Online Casino Bonus – These are the Best Offers for 2024
The decision of which casino to join tends to depend on it having the right game selection to suit your needs. But given that so many online casinos have a similar game offering, the bonuses they provide becomes a big deciding factor in where to play. After all, if you can play your favourite games with a bigger bonus with better conditions, then all the better. Here are the best offers currently available.
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An Overview of the Different Kinds of Bonuses
The most common type of casino bonus is one that is awarded when you make a deposit. Yet this is not all that is available. There are numerous types of offers up for grabs, with different ones to suit different players. In the following section, you will see an overview of the various types of bonuses. Plus, click on any of the bonus types listed below for a detailed close up on any particular offer, plus some recommendations of the best places to claim that type of deal.
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Deposit Bonus packages and reload bonuses
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No Deposit Bonus free spins, free play, free money
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Exclusive Offers for live games, mobile, etc
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Cashback and VIP loyalty points and rewards
Deposit Bonus: Bonuses can be separated into 4 general categories.By far the largest and most important are deposit bonuses. Pretty much all online casinos provide a welcome bonus, which is awarded to new players upon making their first deposit. An alternative to a first deposit bonus, is a package deal. Here, it is not just the first deposit that receives a reward, but also a certain number of subsequent deposits. Deposit bonuses can also be earned at some casinos through special promotions.
No Deposit Bonus: Another significant category are free offers, otherwise known as a no deposit bonus. These provide new customers with a freebie to start their casino journey. It can be used to try out the casino to see if you like what it has to offer, before parting with your own cash. This offer can be in the form of a bonus balance, which can be used to play any game. Alternatively, it may be given for one specific game, or a selection of games, such as free spins for certain slots. Although you can play games for free without making a deposit, you can still win real money. This makes this type of deal really popular with players. However, these offers are few and far between, as the operator has to give away money without actually getting any money in return. Of course, by offering a free bonus, the casino will ultimately benefit in the long run through customer loyalty.
Exclusive Offers: Closely linked to deposit bonuses are those which are for specific types of games. Some operators provide a special bonus which is specifically for table games like roulette or blackjack, or for live games. There are even some which are exclusively available for playing on the mobile app. In this situation, a deposit is still generally required in order to get the special deal, as with the normal welcome offer. The principle difference being that it can only be used to play certain games.
Cashback and VIP: The final category can be described as special offers for existing real money players. These include all types of bonuses that players receive over the long term. These are the sorts of extras that are awarded as part of promotions, such as deposit bonuses, raffles with special prizes, and cash back rewards. There can also be additional deals available as part of a VIP or loyalty scheme.
The Details you should Know about Bonus Offers
It is important to understand that any bonus you receive will have certain conditions attached to it. You will find the particular details within the respective terms and conditions, and it’s important to familiarise yourself with these before accepting any type of offer. In general, these are the important factors that you should look out for:
- Bonus percentage and maximum amount – how much extra money you will get for what deposit amount.
- Conditions for claiming a bonus – which particular details do you need to look for?
- Wagering requirements – how many times does the bonus need to be played through?
- Other offer details – such as special offers for certain payment methods.
In the following section, you will find a brief overview of each of these points. If you want more detailed information about any of the above, simply click on the relevant condition. You will then be able to find out even more useful info about the ins and outs of each of the conditions.
Bonus Percentage and Maximum Amount
If you are a new customer at a casino website, the offer that is presented to you is generally expressed with 2 figures. One is the bonus percentage, which tells you how much your deposit will be multiplied by. The other is the bonus amount, and this will be the maximum amount that you can earn in extra funds from your deposit. So say for example an offer is expressed as 200% up to £100, then the casino will double your deposit in bonus funds, but only up to a maximum of £100. Of course, you do not have to claim the full amount, in this example, if you were to deposit £25, then you would get another £50 on top in extra funds. You would need to deposit £50, in order to get the maximum £100 bonus. It is worth remembering that the welcome bonus is a one time offer, therefore if you do not deposit enough to claim the maximum amount, you will not have another opportunity to claim the remaining bonus. Of course, you can deposit as much as you like, but you will not receive more than the maximum bonus amount.
