What Is a Casino Welcome Bonus?
A welcome bonus at an online casino, known as a sign-up or a first deposit bonus, is a promotional incentive offered by gambling sites to entice new players to join. It is, too, a casino's way of welcoming you and celebrating your first successful deposit.
When it comes to casino bonuses, welcome bonuses have become a standard feature. Opening an account at a casino site without receiving a welcome bonus is practically unheard of in today's online gaming market.
How to Sign Up for Welcome Bonuses?
If you have checked casino sign up offers beforehand, then you have probably picked a casino based on the welcome bonus it has prepared for new players. Welcome bonuses should be claimed when you complete your registration at a casino.
Depending on the type of casino welcome bonus, you might need to make a deposit first before claiming your bonus. Some bonuses come in instalments, so they extend to other deposit types, not just the first deposit. You should also check the terms and conditions of the bonus before making any withdrawal requests to ensure you have met all the requirements.
Sign up Bonuses at Top New Online Casinos
Casino welcome bonuses are always an excellent way to get acquainted with a new casino site.
What is more, it takes time and effort to create a bankroll; therefore, a generous welcome bonus or welcome gift can come in handy. Depending on the casino, these bonuses might double or even triple the amount of your initial deposit.
You can increase your chances of winning by taking advantage of an online casino sign up bonus.
The Most Popular Types of Welcome Bonuses
When you sign up for a new casino, you will receive a bonus as a thank-you. Casinos try to offer the best first deposit bonus as an incentive for you to join and play casino games. The best online casinos will give you a slew of different incentives to play, all to increase your bankroll and encourage you to stick around.
Here are some of the most popular welcome bonus types:
Match Deposit Bonuses
When offering match deposit bonuses, online casino sites are, in fact, offering to match a percentage of your real money with bonus funds. They usually also limit the amount of funds you can receive, so, for example, you could get a 100% match deposit bonus. What that means is that if you deposit €50, you will get another €50 from the casino to try your luck. Casinos can also set the limit to the amount of the bonus funds, not just the percentage, so they can limit the match bonus amount to, let’s say, €200, €500, or €1,000.
In addition to the casino sign up bonus, you are likely to receive this type of incentive as part of a promotional effort later on. As usual, match deposit bonuses come with wagering requirements you must meet before cashing out, so we suggest that you read the bonus terms and conditions before claiming your bonus.
Free Spin Bonuses
It is common for casinos to give existing players free spins to promote the introduction of new slot machines; some also give them to new players. This form of bonus gives you a limited amount of free spins, which you may play to win real money without spending a single cent.
Even while free spins are available at most casinos, each one has its own strategy. An increased wagering requirement and a lower maximum cashout limit accompany the majority of free spins offers. Use the bonus to reach the maximum cashout amount and withdraw your earnings in a timely manner.
No deposit bonuses
Bonuses that don't require a deposit are called no deposit bonuses. This one is entirely free, so there's no need to pony up any cash upfront. Ensure to read the fine print before claiming this incentive since there are bound to be connected constraints.
New players love this one over all others and stand to gain from this arrangement. With no deposit bonuses, players might expect some limitations, however. Usually, you can't play a game that costs more than $20 in the casino. Slots with a $30 cap and multi-table games costing around $100 can't be played.
Cashable or Non-Cashable Welcome Bonus?
Cashable bonuses and non-cashable bonuses are two subtypes of welcome bonuses. Which one of these may be the best online casino welcome bonus for you and based on what you're after. Each comes with a set of rules, benefits and limitations, and we discuss them below.
Cashable Welcome Bonuses
If you meet all of the terms and conditions, you can freely cash out your casino bonus. Although most players prefer cashable bonuses, an increasing number of online casinos are now offering non-cashable ones instead. An example of a bonus that can be cashed out is if you get a 100% bonus up to $200.
- Usually, no limit on the withdrawal amount
- Counts towards the playthrough requirements
- Lower wagering requirements
- Can be withdrawn with your winnings
Non-Cashable Welcome Bonuses
Non-cashable bonuses (also known as sticky bonuses) allow you to spend the money to place bets while keeping all the earnings but not the bonus amount. This implies that if you receive $200 in bonus money and win $100, you will only be allowed to withdraw $100, not $300 (bonus plus winnings). Even while these bonuses appear to provide you less in return, it is convenient not having to meet rigorous wagering requirements.
