Understanding Online Casino Bonuses

Tip Category: Casino Bonus

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Bonuses are an integral part of online casino wagering and players need to understand them clearly. The task can be somewhat daunting for new players because there are a number of types of bonuses that are classified in different ways. What compounds the problem is that different online casinos use different terminologies for the bonuses. Once players understand what the bonuses mean they can take up the task of understanding how to redeem them.

One type of bonus is given to players for registering with an online casino and opening a real money account. This goes by the name Welcome bonus or Sign Up bonus. Both these names are self explanatory. Then there are bonuses that are given to existing players over the duration of their wagering at the casino. These are usually referred to as Reload bonus because they are not the first bonus being offered. Some online casinos offer these bonuses once a month or have a monthly cap on the amount and call these bonuses Monthly bonuses. Others offer reload bonuses on a weekly basis and call them Weekly bonus.

Most bonuses require players to make a deposit first and then the online casino matches a percentage of the deposit subject to an upper limit. The percentage ranges from about 20% to 200%. Some online casinos refer to these bonuses as Deposit bonuses because the players are first required to make a deposit. Others refer to them as Match bonuses because they match the deposit. Sometimes bonuses are given without any deposit from the player and are referred to as No Deposit bonuses.

The above classifications lead to four common types of bonuses. The most common is the Welcome Deposit bonus. This is given to new players after they have made a deposit and is proportionate to the deposit subject to a cap. Usually it was restricted to the player’s first deposit only but now more and more online casinos are extending it to cover the first few deposits. Less common is the No Deposit Welcome bonus. Some online casinos offer a small amount, around $10 to $20 free to customers before they make any deposit. This is to enable them to get a feel of the casino. If they like the casino then they can make a deposit and avail of the Welcome Deposit Bonus as well. The Reload bonuses are of the deposit type only. Players will continue playing at an online casino only if they are comfortable with it and hence the No Deposit bonus meant to check out the games is not really applicable.

There are a couple of bonuses that do not come under the above classifications but are fairly common. One is the Refer A Friend bonus. Players refer their friends to the online casino and after their friends make a deposit the player is given a bonus. Hence in a sense this is a deposit bonus because the friend is making the deposit. The other bonus is the Cash Back bonus. Online casinos make good a portion of the players’ losses, usually around 20%, in the form of the Cash Back bonus. Many online casinos offer this bonus only to high wagering VIP players through the VIP club.