What Is a Casino Welcome Bonus?
A welcome bonus is a special type of promo offer reserved for players who have just signed up. It comes in many shapes and sizes, and it caters to newcomers. In most cases, players can obtain them right after registration and depositing. Sometimes, they may take some additional steps to complete the procedure.
Generally, a welcome bonus can either be a deposit or a no-deposit deal. The first one is the most common. To claim a deposit bonus, you must fund your account with the minimum amount required (or more). On the other hand, a no-deposit bonus is available to any player who has created an account, and it doesn’t need a deposit to get.
In addition, both deposit and no-deposit welcome offers can contain cash or free spins. A no-deposit bonus typically includes a small portion of free spins or money. For instance, it may consist of 20 free spins or C$20. Also, no-deposit bonuses often have strict rules and high wagering requirements (more about WR later). The obvious advantage, though, is that you needn’t give any money to use it. On the other hand, a matched deposit welcome bonus is usually bigger. It may provide up to C$500, C$1,000, or even C$3,000.
On top of that, welcome packages often include a portion of free spins. This is not the case with no-deposit bonuses. It consists of either free spins or cash. However, a deposit-based welcome package may contain both and provide you with a more lucrative reward. What’s more, its rules are typically less restrictive.
What Does a Casino Welcome Bonus Look Like?
As mentioned earlier, there are various types of welcome bonuses. The basic ones are deposit and no-deposit deals. However, you’ll come across different welcome offers that contain matched bonuses, free spins, or both.
In addition, a welcome offer may contain only one deal or more of them. Some venues even have atypical welcome promotions consisting of a cashback promo offer or a tournament reserved for new players only. Either way, each online casino is supposed to welcome newcomers in grand style.
Matched Welcome Bonuses
In most cases, a deposit-based welcome offer includes a matched deal. Once you obtain it, you’ll get a percentage of your deposit in bonus cash. The bonus amount depends on the promotion in question and your deposit.
For example, a casino offers a 100% matched bonus of up to C$300, and the minimum deposit is C$30. You sign up, deposit C$50, and claim the casino welcome bonus. In this case, the casino will provide you with C$50 more, and you’ll have C$100 in total to play with. Nonetheless, this casino bonus maxes out at C$300. So, if you deposit over C$300, you won’t get more than that.
Welcome Free Spins
Instead of a matched bonus, a welcome offer may contain only free spins. Players who are into slots usually look for this type of welcome bonus. It’s available for specific online slots (mainly the popular ones). In most cases, players can obtain it after depositing a minimum amount required.
Even though they may come with more strict rules and requirements, free spins are still among the most in-demand casino welcome bonuses. This is because they are simple to use and claim. Also, slots are the most popular casino games available online, so players love the bonuses they can use on them.
Welcome Packages
Many online casinos offer welcome packages, which include matched bonuses and free spins. In most cases, this type of offer consists of several deals spanning multiple deposits. A standard casino welcome package may contain two, three, four, or more separate bonuses. Each of them is available for a specific deposit.
Let’s say a casino provides a welcome package of up to C$1,000 and 150 free spins. The first bonus includes a 100% bonus of up to C$300 and 100 free spins. Once you use it and deposit for the second time, you qualify for the next deal. It includes 70% of up to C$400. Then comes the last bonus. If you claim it, you get a 50% matched bonus of up to C$300 and 50 free spins.
Other Casino Welcome Bonuses
Some online casinos get creative and prepare a different type of promotion for newly arrived players. For instance, there are operators that offer cashback deals instead of a standard welcome bonus. If you claim it, you can get back a portion of your lost money. A casino may offer this bonus regularly or only for the first deposit as a type of welcome deal.
In addition, many venues organize tournaments frequently. Sometimes, you may encounter a platform hosting a competitive event specifically for newcomers. In this case, only players who have signed up recently can participate in it. Casino tournaments usually have lucrative prize pools. This type of welcome promotion is ideal for competitive players.
How to Claim a Casino Welcome Bonus?
Claiming a welcome bonus is typically simple. However, the procedure depends on several factors.
