So you’ve found an attractive online gambling platform and feel tempted to try your luck and make that first deposit – not too much in case it doesn’t work the way you expect, not too little in case your star favors you today. The website offers colorful free online slots no download required, and there’s this huge banner claiming something along the lines of ‘Up to $12000 Welcome Bonus for your first deposit! Claim Now!’. Bonus sounds good, you think. This always means you get something on top of what you gave.
However, with online casinos, you should be well aware of what is in that offer and what steps you are expected to take in order to actually benefit from it. This article goes down the rabbit hole of online casino bonuses, explaining what those are, how they function, and how to make them work for your gain.
Finding Codes
There is no secret recipe for finding that special offer – it is against the casino’s interest to conceal them from the potential players. Don’t trust those who claim they’ve discovered an underground resource filled with criminally lucrative bonus codes that will bust the parlor’s bank in no time. Instead, head right to the bonus page of the platform and see what they have to offer. Consult the Internet (or this article’s corresponding sections below) regarding each term that seems alien and every condition you find hard to wrap your head around. Only then you will be able to see whether that particular code is any good.
Alternatively, you may opt for specialized websites that compile and catalog bonuses from different casinos (thus making comparison easier). Sometimes, in an ‘I’ll scratch your back’ manner, some gambling websites would indeed provide exclusive codes to such aggregators in return for potential visitors. Most of the time, though, those would be the No Deposit deals that won’t do much if you’ve decided to play and win with the money of your own.
Bonus Types
This section briefly describes the three most common bonuses you can bump into while browsing any online casino website. Feel free to skip to the Bonus Terms if you can already tell the difference between a Welcome Bonus and a No Deposit deal.
Welcome Bonus
Usually, the most attractive offer you’ll see on the website, a Welcome bonus, is what you are suggested to redeem with your first deposit. It usually includes a match for the money you load up, sometimes adorned with some Free Spins on top (in this case, the bonus would usually be tied to a particular game – better check on it beforehand to see if it’s your cup of tea).
No Deposit Bonus
A promotional deal offering exactly what the name suggests – either about $50 transferred to your account or 50 Free Spins. Useless when it comes to deposits but does the trick if your goal is a quick acquaintance with the casino.
New Game Bonus
Whenever a new title is added to the featured list, be sure to check whether the casino launched it with any promotions – sometimes they can be quite appetizing, and you might discover your favorite game right from the outset.
Bonus Terms
Do yourself a favor and read through all the fine print before claiming the bonus coupon on any casino website. By doing so, you will avoid possible misunderstandings and underwhelming results. We are describing the ins and outs of every term you’re about to encounter in the bonus T&C below.
Minimum Deposit
A decent bonus deal must always state in its T&C how much you actually need to deposit in order to claim the offer. When it comes to Welcome bonuses, it is usually the minimum deposit for the chosen banking method. For instance, if you deposit with a Visa credit card, and $20 is the lower cap, you’re eligible for the entire bonus – just as you would if you decided to part with $500 or whatever the maximum limit is.
Wagering Requirement
Before you can call it quits and cashout, you’ll need to wager a certain amount of cash – as simple as that. If the WR equals 30 times the bonus, it means you need to multiply the bonus sum by this number to calculate the sum that enables you to request a withdrawal. A $10 deposit with a 100% Match (another $10 of bonus cash) with a 30x WR, for instance, equals $300 in bets needed to become eligible for a payout.
Games
Casinos would often tie the Welcome bonus to a certain game from the catalog – either a fresh addition to the roster or the one that is considerably more popular than the others. Only a ‘clean’ slots match bonus will give you an opportunity to enjoy its benefits, disregarding the game of choice. With No Deposit bonuses, expect them to cover a few selected titles – any other game would require an actual financial injection.
Maximum Bet
If you’re reluctant to spend money and go for a No Deposit deal, expect limitations on how much you’ll be able to bet on one spin or other in-game iteration. This condition doesn’t really influence anything other than the hunch that tells you, ‘this time I’m gonna hit it real big.’
Liquidity
The online gambling lingo prefers to use the term ‘capability,’ referring to whether you can actually lay your hands on bonus wins in the end. If you’re about to use a No Deposit deal that is not subject to withdrawals, it simply makes no sense, and you’re better of playing the games in the demo mode.
Maximum Cashout
This condition is relevant both for No Deposit bonuses and for Welcome deals, and if you don’t plan to make any investments, later on, there may be no point in redeeming the code at all. The conditions may range from a certain fixed sum that one can’t exceed to a multiplier, e.g. 30 times the deposit.
