Things To Consider When Claiming A Welcome Bonus
Before accepting any online casino offer, it's important to carefully read the fine print. This will ensure that you are aware of any restrictions that might be unfavourable to your style of play, while also knowing exactly what you need to in order for the bonus balance to become available for withdrawal.
Some of the most common restrictions can be seen below:
Wagering Requirements
Sometimes referred to as 'Playthrough', wagering requirements are one of the most important restrictions that players should pay attention to. They tell you how many times you must be the bonus amount before it converts to withdrawable cash, meaning that lower numbers are always preferred.
For example, if you claim a welcome bonus of $100 with a 30x wagering requirement, this means that players must bet $3,000 in total. Once this figure has been reached, the funds become available for withdrawal immediately.
Game Restrictions
Casinos often exclude games with high Return to Player (RTP) rates from contributing to your wagering requirements, to prevent players from easily clearing a bonus on games where the house edge is minimal. Common exclusions include:
- High RTP Slots: Titles like Blood Suckers and Starmania, both with an RTP rate of 98%, are frequently banned from bonus play.
- Table Games: Blackjack and Roulette, alongside others such as Poker, are typically not banned entirely but will only contribute 10% to 20% towards the wagering requirements.
- Live Casino Games: Many sites may offer exclusive live dealer games entirely or count them at 10% or less.
Naturally, the exact restrictions will depend on the chosen online casino and bonus type, as there are some promotions that might be specifically tailored to table games or live dealer titles. Make sure that you check eligible games before you start playing!
Time Limits
Bonus offers also come with an expiration date. If you do not meet the wagering requirements by this deadline, the casino will remove both the remaining bonus funds and any winnings that these funds generated.
Deposit matches, often found in welcome packages, typically give you 7 to 14 days to play out the wagering requirements, while free spins often expire just 24 hours after they are credited.
Minimum Deposits
Some bonuses will also require that a minimum deposit be placed in order to trigger the promotion. The industry standard for minimum bonus deposits sits at $10, however, this can be increased or decreased at the discretion of the selected casino.
You should check that the payment method you are using to make your deposit qualifies for the bonus, too.
How Do You Claim Welcome Bonuses
Although different from site to site, here is the standard way to claim a welcome bonus at an online casino:
- Register: Enter your email address and create a password before inputting personal information such as your name, address, and phone number.
- Verify: You will then need to verify your email by clicking on the link sent to your inbox, alongside completing KYC checks to ensure that all the information you entered is accurate. This helps to keep the entire online casino process smooth when it comes to making deposits and withdrawals.
- Go to the Bonus Page: You can then go to the promotions area of the website, select your desired welcome bonus, and opt in. Alternatively, some online casinos may give you a code to enter when you deposit.
- Make a Qualifying Deposit: If a deposit is needed for your bonus, head to the cashier, tap on 'Deposit', and pick an eligible payment method. Next, enter the amount and follow the last steps that appear on screen.
- Play: Your bonus should then be active immediately, allowing you to play your desired games and start fulfilling any wagering requirements.
- Withdraw: After completing these requirements, any funds that remain in your casino balance can be withdrawn. To do this, go back to the cashier section, click 'Withdraw', pick a method, and enter the desired amount. You can then confirm the withdrawal and wait for it to be processed!
Should you need any assistance during the process, all of the online casinos that we recommend come with helpful and responsive customer support. Simply get in touch with them through the live chat or email, and someone will get back to you to help!
What do the Best Welcome Bonuses Include?
As mentioned earlier, many of the best bonuses for new players come in the form of welcome packages. The two main things that are often included in these promotions are:
- Free Spins: This allows you to play a specific online slot machine without any funds being deducted from your balance. Any potential winnings from these spins are usually credited as bonus funds, and in some instances, they will have a lower wagering requirement than the industry average.
- Deposit Boosts: A deposit match, or deposit boost, is the most common bonus offer attached to welcome packages. The casino gives customers additional funds to play with, giving them additional bankroll to play with. Many welcome bonuses will also offer these boosts for the first few deposits, too.
What Games Can You Use Welcome Bonuses On?
Your choice of title determines how fast you can play through the wagering requirements associated with a bonus, as casinos weight game categories differently depending on their house edge.
Online Slots
These are the most preferred to clear bonuses. At nearly every US casino, classic and video slots contribute 100% towards wagering requirements, so every $1 spin would get you $1 closer to completing the promotion.
This makes slots the fastest way to convert bonus funds to cash, however, it's important to check the 'Excluded Games' list of a bonus, if applicable, to ensure that you're not playing titles that don't contribute to wagering requirements.
Table Games
Table games like Blackjack and Baccarat come with a lower house edge, so casinos handicap their contribution rates, typically contributing 10% to 20% towards wagering requirements. This is true for live dealer variations, too.
If you play Blackjack with a 10% contribution rate, for example, a $10 hand would only count as $1 towards your wagering requirements. While the house edge is low and this could be an efficient way to do it, it would take significantly longer than playing video slots, and for many users, this simply isn't feasible.
With that being said, table games can be used periodically throughout a session while the bonus is active, should punters want to mix up their gameplay.
Live Game Shows
Live dealer game shows like Dream Catcher or Crazy Time by Evolution Gaming are player favourites, and their wagering contribution will depend exclusively on the platform itself.
Some casinos treat them like slots (100%) due to their higher house edge than regular table games, while others place them in the same 10-20% bracket as Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat.
Instant Win Games
It's common for scratch cards and Slingo games to contribute 100% to the wagering requirements of welcome bonuses, just like slots. These games are often fast-paced and are common choices when players have a small amount of wagering left to complete.
Sports Betting
Unless it's a bonus that is specifically designed for sports bettors, it's unlikely that these wagers will count towards the wagering requirements at all.
Some Other Popular Casino Offers
After playing through a welcome bonus, there are often plenty of other casino offers to try, including:
- VIP and Loyalty Programs: A strong loyalty program returns a percentage of wagered funds in the form of points. Typically, players can level up by collecting more points over time, before swapping them for other bonuses, including balance and free spins.
- Cashback: Cashback offers will return a portion of all net lost funds over a specified time period. For example, a 10% weekly cashback offer would return 10% back of losses, if any are made, between Monday 00:00 AM and Sunday 11:59 PM.
- Free Spins and Free Play: Existing customers receive 'Bet and Get' offers, which can involve free spins on a particular slot. A lot of the time, the slot will either be a popular title or a release that is exclusive to the casino.
- Competitions and Tournaments: Leaderboard tournaments award prizes to players who wager the most or have the biggest potential winnings on a specific game, based on a multiple of their stake size. Prizes range from bonus cash that can be withdrawn right away to luxury gifts and everything in between.
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