The main characteristics of non-cashable welcome bonuses are:
- Stay with the casino, therefore the "sticky bonus" term
- Tend to be higher than cashable bonuses
- Playthrough requirements may be higher
- Non-cashable as part of your winnings
- Only used to increase your playing bankroll
Pros and Cons of Welcome Bonuses
Casinos use welcome bonuses to attract new customers and convince them to continue playing there even after the bonus funds run out. While a casino registration bonus could be a good offer for the player, it also has some potential drawbacks that you should be aware of when choosing a casino based on the welcome bonus. Remember that the best sign up bonus doesn't necessarily mean the best casino. Let’s have a look at the welcome bonuses' pros and cons:
Pros:
- Potential risk-free winnings: This could be considered a perk of a no-deposit or Free Spins bonus where you don’t have to deposit any money to claim the bonus. However, it is possible that your bonus will be limited to certain slots only.
- An excellent way to maximise value at the point of creating a new account: Receiving bonus funds or spins to play more is always a welcome way to try to win more at the beginning of your casino journey.
- Test out casinos for free: No deposit bonuses allow you to try out a new casino without having to invest any money.
Cons:
- Limited time to use the bonuses: You should note that welcome bonuses are time-limited, so you will have to use your bonus funds within the time frame the casino has set for the bonus.
- Check the terms and conditions for each bonus: The bonus might not be as good as it looks at first glance, as most bonuses have their restrictions. It could come with rigorous wagering requirements or some time limitations that you simply can’t meet.
How to Find the Best Casino First Deposit Bonus
In today's thriving iGaming market, the online casinos are competing to attract and keep players on their platforms. One of the ways for a casino to keep players is to treat them to the best casino welcome bonus it can offer. But, while everything may seem like glitz and glam to players when skillfully wrapped in casinos' presentations, players should be careful about what they are saying "yes" to.
Here's how players can spot a good casino welcome bonus:
Searching in Online Casinos
Casino sites have grown in popularity throughout time, and welcome bonus packages have also evolved. In addition, casinos regularly increase their bonuses. As a result, keep your eyes peeled! It is critical to shop around before committing to a single casino.
Comparing Casino Welcome Bonuses
You should examine and compare bonuses and percentages offered by different casinos. Also, keep in mind the maximum amount you can obtain after making a deposit.
Reviewing Bonus Terms & Conditions
Always, and we can't stress this enough – always – read the bonus terms and conditions carefully!
The most typical wagering requirements for bonuses are between x10 and x30. However, there are a lot of different operators out there. Don't be surprised if you encounter a promotion requiring an x70 wagering requirement.
Because anything can happen, you'll often be faced with different terms that may catch you off guard; to avoid that and play seamlessly, make it your priority to inspect the fine print.
Welcome Bonus Wagering Requirements
Different games will contribute to the wagering requirements in different ways. Therefore, before pressing play, always examine to what extent certain casino games contribute to the wagering requirements.
Wagering or playthrough requirements are bonus limits that prevent players from withdrawing their earnings right away. Players must adhere to these rules and continue to play until they have wagered the required amount of money. If a casino bonus has a 20x wagering requirement, for example, players must spend 20 times the amount in real money before withdrawing.
You might ask: Ok, then, do top online casinos offer no wagering bonuses? The answer is yes, but they will typically have a substantially smaller value. And – it bears repeating – it is best you check the Terms here, too; fine print may uncover additional info you didn't see the first time.
Welcome Bonus Cash Out
It is possible to cash out casino bonuses in real money, but there are often terms and conditions attached to the process.
Gamblers can expect to receive a welcome bonus and free spins upon signing up for an online casino. Wager requirements are a mechanism these casinos have implemented to prevent players from being taken advantage of. Players can't just cash out their bonus money; they must meet a minimum withdrawal amount and a certain number of wagers before they may complete their withdrawals through these wager criteria.
