An Explanation of Online Casino Bonuses

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Online casinos are all the rage right now. The iGaming sector has seen drastic growth in recent years. It began in the late 2010s but reached its peak in the 2020s. Nowadays, online gambling has become relatively mainstream, with many gamblers even preferring it over land-based gambling.

One of the significant factors that has elevated iGaming to such great heights is the casino bonuses that make everything a lot simpler. They've played a pivotal role in attracting fans, newbies, seasoned players, and even casual gamblers. That is why, in this article, we'd like to explain just how they work.

What are Online Casino Bonuses?

Businesses often do promotional offers to get their prospective customers interested. Whether that be coupons, gift cards, or sales. It is best to look at casino bonuses as a type of gift card. Upon signing up, you become eligible for a reward, that you can then choose to use or not at your leisure.

Casino bonuses are often linked to a single game or a type of game. Slots would be the most popular ones, so expect you'll find bonuses for games like Starburst, or something similar. However, there are diverse bonuses for all kinds of games. In this article, we’d like to focus on explaining all of them.

The Welcome Bonus

The Welcome Bonus is, by far, the most enticing of all the online casino bonuses. As you can guess by the name, a Welcome Bonus is awarded to players when they first sign up to the website. They come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, so what they do specifically will often differ based on which online casino you are playing at.

The one thing we must mention about Welcome Bonuses, and any bonuses in general, is that it is of utmost importance to read through the terms and conditions. While it is understandable that most would not enjoy going through a block of text before playing, it can be the difference between making full use of the bonus or squandering it needlessly.

There are three primary ways you can acquire the bonus. So, let us take a look at the difference between a no-deposit bonus and a first-deposit bonus.

• No-Deposit Bonus: If a casino offers a Welcome Bonus upon signing up, with no strings attached, that is a no-deposit bonus. It means you don’t need to place a deposit to take advantage of their offer.
• First deposit bonus: Sometimes, a casino may require you to deposit before they award the bonus. That is the first deposit bonus. All you have to do is place a wager, and the bonus will be awarded.
• Bonus code: Finally, a bonus code is a string of letters and numbers you must type in while signing up on a casino website. If you do that, once your account has been verified, your bonus will be deposited to you.

Existing Player Bonuses

The Welcome Bonus is, by far, the most enticing promotional offer at most gambling sites. But, it is far from the only one. Rather, it is simply the most effective way to attract customers. But, how do these websites then ensure the customers stick around? Well, that would be through “existing player bonuses.”

As you can probably guess, an existing player bonus is a type of promotion awarded to a player who has had an account for a long time. These bonuses can manifest in different ways, and we will certainly talk about the most popular promotional offers online in a later section.

The most notable existing player bonus is the loyalty bonus. Loyalty bonuses are awarded to active players who’ve had an account for a given period of time. It is usually about a year, but it can also be in the range of months.

The key thing to remember here is that loyalty bonuses are awarded to “active” players. Meaning that you can’t just have the account for the allotted time. You also have to actively play at the casino during that time. So, if you are a casual player, we’d recommend focusing the welcome bonus, rather than the loyalty bonus.

Most Popular Bonuses

Now that we are well aware of the various online casino bonuses, it is time to discuss in what way they most frequently manifest. In other words, what exactly can you expect to get when you become eligible for a bonus at an online casino?

• Free Spins

Possibly the most popular online casino bonus, ‘free spins’ is exactly what it sounds like. As a reward, the online casino will award a player a number of free spins. Players can use these free spins to explore different games and get a good idea of how they work.

It is worth noting that a lot of people misunderstand the use of free spins. While it certainly is possible to win a prize, it is quite rare that this happens. Instead, practice responsible gambling, by trying out free spins on games that you think you might enjoy. That way, you’ll find the game that is right for you.

• Match Deposit

When you create an account at an online casino, you have to put down a deposit. That deposit becomes your bankroll for future gambling. The Match Deposit bonus (or Deposit Match) sees the casino doubling your initial deposit.

The Match Deposit bonus can be incredibly effective, and very popular. However, it also does come with a lot of restrictions and terms. That is why we, once again, have to emphasize the importance of reading through the Terms and Conditions, and understanding how the bonus works.

Closing Thoughts

As iGaming becomes more popular worldwide, online casinos are finding new and creative ways to attract a bigger customer base. Bonuses and promo offers are just a small reason for why fans are so attached to these websites. However, small they may be, they are also hugely popular and influential when making the decision to join an online casino.