Imagine walking into a casino with $500 that you plan to spend on your favorite game. Before you sit down, the casino host offers you an equivalent of the money you plan to spend so that you can gamble for longer and stand a higher chance of winning. 

Sounds crazy, right? It isn’t, and it happens in online casinos every day. Most online casinos offer bonuses and promotions to attract new players and keep existing ones playing. 

As a newbie, you may be passing up valuable casino bonuses and promotions because you don’t know how to use them, and you don’t understand their value. 

In this article, we’ll discuss different types of casino bonuses and promotions, factors to consider when choosing a bonus or promotion, and how to make the most of casino bonuses and promotions. 

First, though, let’s take a moment to understand what they are and why they are so important. 

Casino bonuses are promotional free spins or free money that you can use to grow your bankroll. They are used to welcome new players, reward those who have reached a pre-set level in a game or spent a certain amount, or gamers who have accumulated a certain number of hours gambling online. 

There is no hard-and-fast rule, and you’ll find that different casinos award bonuses as they see fit. A casino promotion works the same way. It is discretionary, and the establishment determines how much is won and what players have to do to win. 

Bonuses and promotions play an important role. Players stand a better chance to win because they can play for longer, and the casino attracts new gamers with enticements. 

They serve another vital role for players. In most online casinos, first-time players are awarded a bonus that they can use to learn the game. 

New gamblers love bonuses because they can use them to familiarize themselves with whatever game they plan to play. 

Each casino determines how it awards bonuses and promotions. However, there is one rule that is important regardless of the casino you choose: you must adhere to the terms and conditions that are attached to the bonus. If you don’t, you will be forced to forfeit it. 

Types of casino bonuses and promotions

Matching bonus

Most casinos offer this type of bonus to new account holders. The bonus amount matches the amount that the player has deposited up to a certain limit. 

At Resorts Casino, New Jersey, for example, players get a 100% bonus for up to $1,000. This means that if the player deposits anything up to $1,000, the casino matches the amount. 

Some casinos use percentages to determine what deposit bonus new players get, so you can shop around to find one that offers a good deal. 

Deposit bonus

You get this type of bonus simply for depositing money into your account. It can be used to reward new players or existing ones. 

The amount of money you get isn’t determined by how much you deposit – the house works it out based on a percentage, but it is usually quite generous. 

No-deposit bonus

In some online casinos, you don’t have to deposit any money to get a bonus. These are called no-deposit bonuses and they can be in the form of cash or free spins. 

Again, the house is free to determine how much they offer, so look around for a casino that offers a healthy no-deposit bonus. 

Loyalty bonuses

These are reserved for existing gamblers, and as the name suggests, it is a type of bonus that is used to reward players for their loyalty. 

It may be based on the level that a player has reached in their game, how many hours they have spent gambling on the online casino site, or how much money they have deposited up to a certain point.

VIP bonuses

These don’t come in the form of money or free spins. Instead, players are given access to privileges for their achievements. Each casino offers unique VIP bonuses.

They can be additional levels that aren’t available to other players or points that they can cash in to progress in the game. A casino can also decide to give players valuable prizes instead. 

Extra spins

These are often confused with free spins, but they are different. Extra spins are reserved for players who play real games and put down real money. Free spins, on the other hand, are available to all, even players who play demo games. 

Sometimes, a casino can grant extra spins for placing a certain minimum amount in your account. 

Cashback

This is a great bonus because it allows you to win back some of the money you have lost. 

The idea behind them is to keep gamblers on the table. The more players lose, the more discouraged they get, and they may opt to quit the game altogether. 

If they have cashback to look forward to, they are likely to stay for longer and they may start winning back some of their money.

High-roller bonus

High-rollers (also called whales) are players who place large bets. They come into the casino with big bankrolls, and because of how much money they leave behind, they are often entitled to privileges that aren’t available to everyone else. 

Not only do they have access to everything in the VIP section, but they also have their rewards. Every casino decides what it wants to offer its high-rollers. 

Referral bonus

These work just like any other referral program. Players get prizes for every player they refer. It can be in the form of free spins, and in rare cases, the gambler may receive a boost to their bankroll for their efforts. 

Birthday bonuses

These are offered to players on their birthday. When you register, you’ll be asked for your date of birth, and the casino automatically checks every day to see if there are winners. 

