Accessing online casino bonuses is a brilliant way to boost your bankroll and maximize your winnings while gambling online.
However, you must know the different casino bonuses available and the key terms and conditions attached to each promotion to utilize such offers fully.
In this article, we run through the best online casino bonuses available and explain the terms and conditions you must understand in detail.
We also introduce you to EVO.io’s current promotions and invite you to kickstart your gameplay with a generous bankroll boost.
Types of Online Casino Bonuses
You may encounter numerous online casino bonuses depending on your casino. Some are available to new players, while others are exclusively available to existing customers. But they typically offer bonus money or free spins for selected games. Below are the most common casino bonuses you’re likely to come across:
Welcome Bonuses
Casino welcome bonuses are available to new customers. As the name suggests, welcome bonuses offer an incentive to ‘welcome’ you to the casino as you create your account.
Often, they are deposit bonuses, which offer to match a percentage of your initial deposit as soon as your account is live.
For instance, welcome bonuses tend to match 100% of your initial deposit up to a specific amount, perhaps $100 or $1,000. Some welcome bonuses also offer new players free spins on specific slot games.
The critical thing to recognize about a welcome bonus is that you usually have to deposit some of your own money into your casino account to trigger it. Then, you must satisfy the wagering requirements and other vital terms and conditions in the given timeframe before the bonus money expires.
No Deposit Bonuses
One of the most appealing online casino bonuses is the no-deposit bonus. This promotion does not require you to part with your own money; you can access bonus money simply by creating an account at the casino.
No-deposit bonuses are so popular because they offer a risk-free start to your online gaming experience. If you sign up and use a no-deposit bonus to play casino games and decide the site isn’t for you, stop playing at the casino and look for a different betting site to sign up for.
The drawback to most no-deposit bonuses is that they tend to be for much lower amounts and typically only offer $5 or $10 to play with.
Therefore, you should regard no-deposit bonuses as a way to test out an online casino’s offering before making a significant deposit of your own money.
Free Spins
Fans of casino slot games always look for free spins offers as they invite you to spin the reels on iconic slot games without placing a real-money wager. Often, free spins are tied to welcome bonuses, but other times, they’re awarded to existing customers as a loyalty reward.
Some online casinos provide free spins bonuses daily, weekly, or monthly, enabling you to unlock free spins when you complete specific actions or meet milestones. For instance, at EVO.io, you can unlock free spins when you verify your account.
We regard free spins as one of the best casino bonuses, but there are a few caveats to be aware of.
First, most free spins are for a relatively small amount (usually $0.10), and a win cap is nearly always applied to payouts. So, remember that you can’t usually bag a jackpot win while using a free spins online casino bonus.
Also, you can’t typically use free spins on all slot games at a casino, as the spins will be restricted to one or two named games. Make sure the game interests you before unlocking the spins, and head to the casino lobby to find the correct game before playing.
Reload Bonuses
Another popular promotion type you may encounter at an online casino is the reload bonus. Here, the online casino offers to match all or some of a subsequent deposit you make to fund your gameplay.
As such, reload bonuses are exclusively available to existing customers at online casinos and cannot be accessed by new players.
While welcome bonuses deal with your initial deposit, reload bonuses are concerned with subsequent deposits. So, for instance, a casino might offer a 100% match up to $500 on your second deposit and a 50% match on your third deposit up to $1,000.
This way, the casino incentivizes you to continue playing at the site rather than heading to a competitor to make a first deposit to unlock a different welcome bonus. You will find reload bonuses available throughout the year, and you might need to enter a bonus code to trigger one. Make sure you regularly check the ‘Promotions’ tab for the latest offers available to you.
Cashback Bonuses
Cashback bonuses are also widely available at online casinos. One of the main differences about this type of promotion is that it doesn’t give you bonus money upfront. Instead, with a cashback promotion, you must spend your money within a specific period, often the first 24 or 48 hours of play.
Then, if you lose money, the casino will refund a percentage of your losses within that time to give you a second attempt to win cash prizes. At some casinos, the cashback is available to withdraw immediately; at others, it’s subject to wagering requirements.
Some people regard cashback offers as the best online casino bonuses, like an insurance policy you can rely on if luck isn’t on your side. However, others prefer deposit bonuses, as they add funds to your account from the outside. Either way, a cashback promotion can offer good value and is a decent offer to look out for when signing up for an online casino.
