How can online casinos compete with the bubbly environment of Las Vegas and Atlantic City? Bonus money. You may not find the flashing lights and rattling jackpots of live casinos, but casino sites offer a wide range of bonus promotions to attract new players.
As far as these sites are concerned, the bonuses are the same investment as the free hotel rooms, drinks and coupons offered by their land-based counterparts. Online casinos compete with each other to lure players to their websites and keep them there by gambling.
Registration Bonus
A registration bonus, also known as a welcome bonus or new player bonus, is the most fundamental type of online casino promotion. Its purpose is to entice new players to sign up and deposit on a site, and these are typically the most generous offers available. Registration bonuses come in the form of percentage bonuses, match bonuses, or a combination of the two.
Percentage Bonus
These promotions are straightforward. With a percentage bonus, the casino site pays you an additional portion of your deposit. For example, if a website offers a 50% bonus and you deposit $200, an extra $100 will be credited to your account. Percentage bonuses are often combined with match bonuses.
Match Bonus
A 100% bonus is referred to as a match bonus. In these offers, the casino matches your deposit dollar-for-dollar, usually up to a certain maximum amount. For instance, a $50 match bonus means that if you deposit $50, you’ll be credited with $100 ($50 + $50). Many sites actually combine percentage and match bonuses, resulting in offers like "50% up to $250." This means the casino will add fifty cents for every dollar you deposit, up to a maximum bonus of $250. In this example, you’d reach the maximum allowable registration bonus with a $500 deposit.
No-Deposit Play
If you come across a no-deposit bonus, take it. These are offered by gambling sites to let you play their casino games risk-free. While you can’t cash out the bonus money itself, you can win real money during gameplay.
Reload Bonus
The reload bonus is designed to keep players coming back to a specific website. It follows the same principle as a registration bonus but applies to subsequent deposits. Reload bonuses vary widely between casinos but typically appear as percentage deposit bonuses or match bonuses.
Loyalty Bonus
Loyalty bonuses are tailored for players who have been customers of a casino for a while, serving as another way to encourage continued gambling. These often come in the form of VIP programs and loyalty reward clubs. You’re automatically enrolled in these programs and earn points by continuing to deposit and play on the site. The more points you collect, the higher you climb in VIP status, unlocking more lucrative rewards.
High Roller Bonus
High roller bonuses are aimed at players who make large deposits. They typically offer significant percentage bonuses for players depositing over $500. By now, you may have noticed a trend in casinos encouraging players to spend more money.
Preferred Deposit Bonus
Online casinos offer a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options. Some sites try to steer players toward a specific payment method by offering an extra percentage bonus for using their preferred option. These are called preferred deposit bonuses, and the idea is that the casino saves on fees by encouraging the least costly deposit method, passing those savings on to players.
Cash Back Bonus
The cash back bonus is unique. The core concept is that players recover a portion of their gambling losses. Cash back bonuses can significantly extend the playtime you get from your money at a casino. Here’s how it works: if you lose $400 and receive a 25% cash back bonus