Online Casino Bonuses: Worth it or Waste of Time?

One of the biggest perks of playing at an online casino compared to a traditional live-action one is the incredible bonuses they offer... However, the good ol’ casino bonus comes with a number of advantages and disadvantages, and it can be difficult to know whether they’re worth it. Allow us to elaborate.

Common Casino Bonuses 

Online casinos give out bonuses in a few different ways, from extra coins for playing a particular game type, or a boost to your bankroll if specific conditions are met. Regardless of the name, all bonuses come in the form of free spins and extra credit to your account. The main bonuses to look out for are:

First Deposit: When you fund your account for the very first time, an online casino will match whatever you deposit, provided certain conditions are met.

Sign Up: As the name suggests, players who sign up to the casino for the first time are eligible for this type of bonus. Some are excellent value; others are probably not worth mentioning. This type is always changing, and it’s a good idea to shop around first.

No Deposit: Another one with an obvious name. You don’t need to deposit anything into your account to get this bonus. Expect other terms and conditions to claim it though. 

Reload: Aimed at long-time players who haven’t been back to the tables in a while. This bonus offers to match a deposit made by a person who has held an account for a while but hasn’t been active.

Promotions: Online casinos often offer free spins or credits during holidays or other special times of the year. Sometimes, it might even be linked to a famous event or anniversary connected to the game, such as free roulette spins on the day the game was first created, or free blackjack to commemorate when the famous MIT blackjack team broke up for the last time. Stay ahead of the game — check their regular promotions to see what offers and bonuses they are currently running. 

Loyalty, Birthdays and Refer a Friend: Some online casinos offer free spins and credits on your birthday, if you refer a friend to create an account and even if you have been a long-time customer.

Advantages of Using Casino Bonuses

There are loads of advantages to getting free spins or credit added to your account, which can make a bonus very worthwhile if used at the right time.

Boost Your Bankroll: Receiving a bonus at the right time can provide an extra layer to your bankroll and possibly even extend your gaming session. In theory, you can play all your favorite games for longer with a bigger bankroll. While technically it might not always work out that way, it’s certainly possible.

Extra Perks: A bonus might come with additional perks, such as entry into VIP programs that offer even more cool options to play the games.

Try Before You Buy: There are so many options for online casinos, and not all are created equal. Free spins and credit can be perfect for testing before signing up properly. To claim the bonus, you often have an account with the casino, but with a no-deposit bonus, you don’t have to use any of your bankroll to test it out. The casino software might be a buggy dumpster fire, which makes the chance to try it first a considerable advantage.  

Test Out the Games: Every year, more people are taking the plunge and trying out online casino games for the first time. It can be daunting to decide which is the right game for you though, especially if you are a fresh-faced newbie. 

Bonuses linked to certain games provide a chance to briefly try out a game — for free. After a few spins on the slots, you might decide you want more options to influence the outcome of the game. Following several hands of blackjack, you might hate all the decision-making and want a game with fewer interactive options.

Disadvantages of Using Casino Bonuses

While there are great perks to using bonuses, they also come with some issues that can be a real dealbreaker for some people.

Time Limits: There is often a time limit to use the bonus. It could be a month, a week, a few days or even shorter. Regardless of the time limit, the bonus won’t bebe valid forever.

No Withdraws: Keep in mind you can't sign up, claim the bonus, and then immediately withdraw the balance from your account. It's a great idea in theory, but it’s simply not possible. There are always requirements to meet before you can withdraw; in some cases, you can't do it at all. These are called sticky bonuses.  

Terms and Conditions: Restrictive and often confusing terms and conditions for bonuses are a massive drawback. Have you ever read the terms and conditions for anything? They can frequently be long-winded, confusing sleeping pills that put the novel War and Peace to shame. Unfortunately, casino bonus terms and conditions can be just as dull and hard to read. 

Determining how to claim a bonus is tough when you can't even get past the first few brain numbing sentences in the terms and conditions. Worse still is when it's full of jargon that sounds like it's from a legal drama. The point being, the terms and conditions are not always clear or easy to understand. Occasionally, there are restrictions on which countries can claim them as well. Restrictive and often confusing terms and conditions for bonuses are a massive drawback. 

Locked to One Game: Another common theme among bonuses is being locked to one type of game. For example, a casino might offer a range of bonuses that can only be used to play poker. That's great if you like the game, but a bit annoying if you want to play something else.

So — Worth it, or a Waste of Time?

Ultimately, the worth of bonuses really depends on what type of player you are. If you only like short sessions, the time limit imposed on bonuses means you might not be able to get the full advantage before it expires. However, someone who plays every day can receive the full benefit. The terms and conditions can also be confusing in some cases, and there are often restrictions attached. Overall, bonuses can be worth it in the right circumstances, but are not necessarily for everyone, so it’s important to do your research first.