Claiming a No-Deposit Bonus
Firstly, some casinos provide no-deposit bonuses you can claim right after registration. If this is the case, you may need only to create an account and insert a specific code. Once you do so, you’ll qualify for the welcome deal.
Claiming a Matched Deposit Bonus
More often, a venue offers a deposit-based welcome bonus. So, to grab it, you must sign up and deposit right after. Sometimes, you’ll need to enter the promo code, like in the case of a no-deposit bonus. Then, you’ll get the first deposit deal.
If there are other casino welcome bonuses to claim (e.g., bonuses in welcome packages for several deposits), they will be available for subsequent deposits. Consequently, you may need to fund your account several times to obtain the entire welcome offer.
If a casino provides a cashback deal, you’ll still have to deposit money to play games. If you lose, the venue will provide you with a cashback bonus afterwards. Similarly, entering tournaments usually requires a buy-in. So, funding your account is again mandatory.
Finally, free spins may or may not require a deposit. Many no-deposit bonuses consist solely of free spins. However, if you’re obtaining a deposit-based deal, you’ll have to fund your account with the required minimum.
Sometimes, the number of free spins depends on your deposited amount. For instance, you may get 50 free spins for C$30 and 100 of them for a deposit of C$50. Either way, free spins often have stricter rules than matched deals.
How to Use a Casino Welcome Bonus?
Once you have obtained a welcome bonus at the casino, you should use it wisely. To do so, it’s crucial that you read the bonus rules carefully. Each welcome offer comes with a set of terms and conditions. The size, the wagering requirements, the time limits, and other factors vary. And all of them affect your gaming experience.
Namely, using a casino bonus and playing with your money is not the same thing. In the second case, you can enjoy any game you like and withdraw easily as long as you stick with the maximum cashout limits. On the other hand, bonuses are often reserved for specific games. Also, you need to play through them a particular number of times to withdraw your winnings.
Free spins are typically meant for slots. Once you obtain them, you’ll get to use them on a specific title of the casino’s choice. Matched casino welcome bonuses may be used on various games, as well as welcome cashback and other bonuses. But, in the case of a cashback deal, you can obtain it only after losing.
As for the tournaments, there are particular games you can play while participating. If you win, you’ll get your share of the prize pool. The first three places get the most significant rewards. Others qualify for a smaller share, which may contain cash, free spins, or something else. Then, you can use your prize, which typically comes with less restrictive rules.
Welcome Offer Rules & Requirements
As mentioned before, casino welcome bonuses are accompanied by rules, terms, conditions, limitations, and requirements. The same goes for welcome offers. Sometimes, they may come with different rules compared to other deals available on the website. Either way, you’ll face time limits, game restrictions, wagering requirements, and many other terms and conditions.
Minimum Deposit & Maximum Cashout
Most casino welcome bonuses require a minimum deposit. In other words, if you want it, you must create an account and fund it with some cash. In most cases, the minimum required deposit is low (e.g., C$30). Of course, you can deposit more cash if you wish. If you’re claiming a matched deal that depends on your deposit amount, you should consider funding your account with more. Welcome bonuses in crypto casinos tend to have higher cashout limits, so consider them if you like gaming with crypto.
Similarly, there’s often a maximum cashout limit. So, you usually can’t withdraw as much as you want after using your bonus and winning. Most online casinos impose a limit, which depends on the type of bonus you have obtained.
For instance, no-deposit casino welcome bonuses often have a very low maximum withdrawal limit. You may be able to cash out only C$50 from your winnings. However, matched deals should have a much higher limit of several thousand Canadian dollars. Cashout limits for free spins are typically somewhere in between.
Time & Game Restrictions
Casino welcome bonuses are also subject to time and game restrictions. Once you have obtained a bonus, you need to use it before it expires. The time frame may be anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days. Namely, this limitation depends on the bonus type and the casino. So, free spins expire quickly, whereas matched bonuses may remain valid for a month. Also, each venue has the right to impose its tile limits according to its operating policy.
When it comes to the availability of games, the situation is pretty much the same. Many titles are restricted from bonus play generally. In many cases, jackpot games and live ones are off-limits when playing with bonus cash. However, this varies from one venue to another.
