How to Find the Right Casino and Welcome Bonus for You

Choosing an online casino can be tricky. You need to make sure the website is licensed and secure, and you need to check withdrawal options and user reviews. But a welcome bonus can tell you a lot about a casino and help you make this decision. 

To some players, welcome bonuses might seem too good to be true. But if you aren’t taking advantage of the generous bonuses offered by reputable casinos, you’re truly missing out. Join us as we show you how welcome offers work and what you should look out for before you sign up to play online casino games.

What Are Casino Welcome Bonuses?

A welcome offer is a reward, bonus, or deposit match that casinos give to new players as a reward for signing up. Bonuses can be casino credit that matches your deposit amount, no deposit bonus money, free spins, or free bets. But why would a casino want to give free money to new players?

Though it might seem overly generous of a casino to double your funds after you sign up and make a deposit, it’s a great incentive. Casinos dedicate a lot of money to marketing, and casino welcome offers are another way to market their platform and invite new members to try it. Plus, the casino isn’t just giving money away; it does protect itself in the terms and conditions. Bonuses have wagering requirements, which means the casino will not let you withdraw your bonus funds or your winnings until you’ve bet a set amount on their platform. This way, they can be sure you’re truly exploring their platform and trying their online slots and games, and not just trying to profit off of multiple welcome bonuses. 

Finding a great welcome bonus is easier than finding a reputable and trustworthy online casino. So before you choose the casino with the biggest welcome bonus, do some research to see if the platform is licensed, check reviews from other players, and read the terms and conditions for the promotion. Once you’ve done your research and found a licensed and regulated casino with a secure platform, you can study the welcome offers to see if they’re worth your time. 

Why Should You Consider Welcome Bonuses Before Signing Up With a Casino?

The list of things to check and verify before making a deposit at a casino can be long and overwhelming. Why should welcome bonuses be added to it as well? As a strategic bettor, you’re always trying to reap more than you sow in a casino. A welcome bonus can be a great way to improve your odds without betting more money. A deposit match allows you to place large bets in games without cleaning your bankroll. 

If you’re new to casinos and online betting, choosing a casino with a generous welcome offer means you can test the platform and try out various games before you commit. The extra money prolongs your gaming session and gives you more time to learn the game and the interface. 

How to Find a Lucrative Casino Welcome Offer?

Casino bonuses are not created equal. Even if a bonus sounds alluring, you might realize you’re better off opting out once you’ve read the terms and conditions. Here are things you should consider when you’re trying to find a welcome offer that works for you. 

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements are the most critical factor to consider when you’re choosing a welcome bonus. These requirements are an amount that players have to bet before they can withdraw their winnings. They are usually written as multiples. So, if the wagering requirement is 10x, you have to bet 10x your bonus amount in the casino before you can withdraw any winnings. If the deposit bonus was $100, you could only withdraw your funds after you’ve bet $1,000 in the casino. If you’re not looking to play for the long term, then high wagering requirements will stop you from withdrawing earlier and possibly force you to forfeit your winnings. 

Minimum deposit

On some websites, players must meet a minimum deposit to qualify for the welcome offer. When you’re searching for a casino with a lucrative bonus, make sure the minimum deposit works with your personal budget.

Time limit

If you like making smaller bets and playing for longer periods, it might take even longer for you to meet the wagering requirements or use up your bonus funds. Read the terms and conditions to see if the bonus offer has a time limit attached to it before you sign up.

Bet limit

Conversely, the terms and conditions of bonus offers can also limit big bettors. Some online casinos limit bet sizes so that players can’t race through your wagering requirements. If you prefer to make big bets, find a casino without a bet limit attached to the bonus offer. 

Qualifying games

In some cases, bonus funds can only be used to play specific casino games. If you enjoy jackpot slots, the last thing you want to realize after you sign up is that your bonus funds can only be used in online roulette games, for example. Find out what games you can play with your bonus funds to see if your favorites are on the list. If the casino has a slots bonus and you enjoy live dealer online casino games, find an offer with more qualifying games.

Forfeiting options

If the casino you’ve chosen has high wagering requirements, restricting bet limits, or few qualifying games, it’s time to find out if the bonus can be forfeited. Some casinos conveniently let you play with your own money first. This way, if you win, you can forfeit the bonus and withdraw your funds. If you lose, you can use your bonus money to try again. If you still aren’t sure about using deposit bonuses, a casino with a forfeitable deposit might be the right fit for you. 

Find out with your casino if there’s a way to opt out of the bonus offer if it’s taking too long to meet requirements. This way, you won’t lose your initial deposit if you forfeit.

Sticky and non-sticky bonuses

Once you understand forfeitable bonuses, you can learn more about sticky and non-sticky bonuses. But what are the differences between sticky and non-sticky bonuses? In non-sticky bonuses, your deposit and bonus funds are kept separate. This means you can withdraw your deposit and your winnings without meeting wagering requirements. However, the bonus amount will be deducted from your deposit amount. This is essentially a forfeitable bonus.

If you’ve won a sticky bonus, your funds are stuck together. Once you’ve opted into the promotion, you won’t be able to withdraw any winnings until you’ve fulfilled all the wagering requirements. Don’t discredit sticky bonuses, though. They usually offer generous prizes that can really improve your bankroll if you’re a serious player. Non-sticky bonuses might seem safer, but they are usually much smaller in comparison. When you’re choosing a casino, find a casino with a generous bonus offer paired with reasonable wagering requirements and multiple qualifying games. 

Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you won’t make any of the common mistakes newbies make with casino bonuses. Instead, you’ll be able to take advantage of these offers to improve your bankroll and your potential winnings. 

Play at an Online Casino for Real Money with BetMGM

At BetMGM, we like to roll out the red carpet for new members. When you register with us, you’ll receive a $25 FREEPLAY credit and a 100% deposit match of up to $1,000. Our website has many ongoing promotions and offers, from referral bonuses to $1,000 risk-free sports bets. Join the King of Casinos to discover next-level casino gaming and entertainment.