Online casino bonus comes in many different forms. Our goal is to present all types of casino bonuses in a clear way. Every month, our top list is updated with the best casino bonus. Under the top list, you will also find more information about which casino bonuses are available.
In this article, we address and clarify the most frequently asked questions around the topic of casino bonuses. We explain in a simple way what the different bonus terms mean, what kind of rules are often associated with the different bonuses, and not least where you can find the best casino bonuses!
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What is Casino Bonus?
A casino bonus is a gift given to players in an online casino. Casino bonuses come in many forms and shapes, but the two most common are bonus money and free spins. In addition, there are, among other things, deposit-free games, risk-free bonus games, and more.
Casino bonuses are awarded in many different ways, and we can quickly list some of the most common ways you can receive casino bonuses:
- Welcome bonus: awarded to new players at a casino
- Deposit Bonus: awarded when making a deposit
- No Deposit Bonus: awarded completely free of charge, preferably after creating a casino account
- Reload Bonus: awarded when you deposit money to replenish your player account (after first deposit)
Below you can read more about different types of casino bonuses and how they work. We also take a closer look at things you need to look out for when it comes to casino bonuses, including wagering requirements and other factors you should be aware of.
Welcome Bonus Upon Registration
Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses to new users. Most often it is about deposit bonuses on the first or more of the first deposits.
Many online casinos also hand out free spins as part of the welcome package. Read more about this under the section Free Spins further down.
Example 1: At Justspin Casino, you get 100 free spins when you register. These have 50x turnover requirements and do not require a deposit until you receive them. Then you get a casino bonus of 100% up to €100 + 500 Free Spins on Super Joker.
Example 2: At Casumo Casino, you get a welcome package of a total of €2,000 and 20 free spins on Book of Dead. This is available on your first deposit of at least 20 EUR/USD. Winnings from the Bonus Spins are converted to bonus money subject to a 30x Wagering Requirement.
Note that the welcome offers can only be used once per player. This also applies if the casino has several gaming departments. So: You can not share the bonus with others, and although the casino offers several welcome packages, in most cases you must choose only one of them.
Also, please note that different casinos have different rules for the welcome bonuses. For example, there may be restrictions on which payment provider you use, how large amounts you can deposit and how long the bonus is valid. Therefore, check the rules and terms of use before making the first deposit. The terms can usually be found at the bottom of the website.
Read more about this under “Regular bonuses (deposit bonuses)”.
Regular Casino Bonus (deposit bonuses)
The most common form of casino bonus at online casinos is the so-called “deposit bonuses”. They work in many ways the same as with welcome bonuses; You deposit an amount into your player account and receive a percentage of the amount in extra bonus.
Example: At Vegas Plus Casino, members receive between 10%-50% bonus on every deposit after the welcome bonus.
There is usually a requirement as to how little (minimum deposit amount) and how much (maximum deposit amount) you can deposit to qualify for the bonus. These amounts do not have to be the same as with the welcome bonuses and are very rare.
Another difference from welcome bonuses is that deposit bonuses usually have other wagering requirements (they are usually a little lower). To get an overview of such details, you must read the casino's own terms and conditions. Be aware that some promotions and bonuses may have their own terms.
Bonus terms and conditions you should be aware of:
- Upper and lower deposit limits.
- Turnover requirement (how many times you have to play through the amount before you can withdraw it).
- What percentage of different types of games counts on the wagering requirements.
- Slot machines often count 100% against the wagering requirement, while table games often count 0-50%.
- Whether the choice of payment method affects whether you can receive a casino bonus.
- Time limits (how much time you have to play through the bonus before it is canceled).
- Note whether the cash balance (real money) is automatically used before the bonus balance. This is almost always the case.
Deposit-Free Casino Bonuses (no deposit bonus)
This is perhaps the second-best form of casino bonus. As the name implies, no deposit is required before you can receive the bonus, and in other words, this is free money that you get from the online casino. But note that “deposit-free” is not the same as “wager-free”.
