Which is the Best Online Casino Bonus?
The online casino industry is fiercely fought with casinos vying for the business of new customers. They promote their unique selling points, usually the number of pokies or table games, far and wide as they attempt to draw in new clients. Making claims of offering the best online casino bonus helps their cause, but are the best? It depends, is the answer.
One man’s meat is another man’s poison, as the saying goes. What one person considers the best online casino bonus may turn out to be poor for you. First, let us get some terminology out of the way so you can make the best decision for you.
Best Online Casino Bonus Terminology
Welcome bonuses are the most common bonus and are exactly what they sound like. They are bonuses offered to new customers, welcoming them to the site. Welcome bonuses tend to be large in order to grab the attention of the newcomer.
A typical welcome bonus is written as 100% up to $500. This means your first real money deposit is matched by the casino 100% up to a maximum $500 bonus. Other variations include 50% up to $2,000 or even 200% up to $1,000.
Even the very best online bonus comes with wagering or playthrough requirements. These are in place to protect the casino from abuse. 30x wagering means you must wager 30x the bonus amount before you can withdraw the funds. Always check the small print before parting with your hard-earned cash.
How Do You Receive Your Bonus?
Bonuses automatically land in your account for the most part. However, the odd one requires you to contact customer support to claim it.
You play with the bonus funds until you meet the wagering requirements. Any bonus, and sometimes money won from it, cannot be withdrawn until you meet the playthrough rules.
Different game types count towards different amounts of the bonus requirements. This is why it is important to check the terms and conditions of the best online casino bonus offers. For example, playing pokies almost always counts 100%, so each $1 wagered completes $1 of the wagering requirements. However, it is not uncommon for games such as blackjack to only count 10%. This means $10 of bets are needed to clear $1 of the bonus’ playthrough.
Is The Biggest Bonus the Best?
You can see people’s eyes light up when a casino offers them a massive bonus. it is only natural. However, the biggest is not always the best online casino bonus. For example, what good is it having a $5,000 bonus if you play a mixture of pokies and roulette, and roulette only counts 5% towards the wagering needs? It would take forever and a day to release the money into your account.
Likewise, do not underestimate the amount of play needed to complete the requirements. I once chose a 100% up to $1,000 bonus and opted for the full amount. Unfortunately, I neglected to check the terms and conditions beforehand, only to discover there was a 30x playthrough requirement on the deposit amount AND bonus. The casino needed $60,000 wagered before releasing my $1,000 bonus. Needless to say, I never clear the full amount!
Do not always opt for the biggest bonus if you have little t no chance of releasing it. Getting your hands on some free money, however small, is better than leaving empty-handed. Take that from me!
In addition, never choose a casino based on the bonus alone. It may be the best online casino bonus available but that site may not have the games you like to play. I would much rather have a small or no bonus but still have fun than be chasing the playthrough with pokies and tables games that are not to my liking.
