Bonuses drive traffic to online casinos, and Bonus1 works around the clock to guide your search and gaming experience.
Seasoned gamers won’t need this guide, yet new players should read through to learn how to claim a welcome bonus and in turn promos as an existing member. I also outline the steps, types of bonuses, and eligibility criteria, and share a few tips.
Knowing the exact steps to claim a casino bonus can make a huge difference in the wagering process and to your bank account.
Let’s start from the top.
Summary and bonus guide highlights
- Research new casino offers, sign up, deposit, and play your bonus.
- Follow casinos’ promotional lobbies and time your deposits to make the most of ongoing deals.
- Understand the eligibility criteria to not miss out on new casino bonuses and read the fine print to turn bonus funds into real money.
- Review all deals online casinos extend to new and existing players to know what awaits ahead.
Steps to claim a welcome bonus at online casinos
The bonus hunt starts with research. Don’t fall for the first casino bonus you encounter on the internet. Depending on your location, you must find licensed and regulated operators that clearly define their bonus T&Cs, and payout winnings if you successfully wager the funds. Bonus1 reviews and rates casino bonus codes to alleviate players from the pressure of reading pages upon pages of T&Cs and double-checking licensing numbers. Pick any approved bonus to begin.
Our links take you straight to the casino’s homepage. As a new user, you must register and verify your casino account to proceed. When done, you will either instantly receive a no deposit bonus, or, more frequently, have to proceed with a first deposit to claim a bonus.
How it works is you visit the cashier section, select a payment method, provide the necessary details, opt in for the welcome bonus, and confirm the payment. Some casinos ask players to opt into the offer manually through the promotional section or by entering a bonus code. If that’s the case, our bonus reviewers will highlight so on our banners and dedicated guides.
As long as you meet the minimum deposit bonus requirement, and any extra steps, the real money and bonus funds will be instantly credited in your account. The two will be displayed separately until you complete the bonus wagering requirements. Some casinos credit welcome bonus free spins over a set period, so that’s something to note and return in time for your next bonus.
How to get bonuses as an existing casino player
Existing members at casinos qualify for bonuses, too. Online casinos provide a range of promotions to retain customers, each with specific conditions. The bonus type signifies the requirements to claim it, usually.
For example, cashback bonuses credit a percentage of your net losses as real or bonus funds based on a set period. Reload bonuses boost your real money deposit by a certain amount and up to a cap on certain days. Free spins are credited when you make a deposit on a specific day or wager enough money on selected titles.
More often than not, bonuses for existing players are claimed by making a deposit after opting in manually via the promotional area. Failing to do so will forfeit the bonus. Promo codes are often linked with bonuses for existing casino players, too. Deals like VIP rewards and cashback are often credited via the bonus shop or by contacting the customer service team.
Online casinos frequently extend freebies to their returning members, just make sure to monitor their promotional lobbies and follow the above tips to successfully redeem them.
Bonus eligibility and wagering requirements
The eligibility requirements to play at a casino are separate from the terms applicable to online casino bonuses. For the latter, you usually have to satisfy the following aspects:
- Player status (i.e., new or existing)
- Sufficient past deposits or wagers (i.e., VIP bonuses, cashback, tournaments)
- Minimum qualifying deposit
- Restricted payment methods (i.e., PayPal, bank cards)
- Playing with real cash and not bonuses
- Eligibility period (i.e., reload bonuses are typically available once a week)
- Promo codes or opt-in
Claiming a casino bonus is the easy part. The rules attached to each promo dictate the steps you must take to turn the bonus funds or free spins to real, cashable money. They typically include:
- Wagering requirements – how many times you must turnover the bonus funds or deposit too
- Playthrough requirements – the games you can play with bonuses, and their contributions
- Max bonus/bet/win cap – these clauses indicate the maximum cap of a casino bonus, the most you can bet during each round, and the highest amount you can withdraw as a result of it
Casino bonuses you can claim
Anything goes with online casino bonuses. Operators get really inventive to impress players and satisfy all user types. The most common bonuses new players can receive include the following:
- No deposit cash or free spins
- 100% or better match rate
- Side or standalone free spins
- Cashback, often branded as a first-day/week insurance
Some casinos provide subsequent bonuses or several to select from as a new player. Existing members can usually find the following on a weekly or monthly basis and based on their betting history.
- Reload bonuses ranging from 25 – 75%
- 10 – 200 free spins based on played money or deposit amount
- Loyalty points, which you can exchange for merchandise or other bonuses
- VIP perks like level-up bonuses, improved weekly deals, priority customer support and payouts, exclusive content, etc.
- High Bet free spins no deposit
- Seasonal promotions running during holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter
- Referral bonuses based on your friends’ deposits
- Birthday deposit or no deposit bonuses
- Tournaments, races, and weekly leaderboards
Conclusion
The range of online casino bonuses and ease of getting your hands on them shouldn’t make you think that anything goes. Many online gambling sites offer too-good-to-be-true deals to persuade you to deposit money only to disappear. Other casinos restrict bonus funds with over-the-top T&Cs, deeming their offers worthless.
Still, if you know where to look, online casino bonuses are a game changer. This guide has armed you with the knowledge to keep capitalizing on casino bonuses as a new and existing player. Understanding the T&Cs involved in unlocking and clearing promotional funds is paramount, so don’t skim through the relevant section.
Before you go, make sure to check our recommended casino bonuses in case you haven’t claimed them yet – we vouch for their fairness and legitimacy of the respective casinos.