- Casino bonuses are promotions that gambling apps use to engage with customers.
- Bonuses come in several varieties and have unique value for different players.
- Smart use of bonuses requires understanding terms and comparing offers.
Casino bonus offers – like the BetMGM welcome offer – are one of the ways in which casinos advertise their offerings to players. Because some bonus offers for online casino games require participants to spend money, it’s imperative for bettors to know what they’re getting into. The good news is that most of these promotions follow simple formats, and once you understand the basics, you can easily tell whether a deal is right for you.
What is a Casino Bonus?
A casino bonus is extra value, such as bonus credits, free spins, or deposit matches, that an online casino gives players for completing a qualifying action like opening an account, making a deposit, or placing wagers. Most bonuses come with conditions, including deposit minimums, expiration dates, game restrictions, geographic restrictions, and playthrough (wagering) requirements, that determine when bonus value can be withdrawn as real money. The most common types are welcome bonuses, deposit matches, bonus plays, and referral bonuses.
A casino bonus is a promotional offer players can redeem for casino credits or other benefits like free spins. You can use the bonus value to play participating games similar to how you would if you were risking real money.
From the casino’s side, a bonus is a customer acquisition and retention tool. Online casinos compete for the same players, so they use bonuses to attract new people to sign up and make a first deposit. They use ongoing offers such as bonus plays and rewards to keep existing players coming back.
From the player’s side, a bonus adds value. It can stretch your bankroll, let you try new games with less of your own money at risk, and reward you for play you were already planning.
A crucial thing to remember about an online casino bonus explanation is that you rarely get something for nothing. Casino bonus eligibility often requires actions such as opening a casino account, making a real-money deposit, or placing real-money wagers.
How Do Bonuses at Casinos Work?
All types of casino bonuses have unique parameters, but generally you’ll receive the bonus value in your account after the casino app verifies you’ve completed the required actions. You can discover what those actions are and the exact value of the promotion in the casino bonus terms and conditions.
In addition to the required actions and specific value, each gambling bonus explanation will detail any restrictions on using the bonus, such as conditions on accessing casino bonus winnings and how long you have to use the bonus. These are all important parts of the framework that will help you determine whether a promotion is a good use of your money and time.
Common Terms for Casino Promotions Explained
Here are five of the many conditions to look for when you consider casino bonus offers. They are deposit minimums, expiration terms, game restrictions, geographic restrictions, and playthrough requirements.
1. Why Are Deposit Minimums Important for Casino Bonuses?
Deposit minimums show how much real money you must add to your account at an online casino to qualify for a bonus offer. While no-deposit bonus deals exist, offers that depend on a deposit are much more common.
Observing this detail is mostly a responsible gambling concern. If a deposit match bonus requires that you spend more than you can afford to gamble, then that particular promotion may not be a good fit for you. BetMGM’s current minimum deposit is $10.
2. How Do Expiration Terms Affect a Casino Bonus’ Value?
Expiration terms for a casino bonus clarify the time frame for completing the actions required to receive a bonus and how long bettors have to use the bonus value. Any unused bonus value is usually forfeited when the expiration date and time hit.
Time frames are a key component of how casino bonuses work, but they’re also a responsible gambling concern for players. If a bonus’ conditions don’t give you enough time to use the promo value while staying within your limits, it may be best to avoid that particular offer.
3. Why Do Game Restrictions Matter for Online Casino Bonuses?
Game restrictions specify exactly which games you can use bonus funds to play. For example, some bonuses may exclude progressive jackpot slots or certain variety games.
The value proposition here is less about responsible play and more about your personal gameplay preferences. You should verify that the bonus allows you to play the types of live dealer games or other titles that you enjoy most. Make sure these “count” toward the bonus requirements.
4. How Might Geographic Restrictions Change the Casino Bonus Experience?
In the United States, each jurisdiction sets its own gambling policies. That’s why there can be significant differences in casino bonuses by state.
The rules apply to the state where you access the casino app, not necessarily where you legally reside. As each of the states where BetMGM Casino is legal has different policies on casino promotions, you may encounter disparities in access or value between those places.
5. What Are Playthrough Requirements?
Playthrough or wagering requirements are rules that you need to follow to withdraw the bonus value as real money.
Playthrough requirements are most often communicated as a multiplier that applies to the bonus value. To satisfy the requirement, you need to hit the threshold that the multiplier states within the bonus’ stated time frame with eligible games.
For example, if a bonus you’ve received is worth $10 and the playthrough requirement is 10x, you would need to wager at least $100 on qualifying games before the bonus expires. If you do, typically any outstanding bonus value becomes withdrawable at that point.
Other Notable Casino Bonus Terms
Less common but still noteworthy casino bonus conditions include restrictions on simultaneous bonus redemptions and how casinos treat your account balance. Understanding these rules can save you from experiencing unpleasant surprises.
Online casinos tend to have house rules about claiming multiple casino bonuses at the same time. You may do so in some cases, but the standard restriction is that you can only work toward satisfying the playthrough requirements of one bonus at a time. All of these rules fall under how casino bonuses work.
Other account balance terms come down to the difference between non-sticky and sticky bonuses. A sticky bonus is “stuck” to the real money in your account balance, while non-sticky bonuses are kept separate from the cash in your account.
Generally, you can withdraw a cash balance without affecting non-sticky bonus funds. With a sticky bonus, you typically can’t withdraw any of the funds in your balance until you satisfy the playthrough requirements.
What Are the Main Types of Casino Bonuses?
Now that you understand the key conditions and why they matter, this casino bonus guide will explain the promotions you’re most likely to encounter. When used appropriately, each of these promos can help you build a sustainable gambling bankroll.
Casino Welcome Bonuses
Casino welcome bonuses are introductory offers for people who don’t yet have accounts with online casino apps. Casinos tend to reserve their most valuable promotions for these promos.
These offers are best for players who are new to online gambling or simply new to a particular online casino brand. The value can help you get comfortable using the app and discovering your favorite casino games with the lowest house edge.
Deposit Matches
Deposit matches are similar to a reload bonus in which a casino gives you bonus funds as a percentage of the real money you add to your account. Offers will vary in terms of that percentage.
Among all the different types of bonuses, these deals are best used when you’re about to make a deposit anyway, since you might as well get a little extra value. However, depositing money that you can’t afford to gamble just to get a match can be a poor choice.
Bonus Plays
Some bonuses come in the form of a number of bonus plays on a specific game or group of games instead of a set amount of credit. The most common iteration is a number of bonus spins of various types of jackpot slots.
The best value in these offers is introducing you to new games, especially opening up different slot features that you haven’t experienced. Some players find their new favorite games with these promotions.
Referral Bonuses
Most online casinos offer a special bonus when someone signs up for an account and makes a real-money deposit using a referral code or link you provide. However, you usually need to refer a new customer to receive the bonus.
Referral bonuses are a great perk if you know someone who wants to sign up. At the same time, new player bonuses can offer better value, so compare the promotions to see which is the best deal.
Get the Best Bonuses at BetMGM Casino
Now that you’re familiar with the different bonuses, you can explore all of the available promotions and explore other benefits in BetMGM’s casino rewards guide.
An incredible range of online casino games is waiting for you to play when you register for BetMGM and discover why thousands of others have already taken advantage of the tremendous bonus values.
