Different online casino bonuses explained

Online casino bonuses are an integral part of any casino’s marketing strategy. A casino could design a platform with cutting-edge games and sophisticated graphics and be a cut above the rest of the competition. However, if it does not have a marketing strategy that attracts gamers to its site, it will be hard to showcase this to the online casino gaming community. 

Bonuses solve this issue – but it’s not a case of throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, although some platforms have tried. Bonuses are about finding the niche, what new customers respond to and positioning yourself in the market accordingly.

Common types of online casino bonuses

• VIP bonuses – only those who spend the most money on the site qualify for the highest level of bonuses; depending on the casino and the customer’s spending, this can range from free spins and free credits to cash prizes and items like cars and holidays. 
• While most free spins bonuses are for new customers, some platforms also incentivize free spins for existing customers. 
• Matched deposit – a standard bonus where a percentage of your deposit is matched. For instance, a 200% matched deposit on $100 means that your $100 deposit will unlock $200 of free bets, usually paid out in site credits and free spins, or a combination of the two.
• No deposit bonuses – free spins or credits for signing up to the site, with no deposit necessary, as the name suggests. 

Defining the best welcome bonuses

Most bonuses come with pages and pages of terms and conditions. Casino platforms must provide full details to ensure that casino gamers comply with them. However, with more people using AI to pick out the most relevant terms and conditions, it has become easier to find the important information and how it highlights the quality of a promotion or a bonus. 

The experts at playcasino.co.za uses several factors to determine which welcome bonuses stand out from the enormous amount of competition. The bonuses themselves are self-explanatory; the real bulk and the specifics are within the terms and conditions, so here are the terms to look out for: 

Expiry date 

Each bonus will have an allotted time for which it remains valid. If you use a bonus code or opt-in for this bonus when you sign up, the expiry period usually begins when you deposit your qualifying amount. 

Some bonuses are small amounts of $5, but it is more common to encounter $10 or $20. Generally speaking, expiry dates on bonuses have a shelf life of seven days; some can expand up to 30 days or even indefinitely. Three days or less is a very short window to look out for. 

Wagering requirements

Regardless of whether you opt for free spins or betting credits, wagering requirements dictate how much you need to play through before you can actually cash your winnings. Let’s say, for example, that there’s a 10x wagering requirement. A $10 deposit would require $100 worth of spins before you can cash your winnings. Usually, the average is around 30x – but the lesser quality bonuses can go all the way up to 100x. 

Max cashout 

If you meet the wagering requirement’s terms, the next most important criterion is the max cashout option. Again, this can vary based on the bonus, but anything between $50 and $100 is suitable. I have encountered bonuses where the max cashout limit is $10, so it’s something to be aware of. 

Difference between free spins and site credits

Most online casino bonuses include site credits, free spins, or a combination of both. Ultimately, the main difference is that site credits allow you to play more casino games. In contrast, free spins will usually be specific to slots; many bonuses will only allow you to play one particular game with the bonus.

Again, not all bonuses are like this, and they will stipulate in the terms and conditions. Some free spins are available on several games, some are more restrictive, and they won’t just focus on one game, but they will have a small max spin amount of $0.05, so even if you win, the win isn’t too significant.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, the whole purpose of online casino bonuses is for the operator to get you onto their platform and for them to advertise exactly what they have in store for you. They allow you to shop around and get more mileage from your bet. Just as physical stores have a layout to attract customers, online casinos are the same, using specific fonts, designs and layouts to grab your attention. 

These are all things that are second nature to me, as I have been reviewing casinos for a number of years. While it might feel like a lot of information to take in if you’re still wrapping your head around how online casino bonuses work, the more experience you get, the easier it becomes to understand them. 

Of all the online casino bonuses out there, free spins are the dominant one in the market. Although matched deposits and VIP bonuses are becoming more of a tool for new casinos, the majority you will come across as you shop around are free spins and no deposit bonuses.

source – BBC