How To Choose The Best Online Casino: The Bonuses

Giovanni Angioni Contributor

Jun 25, 2015 5 min read Last updated Apr 21, 2020

How To Choose Your First Online Casino: The Bonuses

When you start visiting Internet casinos, there��s no way for you to avoid those annoying huge print and flashing ads that promise to make you rich beyond your imagination (as long as you give them your money first).

300% BONUS! BIGGEST NO-DEPOSIT BONUS! 200% DEPOSIT BONUS! 100% WELCOME BONUS �C this is what they all say.

It can be overwhelming, especially when you��re still trying to figure out how to choose your first online casino �C and when you have no idea exactly what all of those bonus promotions really mean.

But don��t ignore the bonus offers, because they can be the difference between a winning and a losing session. Instead, spend a few minutes with us to learn about online casino bonuses, and the best places to get them.

About Casino Bonuses

There are basically two types of online casino bonuses you need to know about: deposit bonuses and no deposit bonuses. One is best for players who plan to spend a while at a casino while the other is better used if you��re just trying out a room.

No Deposit Bonuses: These are pretty easy to understand. When you sign up with an online casino (at some sites, you also have to join their mailing list), they will immediately deposit the amount of the bonus into your account, whether or not you deposit any of your own money.

The beauty of a no deposit bonus is that you have ��free�� funds available to sample the casino��s offerings, so you can see if you like the site before investing any cash of your own. Sometimes these bonuses come in the form of free spins on slot machines, instead of actual cash in your account.

Deposit Bonuses: These are only credited to your account when you deposit some of your own money as well. They come in two main forms: free money bonuses (which are a set amount, such as �50), and the more common match bonuses, which are a percentage of the amount you deposit up to a maximum limit (such as 100% up to a maximum of �300).

At most casinos, you can only receive deposit bonuses the first time you sign up and deposit funds. If you��ve decided to play at a room for a period of time, these bonuses are a huge advantage because they give you hundreds of extra bucks to play with �C for free.

Some casinos also offer special deposit bonuses for members of their players�� clubs, such as holiday bonuses, weekend bonuses, loyalty bonuses for certain levels of play, and so on. However, those aren��t necessary to consider when you��re choosing your first online casino.

One very important note about casino bonuses: there are always requirements to meet, often complicated ones before you��re allowed to withdraw any of the money that��s been added to your account as a bonus.

The most common are called ��playthrough,�� meaning you have to gamble the amount of the bonus ten or twenty times before you can cash it out. In other words, if you receive a �50 bonus with a playthrough requirement of 20x, you��ll have to place wagers totaling �1000 (�50 x 20) before you��re allowed to withdraw the �50.

Additionally, many casino games are often excluded from playthrough��s, so you may have to spend that �1,000 on slots or video poker instead of blackjack or baccarat.

The bottom line: the size of bonuses is a very good reason to choose your first online casino, but it��s crucial to read the fine print first, so you know exactly what you��re getting and what to expect.

Best Deposit Bonuses

One caveat �C these bonuses were in effect at the time of this writing. Available bonuses change constantly, so be sure to check our site for the latest offerings.

Ladbrokes: This room offers one of the largest deposit match bonuses available at any casino �C 100% for deposits up to �500. It also features more than 500 different table games and slots, with progressive jackpots well into the millions.

Click here to know more about Ladbrokes Casino

StarGames: With a deposit bonus of 100% up to �100, this online casino features a large selection of live tables as well as some very unusual sports games, in addition to the usual options.

Click here to know more about StarGames Casino

Unibet Casino: Another casino offering a deposit bonus of 100% up to �100, Unibet is one of the oldest and best-known betting companies online, with a very popular sportsbook and poker room as well as bingo and a full casino.

Click here to know more about Unibet Casino

William Hill: This may be the most famous online gambling site anywhere, known for quality as well as its variety of games. This room has another of the biggest deposit bonuses online, 150% up to �300.

Click here to know more about William Hill Casino

Betfair Casino: A free money deposit bonus of �300 is tough to turn down, as is Betfair��s impeccable reputation and large selection of seven-figure progressive jackpots.

Click here to know more about Betfair Casino

Best No Deposit Bonuses

888casino: Offering a ��88 no deposit bonus plus an additional bonus up to ��1,500, this is one of the best welcome packages you��ll find anywhere; it would be worth taking advantage of this offer even if the casino didn��t offer so many well-designed and popular games.

Click here to know more about 888casino

SlotsMagic: This casino offers 50 free slot spins, plus 50 more free spins on one of their most popular slots as a no deposit bonus. They also have an attractive deposit bonus of 100% up to �500, and they may very well have the best online slots room anywhere.

SlotsMagic to know more about SlotsMagic

LeoVegas: A 20 free spin bonus is just the start at this oddly-named online casino; the fact that they have games powered by all of the biggest names in the industry promises some of the most amazing graphic experiences you��ll ever have when gambling online.

Click here to know more about LeoVegas Casino

Casumo Casino: This room not only has a double-barreled package of 20 free spins and a deposit bonus of 100% up to �100, but is one of the only casinos to offer achievements that you can earn as you play and redeem for prizes.

Click here to know more about Casumo Casino

CasinoRoom: You get 60 free spins on the mega-popular ��Go Bananas�� slot as a no deposit bonus, plus they add a deposit bonus of 100% up to �500 when you sign up. And there��s no software to download since the whole site runs on HTML5.

Click here to know more about CasinoRoom

Choose Wisely

If you were to prepare a checklist of how to choose your first online casino, bonuses shouldn��t be the first item on your list. However, they��re an important factor in the mix �C because they let you try out a number of rooms for free, or give you a much bigger stake to play with than you��d have simply by putting up your own money.

Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!

Share this article

Giovanni Angioni Contributor

Follow on