Loyalty and VIP Programs
Online casinos also offer loyalty and VIP programs to existing customers. Often, players are auto-enrolled in loyalty programs, while other times, they are invite-only and based on your expenditure at the casino.
If the program is invite-only, it’s usually described as a VIP program and is exclusively available to high rollers and those who spend a considerable amount while gambling online.
There are numerous benefits to joining an online casino’s loyalty program or VIP club, including:
- A personal account manager who offers 24/7 customer support.
- Lower wagering requirements are attached to deposit bonuses and other offers.
- Regular free spins for popular slot games.
- Higher withdrawal limits and better payment terms.
If you don’t want to participate in a casino’s VIP or loyalty program, you can message the customer support team to opt out.
But if you’re enrolled automatically, you earn points each time you place online wagers. The more you bet, the more points you earn, and the higher up the VIP ladder you move.
Understanding Bonus Terms and Conditions
As you can see, many online casino bonuses are available. As these promotions are available in different forms and with various features, you must understand each casino bonus’s terms and conditions to know how it works. While every casino bonus is unique, here are some of the terms and conditions to be aware of:
Wagering Requirements
Of all bonus terms, the wagering requirement is the most important to check. It indicates how much money you must spend at the casino before cashing out any winnings from the bonus. So, the lower the wagering requirement, the better the value of the bonus.
Let’s look at an example so you know how wagering works in practice:
Example offer: Deposit at least $20 to access a 100% deposit match up to $200 with a 30x wagering requirement.
The casino has stipulated that the wagering requirement is 30x, and you must deposit at least $20 to access the bonus money. So, assuming you make the minimum deposit of $20, you must play through the funds thirty times before cashing out, meaning you would need to spend $600 to cash out any winnings.
A 30x wagering requirement is high, so look for offers with 20x wagering or lower. After all, the lower the wagering requirement is, the easier it is to play through your winnings to cash out the bonus.
In addition to checking the wagering requirement, you should check how long you have to play through the bonus funds before they expire. Most casinos attach wagering requirements to all bonuses, whether free spins or bonus cash.
Minimum Deposit
You must make a minimum deposit to access an online casino bonus unless you’re accessing a no-deposit bonus. The minimum deposit will often be $10 or $20, but it can be significantly higher at some casinos.
Note that the minimum deposit for the bonus might differ from the minimum deposit required at the casino. For example, you might be permitted to deposit $10 to fund your account but to access the bonus; you might need to add at least $20.
Remember, you only get one chance to make a first deposit, so familiarize yourself with the minimum deposit requirements before adding funds to your account!
Something else to check when depositing funds to access casino bonuses is whether any payment restrictions are attached. For instance, some bonuses are only available for fiat currency deposits, while others are exclusively available for crypto players.
Some casinos also restrict the payment methods you can use to access a bonus, with some e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill often excluded. You can read the terms and conditions attached to the bonus to learn any restrictions before making the minimum deposit.
Game Restrictions
Unfortunately, casino bonuses are not usually available for every game at the online casino. Instead, the casino will specify which games you can play with the bonus money or free spins.
Typically, most promotions are eligible on slot games, as these are the most popular titles at most casinos. If you’re accessing a free spins promotion, they will be available on selected games, not every slot game at the casino. Again, you can check the eligible games by reading the terms and conditions.
Deposit bonuses work slightly differently. Often, you can play a handful of games with a deposit match, including a few slots, table games, and maybe even live dealer titles. However, the casino will usually explicitly state what percentage the game contributes to the wagering requirements.
For example, slots might contribute 100% to the wagering, while table games like blackjack and roulette only contribute 50%, doubling the amount you need to play through. This is crucial to check, and we always recommend playing games that contribute 100% to the stipulated wagering requirement.
Expiration Dates
Another condition attached to all online casino bonuses is the timeframe. At the very least, the casino stipulates how long the bonus funds or free spins will be eligible for before expiration. Often, this is anything between seven and thirty days.
After creating your account, you must also check how long you can access the casino’s bonus. Some casinos stipulate that you must access the bonus on the same day; others give you up to a week to trigger the welcome bonus.
You must also check how long you have to satisfy the casino’s wagering requirements. The terms and conditions clearly state this, and they will indicate how long you have to ‘playthrough’ the bonus winnings before cashing out.
If you fail to adhere to the casino’s expiration dates, you will lose access to your bonus funds. So, we recommend triggering the welcome bonus, reload bonus, or free spins promotion when you’re ready to play games and satisfy the wagering requirements to avoid missing out.
