Find out all about the best casino bonuses and where you can find them. You will learn what types of bonuses to expect, what are some of the things to look out for, and which casinos have the most exciting promotions for players. Our expert, Erik King, tells you everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
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Table of Contents
What is a casino bonus?
A casino bonus is a promotional offer that a casino uses to attract new players or retain existing ones. In exchange for a simple registration or a deposit of funds, the bonus gives players extra funds, free spins, and other rewards.
Types of bonuses & promotions
Each casino can design a promotional offer as it sees fit. From the type of bonus to how generous it is or how limiting the terms and conditions are, they can do whatever they want with it.
Generally, though, the types of bonuses mentioned below are the ones you’re most likely to find at a casino.
Welcome bonuses
This is the most common type of promotional offer at a casino, designed to attract new players. A bonus offer requires something from the player, generally that he makes a first deposit after registration.
Sometimes, a simple registration is sufficient to earn the player a small bonus, such as cash or free spins.
A typical welcome bonus offer will cover one or more deposits, giving somewhere around 100% of the amount deposited as a bonus to play with.
Sometimes, it’s more (150% or 200% are not unheard of), and other times, it’s less (but it’s uncommon since it’s not attractive to players).
Oftentimes, free spins are added as sweeteners.
📙 Erik King’s Quick Tip: When claiming a welcome bonus with both a match and free spins, use the free spins before wagering your deposit bonus, some casinos calculate wagering based on remaining bonus funds, so using spins first can minimize total playthrough and maximize cashout potential.
No deposit bonuses
A no deposit bonus is typically available at casinos trying to attract players to create an account. A simple registration and a verification of the email is required in most cases. That’s all it takes, and in exchange, the casino adds free spins or a small cash amount ($5 or more) to their account.
Free spins bonuses
Free spins bonuses can be offered at any time. They can be part of a no deposit bonus with free spins, a welcome bonus that includes them, or an offer for existing players (reload bonus).
You can get anywhere from a few to hundreds of free spins at one or more pokies picked by the casino. The free spins are added at once, in stages over multiple days, or as a combination of the two.
Weekly bonuses & promotions
For existing players, the casino wants to keep them around and not lose to an interesting welcome bonus from another site, so there are often many different promotions that they can activate.
Usually, the casino reserves particular days for certain types of promotions. It can add a free spins offer on Monday, a reload bonus on Tuesday, a tournament on Wednesday, and so on.
Monthly bonuses & promotions
A monthly promotion is usually reserved for something that can be very profitable to the player.
The casino can partner with a developer to make a pokie its game of the month, it can create a lottery with prizes consisting of sports cars or cruises, or do pretty much anything else that will have a huge impact.
📙 Erik King’s Quick Tip: When joining a monthly promo tied to a specific game, check if that game has a bonus buy feature, then don’t use it. Many casinos exclude bonus buys from promo tracking, and using them can disqualify you from leaderboard points or prize entries without notice.
High roller bonuses
A high roller promotion is going to be a deposit bonus, but it will cater to players with deep pockets. While a typical deposit bonus may have a limit set to $1,000 or $2,000, a bonus for high rollers may go well beyond the $10,000 mark. The matched percentage is often lower than that of regular bonuses since the casino takes a bigger risk.
Game specific bonuses
A promotion can be tied into a particular game in some manner. A few examples would include a free spins offer at a particular pokie, a bonus amount that can only be used at roulette, or a cashback offer that gives you back 10% of your losses at the game of the month.
When certain games are favoured, it’s usually thanks to a partnership between the casino and the developer. It can be a new game being promoted or a pokie specifically designed to do well in free spins offers.
Low deposit bonuses
When playing for fun, or if you’re trying to find out what a new casino is all about, you might want to get started with a smaller deposit. That’s where the low deposit bonuses come into play.
Some casinos allow you to make deposits as low as $5 or $10, and that can be enough to give you an idea of what it’s like to play there. Since a deposit bonus is added, you double the amount you play with.
Cashback bonuses
A cashback bonus will give you a safety net as part of a bonus offer. It does what it says: it gives you cash back if you have lost within a given period. It may pay only 10% or 20% of the amount lost playing at the casino, but it’s still a nice option to have. It can be offered on its own or as an extra incentive in other bonuses.
Device-specific bonuses
The casino can even offer a bonus if you play on its mobile app. Promotions consisting of free spins or cash have been used before to target mobile phone players and push the casino’s app.
Particularities of bonus offers that cater to specific countries
A country’s bonus offers may borrow some characteristics from the its particularities, but for the most part, they’re similar to those available internationally.
- Bonus offers to players from a particular country will be in local currency, and local payment methods will be accepted.
- Payment methods favoured by locals will be available. These are options that often don’t appear in other countries.
- May offer access to pokies that the country’s citizens love as part of no deposit offers or welcome bonuses.
- Legislation depends on whether the country is regulated or not.
