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.
