A casino welcome bonus is there to help you get started at a gambling website, allowing you to add more value to your first deposit. However, it’s important to understand everything that it entails. In the majority of cases, these promotions come with strings attached. If you know what are the key details to follow, you’ll easily claim the best bonus for yourself.
In this article, we’re going to give you our expert tips on how to claim the best welcome bonus. Before you proceed to sign up for an easy payout casino that pays out winnings quickly, we’ll break down the steps to follow to find the best bonus out there. Buckle up and get ready, let’s dig in.
What is a Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus serves to attract new players to an online casino. Essentially, this is a reward that you get for opening a new casino account with a brand. Brands offer several types of welcome bonuses. The most popular ones are:
- First deposit bonus – In most cases, brands will match your first deposit. For example, if you deposit €100, you’ll get €100 more to play with.
- No deposit bonus – This is a type of bonus that you immediately get once you sign up. It can be cash or free spins, varying from one brand to another.
- Free spins – Some brands hand out free spins once you make a first deposit. They can either be available for all slots, or they can only be used on a specific slot game. Reading about a slot before claiming the bonus specific to it is a great idea. A great example to explore is the Mummys Gold review, which goes into all the relevant details about the game. That way, you know whether the free spins offered for a specific game are worth it or not.
- Cashback offers – Some brands offer 24-hour cashbacks on net losses made during that period. For example, if you spend €100 in the first 24 hours, and your net losses are €70, a 100% cashback would reward you with another €70 in bonus funds.
- Mixed welcome bonus – There are plenty of brands that offer a mixed-type bonus. It’s a combination of a first deposit with free spins included.
Tip #1: Always Read the Terms and Conditions
The single most important thing to do is read the terms and conditions. They include the most important details about a particular welcome bonus. The most important factors to consider are:
- Wagering requirements
- Wagering contribution
- Game restrictions
- Time limits
- Excluded payment methods
Each of these elements varies greatly and will impact how good a welcome bonus is. If any of these factors is too strict, the bonus that might look generous will become unplayable.
That’s why reading the terms and conditions is so important. All the details are in fine detail, tucked away in a place where the majority of players never look at. Let’s closely inspect each of these factors.
Tip #2: Compare Offers Before Signing Up
Shopping for a good bonus should be your general practice. As the worldwide gambling market is huge and highly competitive, brands compete against each other by offering bonuses, you’ll easily find the best one for you.
Even if you see a big number, that doesn’t mean that a particular bonus is generous. The devil is in the details. A 100% up to €500 with a 40x wagering requirement is a worse proposition than 100% up to €100 with a 10x wagering requirement. The first bonus will require you to wager €20,000 before being able to withdraw any bonus funds, whereas the second one requires you to wager only €1,000.
The second offer is much more realistic, especially considering how the majority of these promos come with a one or two-week limit.
Tip #3: Look for Low Wagering Requirements
You should be looking for a low wagering requirement bonus. The lower it is, the better. Always opt for a bonus with 10x-20x wagering requirements, as you’re more likely to reach those during the promotional period.
It means that you are more likely to get a cashout of the bonus funds if you’re lucky enough to win something. Additionally, pay attention to game wagering contributions. You want a brand that offers a game type that makes a full contribution to the wagering requirement. Some games offer a percentage of a single playthrough. If you want to play blackjack exclusively, its contribution might double the wagering requirements you have to go through.
Tip #4: Check Game Eligibility
Check out which games are part of the promotions. Usually, you’ll find that the bonus only applies to slot games. If you like live casino or playing table games in general, find a brand that permits you to use your bonus in those sections of the site.
Tip #5: Use Trusted and Licensed Casinos
To ensure fair play, always opt for a brand that holds a license from a recognized authority in the industry. The top globally accepted authorities are:
- Malta Gaming Authority
- United Kingdom Gambling Commission
- Any state-regulated or province-regulated brands (for the United States and Canada)
Picking a platform that doesn’t hold a respectable license is a bad decision. You can lose your payouts and have your account terminated for no apparent reason. One thing to look out for is a constant change of terms and conditions, this might be pointing to something suspicious. If you’re on such a platform, consider transferring your funds to another brand.
Tip #6: Don’t Forget No-Deposit Bonuses
This type of bonus is most liked by players. As its name suggests, these are the bonuses that you get without spending any money. They usually come with strict terms and conditions, which is understandable given that the bonus is free. It’s a great way to try casino games completely free. That’s especially great for beginners.
Tip #7: Keep an Eye on Bonus Expiry Dates
The expiration date is another important part of a welcome bonus. If the wagering requirements are too high, you might not have enough time to meet them within a set period of time. Some bonus funds are only available for 7 days, whereas others can be available for as long as 30 days. So if you’re planning to use a welcome bonus, do it as soon as you get it.
