcome bonus. On your first deposit, you'll get a 500% match worth up to $7,777. On your second, it goes up to 250% for up to $6,000. Finally, on your third, you'll bag another 300% match, but this time capped at $5,555. In total, you can get up to $19,332 to play with at BC.Game - but be warned, the wagering requirements are steep. You'll have to turn over your bonus 35x on Slots and 45x on Live dealer games within three days of accepting the offer. Anything not wagered within this period will be lost, along with a chunk of your deposit if you don't hit the rollover in time. Still, if you've got deep pockets and fancy turning the bonus portion of your bankroll 35+ times within 72 hours, this is one of the best welcome deals you'll find online. Best of luck!
*Any featured live casino stream or its host mentioned herein is strictly over the age of 18+ except where prohibited by law.
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