The availability of games depends on the casino, bonus, and provider. For instance, all NetEnt games may be off-limits during bonus play at one casino. But, you may be able to use your bonus on them at another venue.
Also, there are specific casino welcome bonuses available only for a particular game genre or title. For example, free spins are often meant for one or several slot games. Similarly, specific bonuses may be available for live casino games only.
Finally, the games’ contribution toward the wagering requirement varies as well. In other words, the winnings accrued playing certain games contribute a fraction of their worth to the rollover. So, a particular title may be available during bonus play, but it may count only 10% toward the rollover requirement. In this case, you should stick with the games that contribute 100% since you’re facing a time restriction. The information on eligible games should be in the general/bonus T&C.
Wagering Requirements
Almost every casino welcome bonus has a wagering requirement. Granted, you may come across a wager-free promo offer that lacks it. However, in most cases, you need to play through the bonus value a particular number of times before it expires. The wagering requirement may also refer to both the bonus and the deposit amounts.
Let’s say you obtained a matched deposit bonus with the wagering requirement of 30x. It refers to the bonus amount only, which includes C$100. In this case, you must roll over your bonus 30 times before cashing out. So, you have placed bets of over C$3,000 to withdraw.
If you have claimed free spins welcome bonus, the wagering requirement refers to the amount you have won. For instance, you got 50 free spins and won C$1,000 with them. Now, you need to play through that amount 30 times and reach C$30,000 in money wagered. If you fail to do so, you won’t get to withdraw the bonus money.
The wagering requirement depends on the casino and the bonus. Some venues impose high requirements of over 60x. In this case, you should look for a better deal. The standard wagering requirement should be around 30-40x.
On the other hand, the wagering requirement may be different for various casino welcome bonuses at a single casino. It’s not unusual for a casino to impose higher wagering requirements for free spins deals than matched bonuses. Also, no-deposit deals usually come with restrictive rules. So, casinos often impose extremely high wagering requirements for no-deposit bonuses.
Finally, cashback bonuses and tournament prizes have low or non-existing rollover requirements. So, if you come across a venue providing that form of welcome promotion, you should go for it. Despite being atypical, you may enjoy them more.
Where to Find the Best Casino Welcome Bonuses?
Welcome bonuses are available at almost every online casino. So, picking the one you like the most is challenging. For instance, a welcome deal at one venue may include more free spins but have a high wagering requirement. So, there are so many things to keep in mind when choosing a welcome offer and the casino.
Among other things, you should choose a casino welcome bonus based on your preferences. Some players love slots and free spins, whereas others enjoy matched deals. Again, it’s crucial that you check out the rules, especially if the bonus appears perfect. Wagering requirements, time frames, and other limits and restrictions are essential factors.
Best Casinos for Welcome Bonuses
However, you also need to pick a casino carefully. An excellent welcome offer at a rogue casino means nothing. You may get a horrifying experience if you rush to grab a welcome bonus before researching the casino. Since you need to share your personal and banking information with the platform, finding a reliable, decent online casino is in your best interest.
Bonuses & Promotions
Logically, you’re supposed to check out the entire promotional page at the casino before registration. But, it’s enough to go through the promo offers visible there. Reading the bonus terms and conditions is vital. So, if you want to sign up at a casino, make sure to learn all about its bonuses and promotions, including the rules.
Security & Fairness
A decent, safe casino has a transparent website. If it has a valid license, it needs to have necessary sections and pages, such as Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, etc. Also, a secure casino uses cutting-edge technology to preserve players’ data and offers products that pass tests for fairness. Lastly, you should also check its reputation out before signing up.
Payments
Up-to-date gambling platforms support various payment methods. So, you should have several banking options to choose between. Finding a venue offering e-wallets like Skrill, online banking like Interac, or a fine crypto casino is not that difficult. Simultaneously, the payment policy, including the withdrawal limits, is supposed to be reasonable and fair.
Games
Of course, you want to find a casino with a top-notch game selection. It needs to be quality above everything else. So, a casino’s supposed to be powered by well-known, famous providers. Also, you should have various game genres at your disposal. And if there are over 1,000 titles to choose between, go for it. If it has a casino welcome bonus related to those games, that's even better!