Bonuses and promotions are a great way to attract new customers, and reward loyal and VIP gamblers. If you’re new to online casino games, taking advantage of a bonus offer can be a good way to try out the activity and see if it’s something you’d like to stick with. So, let’s give you the information you’ll need to tell a good casino bonus from a bad one. We’ll look at each type of bonus you’re likely to see, one by one.
Deposit bonus
This is a bonus given to players who make a deposit before they go ahead and play casino games online. You can also be rewarded with a deposit bonus as part of a promotion, even if you’ve been playing on a particular site for some time. A deposit bonus is usually half the value of your deposit, but can be as much as 100% of your total deposit.
How do you tell a good deposit bonus offer from a bad one? It’s simple – read the fine print. Take the time to go through the site’s terms and conditions (T&Cs) and familiarize yourself with the wagering requirements. Here you will find the amount you will be expected to wager before you’re able to withdraw your deposit bonus and any money you’ve won as a result of using the bonus. Keep in mind that you may only be able to play certain specified games using the bonus, or you could be awarded a 50% bonus for playing online slots, but just 10% for games such as poker or roulette.
Sometimes a casino site might stipulate as much as a “20x wagering requirement” or “20 times play-through” – which would mean you have to wager the amount of your bonus 20 times over (that’s right, we said “20x over”) for you to be allowed to collect the bonus and any subsequent winnings. As you can imagine, this is a considerable amount of your own money that you’ll have to add to the bonus amount before you can actually withdraw any winnings. This is why we recommend you take your time to read the fine print, because some offers have stricter requirements than others!
From here, armed with the facts, you’ll be able to decide if there are too many wagering requirements for your liking or whether you’re happy to go ahead and start gambling using that bonus.
Sticky bonus
A good casino bonus can quickly turn into a bad one when certain individuals practice what is called “bonus hunting.” This is when a player trawls the internet looking for loopholes in the T&Cs at online casino sites so they can play without ever having to use their own money.
To stop these individuals from abusing the system, sites use sticky bonuses that can be used to play online games but can never be withdrawn. A good casino bonus is always one that aims to give everyone a fair shake and states its intentions up front.
No deposit required
As the name suggests, a promotion of this type encourages new customers to sign up to a site without them being required to make a deposit before playing. Typically, you’ll need to complete a registration form before being given a cash sum to play with, but keep in mind these deposits have a set of conditions attached to them. If you want to tell a good no deposit bonus from a bad one, read the T&Cs to make sure there aren’t too many restrictions attached. Then again, you’ve been given free cash to play your favorite slots or casino table games, so you might not find too much to complain about!
Poker bonus
Poker bonuses are usually offered for first deposits. While certain wagering requirements will apply, provision is sometimes made to allow players to quickly use the bonus to boost their bankroll when they continue to play online poker. They are also a common way to reward regular or high-value players on a site.
Loyalty bonus
Look out for good casino bonuses that reward you for your loyalty, because then it pays to play on one casino site only. Some sites even offer membership of a VIP club with added benefits, often in the form of larger bonuses, bonuses that are rewarded more often, or bonuses that can be withdrawn along with any winnings sooner than they usually would be. For high-rollers or individuals who play regularly, it’s worth seeing what loyalty or VIP bonuses are offered before choosing a site. This could lead to a more rewarding gambling experience over time. However, it’s important that you don’t allow a casino’s loyalty scheme to draw you further into spending more on gambling than your budget allows. You should only ever wager money you can afford to lose.
Bitcoin bonuses
If you’re a fan of cryptocurrencies, you’ll be pleased to know that some online casinos now offer Bitcoin (and other digital currencies) as bonuses. While the wagering requirements may be the same, cryptocurrency bonuses tend to be higher than traditional currencies to encourage greater use of this growing payment method that’s safe, anonymous, carries no traditional bank fees, and is easy to send and receive with nothing more than a smartphone in hand.
Free spins
If you’ve played casino slot games, you’ll be familiar with free spins. This is when you can spin the reels of a slot without having to pay to play. Sites typically give these out in batches of 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, or more. While there will usually be requirements attached, free spins are a great way to increase your chances of landing those winning combinations (and maybe have some fun trying out a few new slot titles in the process.) Some particularly good free spin bonuses are included in deposit bonuses as an extra, but of course this depends on the online casino.
Find the right bonus for you at Borgata Online
The quickest way to tell a good casino bonus from a bad one is to research the gambling site you intend to sign up with. A reputable site such as Borgata Online not only offers the best casino games to be had online, it also puts considerable effort into building its reputation and keeping its customers happy by offering bonuses and promotions that are intended to enhance their online experience. Simply register with us to get the most out of your gambling experience.