Maximum Winnings and Withdrawal Limits
Practically all online casino bonuses apply restrictions on how much you can win while using bonus cash. In particular, free spins bonuses always come with maximum win caps you cannot exceed. So, for example, if you’re playing with free spins with a win cap of $100, even if you land a jackpot prize of $5,000, you can only cash out $100.
Additionally, many casinos apply withdrawal limits to their bonuses. This indicates the maximum amount you can withdraw, which is different from the maximum win, and it will impact you if you’re a high roller.
The bottom line is always to assess how much you can win and withdraw before taking advantage of a promotion. You should consider whether the bonus is worth it and whether you’re in a position to satisfy any wagering requirements before unlocking the bonus in the first instance.
How to Maximize Casino Bonuses
Now that you’re aware of the different types of promotions let’s look at some ways to ensure you access the best casino bonuses to maximize your winning chances:
- Choose the right casino: Begin by researching the casino. Ensure you only play at licensed and regulated sites with fair bonus terms and conditions.
- Read the terms and conditions: Always read the terms and conditions attached to the bonus and understand wagering requirements, timeframes, and win limits to ascertain the true value of a promotion.
- Make the most of welcome bonuses: A welcome bonus is a terrific way to boost your bankroll from the outset, but you must understand its terms before unlocking it. Making the maximum deposit as a new customer might be beneficial to trigger a 100% match from the very start.
- Use no deposit bonuses to try new games: No deposit bonuses permit you to try new games without any risk attached. Therefore, they’re a great option if you’re keen to play slots, table games, or live casino games you haven’t tried before.
- Utilize loyalty programs: If you play at the same casino regularly, loyalty programs and VIP clubs offer excellent ongoing promotions for good value gaming.
Benefits of Using Casino Bonuses
Despite the strict terms and conditions, there are numerous benefits to accessing online casino bonuses:
- Boosting your bankroll: The main advantage of a casino bonus is that you can boost your bankroll. When you add funds to your account as a new customer, a welcome bonus will immediately top up your balance, while reload bonuses increase bankroll as you play.
- Extended playtime: As casino bonuses boost your bankroll, they increase the time you can play at an online casino without dipping into your bank account. This gives an extended playtime without increasing the risk of overspending.
- Opportunity to try new games: One of our favorite things about online bonuses is that you can use them to try new games. As the casino has topped up your balance, you can use the funds to play new slots or exciting table games you haven’t tried before.
- Increased chances of winning: Playing with bonus funds or free spins increases your chances of winning at an online casino. After all, the more bonus funds you play with, the more likely you will trigger a win.
- Rewards for loyal players: Rather than setting up numerous accounts at different casinos, channeling your gameplay at one site is beneficial as you can enjoy more loyalty rewards. The higher you climb the loyalty ladder, the better the rewards will be.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you’re a casino newbie about to access a bonus for the first time, here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Ignoring the terms and conditions: Don’t assume that every casino bonus is the same; always read the fine print. At the very least, always check the wagering requirement and understand how long you have to play through the funds.
- Focusing only on the bonus amount: As explained above, the wagering requirement is the key term to pay attention to, not the bonus amount. For instance, a $100 bonus with 1x wagering is better than a $1,000 bonus with 30x wagering.
- Not utilizing bonuses before they expire: It’s easy to miss a bonus if you ignore the expiry date. So, only sign up and deposit funds when ready to start playing.
- Overlooking game contributions: As mentioned, some games contribute 100% to wagering, while others might only contribute 25% or 50%. Therefore, it makes sense always to choose games that contribute 100% to limit your spending.
- Chasing losses with bonus funds: You should treat bonus funds like real money – gamble responsibly, spend within your means, and don’t go chasing losses.
Evo Online Casino Bonus
Are you seeking a generous bonus at one of the world’s most exciting crypto-betting sites? EVO.io offers a brilliant welcome bonus that gives you a 100% match up to $50,000 in crypto when you deposit at least $20.
You can learn about our welcome bonus here and check out our ongoing promotions for existing customers. Our offers change throughout the year, but we always list the key terms and conditions to ensure transparency and fairness. If you have any questions, contact one of our customer support team.
Unlock a Casino Bonus at EVO.io Today
You’re now armed with all the information you need about online casino bonuses. So, we invite you to create an account, deposit, and access our generous 100% deposit match today. Sign up for EVO.io for the best casino promotions for new and existing players.