What You Should Know Before Claiming a Casino Bonus

Giuseppe Faraone
Senior Author
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When you join an online casino site, you have the chance to claim bonus offers as well. Oftentimes, these will start from the moment you make your first deposit at the casino. Sometimes, you receive them before you even transfer any money at all. This is possible at no-deposit bonus casino sites. 

Yet despite the differences between bonus options, they all have something in common. You are bound by certain terms and conditions relating to the rewards. Different casino sites will have different terms to adhere to as well. This is why it is important to know what to look out for in these conditions. Here, we'll guide you on what you should know about before claiming a casino bonus offer.

Check the Wagering Requirements

The first section of the terms and conditions that we recommend looking at is wagering. This relates to when you can make a withdrawal of winnings from your account. Whenever you receive a bonus, unless stated otherwise, wagering requirements are in place. It is these that determine when a withdrawal can occur. 

The higher the wagering requirements, the longer you will have to wait, in general. These requirements come in the form of a multiple of the bonus received. Let's say that you receive a bonus of €200. If that bonus comes with wagering requirements of 30x, then you need to use the following calculation: 

€200 x 30 = €6,000 

In this particular instance, you need to place bets equal to €6,000 before you can withdraw funds. That's why it can be ideal to seek out a casino with low wagering requirements. Sometimes, you may even be able to join a no-wagering casino. They don't have any requirements to complete before withdrawing. 

Minimum Deposit & Payment Methods 

Within the terms, you should also be able to see information about deposits. You will need to transfer a minimum specified amount to be able to qualify for the bonus in most cases. Oftentimes, this will be the standard smallest amount for the casino in general. Yet it is important to know what this figure is. Transferring less than the amount won't see you receiving the bonus reward as a result. 

At the same time, you should be aware of any excluded payment methods. Some casino bonuses will not trigger if you use certain payment methods to deposit. It is most often e-wallets, such as Skrill or Neteller, that suffer from the exclusion. Thus, if you're an avid user of these, you need to know what you can and can't get after depositing. Even if you're a part of a Skrill casino in specific, you may not be able to receive a bonus. Make sure you check into the terms for any excluded payment methods. You may wish to select an alternative banking option. 

Game Exclusions

Completing your wagering requirements means playing the games in the lobby. Yet it is vital to know of any game exclusions or reductions. By this, we're talking about the fact that some games don't contribute towards wagering. Slot machines usually provide a 100% contribution from your bets. Yet playing table games like blackjack or roulette can be different. This is especially true if you opt to play online live casino games. It is often the case that they won't contribute anything. 

Even in the case of some slot machines, there will be exclusions. The terms and conditions should stipulate which slots won't contribute to the requirements. Other games may have lower percentage contributions. 

Time and Win Limitations Are Included

No bonus lasts forever. So, when you sign up for an account and receive a reward, check the length of time you have to use it. Casinos can differ somewhat in this area. Some sites allow you to use the funds within 30 days, while others have a seven-day timeframe. It is also important to know that the wagering needs to be completed within that time, too. 

Furthermore, you will often find limitations in place on how much you can win from a bonus. This is stricter with no deposit bonuses and no deposit-free spins. Yet even standard bonus rewards come with such limits in place. Thus, if you receive a €200 bonus, don't think that you can use it and win €10,000, for example. Make sure you check into the restrictions on win amounts. Even the top-rated online casinos feature such limits within their bonus terms. It's important to be aware of how much you have the potential to win from a bonus.

Giuseppe Faraone

Giuseppe Faraone

Author & Online Gambling Expert

1152 Articles
Being so close to the action in iGaming, Giuseppe is on top of any new developments the minute they come through the door, as his book is testament to. Published in October 2022, his first book; The Untold Story of Online Gambling is available on Amazon.
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