Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are a standard offer at almost all online casinos. They are a key feature that players have come to appreciate as much as a great selection of games or a variety of payment methods.
Nowadays online casinos literally throw their welcome bonuses at players just to get them to register. Players might find it hard to locate the most rewarding welcome offers, but luckily, we are here to point you towards the best.
We have compiled a list of the most profitable bonuses, which don’t contain just free cash, free spins, and other rewarding prizes, but subject to wagering requirements that are within reasonable limits.
What are Welcome Bonuses (and Why Do Casinos Offer Them)?
At the most basic level, welcome bonuses are free cash players receive for their initial deposit (or few) or for simply signing up. Welcome bonuses are almost always equal in percentage to the amount a player deposits (100% match), but can go as high as 500%.
Additionally, players often receive a series of free spins as part of the welcome package. They can then use these free spins on specific slot games that are available in the casino’s games selection, or on their favorite games.
Online casinos also tend to offer ‘free play’ bonuses. These bonuses are basically free cash the players can use to play a variety of games, but have to use all of the funds within a certain time frame before the funds become void or expire. ‘Free play’ cash requires no credit card information or deposits, only opening an account with the casino.
Anatomy of a Casino Welcome Bonus:
No deposit Bonus
One of the best ways to test an online casino and its selection of games is to take advantage of the no deposit signup offer. The no deposit bonus is also known as ‘free money’ bonus, because players receive this for opening an account, without having to deposit any funds or give credit card information.
One such no deposit bonus is available at BGO Casino, where players can enjoy their time at BGO with free money and test a wide variety of casino games before they decide to deposit make a home there. Of course, this type of bonus is usually subject to wagering requirements or withdrawal limits, so make sure to read the fine print.
Match bonuses on First 3 Deposits
Match bonuses, or deposit match bonuses, are a type of bonus that rewards players with a certain percentage of bonus money, depending on how much the player has deposited. For example, if the player deposits $100 and the match deposit is 200%, then the player will receive additional $200 as part of the bonus.
Rizk Casino is known to have one of the better match bonuses, which gives players their money’s worth and lets them withdraw the bonus amount as well as wins linked to that money (after fulfilling wagering requirements that are within reasonable limits).
Free Spins
Free spins are most often a side offer that goes along with welcome bonuses and no-deposit bonuses. Some casinos offer up to 300 free spins, which can be utilized on either a specific group of slots or on a variety of titles by a certain provider.
Operators like Sloty Casino have special offers that surpass regular welcome offers. Sloty Casino rewards players with 300 free spins they can spend on a series of the most popular games such as Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, Aloha! Cluster Pays, and Fairy tale Legends: Red Riding Hood.
What are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements are basically a number of times players have to play through the bonus they received before being able to withdraw wins made from using the bonus money. For example, if a $100 bonus has 30x wagering, this means you’ll have to place $3,000 worth of bets before withdrawing.
Other Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions
Besides the standard wagering requirements that are linked to welcome bonuses, players also often have to meet terms and conditions like time limitations and game contributions. Certain bonuses can be withdrawn in full after meeting the wagering, while so called sticky (non-cashable) bonuses will only let you withdraw winnings.
One way of making sure players understand how to best use a welcome bonus is to read the fine print of the terms and conditions of these bonuses. This is the safest way to ensure you’re aware of all important bonus restrictions and limitations, which will prevent any potential mistakes.
Should I Claim a Casino Welcome Bonus?
Players frequently ask whether they should even claim a casino’s welcome bonus because these are always linked to a series of wagering requirements and other terms and conditions that have to be met before any funds can be withdrawn.
The answer is both yes, and no. Players should claim the welcome bonus only from online casinos that have an outstanding reputation and are entirely trustworthy. Furthermore, stick with bonuses with reasonable wagering requirements (30x – 40x) and make sure there are no hidden, unreasonable restrictions that could cost you your bonus winnings.
How to Recognize a Good Welcome Bonus
The best way to recognize a good welcome bonus is to make yourself familiar with the terms and conditions that apply to the bonus. The value of the bonus depends primarily on whether the wagering requirements are reasonable and can be met.
In case the wagering requirements can be fulfilled within a reasonable amount of time and leave players with at least some cash from the bonus, this constitutes a good bonus offer. The amount of the bonus itself isn’t that important, because $100 with reasonable wagering trumps $1,000 with impossible to meet wagering requirements.
How to play through your wagering requirements faster
There are numerous ways to meet wagering requirements before the given time limit and to still keep some of the bonus funds.
First of all, choose a bonus that is the easiest to clear. Players are also advised to make larger deposits instead of minimum amounts, because this way they will get the most out of the bonus while still having to meet the same requirements.
They should start playing immediately after choosing a bonus and, most important of all, choose the right games on which to spend the wagering requirements. Play only the games that contribute 100% (usually slots) and, preferably, find low variance slots where you’ll have many frequent small hits. This will give you the best chance to meet your wagering requirements and do it quickly.
The Perfect Bonus
Choosing the ideal welcome bonus is sometimes harder than it seems. Yet, with the right amount of research and time spent playing, it becomes easier.
Rizk Casino has possibly the best and most rewarding welcome bonus by far. Players will not receive unbelievable match bonuses of up to 400%, but instead receive a 100% match deposit up to $100 and 50 free spins. They can then spend these free spins over the next 5 days on a variety of slots. The deposit bonus is subject to more than reasonable 20x wagering requirements. Video slots contribute 100% towards clearing the bonus, while roulette – a game with a very low house edge – counts 50% towards clearing the bonus, which is unprecedented.
Bottom Line
Welcome bonuses are an online casino’s way to attract a large number of players who would otherwise never sign up if it weren’t for those bonuses. However, just like with online casinos in general, there are good and there are bad welcome packages. We have listed a number of ways to determine which one benefits you the most and which one to steer clear of. Furthermore, these tips should help you meet your wagering requirements faster and easier, ultimately leading to a more enjoyable and more profitable gaming experience.
