A casino welcome bonus has both advantages and disadvantages, and it's important to weigh them carefully. A welcome bonus can be very high, but if the bonus terms and conditions are very strict, it's no longer attractive. Casinos outside GamStop for UK users often provide more flexible welcome bonuses, making them appealing to players seeking both value and ease of use.
Advantages
- High casino bonus: The welcome bonus is usually very high, because online casinos compete against each other and want to attract new players.
- Increased chances of winning: You'll receive bonus credits and/or free spins to play with at the online casino. This gives you a better chance of winning!
- Explore casino games: With the casino welcome bonus, you as a player can explore the casino games without spending any money on them yourself.
- Widely Available: Online casinos almost always offer a welcome bonus to keep up with the competition.
Disadvantages
- Bonus terms and conditions: Welcome bonuses almost always come with terms and conditions. The casino cashback bonus, however , doesn't. So always check the terms and conditions carefully!
- Non-recurring: An online casino's welcome bonus can only be claimed once.
Types of casino welcome bonuses
There are different types of welcome bonuses you can claim at the online casino. These are as follows:
Deposit bonus
The deposit bonus works with a percentage. When you deposit an amount, the deposit bonus is the bonus money you receive. If it's a 100% deposit bonus, your deposited amount is doubled. This doesn't mean you can deposit any amount you like. Often, there's a minimum and maximum deposit amount to receive the welcome bonus, such as 100% up to a maximum of €300.
Free spins bonus
A welcome bonus can offer you free spins to welcome you. This can be in addition to the initial deposit bonus. The best welcome bonuses in the casino consist of bonus credits and free casino spins .
200% welcome bonus
Another variation of the deposit bonus is the 200% welcome bonus . This bonus is even more attractive, as it triples your deposit. If you really want to claim a big promotion, you can play at a 400% bonus casino .
Welcome package
When a welcome bonus is spread across your first few deposits, it's also called a casino welcome package. This could look like this for a welcome package of 150% up to €400 + 100 free spins:
1. First deposit: 25% up to €100 + 20 free spins
2. Second deposit: 50% up to €75 + 30 free spins
3. Third deposit: 50% up to €125 + 25 free spins
4. Fourth deposit: 25% up to €100 + 25 free spins
It's always more beneficial to claim a casino welcome bonus in full in one deposit, but a welcome package can still be very attractive.
The no deposit casino bonus
The no deposit casino bonus , also known as a "no deposit bonus," is an online casino bonus for which you only need to register. This is a welcome bonus, so no initial deposit is required. This means you can start winning money at the casino right away. It's even possible to receive 50 free spins without a deposit at some online casinos.
Welcome Bonus: Difference with other promotions
The main difference between the casino welcome bonus and other online casino promotions is the amount. The welcome bonus is often much higher, making it very attractive. Another difference is that the welcome bonus can include other promotions. For example, it's possible to receive a deposit bonus, free spins, or a no deposit bonus upon entry.
Additionally, this bonus can only be used once. Other bonuses can recur daily, weekly, or monthly, allowing you to enjoy them more often. The welcome bonus is a one-time use only.
Casino Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions
Almost every online casino offers a welcome bonus. However, there are significant differences between these bonuses. A bonus can seem very generous or very high, but it might also have very strict terms and conditions. We'll explain how this works here.
Wagering requirement
A welcome bonus has a minimum wagering requirement. This means you must wager the bonus credit a set number of times before it can be cashed out. The wagering requirement varies by online casino. The more often you have to wager the bonus, the less attractive it becomes.
For example, a welcome bonus could consist of a 100% deposit bonus up to a maximum of €300 with a 45x wagering requirement . However, this may be less advantageous than a 100% deposit bonus up to a maximum of €200 with a 30x wagering requirement.
Maximum bet for wagering
There's often a maximum bet. This is usually €5. If you have a higher maximum bet at a casino, that's good news. Lowering it already makes it less advantageous.
Casino games for wagering requirements
The online casino decides which games you can play the bonus on. For example, the free spins can't always be wagered on the highest-paying slots . When they can, it's very interesting. Furthermore, the bonus credit counts differently towards wagering requirements depending on the type of game. Slots often count 100%, table games and crash games 20%, and live casino games 5%. However, this can vary by gambling site.
Maximum profit
It's important to keep an eye on the maximum winnings. For example, if you can only win €50 with a welcome bonus of up to €1,000 in bonus credit, this is less attractive than if you could win €2,000. Ideally, you'd prefer to play at a casino with no limits .
Duration
Casino welcome bonuses usually require seven, 10, 14, or 30 days to meet the bonus requirements. If you're too late, your winnings from your bonus funds will be removed.
One welcome bonus per account
You can only claim one welcome bonus per casino account. Multiple casino accounts per IP address usually don't work either. In such a case, you could lose your entire welcome bonus.
Tips for playing with a casino starting bonus
We've put together some tips for you to help you get the most out of your casino welcome bonus.
- Look for welcome bonuses that include both bonus credits and free spins.
- Find a welcome bonus where you only need to make one deposit to receive the full bonus.
- Avoid welcome bonuses with a wagering requirement above 40x.
- Do not accept a welcome bonus that requires you to wager your deposit.
- Play at a casino with no winning limits for promotions.
- Claim a welcome bonus of 200% or higher for an extra chance to win.
- The highest welcome bonuses can be found at non GamStop casinos, where you can also gamble with GamStop.
- Always gamble only at a reliable online casino!