Online Casino Bonuses
by: Rea Nelson
Types Of Online Casino Bonuses
If you've ever considered playing at
an online casino, you should be aware
that the vast majority of them offer cash
bonuses as an incentive to play. While
there are some generous offers out there
today, being made, it's very important
that you understand how casino bonuses
work and understand the terms and conditions
of the offer.
The No Deposit Bonus
Some online casinos offer players free
cash with no deposit required. These can
be a great way to get started playing
and to get a feel for the games at an
online casino, but be aware of the complete
terms of a no deposit bonus. In some cases
the casino will require you to register
a credit card to claim the free cash.
This doesn't necessarily mean they are
trying to steal funds from your card.
There are reputable casinos who do this
as a security measure to avoid bonus abuse
and players claiming multiple accounts.
It also gives the casinos a better chance
of weeding out the bonus hunters from
more serious players. At the same time,
be aware of rogue casinos and do your
homework before you sign up and play at
any casino. Some casinos require you to
make a small deposit in order to cash
out your winnings from a no deposit offer.
Some online casinos also require players
to make a small deposit before cashing
out winnings from a no deposit offer,
again due to bonus abuse of other players.
Wagering requirements and game restrictions
often apply to this type of bonus.
The Cashable Matching Deposit Bonus
Many internet casinos offer a percentage
match bonus when players make a deposit.
These are pretty self-explanatory - for
a 200% bonus, for example, you would deposit
$100 and the casino will add another $200
to your account. These bonuses typically
range anywhere from 10-250% or more. This
type of bonus almost always requires the
player to wager through the deposit and
bonus a certain number of times and usually
only certain games count towards the wagering
requirements.
The Sticky Bonus
A sticky bonus is just that - it can
never be cashed out. This may sound like
a bad deal at first, but actually can
be a great deal for a player. You can
use the "money" from the bonus
account to wager as much as you like.
Even though the bonus itself stays put
in your casino account, you will have
more money available in your account to
wager longer with that much more of a
chance to hit a big jackpot or build up
some good winnings at a table game like
blackjack. We have seen some online casinos
offer sticky bonuses that have been quite
generous, in some cases over $300 and
more.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements can be rather high
at many online casinos nowadays. Some
casinos require you wager as much 20 times
your deposit and bonus amount or more
before cashing out. There was a time that
you only had to wager through your deposit
and bonus once before cashing out at an
online casino! Due to the high costs of
this type of promotion and bonus abuse,
wagering requirements have been raised
considerably at virtually all online casinos.
Note that in some cases sticky bonuses
carry no wagering requirements - this
can be a great deal if you come across
this type of promotion.
Game Restrictions
In many cases only certain games count
towards the wagering requirements of the
bonus offer. It's common to see Slots
play count towards the wagering requirements.
Games like Blackjack and Roulette are
often excluded from the wagering requirements.
Always, ALWAYS read bonus terms and conditions.
You've downloaded the software, you've
signed up and created your account and
logged in. you've made your deposit and
you're ready to play. But do you really
know what you're getting into? As you
can see there are many different kinds
of bonuses and you need to know the wagering
requirements, games restrictions and other
terms and conditions when you play. Some
online casinos will simply tell you that
you need to but in some cases your winnings
can be forfeited if you do not follow
the promotional terms to the letter. So
unless you're only there for a good time
and don't care about your winnings, knowing
the terms and conditions of a bonus offer
is essential. If you are comfortable with
a particular casino and it's promotional
bonus offer, you might as well claim the
free cash. If you're going to play anyway,
you might as well accept the free money
offer.
If you aren't comfortable with requirements
of a bonus offer, pick another casino
to play, or consider simply depositing
without claiming a bonus. Many online
casinos offer better odds and payouts
than Native American casinos or even Las
Vegas casinos, so often you still are
getting a good deal for your money. Also,
nothing can compare with the comfort and
convenience of gambling at home in your
pajamas.
