Online Casino Welcome Bonuses

Sign-up Deposit Bonus in a Nutshell

As the name suggests, an online casino sign-up bonus is a reward designed for new players who create an account with their casino of choice. Virtually every legitimate online casino offers generous welcome rewards to new visitors. It is one of the best ways to attract new players, introduce them to the casino environment, and increase their player count.

Casino promotions are not just a marketing tactic. Every online gambling enthusiast knows that casinos have created these bonuses to attract more visitors and encourage them to stay on the site. That doesn’t mean the rewards are worthless – quite the opposite.

The sign-up bonus for online casinos is an excellent way to gain free access to some of your favorite games and learn how a casino operates. As a first-time player, you’ll discover more about the games, their main tactics, and the potential winnings.

You’ll familiarize yourself with the online community, learn the best games to play, and find out which games deliver top payouts. This crucial information can help you get the most out of an online casino.

So whether you’ve been enjoying the world of online casinos for a while or have just started developing a passion for it, you’ll benefit from sign-up bonuses. If you don’t like what’s offered, you can move on to other places. If you enjoy it, you can stick around for unlimited entertainment. It’s a win-win either way.

Various Types of Sign-up Bonuses You Can Find

Although every casino has welcome bonuses, they’re not always the same. Some casinos only offer rewards on a minimum deposit, while others allow new visitors to enjoy their games for free, though limiting the selection to specific titles. Some brands provide only limited-time bonuses and seasonal discounts, nothing else.

The following are some of the most popular casino bonus sign-up options.

Match-up Bonus

A match-up bonus is one of the most common bonuses in online casinos. It means that the casino will match the amount (or a percent of the amount) that you deposit when you sign up. Some casinos offer just a 50% match-up bonus, while others give new players as much as a 200% match-up! For example, if you deposit $100, and the casino offers a 100% match-up, you will get $200 in playing money.

You’ll need to remember, though, that there’s usually a limit on how much a casino will give you as a bonus, and there are probably additional requirements you’ll need to meet. For instance, you might need to deposit more than the minimum deposit requirement to enjoy your bonus. In this case, if the minimum deposit is $5 and you deposit just $5, you might not get the bonus. You’ll need to invest at least $6 or more to enjoy it.

Also, let’s say the casino offers a 100% match-up bonus of up to $200. You could receive a maximum bonus of $200, not a dollar more. Even if your deposit amount is $1,000, you will only receive up to $200 as your bonus.

Free Spins Offer

The second most popular casino’s welcome bonus is the free spins deal. As the name suggests, this bonus means you will receive free spins on slots like Starburst, usually without depositing or making any wagers.

Free spins can come in many shapes and sizes depending on the casino. Some casinos offer only a handful of spins applicable to all the available paylines without requiring you to deposit. Others require a small deposit but will give you a generous amount of free spins, often hanging around 200 (though some will offer as many as 500 free spins).

There could be some unique terms of use with these heftier bonuses. You might have to use all the spins within 24 hours, or they will expire. Alternatively, the spins might be rolled out over a few days. For instance, if you receive 100 free spins, you might get ten spins daily over ten consecutive days.

You should also pay close attention to the games you are allowed to play with free spin bonuses. In some casinos, the free spins might be applicable for just a single game, while in others, you can use them on any game you’d like.

Cashback Deals

Cashback bonuses aren’t nearly as popular as match-up or free spins, but you’ll still encounter them occasionally. They’re essentially small refunds in case you get on a losing streak.

Regardless of what you like to play in an online casino, you’re still taking a gamble every time you join a new game – whether it’s with or without any bonuses. Chances are that you won’t win every single game you play. And if you get started on a losing streak, you might be discouraged from continuing to play. That’s why some casinos offer cashback rewards – to help get you out of your losing streak and keep the games you’re playing fun and lighthearted instead of frustrating.

You will usually receive a small deposit percentage with cashback rewards if you start losing. So, a casino might give you 10% back if the balance on your account stays lower than $10 for several days in a row. In this case, for every dollar you lose in future games, you could receive 10 cents back into your account. Though this is the most common example of a cashback online casino bonus, it’s not the only type of cashback reward.

