What are online casino deposit bonuses?
Deposit bonuses are any type of a casino bonus that is linked to a deposit. In other words, this is an umbrella term covering a lot of different bonuses, including welcome bonuses, free spins, and more. What all deposit bonuses have in common is simply that they require you to make a deposit in order to claim it.
The opposite of this will be a no deposit bonus, which does not have any deposit requirement attached to it.
One way of looking at it is that you have to "pay to unlock the bonus". But since you would need to make a deposit to gamble for real money anyway, a more positive way of looking at it is that the casino gives you something extra in return for your payment.
Exactly how much you will need to deposit and what you get in return, will depend on the casino and bonus in question. Generally, a small deposit of €10 or so will be enough to claim a bonus. But if you want to get the maximum amount available, you would normally need to make a larger deposit.
All the details regarding claiming both deposit or no deposit casino bonuses should be thoroughly explained in the bonus terms and conditions, where you will also learn about the wagering requirement. Therefore, before you decide to claim a deposit casino bonus, make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.
Example of a typical deposit bonus
The first bonus you will meet as a player online, and the bonus that most casinos advertise quite heavily, is the so-called welcome bonus. This is a bonus that is meant to attract new players to sign up at the casino, since it is often linked to your first deposit.
100% up to €1,000 + 100 free spins (minimum deposit €10)
What this means is that by making a first, eligible deposit of a minimum of €10, you will get a 100% match and a bunch of free spins added to your account, courtesy of the casino.
In this example, the 100 free spins are yours even if you choose to deposit only €10. But don't be mistaken to think that a €10 deposit will give you a €1,000 bonus. Since it is a 100% match bonus, you would need to deposit a whole €1,000 to get the full bonus. You would then have a total of €2,000 to play for – €1,000 deposited by you and €1,000 added by the casino.
In other words, how big of a bonus you get will often depend on how much you choose to deposit. It is therefore good to find a bonus that fits your budget. The minimum deposit requirement is of course important to consider here (as it can be higher than €10). Always double-check exactly how much the minimum deposit will result in, if you are planning to deposit as little as possible.
How to claim casino deposit bonuses
While the exact bonus offered and its details can vary quite a bit from one online casino to the next, the process of claiming a deposit bonus is generally quite similar. If we base it on the welcome bonus example above, the steps to follow will be something like this:
- Open the casino site offering the bonus and click on any of the registration buttons
- Complete the registration process and verify your account
- Log in to your account and open the cashier/deposit page
- Click to make a deposit and add your payment details and amount (minimum €10)
- To claim the bonus with your deposit, tick a box or add a bonus code before confirming the payment
- If everything is done correctly, the bonus should be added to your account automatically alongside your deposit
Since the bonus is linked to your deposit, you will normally be able to claim it in the deposit process. This can either be through ticking a box for the bonus or adding a so-called bonus code before processing the deposit.
Some casinos might have a different process though, where you for example claim the bonus already upon registration or by contacting customer support.
Be aware of the terms and conditions
How to claim the bonus, along with the minimum deposit amount required, should be clearly stated in the terms. But it is important to be aware of the fact that in addition to the minimum deposit requirement, there will be other terms and conditions you will need to follow. This can for example include the following:
- A time limit on how long the bonus is active for
- Limitations on how/where the bonus can be played
- A wagering requirement that needs to be met before potential winnings can be withdrawn.
The bonus terms and conditions will dictate how you can claim and use the bonus, and how you can access the potential winnings. It is therefore important that you carefully read through and understand them before you start to claim a bonus.