Even if you have received the money for free in the gaming account, you usually have to play through it a given number of times before you can withdraw the money. As previously mentioned, the turnover requirements are different in the different gaming companies. The information can be found under rules and terms of use, or by contacting customer service.
See our list of the best online casinos with a no deposit bonus.
Free Spins (aka Gratis Spins, Bonus Spins, Extra Spins)
Free spins are a popular type of bonus among players who love slot machines. Standard free spins typically have a value of €0.10 or €0.20, but sometimes you get high-value spins. Online casinos often give them other names to make it easier to distinguish them from regular free spins. Thus, they are often called “Super Spins”, “Mega Spins” or similar. If the spins have a higher value than normal, this will always be stated in the relevant promotion.
When playing with free spins, there are a few things to keep in mind:
All free spins have time limits
The spins are therefore only valid for a given period. For example, it can be for a day or 7 days. If you forget to use the spins before the time expires, you have no option to reactivate them. In some cases, customer service may still award new free spins, but do not expect this.
Assume that free spins have wagering requirements unless otherwise stated
This can in some cases make the spins “worthless”. Example: If you have 10 free spins with a wagering requirement of 30 times and win €200 with them, the calculation will be as follows: €200 x 30 = €6,000 that must be wagered before you can withdraw your winnings. Such a turnover requirement is certainly possible to complete, but it requires that you have some luck. But that's what the casino is about, isn't it?
Wagering requirements are usually reset when a total balance falls below 1 euro
At some online casinos, this limit is €0.50, others as low as €0.10. Customer service can, as an exception, reset the turnover requirement manually on request. This is often done for VIP customers and high rollers who have several bonuses on top of each other, on the grounds that the turnover requirements together become almost impossible to achieve. Remember that even if you get this done in an online casino, you will not necessarily get the same treatment in another casino.
Remember: If you are unsure about anything about your bonus, you can always find answers in T&Cs (terms and conditions), FAQs (frequently asked questions), or by contacting customer service.
Reload Casino Bonuses
Reload bonuses are designed for existing customers. They often come as daily or weekly deals. Sometimes they can also be associated with ongoing campaigns. This is what a typical reload bonus can look like: “50% deposit bonus up to €300 every Wednesday!”
Always remember to check the conditions that apply to the reload bonus, especially if it is your first time using it. The reload conditions are rarely exactly the same as the conditions for the welcome bonus. For example, there may be other turnover requirements or another time limit you have to comply with.
Loyalty Bonus Program
Many online casinos offer their own bonus programs in addition to the other promotions and bonus offers. These bonuses are given to those members who are active and play regularly.
Many of them work so that players collect points as they play, and rise in rank or level as the score grows. Then you are rewarded then, with for example bonus money and free spins. In some places, you can also exchange points for self-selected bonuses or other relevant products.
Loyalty programs vary greatly from casino to casino. While there are high demands on some, it takes less to climb the ladder of other online casinos. No matter how fast it goes up, each step will have different benefits to look forward to. The rewards tend to grow from one level to the next, and become more and more valuable.
Typical bonuses that loyal customers of an online casino can look forward to are as follows:
- cashback bonuses
- reload bonuses
- free spins
VIP Players and High Rollers (Big Players)
These casino bonuses are offered to the biggest players who do not hesitate to invest tens of thousands of euros in online casino games. To qualify for these generous bonuses you should have a pretty impressive bank account and really enjoy playing.
Different online casinos will also have different ways of classifying their VIP customers, but the vast majority follow a points system in one way or another. Here, for example, it will be possible to collect points by logging in to the casino, making a deposit, participating in competitions or playing selected games. There, the different benefits for a VIP player will depend on how many points have been collected during a month. What all online casinos have in common is that loyal players are rewarded for their loyalty.
Typical benefits a VIP player receives are big bonuses, personal service, faster withdrawals and exclusive invitations to VIP promotions and experiences around the world.
Recruitment Campaigns
An online casino is of course always looking to get more good customers and therefore many casinos offer a so-called “Refer-a-Friend” bonus. This works just like recruiting campaigns at other companies outside the casino industry.