Casino bonus terms & conditions
When looking at a casino’s promotional offer, remember that it has terms and conditions attached. These can be in the casino’s policy for all its bonus offers or something specially tailored for that promotion.
Here are some of the main things you should look for when analysing the bonus and its terms:
- How much is the bonus offer, including the bonus match and the cap on its value (for example, a 100% match of your deposit, with up to $500 offered)?
- What are the wagering requirements? (30x the bonus amount is OK, but 30x bonus + deposit could be twice as much to wager).
- Time limits (how many days are available for you to meet the requirements for withdrawal).
- Eligible games (what games can be accessed with that bonus) and the percentage of their contribution (pokies may contribute with 100% of the wagers used, but table games may be at 10%).
- Bet limits (the maximum bet allowed while working towards the wagering requirements).
- Payment methods (are there any methods that will not get you the bonus?).
Wagering requirements explained
A bonus offer will give you a certain amount of money to play with or a number of free spins of a relatively low value. It doesn’t let you withdraw the bonus, and the winnings are available only after you meet the wagering requirements.
The wagering requirements are expressed as the number of times that you will have to use the amount received in bets placed at the casino’s games.
For example, if you deposit $100 and receive a 100% match bonus of $100, you can play with $200.
The wagering requirements could be expressed as 40x the bonus you received (total to wager is $4,000), or it might be 30x the deposit + bonus (30 times $200 would be $6,000). The numbers are all part of the example, and each casino has its requirements.
You have to pay attention to more than just that number because if the deposit is considered as well, it could mean twice as much to wager.
In the case of a bonus with free spins, it is more common to see a multiple of the winnings obtained from them (10x the winnings or some other number).
Bonuses without wagering requirements
It’s also possible to get a bonus offer with no wagering requirements and where you can keep the winnings, but it’s rare. There is likely a limit on how much you can keep from those winnings. It will be a very small amount, typically $5 or $10, so enough just for a few rounds at the casino.
Pros and cons of welcome bonuses
Here, at Zamsino, we try to give you the full picture. A casino’s bonus offer can be great, but it can also have downsides, and it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into.
Pros of casino bonuses
- You play with more money (double or triple the deposit amount).
- Some bonuses include free spins or cashback for additional opportunities to win or limit losses.
- A longer play time at your favourite games.
- You get more opportunities to test games and develop strategies.
Cons of using bonuses
- They come with wagering requirements.
- Limit the number of games you can play at.
- Limited time available to use them.
Licenses and Local Legislation
One of the most important things you can do when you’re looking at a new casino, is making sure that it’s a legit site and that it follows the laws and regulations of a jurisdiction that applies to your situation.
Some countries have regulated gaming markets, and only licensed casinos are allowed to offer casino games to local players. This comes with obligations that are specific to each country. Casinos licensed locally have to pay taxes and contribute to the local economy, and they have to provide a certain level of protection to players (for example, they can be required to keep a certain amount of money in reserve to be able to pay any withdrawal requests from players).
Whether you can play at any casino or only at local variants is going to depend on where you come from. Each country can be different.
For players based in countries where international casinos are an option, here are some of the gaming jurisdictions you should be looking for. The Europe-based ones tend to have the best protection for players, but there are many good casinos based in other parts of the world.
- Malta
- Isle of Man
- Gibraltar
- Alderney
- Curacao
📙 Erik King’s Quick Tip: When checking a casino’s license, prioritize those from Malta, Isle of Man, or Gibraltar, then, go one step further and search the licensee’s name in the regulator’s sanctions or warnings section. A valid license isn’t enough, clean compliance history is what guarantees your payout safety.
Payment methods for bonuses
For each player, the best payment method is the one he considers most secure and easiest to use. It’s great if you can use the payment methods that you’re already comfortable with, and that’s why it’s important for casinos to offer options that are popular in the countries that they target.
This would mean various methods integrated into the country’s banking system, as well as cryptocurrencies and e-wallets.
Visa: one of the world’s most popular payment methods. Use your debit or credit card to make a deposit instantly. Withdrawals do take longer, up to 5 days.
Mastercard: another popular issuer of cards, and it has the same pros and cons as Visa. Fast deposit and slow withdrawals are to be expected.
Bank transfers: You can easily transfer money from your bank account to the casino’s. This method can generally take several days to complete, but it’s very safe.
Skrill: a very popular electronic wallet that is available at the vast majority of online casinos. It’s an intermediary, allowing you to deposit funds into it and then use it to deposit money. This way, casinos don’t get your financial info.
Payz: founded in 2000, this is an electronic wallet that’s used all over the world. You add funds to it from a card, and then you can transfer funds to casinos without them having your card data.
Mifinity: this is an electronic wallet solution that players from all over the world can use to deposit at casinos. This option is offered by 650+ casinos. What’s impressive about it, is that you can add funds to this e-wallet using one of over 75 payment methods.