Reload bonuses

These are offered when a player reloads their account. The size of the bonus may depend on how much money they deposit, or it may be a fixed amount. 

Factors to consider when choosing a bonus or promotion

We’ve already mentioned that bonuses and promotions are discretionary. This means that the casino decides how much it wants to award. 

New players have to be careful to choose casinos that offer them significant advantages when it comes to bonuses and promotions. Here is what you ought to take into account as you compare casinos.

The amount

Why get a small bonus when you can get more? The more you get, the longer you can play, and the higher your chance of winning. It is a good idea to look at several reputable online casinos and compare their bonuses.

The validity period

Imagine winning a bonus of $1,000 that you have to spend in the next hour or otherwise you lose it. It doesn’t make much sense. 

Good online casinos offer a long validity period on their bonuses. Small amounts may be valid for 24 hours, while large bonuses can be valid for as long as a month. 

Terms and conditions

This is the biggest catch when it comes to online casino bonuses. Every casino promotion comes with terms and conditions, and if you don’t understand what they are, you will lose out.

Unfortunately, many of these are found in the small print, so you have to do the work of mining through whatever your casino offers. 

Validity periods, for example, are usually stated in the terms and conditions. You should also look at withdrawal limits, how many times you need to play before you can cash in your bonus, and any other restrictions that the casino may have that are bonus-related. 

Wagering requirements

These are concerned with how many times you have to play before you can withdraw your bonus. Some casinos allow players to claim their prize right away, while others have much longer restrictions. 

Players may be asked to play as many as 50 times before they can cash in. This means that you have to spend even more money to get your bonus, which reduces its value. 

Games

Some bonuses are restricted to certain games. You may also find a casino promotion that allows you to play only a small selection of games. It is the casino’s way of promoting some of its less popular games. Make sure that your bonus is valid for the game you want to play. 

This is especially important for beginners in casino gaming. If their bonus restricts them to certain games, they have no choice but to play them.

The credibility of the online casino

Not all casinos follow through with their promises. They may offer bonuses and then place obstacles between you and the prize. Look for a casino that has a good reputation if you want to make the most of your bonuses. 

New players often ask how they can know that a casino is credible. The best thing to do is to join online gambler forums. They have many experienced players who will give you good feedback. 

How to make the most of casino bonuses and promotions

Think of bonuses as free money added to your bankroll. You should do whatever you can to get the most out of the freebie before it expires. 

Read and understand the terms and conditions

Terms and conditions are tedious to read, and understandably, most of us don’t bother. In online casino gaming, checking the fine print will help you make the most of your bonuses. 

Choose a casino with low wagering requirements

Casinos are reluctant to hand out cash to players – it doesn’t make financial sense. Instead, when a player wins a bonus, they require them to play a certain number of games before they can withdraw their bonus. 

Look for those casinos that have low wagering requirements. You may find a few that allow you to withdraw your bonus immediately, but in such cases, the bonuses tend to be low or have a short validity period. 

Gamble on games that have a high RTP

RTP, or Return to Player, refers to how often a gambler can win. A game with a high RTP means that the gambler can expect to win often, and the game doesn’t require big deposits. It allows the gambler to play for longer and maximizes their chances of winning. 

If you get a bonus or win a casino promotion and spend it on such a game, there is a good chance that you’ll win some money. 

However, you should be aware that many casinos exclude games with a high RTP for bonuses, as the frequency of wins can skew the house edge. 

Study the games that you are allowed to play with your bonus and choose the one that gives you the best chance of winning. 

Make large bets

It’s easy to think, ‘your bonus is free, so why not make the most of it’! Making large bets always adds a risk factor to gambling. However, if they pay off, you could walk away with a fair amount money without spending a dime. 

This is the opposite of playing high RTP games, so you have to decide what you want to do. Do you think that you’d be better off making small bets on a game with good odds, or would you rather take a risk, place a big bet and hope for the best? 

Conclusion

Bonuses and promotions keep online casino games interesting, but you have to choose the right casino and know how to handle your prizes. 

Resorts Casino in New Jersey comes highly recommended. It has great bonuses and promotions, and slot enthusiasts stand to win thousands of dollars. You can also join the daily promotion and stand to win $3m. 

Join Echelon rewards to make the most of your time at Resorts Casino. This is a VIP program that earns you points for every dollar you spend. It’s easy to sign up for, and you can redeem your points by calling the casino sales desk.