You might also receive a cashback reward on your deposits, regardless of whether you win or lose your games. With a 10% deposit cashback reward, you might receive additional playing money in your account every time you make a new deposit. If you deposit $100, your account will have $110 with this type of reward.

Most commonly, the cashback reward will stay in your account. You cannot withdraw it for real money – you can only use it as your casino funds. Still, each casino will have different terms and conditions for their cashback bonus, so it’s in your best interest to read through them carefully to know what you can expect.

Mobile Welcome Bonus

It’s all in the name – a mobile welcome bonus is a reward for new players who join a casino via their smartphone or tablet. It can be any bonus type – free spins, match-up, cashback, or anything in between, but it’s only available for mobile players.

Keep in mind that, in most instances, it’s not enough for you to use your mobile browser, such as Chrome for mobile or Safari, to claim this bonus. You will usually have to download the casino’s official mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store to receive this bonus.

Depending on the specific online casino with a sign-up bonus for mobile, you could be eligible for these rewards whether you are a new or an existing player.

Some casinos will offer mobile sign-up bonuses only to brand-new players who download the app for the first time. Others will provide this bonus to existing players who are already registered on the website but are downloading the casino’s app for the first time.

Live Casino Welcome Bonuses

In online casinos, games such as slots and Starburst are some of the most popular. But many players still prefer the more serious games, often joining live poker, roulette, and Blackjack games, and entering live tournaments. The live casino welcome bonus is designed for just such players.

It’s not a bonus you’ll encounter frequently, but it can be extremely valuable if you’re into live games. Unlike other bonus types that are usually reserved for new players, live bonuses are generally available to all casino enthusiasts. They come in many different forms, but you can generally claim them only after paying your deposit.

Some of the most popular types of live casino bonuses include cashback rewards, reload bonuses and tournament bonuses. Like regular cashback rewards, live casino cashback can help you cover a portion of your losses, usually about 10% to 20%, and only up to a certain limit (such as $200). Alternatively, they can increase your spending limit, acting almost as match-up bonuses.

Reload bonuses are most commonly offered to existing players, but some casinos will give them to newcomers. With such a reward, you will receive a bonus when you deposit and reload your account for a live game. The bonus amount will usually depend on the deposit amount. Reload bonuses can be claimed only once a week or once a month, depending on the casino and how often live games are scheduled.

Finally, tournament bonuses are reserved for only those who want to join tournaments. They can come in free spins, bonus rounds, or even a chance to get on a leaderboard and collect some payout from the prize pool.

The Differences Between Cashable and Non-cashable Sign-up Bonuses

While there are many different sign-up bonuses in online casinos, they can all be united into two broad categories – cashable and non-cashable bonuses.

Non-cashable bonuses are by far the more common category. Also known as play-only bonuses, non-cashable bonuses are available solely for playing at the casino. You cannot withdraw non-cashable bonuses nor transfer them to your cards or bank accounts.

For instance, with a non-cashable match-up bonus of 100%, you will have $200 in your casino account once you deposit $100. Let’s say you spend $50 of it playing games and meeting the bonus requirements – you’re left with $150 in your account. If you want to withdraw your money, the casino will deduct your bonus amount, so that you can take out only $50. So, if you’re going to make full use of your non-cashable bonuses, you’ll need to use them to play and, hopefully, win your favorite games.

Of course, any winnings you make will be your own, but you’ll need to check the terms and conditions carefully to find out if you can withdraw them all immediately or if you need to fulfill any additional requirements.

Cashable bonuses are different. Though they’re becoming ever less frequent, they’re extremely valuable as they allow you to cash them out.

Let’s take the same example above, with a cashable bonus this time.

With a cashable 100% match-up bonus, you will have $200 in your casino account if you deposit $100. You spend $50 from your account playing games, and you’re left with $150. You can withdraw the total $150 amount and get real cash this time. Of course, you’ll likely have to meet certain requirements, such as playing a game several times, meeting the minimum/maximum deposit requirements, and the like.

Usually, there will be a lot of fine print with your cashable bonus terms and conditions, so read through them carefully.