As a customer, you can invite a friend to register in the same casino as you, so that you both get benefits and unique bonuses. Remember this the next time you register with a new online casino.
Alternatively, the friend can refer you when he or she signs up. Thus, you will be rewarded with a casino bonus, as a thank you for recruiting a new member.
Some online casinos reward the recruitment of friends with a cash prize without wagering, while others give the reward in the form of bonus money. Free spins are also a typical reward when recruiting new players.
Free Casino Bonus (Cash Bonus = Wager-Free Bonus)
This is perhaps the best bonus of them all. It usually comes in the form of a deposit bonus or a prize in connection with a promotion, and is as the name implies:
- without wagering requirements
In practice, this means that the bonus goes straight into the cash balance and can be withdrawn from the game account immediately. Unlike other bonuses that must be wagered a certain number of times before you can make withdrawals on them. Be aware that in some cases, “non-trading bonuses” may also mean that you have to play through them once. You can check this easily by reading the bonus terms or contact customer service.
Casino Offers (aka Casino Promotions)
Most online casinos make sure to have more bonus offers than just the welcome pack. It can be regular, weekly offers, such as «Reload on Mondays» or «Cashback on the weekend». Or it could be related to the launch of new games, the Christmas celebration, the World Cup, or something completely different. Check the promotion pages at your casino or read our casino reviews.
We follow promotions, bonus offers and other casino news so you can stay up to date. In our casino blog, you get an overview of all the latest promotions, competitions, tournaments, and offers. In addition, you will find strategies you can use when you play, as well as industry news and entertaining articles related to gambling and online gambling.
Bonuses and Wagering Requirements
Most often, casino bonuses come with wagering requirements. This means that players must wager the bonus money a certain number of times before it is possible to withdraw the money. The wagering requirements for free spins work a little differently, and here it is the winnings you may win from the spins that must be wagered. This is common practice and helps to ensure that the casino has the finances to pay out big winnings. You can read everything in our article about wagering requirements on casino bonuses.
At different online casinos, there will be different wagering requirements that must be completed. This will also vary from bonus to bonus at the same casino. The higher the wagering requirement, the more times you have to wager the money before you can withdraw it. It is common to operate with wagering requirements of around 35x in casinos, and within betting the requirements are often somewhat lower (around 10x). But you will also find casinos that have all the way down to 5x, and all the way up to 100x. You should of course look for bonuses with the lowest possible wagering requirements.
Turnover percentage
Be aware that different games count differently against the wagering requirement! While slot machines often count 100% towards the wagering requirement, live games such as roulette and blackjack will have a much lower wagering percentage, such as 10%. If you play for 10 euro on roulette in such a case, this will only count as 1 euro toward your wagering requirement. This is because the chances of winning are greater in these games than on slot machines.
It may also be that different types of bonuses have different terms. For example, the wagering requirements are often lower for sports betting than with casino games, but often with other terms on the site. For example, that all odds games with bonus money must be made to a certain minimum odds (usually around 2.0).
Read terms and conditions before claiming your bonus
We can do anything about these terms, but we can at least make you aware of what you should be aware of. If you are going to play table games of the mentioned variety, or for example video poker, we would recommend that you say no to bonuses. If you are mainly going to play on slot machines, it can often be a good idea to accept a casino bonus, given that the terms are to live with.
Here too, the differences between different online casinos can be huge. Once again, we would therefore remind you to read through the terms and conditions so that there are no surprises. If necessary, contact customer service if the terms appear confusing.
Casino Bonus Codes
Online casinos often entice with various promotional offers and bonuses, both for new and existing players. Sometimes you will be asked to enter a special bonus code. You do this to prove that you are entitled to receive the bonus.
The advantage of such a scheme is that online casinos that use bonus codes also have automatic solutions that allow the bonus to tick directly into your gaming account without you having to talk to anyone first.
How to get bonus codes at the casinos?
