Are Casino Bonuses Worth It? The Experts Weigh In 

Are Casino Bonuses Worth It? The Experts Weigh In 

Experts Weigh In 

You can’t really go online nowadays without some sort of advert from an online casino trying to lure you in with bonus offers. While some leave you shrugging your shoulders after you’ve read the fine print, some appear to be simply too tempting to pass up. From incredible welcome offers to free daily spins, online casinos do lots to try to keep you around. But after all is said and done, are they even worth it? We’ve scoured the net and countless forums to bring you the opinions of avid gamblers, like yourself, and to settle the debate for good. Here’s what we uncovered… 

But First, What are Casino Bonuses?  

Online casinos offer several bonuses and promos to their users in order to entice them to sign up, spend money, or stick around. Let’s take a look at some of the best casino bonuses.  

1. Welcome Bonus: this is also commonly referred to as a sign-up bonus and is offered to new players upon registering an account at an online casino. It is usually a percentage match of your first deposit e.g. a 200% deposit match to the value of £200 or something along those lines. 

2. No Deposit Bonus: this type of casino bonus is given to players without requiring them to make a deposit. It often takes the form of free cash or free spins to try out the casino games. All players need to do to claim the bonus is create an account and enter a bonus code.  

3. Deposit Bonus: these bonuses are given to players when they make a deposit into their casino account. It can be in the form of a percentage match or a fixed amount of bonus funds. This is normally put into play by online casinos when they want to increase their trading volume or boost the revenue generated by you, the client.  

4. Free Spins Bonus: this type of bonus gives players a certain number of free spins on specific slot games. It can be offered as a standalone bonus or as part of a larger promotional offer, such as a sign-up deal. 

5. Reload Bonus: these bonuses are offered to existing players when they make subsequent deposits into their casino account. They are similar to deposit bonuses but are usually smaller in percentage. Most online casinos offer weekly reload bonuses where you’ll get a percentage amount back if you make a deposit on a particular day.  

6. Loyalty Bonus: online casinos often have loyalty programs to reward their regular customers. Loyalty bonuses can include cashback, exclusive promotions, special gifts, and personalized customer service. 

7. High Roller Bonus: these bonuses are specifically designed for players who frequently deposit large amounts of money. High roller bonuses can include higher percentage matches, larger maximum bonus amounts, and VIP access to secret games or new titles. 

8. Refer a Friend Bonus: most online casinos offer bonuses to players who refer their friends to sign up and play. Both the referring player and the referred friend can receive a bonus once the friend creates an account and makes a deposit. 

So, Are Bonuses Worth the Hype?  

Now that we’ve covered what bonuses are and the types that casinos offer players, it’s time to unpack whether they’re actually worth the fuss. We went through stacks of online forums on the likes of Quora and Reddit to hear what real players think about bonus offers.  

1- It is Casino-dependant 

A Quora user by the name of Roman reckons that whether the bonus is worth your while very much depends on the casino itself. Some casino bonus offers are weak in that you don’t get much in return for what you’re required to do (more on that in a second). He suggests players look out for casinos offering large welcome bonuses (obviously being realistic here, it’s not going to be thousands of pounds) with additional bonuses after your first three to five deposits. This gives you a lot of extra cash to play with and enhances your overall gambling experience. 

2- Understand the Terms and Conditions

Beyond the flashy and eye-catching bonus offers emblazoned across your screen, scroll down and you’ll find the terms and conditions¾AKA, what the online casino requires you to do to get those bonus funds in your pocket. Most of the time, this will be wagering the deposit amount a specific number of times within a set time frame, after which, they will release your bonus funds.  

A marketing manager for an online casino highlighted the importance of reading the fine print because, for example, you may need to bet your deposit amount 30 times to get your deposit bonus. If you initially deposited £50, you’re required to bet that amount 30 times… which means you’ll end up spending £1500 before you get your bonus. Say they offered a 200% deposit match… you’re only in for £100.  

3- It Depends on What You Like to Play 

Another Quora commentator pointed out that most bonus offers are applicable to slots and jackpots. So, if you frequent online casinos for poker and blackjack, the bonuses won’t hold much weight for you. It’s therefore important you check which games you can wager the deposit amount on before claiming a bonus offer.  

4- The Wagering Sweet Spot

A Reddit user reckons players should be wary of wagering requirements over 10 times because it’s a trap to get you to spend way more than you’re ever going to get back in bonuses. This may be a fairly linear way of looking at it though because you may win a fair amount with each wager, so you won’t necessarily be out of pocket £1000 with nothing but a measly £100 to show for it.  

5- Boost Your Bankroll and Playtime 

A Quora user by the name of Rex is of the opinion that there is a lot to love about online casino bonuses. The biggest drawcard, according to him, is that bonuses can give your starting bankroll a much-needed boost, which enables you to place larger bets and potentially win more. Having more cash to play with also means you can extend your playing time and hone your skills, rather than packing up shop after one slot game. He suggests using free spins or bonus funds to test out new games so you don’t waste your own money on games you won’t pursue further.  

Conclusion 

Most seasoned gamblers seem to feel online casino bonuses do still hold value if you know how to use them correctly. For example, by being aware of wagering requirements and knowing upfront which games you can use bonus funds towards, you can avoid spending more than you win or wasting your time on offers that don’t hold real value for you.