There are many hundreds of online casinos (yes, we're showing you just a few of the best here!) and like any businesses facing competition, most will do their best to get you on board as a player. Which often means offering 'welcome' bonuses to encourage you to sign up.
If you're a beginner to online gambling the bonus system needs a little explanation, because although they're a real attraction to many players, they come with certain requirements you need to be aware of. What's more, there are several different types of incentives commonly offered, so you need to know which is the best for you.
Terms and conditions are in place mainly so that players don't sign up, play a few games, then withdraw their bonus money and repeat the process elsewhere. And yes - we'll admit it- also so that the casinos have at least some chance to regain part of the cash they've so generously offered!
The terms and conditions attached to each bonus vary but share two common features:
* Wagering requirements
* Restricted games or bets
A wagering requirement means you need to bet a certain amount of money in
the casino before you are eligible to cash out your bonus; restricted
games are generally those with a low house edge, (or chance of profit to
the casino) such as blackjack.
The conditions should be clearly shown along with the bonus offer - usually
in the small print, which is fair enough, as this is a common factor in
much advertising - but make sure you do check it.
All reputable casinos will give exact details of their bonus schemes, so if you can't find it having looked carefully, it might be worth asking yourself if the casino in question is one you actually want to sign up with.
A typical scenario would be something like this.
A casino is offering a 100% welcome bonus.
You deposit $100, and receive another $100 as a bonus sum, bringing your total betting bankroll to $200.
The wagering requirement stipulated by the casino is 20 times the amount of the deposit and bonus combined.
20 x $200 is $2000, which means you need to spend a minimum of $2000 in the casino before the bonus can be cashed out.
Restricted games are blackjack, roulette and video poker, but you can wager $2000 on any other games using any amount of individual bet you like. For example, you might decide to play the slots 1000 times at $2 per wager.
When the wagering requirement is complete, you can, if you wish, cash out whatever is now in your account plus the bonus.
In the worst case scenario, even if you've lost all of your $2000 dollars outlay, you'd still receive the $100 bonus. If, on the other hand, you've ended up in profit, the bonus is also yours to keep.
Because they require a stipulated amount of play, sign-bonus schemes aren't as suitable as they might first appear for anyone wanting a quick flutter or looking to check several different casinos.
The wagering requirements can vary greatly, from as little as 15 times the deposit-plus-bonus amount up to forty times or more, amounting to an extremely high cash commitment for the sake of a few hundred free dollars.
On the other hand, for those to planning to indulge in some serious casino play, sign-up bonuses are definitely a great deal. After all, if you're likely to spend a certain amount in any case, the bonus really does make sense as a way of subsidising your outlay. And of course, the fact that it's deposited into your account at once means you've got a bigger bankroll to play with right from the start - which for strategic gamblers can be very welcome indeed.
You don't always have to fulfil a wagering requirement in order to qualify for a bonus.
So-called no deposit bonuses provide less restrictive incentives to get you on board - although again, you won't be able to simply walk away with any profits, as no organization is going to throw away completely free cash!
The bonuses range from promotions such as $10 worth of free play to free extra spins on slots, or even a set amount of cash and a fixed time to make as much money as you can.
Any winnings will usually be added to your first deposit should you then decide to sign up. But again, check the terms carefully to find out exactly what's involved.
Often known as "sticky bonuses", non-cashable bonuses can be used for betting, but cannot be cashed out and are removed from any eventual winnings.
If, for example, you had received a sticky bonus of $200 to start with, then cashed out a profit of $600, the $200 would be removed from these winnings.
The incentive, of course, is simply to boost your deposit, giving you a larger betting bankroll and therefore the chance to potentially win more, too.
Usually you'll want to look for a cashable bonus scheme such as that described above, although sticky bonuses may have lower wagering requirements. Again, you'll want to check terms and conditions carefully to esnure you're getting the kind of deal that's right for you.
Because a sticky bonus isn't actually offering 'real' cash, the requirements for claiming are often slightly more flexible than welcome bonuses.
Casinos will do their best to encourage clients to stay, which often means you'll be eligible for yet more bonus deals after sign-up. Some casinos will offer a reduced form of the initial welcome bonus, others may offer a cash back bonus in which a percentage of any overall loss is returned to your account.
Again, make it a priority to really look into what's on offer; every casino is different and a little homework willset you up for discovering some really good deals.
While welcome bonuses certainly require a level of monetary commitment to a casino, seasoned players do have a real chance of turning a profit from the bonus schemes.
Luck, of course, is always a major factor in any gambling situation, but games of skill - specifically card games - lower that risk considerably. So play your cards right, and bonus schemes can prove a real winner. And you'll certainly have fun, whatever the outcome!
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