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What is a Casino Welcome Bonus and Why Should I Claim One?
A casino welcome bonus is an offer that’s provided exclusively to new players. It works as a way for the casino to persuade you to sign up and give you a bit of added value as a thank you.
Welcome bonuses come in all shapes and sizes, some are deposit matches, others are free spins, you might get a whole welcome package or even a no deposit welcome bonuses. Choosing the right bonus for you, can significantly boost your bankroll and let you play for even longer.
Welcome Bonus
pros
Extra Cash
A welcome bonus can boost your initial bankroll significantly.
Try New Casinos Risk-Free
You can try out sites that are brand new to you, especially with no deposit welcome bonuses.
Extend Your Play Time
You’re able to spend longer playing the games you enjoy without spending more money.
cons
Wagering Requirements
These can sometimes be high, making cashing out your winnings more difficult.
Game Restrictions
Not all games can be played whilst you have an active bonus.
Time Limits
Most bonuses must be used within a certain timeframe.
Types of Welcome Bonuses
Casinos offer lots of different types of welcome bonuses. Some will be suited to you perfectly, others will be better for a different type of player. The best way you can find the right bonus for you is to be armed with as much knowledge as possible. So, let’s break down the most common welcome bonuses and you’ll be able to choose the perfect match for your playing style.
Deposit Match Welcome Bonuses
A deposit match bonus is the most common type of welcome offer. Here, the casino matches your first deposit by a certain percentage up to a certain amount. For example, a 100% deposit match bonus up to €200. It’s most common to find deposit matches around 100%, but they can go anywhere from 30% to 500% (or sometimes even more).
Terms to Look Out for in Deposit Match Welcome Bonuses
- Match Percentage: Aim for casinos that offer generous match percentages, ideally 100% or higher.
- Wagering Requirements: Check how many times you need to wager your bonus before you can withdraw any winnings. Usually anything below 45x is considered fair.
- Game Restrictions: Some bonuses may only be eligible for specific games, slots are the most common, while live casino games often require a specific bonus.
No Deposit Welcome Bonuses
No deposit welcome bonuses are a player favourite. Why? Because they offer an opportunity to play at an online casino without spending any of your own money upfront. Typically, these are small bonuses credited just for signing up, such as free spins or a small amount of bonus cash.
Terms to Look Out for in No Deposit Welcome Bonuses:
- Promo Codes: No deposit bonuses are the type of bonus that most often requires a promo code. Make sure you enter it carefully, as if you make a mistake you might not be able to claim the bonus.
- Wagering Requirement: As you don’t need to make a deposit to claim these bonuses, they almost always come with wagering requirements. Check these are achievable within the time limit.
- Game Selection: These bonuses often apply to specific slot games, so make sure you enjoy those particular titles!
Free Spins Welcome Bonuses
Free spins bonuses tend to be amongst the easiest welcome bonuses to claim and have some of the simplest terms too. These bonuses let you enjoy slots without spending extra money.
These are often bundled with deposit matches where you might get a 100% deposit match bonus up to €200 and 100 free spins on Book of Dead. Occasionally though, you’ll find free spins offered as standalone welcome bonuses.
Terms to Look Out for in Free Spins Welcome Bonuses
- Check Eligible Slots: Popular slots for free spins bonuses include Starburst, Book of Dead, and Gonzo’s Quest. Some free spins welcome bonuses will give you a choice, others will specify one slot only.
- Wagering Requirements: Wagering requirements are typically applied to the free spins winnings rather than the free spins value.
- Win Cap: Also known as a maximum win, win caps tell you the highest possible amount you can win from a welcome bonus. Anything over this will be forfeited.
Steps to Claiming Top Online Casino Welcome Bonuses
Claiming your casino welcome bonus should be simple and straightforward. But, there are a few pitfalls you can fall into. To avoid all of that just follow these straightforward steps:
Choose a casino
Select a safe online casino with a generous welcome bonus. If you’re not sure, then use one of our recommendations.
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Register an account
Complete the registration form with all of your personal information, remembering to opt in to the welcome bonus if necessary. Some casinos will prompt you to do this, some will require a promo code, and others let you do it after signup.
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Verify your account
You might need to confirm your email address, or phone number, or complete the KYC to unlock your bonus.
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Make a deposit (if required)
For deposit bonuses, deposit the required amount using your preferred payment method. Remember to check the minimum qualifying deposit and for any payment provider exclusions.
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Claim your bonus
Your bonus will appear in your casino balance and you’ll be able to use it. Happy playing!
