Many new and competitive online casinos use welcome bonuses and other bonus offers to attract new players as a part of their marketing. They are an excellent marketing tactic, but players can really benefit from them, too. Generous welcome bonuses, like bonus money and free spins, can be useful when players want to stretch their budget.
But, it’s good to remember that welcome bonuses are not all the same, and each casino has its own offers — they can differ a lot.
Let’s take a look at what you should consider when choosing a bonus at online casinos.
What Is A Welcome Bonus?
A welcome bonus for betting is some promotional reward for new users immediately after registration and making the first deposit. Most importantly, welcome offers are supposed to inspire new users to prefer the given betting platform over others.
For bookmakers, this is a great marketing tool to increase the number of customers — and for bettors, this is a chance to get to know the casino without putting too much of their own money on the line.
So, if there are welcome bonuses available, they’re not a scam, but a good way for players to get some extra money in their budget.
Types Of Welcome Bonuses
You might come across a couple of kinds of welcome bonuses. We see many casinos offer match deposit bonuses, which are bonus offers where a bookmaker will match a percentage of your very first deposit, sometimes up to 100% or even higher.
Casinos could also give you a set amount of free bets to use on the site. Risk-free bets are offers where you can insure your first bet, and, if it loses, you get the stake back as a free bet or bonus funds. When we play at sportsbooks and choose bonuses, we prefer to grab risk-free bets instead of match bonuses — they’re easier and usually have no wagering.
But, every player has their own preferences. You can find your preferences too by trying different bonuses.
Take A Good Look At The Wagering Requirements
Even if we see a very attractive bonus, we won’t go and grab it before we take a look at their wagering requirements. This tells you how many times you have to stake the bonus amount, and sometimes the deposit amount, before you can withdraw your winnings.
For example, a 5x play-through on a $100 bonus requires making $500 worth of bets before withdrawing wins from bonuses. The lower the wagering requirement, the more favorable it will be for you. We’d always recommend grabbing those bonuses that have lower wagering requirements.
How Long Is The Bonus Valid?
Most welcome offers have stern eligibility criteria coupled with a validity period. Typical eligibility might include being a new client and making a minimum qualifying deposit.
Validity is the time frame wherein you can claim and use up the bonus: it ranges from days to several weeks.
But you should check these before you start playing to avoid any surprises along the way.
Take A Look At The Bonus Limits: Is The Biggest Bonus The Most?
Most bookmakers attach minimum and maximum limits on welcome bonuses. The minimum limit sets a minimum deposit that the player should deposit, or otherwise the casino won’t give the bonus.
The maximum limits place a cap on the maximum one can get from the welcome bonus irrespective of how high an amount is deposited.
Fr instance, a 100% match bonus up to $200 means that you get the full 100% match on deposits up to $200, but any deposit over that amount will still yield only a $200 bonus.
Also, you should note that sportsbooks and casinos might have different bonuses. So, if you want to bet on football, you should claim sportsbook bonuses instead of casino bonuses.
Payment Method Exclusions: Check These Before Playing
Some deposit methods may not be eligible for the bonus. This is quite common with e-wallets, such as Skrill or Neteller, and sometimes with prepaid cards. Such restrictions are usually put in place by bookmakers to prevent bonus abuse.
Always check the terms and conditions to ensure your preferred payment method qualifies for the welcome bonus.
User Experience And Customer Support Can Affect Your Experience
While not related to the bonus itself, the general user experience of the betting platform and the quality of customer support are important to consider. A generous bonus means little if the platform is hard to navigate or you can’t get help when needed.
Look for casinos with responsive customer service, an intuitive interface, and a good reputation among users.
How We Compare Bonuses: Our Most Advice
We take multiple things into account when we compare bonuses. First of all, we evaluate the bonus amount in relation to our typical betting budget.
Also, we assess the wagering requirements and how achievable they are for our betting style. We consider the validity period and how it fits with our betting frequency, and examine any restrictions and how they align with our betting preferences.
Additionally, we consider the general reputation and reliability of the casino. You should keep in mind that the biggest bonus is not always the best — sometimes, a smaller bonus with more favorable terms will be better value in the long term.
Remember always to do your research and shop around for welcome bonuses to find one that fits not only your immediate, but also long-term needs and betting preferences.