Casino Login & Verification
We have never seen a legitimate casino that would allow its users to input bonus codes before completing the sign-up procedure, which makes perfect sense. If you see one – avoid it like fire, because this is just not how the whole thing is supposed to work.
Under normal conditions, you are to undergo a simple routine that involves disclosing your full name, residence, and email. While this is enough to create an account, accessing the full scope of financial operations actually takes one more step. Submitting a copy of your ID lets the casino know you can be trusted as an individual and is a commonplace act of trust. Only upon having a fully verified account, you can expect to reap all the benefits from redeeming a bonus code.
Casino Interface
It is often that a bonus offer comes with a huge bright-colored clickable button somewhere near. If you see this on the official casino website – no worries, it will take you to the desired destination. Exercise caution, though, if you see similar touting on a non-affiliated platform that seems suspicious or otherwise unreliable.
Any online casino has a specific page where the ongoing offers are listed and where you can paste or type the code you’re going for. Sometimes they would conceal the direct code input field by covering it with some popup – this is done to repel no-deposit abusers and can be considered a somewhat acceptable and reasonable practice. Usually, an attentive look and a couple of extra clicks (or googling for instructions) will do the trick. If this doesn’t work still, consider reaching out to the casino support team – it is their vested interest to give you top-notch service.
Conclusion
Claiming a bonus on the initial deposit is as simple as copying the code and redeeming it in the corresponding field on the casino website. However, if you approach it without specific knowledge, such as provided in this article, you may have your expectations shattered by harsh reality. Be very attentive to what the casino offers and on what terms, then calculate whether it really allows you to be in the black. By taking the time for consideration, you increase your chances of deriving benefits from each coupon you use exponentially – and in some cases, it’s better to just pass one by and seek a more lucrative offer – perhaps, even on a different gambling website.
FAQ
Can I play in online casinos from anywhere in the world?
‘Anywhere’ would be a gross exaggeration. There are certain countries that explicitly prohibit online gambling, like UAE, Qatar, Poland, Cyprus, Brunei, Singapore, and Lebanon. The casino of choice should also provide its list of forbidden territories – usually on the Terms page. Note that VPN is not a good idea if you think about finding a way around it. Using this or similar methods will result in a ban on the platform in the best-case scenario.
How do I choose a legit online casino that would meet my expectations?
Short answer – look for online feedback and independent reviews. If that doesn’t help, a little research is required. Ideally, you’ll need to start with a dozen candidates, gradually narrowing the circle to one by comparing regional availability, currency, payment methods, game catalog, security, and many other parameters.
Where do I look for online casino bonus codes?
As a rule of thumb, online casinos go that extra mile to keep their clients from looking elsewhere. Thus, when you create an account, they will notify you about new offers via all the available channels of communication. We mean emails and internal notifications – those can be live chat popups, a standalone mailing system integrated into the casino or its Cashier – the page that combines bonuses, deposits, payouts, and sometimes, account management tools.
Some casinos would distribute exclusive codes to online aggregating platforms as well. Usually, googling the casino name with ‘bonus codes’ attached to it will lead you to one of those websites. Such platforms are safe and exist on mutually beneficial terms with the parlors – the only problem you might run into is that some of the codes may have already expired, so always check the activation date.
Do I always need to deposit to play online casino games?
No. For promotional purposes, it is a common practice among online casinos to distribute No Deposit codes. Using one results in the player obtaining a certain amount of cash or spins on their casino account. Most of the time, you can even withdraw the money you won in the process without spending a penny. Bear in mind, though, that usually, such bonuses are only applicable to a very limited number of games, compared to the entire catalog available on the website.
Practice and demo are a different story. Some online casinos, like those built on the RTG system, offer the free play feature that sometimes doesn’t even require prior registration. You get to play the games for fun, while the wins and losses remain virtual. A perfect way of deciding whether this type of entertainment is up to your alley if you ask us.
Does playing with bonuses make my winning chance lower than with my own money?
Absolutely not. Online casinos use bonus codes as a primary means of attracting the players, and they would be at a great disadvantage if the payoff turned out to be lower than the promised. This means that no change in the mathematical algorithm is taking place when you redeem a bonus coupon, and your chances for a jackpot remain the same.
Can I withdraw money won with a No Deposit Bonus?
Consult the terms of each particular bonus you’re using. It should say explicitly that the payout is cashable. The minimum amount required to request a payout is stated either in the bonus terms as well or in the general terms on the casino website.