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How to Find Safe Online Casinos with Generous Welcome Bonuses
Sometimes casino bonuses look to good to be true - and sometimes you’re right to be suspicious. Finding a safe online casino with generous welcome bonuses involves a bit of research, but it's well worth it. Unscrupulous online casinos do exist, but it’s easy to spot them if you know what you’re looking for.
- Licensing and Regulation: Always choose a casino that’s licensed by reputable authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), or the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA).
- Security Measures: Look for casinos using SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial information. Also check out the payment providers to make sure they’re trusted and safe.
- Clear Bonus Terms: A trustworthy casino will clearly outline the conditions associated with their bonuses. If you have to go digging to find them, then read them extra carefully, as you don’t want to be caught out.
- Trust Our Expertise: We have decades of experience in this industry, so we know how to spot a safe and trustworthy casino. If you’re worried about researching these conditions yourself, trust one of our recommendations instead.
Understanding Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions
We’ve talked a lot about welcome bonus terms and conditions. They make a big difference to bonuses, altering how easy they are to claim and use, as well as the actual value. Below are some of the most common welcome bonus terms along with exactly what they mean.
- Wagering Requirement: This refers to the number of times you need to wager (bet) the bonus amount before you can withdraw your winnings. It’s sometimes called a rollover or a playthrough.
- Expiry Date: This is the time you need to use the bonus and complete any of the terms associated with it by.
- Win Cap: Also known as a maximum win or max conversion, this is the maximum possible amount that you can win from a bonus. Anything you ‘win’ above this is forfeited.
- Minimum Qualifying Deposit: This is the smallest deposit that you can make to claim a welcome bonus. It’s typically around €10 to €20 but be sure to check.
- Payment Exclusions: Sometimes you can only claim a welcome bonus if you make a deposit using certain payment providers. Skrill, Neteller, and some other e-wallets are most commonly excluded.
- Game Contributions: Some games don’t contribute 100% to wagering requirements. It’s common to see table games count 10%, which makes a 35x wagering requirement into a 350x one.
- Game Exclusions: Some games can’t be played whilst your welcome bonus is active. Sometimes this will forfeit your bonus entirely, so pay particular attention to this term.
Tip: Occasionally you’ll see a wagering requirement applied to deposit and bonus amount - remember that in a 100% deposit match this is effectively double the playthrough - so don’t be fooled!
| Casino | Bonus | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1go |
150% up to 600€ + 400 FREESPINS |
|
| spinsbro |
520% up to 2120€ + 1000 FREESPINS |
|
| gizbo |
150% up to 600€ + 600 FREESPINS |
|
| wildtokyo |
100% up to 800€ + 300 FREESPINS |
|
| vavada |
100% up to 1000€ + 100 FREESPINS |
|
| wazamba |
100% up to 500€ + 200 FREESPINS |
|
Tips for Maximising Your Welcome Bonus
So, you’ve claimed a great welcome bonus, what’s next? Learning how to squeeze the most value possible out of your welcome bonus is definitely worthwhile. These tips will help you to make sure you get as much as you can out of your welcome bonus.
- Compare Offers: Always compare multiple casinos to find the best terms and highest value. Looking through our recommendations is a good place to start.
- Read the Terms Carefully: Pay attention to wagering requirements, game restrictions, win caps, and expiry dates. Even the biggest bonuses can be soured if the bonus T&Cs aren’t player-friendly.
- Stay within Your Limits: A huge deposit match bonus might seem tempting, but if you can’t afford to complete the wagering requirement then you won’t be able to withdraw those winnings! Stick to your limits and consider the rollover when working out your budget.
- Use Bonuses Strategically: Claiming all of the bonuses around might seem appealing, but you’re best using them wisely. If you know you’re a fan of slots, see what no deposit free spins you can get your hands on, saving the larger wagering requirements of deposit bonuses for when you’ve exhausted your slot bonus options.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Claiming Welcome Bonuses
Claiming a welcome bonus is generally pretty easy, but there are some common pitfalls that we see players fall into all the time. Remember to tick off this checklist when you’re claiming a welcome bonus and you’ll be just fine.
- Overlooking wagering requirements: Wagering requirements can make or break a bonus, pay close attention to them before you claim one.
- Ignoring expiry dates: If you haven’t completed that wagering before the expiry date comes up then you forfeit your bonus entirely.
- Missing eligible game restrictions: On some bonuses there are games that you can’t play at all, playing them by accident can forfeit your whole bonus.
- Not fully verifying your account beforehand: If you want to withdraw your winnings easily then completing the KYC ahead of time is the best way to make this happen.