How Online Casino Bonuses Work
One of the main features of online casinos is that they get to offer players money bonuses, which help them to possess more money than what they've deposited. These kind of offers may extend from welcome packages to no-deposit offers and even reload bonus offers that reward frequent players for additional play.
The vast number of bonuses available, combined with the bewildering terminology surrounding them, will confuse inexperienced players and cause confusion that can have a negative impact on the gaming process.
In this guide, we’ll explain how online casino bonuses work in general, then dive deeper into topics such as the difference between “real bonus” and “fun bonus,” the concept of wagering requirements (playthrough), and how bonuses are credited and what restrictions may apply.
Note: All casinos featured on this website offer bonuses that comply with New Jersey gambling regulations.
General Information About Online Casino Bonuses
What are casino bonus bonuses? How do players receive them, how are they credited, and can they be declined?
What Is a Bonus?
Casino online bonuses are incentive awards by which players are allowed to play with greater money than they have wagered. In essence, the casino places extra money into the player's account with certain terms and conditions varying from one operator to another.
How Are Bonuses Awarded?
There are two main forms of bonuses: automatically credited bonuses and unlockable bonuses.
With automatically credited bonuses, the funds are deposited into the player's account after a valid deposit has been completed. Unlockable bonuses, on the other hand, require the player to play through a certain amount before the bonus credit is opened. Individual terms can usually be found on the casino's website or within our reviews.
Others also require one to use a bonus code during a deposit.
How Are Bonuses Credited?
Bonuses are credited in two main ways: immediate and progressive.
- Immediate bonuses are credited directly into the player's account and on top of the deposit. Players must complete wagering conditions before they can withdraw any winnings won using the bonus.
- Progressive bonuses are kept in pending state until certain conditions are fulfilled. Once conditions are fulfilled, the bonus is credited to the player's account, and the corresponding winnings are withdrawable at once. Exceptionally—"real bonuses"—winnings are withdrawable even if the bonus was first credited.
Can Bonuses Be Refused?
In most cases, yes. Declining a bonus is tantamount to evading all the terms associated with it—you are playing with your deposited money and are able to withdraw your winnings at any moment. If the bonus requires user activity (i.e., entering a code or clicking a specific link), simply do nothing when depositing. In case of automatically credited bonuses, you must contact customer support and request bonus removal.
Real Bonus, Fun Bonus, Playthrough, and Wagering Volume
Let's establish the most common terms associated with online casino bonuses.
What's the Difference Between a "Real Bonus" and a "Fun Bonus"?
- A real bonus is the most player-friendly promotion of them all, usually just needing a 1x playthrough of the bonus dollars before withdrawals can be made. That's about as close to heaven as it gets.
- A fun bonus is more restrictive and typically requires a much higher wagering sum—multiple times the value of the bonus (this includes most no-deposit bonuses and some welcome bonuses).
In practice, fun bonuses must be converted into real bonuses by meeting the wagering requirement.
What Are Playthrough and Wagering Requirements?
As mentioned, most bonuses come with strings. Usually, that means you can't withdraw winnings earned playing with the bonus without first placing some amount of money—win or lose. That is the playthrough condition.
Examples:
- Case 1: 100% first deposit bonus to $100. You deposit $100 and get a bonus of another $100—your balance is $200.
If the playthrough is 10x on deposit, you must bet $100 × 10 = $1,000 before winnings may be withdrawn. - Case 2: If the playthrough is 10x on deposit + bonus, you must bet ($100 + $100) × 10 = $2,000 total before withdrawals may be made.