Sign-up Bonus Terms and Conditions to Keep an Eye on

A great sign-up bonuses casino will offer generous rewards to new and existing players alike, but it will have certain rules to ensure that no one abuses the rewards system. An unreliable welcome bonuses casino will advertise fantastic rewards to players, but it will make it almost impossible for you to claim them.

Whatever the case is, your casino bonuses will come with plenty of terms and conditions that will affect your rewards. So, you’ll have to read through all the fine print to understand what you need to do to claim your rewards and make the most out of your online casino experience.

Some of the essential things you’ll need to keep an eye on when it comes to deposit casino bonuses include:

• Applicable games . First, you’ll need to check whether the bonus is limited to a specific game only, all games within the same category, or all casino games on offer. After all, if you’ve come to an online casino thinking you’ll get a great bonus on Starburst and only get free spins on another slot game, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
• Expiry dates. Most bonuses will come with a specific expiry date. Free spins bonus, for instance, is usually available for only 24 to 48 hours, or it’s available for ten days, but you get a limited number of spins per day. Even cashback rewards could have expiry dates, so be sure to check them out.
• Spin values. If you’re playing in a casino with a deposit bonus, you’ll also need to pay attention to the spin value if you’re playing slots. After all, if you need to place a bet to claim your reward, you’ll need to ensure it’s worth it. For instance, if you receive 100 free spins, and each is worth 10 cents, the overall value of these spins is $10.

  But to ensure that the spins actually bring value, you’ll also need to consider your wagering requirements to learn how much you can cash out.

• Wagering requirements. With a wagering requirement of 20x, you’ll need to make 20 bets if you want to cash out your winnings later. So, that’s 20 bets multiplied by $10 for your 100 free spins, equalling $200 total. You can’t cash out if you don’t earn at least $200 from your 100 free spins. Even if you win $199.99, it doesn’t bring any actual value to you.

Calculating a Bonus Offers Real Value

Calculating the value of any available casino bonus is quite a straightforward process, especially regarding match-up and cashback rewards. Since most casinos will offer bonuses expressed in percentages, you have to do some simple math to understand what you’ll be getting.

But you’ll also need to pay attention to the bonus limitations. Many casinos offer bonuses only up to a certain deposit amount, which means a casino might give you a match-up bonus of 100% but only up to $200.

Here’s an example of how a calculation might look in practice:

Claiming and Activating Your Sign-up Bonuses

The best online casino with sign-up bonuses will make it easy for you to claim and activate your bonuses and rewards.

While the specific steps might differ from one casino to another, you’ll usually have to do just a few things:

1. Sign up
   You will need to create an account and register with your chosen casino before enjoying any rewards. Some casinos only ask for your active email address, username, and password. In this case, your username doesn’t have to be your real name. Other casinos will have a more complicated sign-up process, asking for your real first and last name, email address, phone number, zip code, and card information.
2. Claim your bonus
   Depending on the bonus type, it might be automatically activated, especially if it’s a no-deposit bonus. In this case, you will see that you already have money in your casino account and can start playing. If you meet certain requirements, such as making a deposit first, you’ll need to transfer the minimum deposit limit from your card to your casino account. You’ll usually find specific steps for claiming your bonus directly on the casino’s website, so be sure to go through the terms and conditions.
3. Play your favorite games
   The last step is using your bonus to play free slot games. Double-check which games you can join with your bonus, and start playing!

The Best Casinos Offering Valuable Welcome Bonuses

The US has complicated licensing requirements for online casinos, so not all international casinos are available in your state. On the other hand, some casinos that you can access might not be legitimate, making it difficult to find and claim the best casino welcome bonus.

We’ve identified a few top casinos available in NJ, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and several other US states to make your search easier. Please take a look.

Take Advantage of Online Casino Welcome Bonuses and Enjoy Your Favorite Games

Sign-up casino bonuses can make any online casino game that much more exciting. Many casinos will offer generous rewards, including hundreds of free spins on slots, 200% deposit match-ups, and even valuable cashback rewards.

But don’t be fooled by impressive numbers or seemingly incredible rewards. Go through the terms and conditions carefully, calculate the actual value of the bonuses, and pay close attention to any fine print that would affect your winnings. Once you’re sure that the bonus is everything the casino promises, join and enjoy your favorite games.