Trustly: it acts as an intermediary between your own bank account and that of the casino. It’s easy to use and fast, so many players prefer it. It’s also a very common option available at online casinos.
Paysafecard: this one works through prepaid cards and codes, which you can buy from physical locations or online. You can also top them off when required. You don’t have to give the casino your card details if you use Paysafecard, which is a big plus.
Bitcoin & crypto in general: you will find that many online casinos have this type of payment method in their offer.
If you intend to use a bonus offer, check the terms and conditions first. You might find that certain payment methods are not eligible for that promotion.
According to Eric King: From my experience, it’s often the case with some international e-wallets, such as Neteller or Skrill, but each bonus offer is different. You have to check if your favourite payment method is available for that bonus.
How we review casino bonuses
While the right casino bonus can be different for each player, depending on what matters to him most, some offers are clear winners. We’re looking for those, and these are the main things that we’re considering when reviewing a casino bonus.
Types of bonuses
First, there are a variety of bonuses that you can use at any online casino. Your journey is likely to start with a no deposit bonus that may bring you free cash or free spins, acting as an introduction to the casino’s world.
It can continue with a welcome bonus, which will require a deposit. It can cover one or more deposits. These will generally offer at least 100% of the amount deposited as a bonus and tend to have better terms than other promotions.
Once you get past the initial stage, there are reload bonuses, tournaments, cashback offers, free spins, and lotteries, to mention some of the most important.
There is a time and a place for each type of bonus, and the expectations are different in each case (a welcome bonus is usually more appealing than a simple reload bonus). We judge each one based on its merits.
Bonus percentage
The matched percentage that the casino offers will usually be 100% or higher for a welcome bonus, but reload bonuses tend to be lower.
We do look at the amount a no deposit offer gives you, including the bonus percentage and the cap on its value, but the terms and conditions matter just as much.
📙 Erik King’s Quick Tip: When evaluating a bonus percentage, don’t just chase the highest match, cross-check it with the max cashout and wagering terms. A 200% bonus with low wagering and no cashout cap can outperform a 500% bonus that’s capped or hard to unlock. Always calculate true playable value, not just headline numbers.
Maximum win
Many of these bonuses will have a maximum win specified in the bonus terms. This means you’re not allowed to withdraw money beyond the mentioned amount.
Generally, a bonus without a cap on the amount you can withdraw will be better than one with a cap (though you have to take all factors into account, and if the wagering requirements are very low, then a cap may not be such a bad thing).
Wagering requirements
A bonus offer can double or triple the amount you’re willing to deposit and give you plenty to play with, but it will also come with clear limitations and requirements.
The wagering requirements are mentioned in the bonus terms and conditions. They tell you how many times you have to wager the bonus amount you received (or the deposit + bonus amount).
It may be something like 30x to 50x the bonus or the bonus + deposit. Naturally, go for the ones that only require you to wager the bonus amount; the smaller the number, the better.
If you receive free spins, then you will likely have to wager the winnings obtained from them. Once again, the wagering requirements vary.
Maximum bet allowed
You will be allowed to use small to medium-sized bets while using bonus money and trying to meet the wagering requirements. This can mean bets of up to $10 to $25, depending on the offer.
The higher the bet value allowed, the better, making fulfilling the wagering requirements a bit easier.
Eligible games
Not all games are created equal. Limitations exist regarding games you can use to cover the wagering requirements. Some games may have a smaller contribution (pokies may be at 100% of the amount wagered, while live games can be at 10% or 0%, etc.).
The fewer restrictions placed on eligible games, the better the bonus.
Time limits
This is another thing to pay attention to. Some bonuses may give you only 3 days to use the bonus or meet the wagering requirements, while others may give you 30 days. It’s better to have as much time as you need.
Deposit methods
Often, these bonuses also come with restrictions on the payment methods that can be used. Neteller and Skrill are the most commonly restricted payment methods, but others can also be mentioned.
Support
24/7 support is another important element, as is the quality of the help you’re getting. Especially with an international casino, you want the help to be quick and not just during business hours in Europe or wherever they may be located.
How to claim a bonus at an online casino, step by step
Step 1: find the right casino for your needs. We have a list of casinos that we recommend based on everything they offer.
Step 2: click the link on our website, and remember the bonus code that you have to use. Fill up the registration form and complete all the required steps (type in personal info, password, and everything else required). If there is a bonus code to use at this stage for a no deposit offer, use it.
Step 3: make your first deposit. Select your favourite currency, pick your favourite payment method, and make sure you don’t forget about the bonus code. Generally, the payment is instant (though bank transfers may take a few days).
Step 4: That’s it. If you used the bonus code at checkout, the bonus amount should be added to your account soon after the deposit. You can then start playing and covering the wagering requirements.
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Erik King
Editor in Chief - Zamsino.Casino
I always loved gambling and probably always will, spending my time reviewing gambling sites to help people save time.
Last updated 21/04/25 by Erik King