What are casino bonuses, and do they really make a difference?
If you have ever visited an online casino, then you are sure to have noticed that most of them offer a very generous bonus for new players. But what really is a casino bonus, and are they all that they appear to be?
Let’s take a quick look at what a casino bonus really is, what types are on offer, and whether they actually increase your chances of winning. Once you know the basics, then you can read more here about the best casino bonus Canada.
What is a casino bonus?
A casino bonus is an incentive to players – either to attract new customers to a site or encourage existing ones to play more. So, the first thing to know is that the bonus is just as much for the benefit of the casino as it is for the player.
The biggest and boldest bonuses are usually the welcome offer, designed to be eye-catching enough that they entice players to sign up over the competition.
The most frequently found welcome bonus is a deposit match, which offers to double or even triple your initial deposit. A player who lays down $100 of their own cash then has an extra $100 or more to play with.
Deposit match offers are frequently given in conjunction with a certain number of free spins – that is, free turns on a selected slot game. Quite often a casino will allot the spins in batches on consecutive days.
A less common, but highly sought-after type of welcome offer is the no-deposit bonus. As the name suggests, players can get some free casino cash before they spend a single cent of their own money.
What’s the catch?
Too good to be true? Well, unfortunately, yes. Casinos may be rich, but they still can’t afford to give away something for nothing. Bonus offers come with certain terms and conditions that make sure they don’t lose out in the long run.
The most important of the conditions is known as the wagering or playthrough requirement. The value of the bonus must be wagered a certain number of times before it will pay out in cash.
A typical wagering requirement is around 35x – meaning that for a $100 bonus, wagers to the value of $3,500 must be made for any chance to win real money.
Can you win cash with a casino bonus?
Apart from the wagering, there are a few other restrictions that apply. For example, games with a low house edge, such as blackjack, are almost always exempt from the fulfilment of wagering. In the case of the no-deposit bonus, potential winnings are capped at a relatively low amount.
It is of course possible to use a bonus and win a decent cash jackpot, after all the conditions are met. It can be done, and it has been on many occasions. However, the wagering makes it much less likely, and players should be prepared to run out of bonus credit before reaching the required amount of play.
Casino veterans know that a bonus should not be looked at as a money-making opportunity. In fact, the same rule applies to all casino activity. It is a form of entertainment only, and any cash wins are just an added extra.
If this is the case, then what is the point in a big bonus? The value lies not in the possibility of winning, but in the extra time that it provides for players to explore the casino. With all that extra casino credit in the account, it is a good chance to try out new games and get a feel for how the site operates.
You can always opt out of accepting a bonus, but it does give players a little extra when they are getting started. Just don’t expect it to make you rich.
