Why casino bonuses are so important to online players

Online casinos use bonuses to attract new customers and to reward existing ones. They come in many forms and can often be hard to understand if you are a new player. In this article, we discuss why they are so important. 

Free spins, matched deposits and no deposit bonuses can all confuse first-time casino players. These offers are used to draw in new players, and even to reward ones using online casino services for some time. But which casino bonus is the right one for you, and how do you understand what each of them does? We discuss the range of casino bonuses in the following article.

Why use casino bonuses?

The online casino industry is extremely competitive. In the United Kingdom alone, the whole gambling industry has an average gross yield of £15.1 billion per year. Of this, £6,5 billion comes from remote gambling, which includes online casinos. This is one country alone, and with new markets opening up to the prospects of online gambling every year, you can see why the casinos need to find ways to attract new players to the industry and away from their competitors.

Bonuses are one of the main ways in which this is done. They are often offered upon sign-up and are used once players begin playing to keep them coming back. As a player, they are extremely useful. They let you play games without using your bankroll. Thus, anything you win is profit as you have not wagered any money. It is also a good way to practice strategies or try out new titles before placing money on them.

The main casino bonuses

There are several casino bonuses that operators offer. Knowing the main ones can help you find the casino that is right for you and the bonuses that will bring the most value.

No deposit bonus

This is a rare bonus but they are available in some casinos. No deposit bonuses will provide a certain amount of credit to players to play with on sign-up, even if they don’t make a deposit. It allows people to try a casino with the lowest amount of commitment. You can win money, but there may be wagering requirements and you may be limited to certain games.

Deposit match bonus

This bonus is given to new players as a recurring reward. When a player makes a deposit, they are given credit to the stated value. This is often expressed as a percentage.

For example, imagine you saw a 100% matched deposit. If you deposit $200, the casino will give you 100% of that in credit. That means they would provide another $200 giving $400 to play with in total. Many casinos will cap this at a certain amount, so you can’t deposit thousands and expect it to be matched.

Free spins

Free spins are exactly what they say. Players can use them to have free attempts at spinning the reels on slot games. This allows them to win and play as if it were their credit. Unlike other bonuses, you can often win free spins during a game as part of its mechanics, as well as having them rewarded by the casino.

There are often a few stipulations attached to them. Free spins can often only be used on certain games. Even then, they may exclude you from the bonus rounds where the highest amounts of money are won. You may also have wagering requirements attached.

It is worth noting that free spins are not for everyone. If you are only going to play blackjack, then it is fruitless to sign up for a casino based on its free spins offers. Instead, concentrate on finding one with high matched deposits.

Loyalty bonus

A loyalty bonus is worth investigating if you plan on playing at a casino for a prolonged period. It is a reward given to people who return to play at a casino. They may be made up of matched deposits and free spins.

In some casinos, you may need to sign up for a loyalty programme and accumulate points. They can also be named VIP schemes, and you enter into different categories based on the amount you deposit each month. These may also give a whole new tier of rewards, such as the ability to try new games before general release or invitations to special high-roller table games.

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements are worth knowing about whatever bonus you choose. They’re often included in the small print. It is a term and condition that prevents you from withdrawing the winnings from a bonus immediately. Instead, you must play through a game a few times and deposit a certain amount, before you can withdraw the funds you have won from the bonus.

Think about the types of bonuses that are important to you. Crucially, you need to know what type of player you are. Will you be signing up to try the casino games out? Or do you want to play a specific game like poker? From here, you can check the bonuses and decide on the perfect casino for your needs.