What are welcome bonuses?
An online casino welcome bonus is a casino bonus designed to welcome new players at a casino. Casino welcome offers come in many different forms and sizes, but what they all have in common is that they are reserved for new sign-ups.
The bonuses can be seen as a warm welcome from online casinos, thanking you for choosing their exact site. The welcome bonus can normally be claimed either when registering your account or when you make your first deposit(s). This can give you a lucrative start to your gambling experience.
While casino sign up offers are a huge benefit for players, the bonuses also act as a marketing strategy for the casinos. Today, there are thousands of online casinos to choose from, and one of the factors that players consider when choosing a site to play at, is the welcome bonus offered.
So a good welcome offer can mean more sign-ups, creating a win-win situation for both the players and the casinos.
Different types of welcome bonuses
Casino welcome bonus is a term that covers all types of offers for new players. Exactly what is given can vary a lot from one casino to the next. Here we'll explain some of the main categories that you might come across.
Deposit welcome bonuses
The most typical form of welcome bonuses are deposit bonuses. These are bonuses given in connection with a deposit. This means that you will have to spend money to claim them, but on the flip side, you will get more bang for your buck.
Deposit welcome bonuses are normally given on your very first deposit at a casino. But some casinos also offer a welcome bonus on your second, third, fourth, or even fifth deposit. If this is the case, we can refer to it as a welcome package, stretching over several deposits.
To claim a deposit welcome offer, you will have to deposit a certain amount (for example a minimum of €10). Sometimes you are required to include a welcome offer bonus code with your deposit to activate the offer, while other times it is activated automatically.
The deposit can "unlock" bonuses such as:
- Match bonuses (ie 100% up to €100)
- Free spins (ie 100 spins on Starburst)
- Free bets (ie €20 to bet on sports)
No deposit welcome bonuses
Some casinos also offer no deposit bonuses for new players. These offers are even more lucrative and sought-after since they don't require you to deposit anything to claim the bonus.
No deposit welcome bonuses for new players are often called a sign up bonus or registration bonus, since they are normally given upon registration of a new account. Simply register your account (and include any bonus code if needed), and the bonus is yours to spend even before you start to deposit any money.
Since these bonuses can be claimed for free, they are normally a lot smaller than deposit bonuses. You might for example get €5 or 10 free spins to use, whereas a deposit bonus might give up to €100/100 free spins or more.
How to find the right casino sign up bonus for you
Since right about every online casino offers some sort of welcome offer for new players, it can feel tricky to find the best casino welcome offers. That is why we have created this page, to help casino players navigate the many options out there and choose from a selection of safe and reliable casinos.
This page features lists of the online casino welcome bonuses we've come across and compiled together. Options are plentiful, which is why we encourage you to do your research before claiming a bonus.
All players have different preferences. What is the best welcome bonus online casino for you, will depend on factors such as your budget, what online casino games you like to play, how quickly you want to use the bonus etc.
So in order to find the best option for you, we welcome you to make use of our sorting and filtering tools to narrow down the recommendations based on your personal preferences. Using our filters, you can specify details such as the bonus type, minimum value, maximum wagering requirement, and more. Once you have your curated list, you can then start to compare the options to find the perfect match for you.
Before claiming any casino sign up bonus, make sure you have carefully read the bonus terms and conditions.
FAQs
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Anita is a full-time content writer from Norway, living in sunny Spain. She holds a Journalism BA honours degree from the University of Roehampton and has been working with online content for more than a decade. For the last few years, she has specialised in online gambling, creating content for casino-related websites. From this work, she has acquired an expert understanding of online casinos and betting sites. Her aim is that she can share her knowledge with casino players looking for information that is objective, honest and easy to understand.