Some bonus codes are given in connection with the welcome bonus. Then you will normally find them during the registration process or deposit process, where various codes come up that you can enter in the bonus field to trigger your bonus. Casinos often operate with several different casino bonus codes that players can choose from and thus choose their own bonus.
Other times, the bonus code is stated in the offer on the promotion pages or in the newsletter you have received from the casino.
We also provide bonus codes in our casino reviews here at FreeSpinsGratis.com.com, in cases where we have these codes available. Check our exclusive casino bonus section to find some bonus codes.
Do you always need a code to get a casino bonus?
Not all online casinos require a bonus code, as not all casinos use such codes.
Unless you are asked for a code when trying to cash out your bonus, you do not have to worry about finding one. It is only when the casino asks you for a code that you actually need to have it. At many casinos, the entire bonus process happens automatically, with no bonus codes at all.
Casino Bonus FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions we hear most often, related to casino bonuses. We hope you find the answer to your question with us, but if we have forgotten something, you can send the question directly, and we will answer as soon as we have the opportunity. If your questions are about a specific online casino, you should check the casino's own terms and conditions, or contact the casino's customer service.
What are bonus requirements?
Bonus requirements are conditions set by the online casino that you must meet before you can receive a current casino bonus. Often, for example, you have to make a deposit of a certain amount, or play a number of bets first.
The details vary from player to player and in different campaigns. The requirements associated with a sports betting campaign are naturally different from a slot machine campaign and so on. But some things are the same for all of them:
Before you can receive any casino bonus at all, there are a few things that MUST be in place, no matter what online casino you play in. First, you must be 18 years or older to play gambling. This is one of the things that need to be documented and verified before activating your player account.
If you come across an online casino where you do not need to verify your gaming account before you start playing for real money, your warning lights should be on. Any serious player with a gaming license issued will require account verification. Note, however, that some casinos do not require verification before making your first withdrawal.
Therefore, always use an online casino with an approved license and a good reputation. If you are unsure, you can search for the casino in the search field at the top of this page, as we always provide information about casinos that are “blacklisted”, “SCAM”, or that have been deprived of their gaming license.
Can I withdraw bonus money?
No, you can not withdraw bonus money directly. The difference between bonus money and regular money in an online casino is the wagering requirement. The bonus money must be wagered a certain number of times before you can withdraw it. The wagering requirements are set by the online casino itself, and will thus vary between the various players.
There may also be different wagering requirements for bonus money received through the welcome bonus and a later deposit bonus. Also, be aware that the different games available inside an online casino often count differently on the wagering requirement. In many cases, slot machines count 100% while live games and table games often count as little as 0-50%
You can find information about such details by reading about the casino's bonus terms. Look for the word “wagering requirements” before you start playing, so you know what to deal with. If you are going to choose a new online casino, the wagering requirement should be included in your checklist when you compare online casinos.
Are there separate bonuses for iPhone / Android mobile?
Yes, there are separate bonus offers for mobile users, for example in connection with the launch of a new casino app or new games. These are offers that come and go, and are most common among the largest and most modern online casinos.
Most of the time, it does not matter what kind of smartphone you have. As long as you have registered a player account and are logged in with your mobile, you will have access to the offer. Given that the casino actually has an active mobile offer.
Some online casinos that have offered mobile bonuses in the past are LeoVegas, Unibet, and JackpotCity. Some examples of such mobile offers may be:
- Extra deposit bonus if you make the deposit through your mobile
- Free spins on a new slot machine if you play with your mobile
- Free bets in the sportsbook if you place bets with your mobile
- Cashback in live casino if you use your mobile when you play
I registered at an online casino but got no bonus. Why?
Probably one of these three things happened if you did not receive the welcome bonus when you signed up:
- The welcome offer had bonus requirements that you were not aware of, and which you, therefore, did not meet when you registered. For example, there may have been a minimum or maximum amount you missed, or a deadline you did not follow. Maybe you still have the opportunity to receive the bonus, so contact the casino's customer service.
- Not all online casinos pay out the welcome bonus automatically. Sometimes you have to contact the casino's customer service to receive the welcome bonus. Do just that and see what they say.
