Understanding Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses are one of the most popular promotions in the online casino market. They are designed to attract new players and encourage them to register and play. By providing players with extra funds, free spins or other bonuses, welcome offers encourage players to try out new casino games and get involved in the online casino community.

What Are Welcome Bonuses?

Welcome bonuses are deals that are tailored to new users who have never bet at a given online operator. They are incredibly diverse and vary greatly from one casino to another, allowing players to pick the perfect offer for their needs. From hundreds of free spins to deposit match bonuses worth up to hundreds of pounds, new player offers are a staple in the online gambling world.

How to Claim Welcome Bonuses

Claiming a welcome bonus is simple! We’ll walk you through the process so that you can start taking advantage of your ideal offer as quickly as possible:

1. Pick a casino. The first step to complete when claiming a new user bonus is to pick an online casino. Don’t pick a random provider! Take the time to research the operator and the kinds of bonuses it offers. User reviews and feedback posted on third-party sites can also help you evaluate an operator’s trustworthiness and value.
2. Sign up. Once you’ve found the perfect casino, make an account. Keep your ID handy and be prepared to provide basic information designed to verify your identity.
3. Make a deposit. Most bonuses have a minimum deposit requirement to meet before they can be claimed. You can usually find this amount in the offer’s terms and conditions. When you know exactly how much you need to add to your account, make the qualifying deposit.
4. Claim the bonus. Some welcome bonuses are automatically added to your account with a qualifying deposit, while others require a code or an ‘opt-in’. The casino should specify how to claim the offer in the deal’s terms and conditions.

That’s it! Your new bonus should be applied to your account and you can start playing your favourite games.

Types of Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses are incredibly diverse and vary widely from one casino to another. Common deals include free spins, cashback, deposit matches and no deposit offers.

Free spins

Free spins award players a set number of free spins to be used, typically on a pre-selected slot. This kind of bonus usually comes with a minimum and maximum per-spin wager amount.

For example, a casino may have a welcome bonus where new players can receive 50 free spins to use on a selected slot after an initial £10 minimum deposit. Players qualify for the bonus by being newly registered and meeting the minimum deposit.

In most instances, simply meeting deposit requirements is enough to have free spins added to your account automatically to use on the selected slot.

Some free spin bonuses require players to bet a specific amount per spin. For example, the free spins may have a minimum bet per spin of £0.10 and a maximum bet per spin of £0.20. This means that every wager must lie between those values for the duration of the bonus spins. After all the free spins have been used, players can typically bet whatever they want on the slot moving forward.

Cashback

Cashback promotions return to players some of the money they spend betting. Some offers will be for flat amounts automatically credited, while others might vary based on the amount of money wagered.

For example, a casino may be offering cashback of 50% of your losses for the first week with a maximum value of £50. If you lose a total of £15 during those seven days, you’ll receive £7.50 in bonus cash. Remember that the cashback bonus tops out at £50, so even if you lose £200 during your first week, you’ll only receive £50 in bonus cash.

Deposit match

Deposit match bonuses match player deposits by a certain amount or a certain percentage. A 100% deposit match bonus, for example, will match player deposits entirely.

If a casino is offering a 50% deposit match bonus, then half of your deposit will be matched. For example, if you deposit £20, you’ll receive a £10 bonus. These offers often have a minimum and maximum deposit needed to receive the deposit match. For example, if the bonus only matches up to £100, then if you deposit more than that, you will only be matched for the £100 and nothing more.

No deposit

No deposit offers are some of the most popular welcome bonuses available and don’t require a deposit to claim. Wagering requirements typically apply to no deposit offers.

For example, a casino could be offering new players a no deposit bonus worth £10. In order to claim the bonus funds, you usually only need to register an account and confirm your identity. However, before you can withdraw the bonus funds, you’ll need to meet wagering requirements.

Wagering requirements refer to the number of times you must bet the bonus amount before withdrawing any winnings. For example, a £10 bonus may have a 30x wagering requirement. This means that before you can withdraw your bonus funds, you must wager £300 (10×30).

Bingo credits

Also known as ‘free bingo tickets’, bingo credits are a welcome offer for players registering with casinos offering bingo.

The rules for bingo credits are similar to the rules for free spins or no deposit bonuses. New players typically receive these credits automatically upon registration and can use them immediately on selected bingo games. Before you can withdraw winnings from this kind of bonus, you’ll usually need to meet wagering requirements.

Terms and Conditions to Watch For

When claiming welcome bonuses, it is imperative to carefully read its terms and conditions. These can make or break a deal’s value, so don’t skip them! You want to look for things such as wagering requirements, minimum and maximum bet values, and bonus duration, among others.

Wagering requirements require players to wager the bonus funds they receive a certain number of times before they can be withdrawn as cash. The lower the requirements, the better the deal. Minimum and maximum bet values dictate how much money you can wager per bet. Maximum bets are typically capped at a few pounds per wager.

Bonus duration is another important term to look for. Most welcome bonuses must be claimed within a certain amount of time. Wagering requirements, along with any other eligibility criteria, must be completed before this period ends.

Pros and Cons of Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses offer several benefits such as allowing players to try out different games and bet types with extra funds credited to their accounts. They are a great way for new players to get a feel for online gambling and also for the online operator in question. Finally, welcome offers attract players to casinos they might otherwise overlook.

Welcome offers often come with strict eligibility requirements, however, which can diminish the value of the deal.

How to Make the Most of Your Welcome Bonus

To make the most of your welcome bonus, pick games that contribute 100% towards wagering requirements. Not all games contribute to the requirement, so pay close attention to the bonus terms and conditions before you start playing. Also, pick bonuses that can be used on games you think you will enjoy, as it gives you an opportunity to play them. See if there are other promotions you can combine with the welcome bonus for additional value – it may also help you meet the wagering requirements!

Welcome bonuses are a great way to dive into online betting. The right deal can have a huge impact on your player experience, so make sure to pick wisely. From free spins to no deposit offers, there are plenty of ways that these promotions elevate your wagering. By understanding how these bonuses work and the terms and conditions to look out for, you can make the most out of every bet and take full advantage of the deal at hand. Check out CasinoBonus.com for the latest welcome bonuses and other fantastic promotions.