When the welcome bonus is in the form of a package, the percentage and the maximum bonus amount can vary over each of the deposits. As with a first deposit bonus, it is your choice whether to deposit enough to claim the full amount, or whether to deposit a smaller amount, and in turn, earn a smaller amount. Again, like the first deposit bonus, if you do not claim the full bonus on any of the deposits, you will not have the option to get the rest of the money at a later date. Yet do not feel pressured to make the maximum deposit – instead, only deposit the amount that is right for you and is within your budget.
Requirements to Receive the Bonus
It is usually pretty straightforward to get a bonus, yet there are one or two restrictions to keep an eye out for. One such condition is the minimum deposit requirement. You will often find the minimum deposit that is required to benefit from a welcome offer is around a tenner. Yet this does vary from one operator to another. There are some with lower requirements, and others where the minimum deposit requirement is higher. You should ensure you are aware of this detail before making your first payment, so that you do not miss out on getting the bonus.
There are also sometimes time restrictions as to when you can claim the offer. In some cases, there is a certain timeframe in which you can claim the bonus after having signed up at the casino. It is important to be aware of this so that you do not miss your opportunity to benefit from the special offer. In some cases, you may be required to enter a promo code in order to qualify for the offer. Yet there are few instances where this is needed. If a code is required, you will find it listed within the terms and conditions at the casino or on our website.
Wagering Requirements for Withdrawing Bonuses and Winnings
Another important detail which should not be overlooked is the wagering requirement. All bonuses will need to be played through a certain number of times, before you can withdraw them and any winnings you have made with them. This requirement is put in place to ensure that you do not simply claim a bonus and withdraw it instantly. With regard to wagering requirements, there are 3 factors to be considered.
- Rollover – the total number of times the bonus (and sometimes deposit too) must be played through
- Time period – how much time you have to fulfil the playthough requirements before the bonus expires
- Weighting of the games – the percentage of money bet that contributes towards wagering requirements.
First and foremost is the number of times that you will need to turn over the bonus on real money casino games. Generally, the lower this number is, the more favourable the condition is for players. The requirement can be expressed in 2 different ways. One is the number of times the bonus needs to be played through, for example, 30x bonus. The other is a requirement for the bonus and the deposit to be turned over, for example 20x bonus + deposit. You must fulfil these wagering requirements before making a withdrawal. If you try to make a withdrawal before doing so, you will usually forfeit any remaining bonus, plus any winnings that have been made with it.
Next up is the validity period of the offer. This generally ranges from between 30 – 60 days. Yet there are some offers which have an even longer validity period. One such example is the welcome offer at 888 Casino, which allows players a huge 90 days to fulfil the wagering requirements. If you do not playthrough your bonus the required number of times within the given timeframe, it will expire. You will then forfeit any remaining bonus balance, what’s more, any winnings made with it will also be removed from your account.
The final consideration is the contribution of different types of games towards bonus playthrough. There are some casino games which have an incredibly small house edge, and as such, when you wager on these types of games, only a fraction of the money you bet will count towards playthrough requirements. Usually, any bets placed on slots and scratch cards will contribute 100% towards wagering. Whereas table games, like roulette and blackjack will often only contribute between 5 – 25%. You should check the respective terms in order to confirm how much weighting each type of game has.
| Slots | Roulette | Blackjack | Table Games | Video Poker | Scratch Cards | Live Games | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common values | 100% | 0-25% | 0-20% | 0-20% | 0-20% | 100% | 0% – 10% |
| 888 Casino example | 100% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 10% | 100% | 10% |
Other Requirements you should Know about
There are occasionally other conditions linked to a bonus. One such example is restrictions on the deposit option you use. There are some operators that will not award a bonus when a particular payment method is used. On the other hand, there are some casinos that will provide an additional reward for using a particular banking option. One such example is the PayPal bonus from 888 Casino. When new players make their first deposit using the e-wallet, they are given an additional reward on top of the regular offer. In some situations, you will need to contact the customer support team in order to claim your bonus. One further restriction could be linked to your location. Players in some countries may not be eligible to receive a bonus.