- Maybe that wasn't all that the casino needed!
- You used a payment method that does not qualify as a bonus. This often applies to e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill.
Why are some bonuses limited to certain games?
The requirements and restrictions associated with the bonuses are entirely up to the online casino to decide. They must abide by certain rules that they have committed to through the gaming license. But details such as what the bonus can be used for, and which wagering requirements apply to the specific offer, are therefore decided by the online casino itself.
Example 1: In the case of a free spin offer associated with a new game, it is natural to tie the free spins to the specific game.
Example 2: When a casino offers sky-high odds in the sportsbook associated with a specific event, such as a FIFA World Cup match or Champions League final, it is natural to link the odds offer to precisely the match in question.
How often can I get a casino bonus?
How often you can receive casino bonuses depends entirely on which online casino you use. If you choose an online casino that runs many and frequent promotions, you can access new offers up to every single day. Not all online casinos are equally focused on bonus offers, so feel free to check out the player's campaign pages to get an impression, before you sign up.
Some people choose to register in several online casinos, precisely to gain access to several promotions and bonus offers at the same time. Read more about this under “What are bonus hunters?” in the next section.
The following five online casinos are particularly good when it comes to promotional offers:
Who are casino bonus hunters?
Many casino players find it sporty to find and play with the best casino bonuses out there.
Such bonus hunters are happy to register at several online casinos at the same time, first and foremost to be able to use the great welcome offers that are offered.
Although bonus hunters are primarily looking for welcome bonuses, there are a number of other benefits to using multiple online casinos at the same time.
As a member of two or more casinos, for example, you will…
- be able to participate in several promotions and other bonus offers (which are not linked to registration)
- access multiple games and games from multiple vendors
- could compare multiple players find the best odds
Do I have to play with bonus?
Many bonuses are automatically credited to your gaming account when you make a deposit. For most players, this is a good solution, but there are those who want to play without a bonus for example due to wagering requirements, types of games the bonus applies to, or other factors.
If you get a casino bonus that you do not want, you must contact customer service before you start playing. It is only if the bonus is not affected that they can remove it!
What is the difference between “cash balance”, “bonus balance” and “total balance”?
Most online casinos give you these three statuses when you check your gaming account. The question of the difference between the three is asked by many. Fortunately, the answer is actually quite simple:
Cash balance is the amount of “real money” the player has in his player account. By “real money” we mean actual deposits, winnings on deposits and released bonus money (ie bonus money that has been converted to cash because the wagering requirements are met). In other words: Money that you can withdraw.
Bonus balance is the total value of bonuses inside the player account. This includes free spins, deposit bonuses, as well as winnings won through bonus money, and free spins that do not meet the wagering requirements yet. You cannot withdraw the bonus money until the wagering requirements have been met. Players can keep an eye on the remaining wagering requirement inside their player account.
Total balance is the total sum. You can look at it like this: Cash balance + Bonus balance = Total balance. That is, the total amount available to play for in the relevant online casino. Note that if you have money on both cash and bonus balance, most casinos will automatically use the cash balance first, and then from the bonus balance. This is not a setting you can change yourself, so be aware of this if you are playing with bonuses.
Why do I get a different bonus offer than my friend?
Here are three likely options:
- Your friend has different seniority than you (so he or she may have been a member longer than you).
- Your friend has a different VIP level than you (a VIP player has other and greater benefits than a regular player).
- Your friend joined at a different time than you, and the bonus in question has changed in the meantime.
Why is the bonus I had gone?
It may be that the deadline you had to use the bonus has expired. Most bonuses come with a deadline: such a deadline can be anywhere from a day or a week, to 30 days or 6 months. The most common is between 1 and 30 days.
Different casinos use different rules for this. Therefore, you should check the terms and conditions at your casino before embarking on a promotion or taking advantage of an offer. And make sure you use your bonus before the time runs out. If the offer only applies until 23:59 and you try to use the bonus at 00.01 you are simply too late.