A casino bonus can prove to be quite the “gamble” for any casino looking to entice in new players and customers. Reason being that they have long before and still do cause a split opinion amongst players. While some may love them and see them as an excellent way to get an extra bit of money on top of whatever they deposit, there are still many players who hate the very idea of an online casino bonus, largely due to what may lurk behind closed doors. However, despite all of the arguments that may exist, and in some instances perhaps even be valid, I firmly believe that casino bonuses are a good thing, especially from a marketing standpoint. Casino bonuses open up this once padlocked industry, allowing an easy and attractive way for new players to get involved with casino games and gambling overall.
In this day and age the online casino industry is booming, and it would be a difficult task to find an online casino that doesn’t offer some sort of casino bonus to its players. This could be testament to their effectiveness as a marketing tool, but that doesn’t stop them from being a confusing and extremely varied form of promotion, due to the large variety of different formats that the classic “free casino bonus” can take on. To further our understanding of casino bonuses and their potential impact on player, it is key to examine all of the different types of bonuses that are floating around the industry.
All things great and small
Forget what you have probably heard a million times over already, that being the myth that all casino bonuses are the same, they are no different and ultimately, the potential customer is going to go with the brand they know the most about, or trust the most. That is a false sentiment nowadays, thanks to the massive amount of different online casinos operating at any giving time. There is an endless sea of choice in this already endless sea of different casino options, with bonuses coming in all shapes and sizes. The fact of the matter is, as a means to stand out to potential new customers, you have to offer an unbeatable deal of some kind – in other words, a great bonus. For this reason, no deposit casino bonus offers are often the most popular amongst players, as they appear on the surface as “free money”. When it comes to no deposit casino bonus promotions, as you can gather, a deposit into your betting account on registration is often not required to claim the deal. However, because it is an instant amount of usable money, it is never a large sum, often coming in at a humble amount that allows someone to make just a couple of low-level bets.
These no deposit casino bonus offers might very well draw in new players, but what about the experienced online casino player who is looking to move to a new website? In such instances it often seems that matched deposit bonuses are most appropriate. For example, if a casino offered a 100% matched deposit bonus and a player was to deposit £50 into their account, the casino would comp their account with another £50 in free play funds. This is most effective to experienced players, who are already used to parting with their money. To them, matched deposit bonuses are a good return on investment; no matter what way you look at it.
A twist on a classic casino bonus
It should also be noted there are more kinds of bonuses floated around than just monetary value bonuses, often game-genre specific bonuses such as ‘X amount of free spins’ on a slot machine, for example. Speaking on such bonuses, you will find that these specialised offerings are also made available under both deposit and no deposit means.
Proceed with caution
While bonuses of all forms may seem appealing when used correctly, it is important to make sure that you understand what you’re getting into when you sign up for one. You need to understand that they can have some tricky disadvantages that affect the mileage that you get from a casino free bonus. The most common of these conditions is the wagering requirement, with such sometimes-giving great cause for concern. The wagering requirement has the potential to be most detrimental to your online casino bonus experience, depending on how high the actual requirement is. Essentially, the wagering requirement is a multiplier of your casino bonus that you must spend before withdrawing any potential earnings. For example, say you get £10 via a casino bonus, with a 10x-wagering requirement attached. This means you must wager £100 before being able to withdraw any related winnings. For this reason, it is important to only choose casino bonus offers that have a low wagering requirement, as by doing so you’ll at least have a fair chance of turn your winnings into real money.
Wagering requirements can be the most egregious disadvantage of using a casino bonus, but it is certainly isn’t the only issue at hand. Game locks are instances that, while uncommon, will prevent a player from using their online casino bonus on certain games. Cashout limits are a much more commonplace danger, and stand as a safety net for the casino. Cashout limits put a cap on the amount that you can actually win from the casino, and can come in various forms, such as limiting the amount you can withdraw in any transaction.
Doing the legwork
Your best friend when it comes to choosing a casino bonus that fits your needs will be the research that you conduct. It is important, as I have noted above, to fully know what each casino will offer you in terms of a casino bonus, along with all related terms and conditions. The best way to conduct your research is not to traverse Google looking at countless forum and opinion posts about which casino this person thinks is the best, but rather to go from casino to casino examining the bonuses and offers yourself, paying special attention to the terms and conditions. Through examining these sites, you will gain an insight into the current state of the online casino industry, along with the no deposit casino UK offers at hand.
Uncovering the real truth of a casino bonus
The real truth is that casino bonuses are not as bad as some players would want you to think. Of course, they do come with their fare share of special conditions and requirements that need to be met, but should you conduct the proper research, you will be able to make these bonuses work for you. They are helpful for both introducing you to the wide, potentially lucrative world of online gambling as well as offering experienced players a new way to make even more money. The fact of the matter is that when used correctly, a casino bonus can truly be worth its weight in gold.