Conclusion – Which is the Best Casino Bonus?
There is not one single “best casino bonus”. As with most things in life, the best one depends very much on your own personal preferences. The right offer for you will depend on your favourite games, how often you intend to play, how much experience you have with online casinos, and much more. Yet overall, if you opt for one of our top 5 casino bonuses, then you can’t really go wrong. What’s more, if you have a look at the linked pages above which are dedicated to the different bonus types, you will find even more recommended offers for each type.
If you are new to online casinos, or have little experience with them, you should look out for free offers. Casinos that offer free spins, or a free play balance will give you the chance to try out a selection of its games and get a feel of what it has to offer, before parting with any of your own money. If you like what you see, then you can go on to benefit from the welcome offer when you make your first deposit. Another option would be to select a casino bonus with a low minimum deposit requirement, and a good match deposit percentage, so you get plenty of extra funds for your money.
Maybe you are a serious player, with a lot of experience of playing for real money at online casinos, and are looking for a new or better offer. If so, then you should opt for a first deposit bonus or a package deal that provides a high bonus amount, with favourable conditions attached to it. Also, if you have a preferred game, like roulette for example, then you could also opt for a special deal designed specifically for certain games.
Another consideration should be what long term benefit are available for real money players at a casino. There are promotions where you can win extra prizes while playing a certain game. There are also those where you can earn extra loyalty points in happy hours and such. As for VIP schemes or cashback, these tend to benefit the high rollers or players who make a high volume of bets. If this is the case for you, then it is worth opting for a casino that has a generous and rewarding VIP programme.
Frequently Asked Questions on this Topic
The topic of casino bonuses is very extensive and contains a lot of detail. As such, this brief overview may not have covered every aspect of the subject. Therefore, I have included here some answers to some frequently asked questions here.
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Can I Decline a Bonus?
If the thought of the various terms and conditions of a casino bonus puts you off, then you can choose to play without one. You are under no obligation to accept an offer. An advantage of declining an offer is that you can make a withdrawal at any time, you do not need to concern yourself with fulfilling wagering requirements first. Yet the way you go about declining a welcome bonus varies from one operator to another. In some situations, you need to opt in to claim a bonus. This can be done by clicking a link sent by email, or selecting to accept a bonus when you make a deposit. In such cases, simply do not follow the steps and the extra money will not be added. Some bonuses are credited automatically without any opting in required. In this case, it is advisable to contact the customer support team to decline it – preferably before making a deposit.
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How do I Recognise a Dodgy Bonus?
There are a couple of tell-tale signs. Bonus terms and conditions should always be clear and unambiguous, if this is not the case, then the validity of the offer could be questionable. Also, a bonus should have a fair and reasonable set of wagering requirements. If you do not see this, say the playthrough requirement is extremely high, or there is a very short validity period, then it does not necessarily mean that the bonus is shady, but you should opt for one which provides favourable conditions. If you are in any doubt as to which offers you can trust, then you should go for one of our top 5, or check the dedicated pages for the various different types of bonuses, where you will find recommendations for top offers.
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Can I Get a Bonus Multiple Times?
Usually not, as the welcome bonus is only available once (unless you opt for a package deal that is). However, you can find further offers as part of special promotions. Also, it’s worth contacting the customer service team to ask for an exclusive offer. More often than not they will offer you something to reward your loyalty and keep you playing. And as the saying goes, “if you don’t ask, you don’t get”!