Online casinos are so popular because they provide players with several advantages over brick-and-mortar casinos. One of those advantages is bonuses and promotions. Gambling sites offer tons of promos for their registered players – welcome offers, cashback bonuses, free spins, loyalty rewards, tournaments, bonus money, match offers, etc. In this article, we will talk about arguably the most popular bonus of them all – the welcome package. We’ll see why players are so fond of it, how can you claim, what should you look out for, how to know if the welcome bonus is rewarding and more.
What Are Welcome Bonuses?
Welcome bonuses are also known as sign-up bonuses. This is usually the first promotion that a newly registered player comes across. Just as the name itself suggests, it welcomes players to the casino and motivates them to play the featured games. Because you must deposit for the first time to claim it, this is a deposit bonus. Usually, welcome bonuses will match your first deposit and maybe give you extra free spins that you can use on certain slots. The cash funds are often eligible for all casino games, but free spins are eligible for a limited number of slots.
Claiming a Welcome Bonus
If you want to use a welcome bonus, you must know how you can claim it. The good news here is that the process is very simple. There are just a couple of steps that you need to complete and we are more than happy to share them.
Step 1 – Find a Reputable Online Casino
First things first, you need to find a reputable online casino that holds a valid license and meets your personal preferences. The single most important thing to look out for is the license. To legally offer gambling services to players, online casinos must hold a license. Some of the most respected international regulators are:
- UK Gambling Commission
- Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen)
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
License information is available at the bottom of the casino’s homepage. Check it and cross-reference the number with the regulator itself. If everything checks out, then you can take a look at its offerings and see whether the platform is according to your taste.
Step 2 – Register an Account
Once you make your pick, you can proceed to register an account. Click on the “Registration” button and start filling out the details. Usually, casino sites will ask for basic information such as first and last name, email, phone number and residing country. Create a username and password, choose your preferred currency and accept the T&Cs. Confirm that you are of legal age and finalize the process.
Step 3 – Complete Verification
Although you can do this at any time, we recommend you complete it right away. Verification is a KYC requirement for licensed operators. Thanks to it, a casino can confirm that you are of legal age. All you have to do is send the proper documentation to the support team. This includes: • Photo of your ID/passport/driver’s license • Proof of address • Utility bill in your name You won’t be able to gain access to all of the services by the casino until you complete it. In most cases, verification teams review and accept these documents within 12-72 hours.
Step 4 – Deposit Funds to Your Account and Claim the Bonus
While you wait for the casino to verify your account, you can deposit funds into your account. Go to the cashier’s section and visit the deposit menu. Choose one of the available methods and make the required deposit. Keep in mind that the minimum required deposit to claim the welcome bonus might be higher than the minimum casino deposit. In some cases, you might have to enter a bonus code. Once you do so, the casino will automatically transfer the funds to your account.
Read the Terms and Conditions Carefully
The welcome bonus, just as any other casino bonus, is subject to terms and conditions. You must meet them if you want to claim, use the bonus and withdraw its winnings. There are quite a few T&Cs that you need to be mindful of with the welcome offer and they can make things complicated. So, allow us to explain them.
Minimum Deposit
Just as we mentioned earlier, the welcome bonus is a deposit bonus. To claim it, you must top up your account for the first time. However, the minimum amount cannot be lower than the one specified in the bonus terms. Let’s say that the casino’s minimum deposit is $20 but the welcome offer’s minimum required deposit is $30. If you deposit $30 for the first time, you will not receive the welcome bonus.
Maximum Bonus Limit
When you make the required deposit, the casino will match it and give you extra funds to play with. However, there is a maximum limit. That is why you will always find phrases such as “100% match up to $200.” This means that if you deposit $30, you will receive an extra $30 to play with (100% match). If you deposit $200, you will get the maximum limit – $200. But if you deposit $300, you will not receive $300. You’ll receive $200; the maximum bonus limit.
Maximum Bet and Win
This feature is often implied on welcome bonus free spins. When you receive them, you cannot bet more than the specified limit. You might also have a limit on the maximum win. If you cross it, the casino will not pay you the adequate sum. Instead, you will receive the max limit.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements, also known as playthrough requirement, is the most complicated part of every deposit bonus, including the sign-up offer. They tell you how much real money you must wager before you can withdraw the bonus winnings. Here’s how they work. Let’s say that the contribution of the bonus is x35 and the minimum deposit is $30. To calculate how much money you must stake, you must multiply your deposit by the contribution. In this case, you multiply 35 by 30 and you get 1,050. That means that you must wager $1,050 before you can withdraw winnings made with the welcome offer.
Validity Period
Finally, we have the validity period of the bonus. This is the timeframe in which you must use the offer and meet all other T&Cs. If you don’t do so, the casino will forfeit the promotion.