Certain wager requirements are put in place for online casinos to recover their extended credit incentives and prevent losing money. They also encourage players to play to increase their wins, which benefits the casino and the individual players. Players can begin the withdrawal process after meeting the necessary minimums and wagering criteria. Waiting for verification and approval of their cash out request is common once they submit their withdrawal request.
Common Payment and Deposit Methods for Welcome Bonuses
Most casinos offer numerous payment methods to give their players flexibility and options to choose from for their convenience. Once you decide to play at a casino, you need to create your account and make the first deposit to claim your welcome bonus. Before making your deposit, you’ll probably want to check payment details for the specific casino.
For example, some of the common deposit methods you can find in online casinos are e-wallet solutions, such as iWallet, Skrill, Neteller, Zimpler, or Jeton. Also, if you prefer card payments, casinos usually offer the possibility to pay with your credit or debit card, but you should check what types of cards are accepted and if there are potential card restrictions for some casinos in your country.
If you don’t want to risk your cards or e-wallet solutions, some casinos accept cryptocurrency, so if that is your preferred payment method, look for the list of accepted currencies to ensure you can make your deposit.
Available payment and deposit methods vary depending on your country and the online casino, so make sure you check the eligibility before you try depositing the funds to your account.
Also, make sure to check the withdrawal terms and methods for each casino you play in because they can differ from the payment methods. And of course, check the balance on your account before withdrawing to ensure you have met the wagering requirements and the minimum amount the casino has set for withdrawals.
Common Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions
It's far easier to get online casino bonuses than it is to grasp all of the terms and conditions. You need to familiarize yourself with the terms in order to understand how to find the best welcome bonus at online casinos. If you don't do this, you could end yourself in a bonus plan that you can't use.
Inspect the following:
- Expiry date/timeframes
- Wagering requirements
- Wagering contribution table
- Match percentage
- Maximum bets and winning caps
- Restricted games
Remember that should a casino fail to meet its end of the bargain regarding a casino bonus, you should consider submitting a complaint with AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service and we will see what we can do to fix it.
What is a Maximum Bonus Wagering Requirement?
As you probably already know, bonuses often come with attached wagering requirements, meaning that you will have to wager or play through the bonus funds quite a few times to be able to request a withdrawal. Wagering requirements depend on the casinos that set them, so we can see anything from 10x to even 30 or 40x play-through requests.
Max bonus wagering requirements could be even around 50x the bonus amount, so make sure to check the terms and conditions of the bonus before claiming it so you don’t get any kind of unpleasant surprises later.
The Best Welcome Bonuses for You
Whether it's a welcome bonus or another form of bonus, each one usually has its own set of requirements. AskGamblers team makes it a point to offer this information with every bonus on our website. However, you should always read the bonus Terms and Conditions in their entirety, as this is the only way to know exactly what to expect from a bonus offer. It's hard to find the best welcome bonus at casinos, but they usually come with friendly wagering requirements, low deposit limits and no maximum win limits.
Once you are familiar with all the bonus details and requirements, you are safe to proceed and claim that best casino welcome bonus you picked.
Interesting Facts and Statistics About Welcome Bonuses
So, a casino welcome bonus is a promotion activity that casinos use to attract new players. However, not all welcome bonuses are equal, and every casino sets its own rules about the promotion it is pushing for its players. Here are some interesting facts and statistics about welcome bonuses:
- The average amount of welcome bonus funds ranges from $10 to $1,000 or more, depending on the casino and the player’s deposit amount. Many casinos offer a percentage match on a player’s first deposit.
- The average maximum bonus amount varies greatly but is often in the range of $1,000 to $5,000. Some casinos may offer higher maximums for VIP players or high rollers.
- The average minimum deposit usually ranges from $10 to $30.
- Welcome bonuses may come as a limited-time offer with an expiry date. Check for how long the offer is valid to ensure you can grab it in time.
It is common for casinos to have some form of withdrawal limit for bonus funds. Depending on the individual casino’s policies, they could have a maximum withdrawal limit for welcome bonuses. Also, some casinos may have a minimum withdrawal limit for all winnings, while others may only have a limit for winnings from bonus funds.
Make sure to have all this in mind when assessing even the best casino sign up bonus because that is the only way to be sure you have chosen the right bonuses for yourself.
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