Sign-Up Deposit Bonuses – Welcome Offers
The traditional online casino sign-up deposit bonus is something many players look forward to. After registering at an internet casino for the very first time, you will typically be given a cash bonus based on your first deposit. Sometimes this offer spans several deposits. Either way, the sudden lump sum you are inundated with can ensure that you get off to a flying start at an online casino.
Casino deposit bonuses come in many shapes and forms. Some may involve large sums of cash; others provide smaller cash piles. Some may churn out free spins, and some not. It is up to you to decide which offers provide value for money, and which ones do not. We can help you in that quest, though.
Below, you will find a list of highly rated, trustworthy, and recommended online casinos. The current welcome bonus that each site has to offer will be displayed as well as a plethora of added information. With our list, you can find out if you need to enter a promo code, and what it is. You can discover if free spins are thrown into the deal. You can also learn the value of the match deposit bonus, how much you need to deposit to claim it, and how much free bonus cash the offer is worth. Lastly, the wagering requirements, whether a bonus is cashable and other details will be displayed. If you have got an inkling about where you might want to play, our list will make short work of helping you get started.
While we will go into these aspects in more detail shortly, why not have a peek at our list right now?
A Quick Overview on Welcome/Sign-Up Bonuses
If you are new to the world of online casino gaming, you may be wondering what a welcome bonus or a sign-up deposit bonus really is. Fortunately, they are relatively easy to explain. In short, a sign-up deposit bonus is an offer which can see new, depositing players pick up free cash or free spins from the casino. They can use that cash and/or spins to play games. Sometimes several of these offers may form a welcome package, thus being claimable several times.
There are typically two types of welcome bonuses. There are first deposit match bonuses and free spin deposit bonuses. Sometimes the offer you will find at a casino will consist of both rolled into one. Let us look at them both in closer detail.
What Are First Deposit Match Bonuses?
The first deposit match bonus is the most common type of welcome bonus found at online casinos. This offer initially looks complicated, but it is quite easy to understand and get to grips with. Here is how it works: The offer will typically be displayed as two figures. One of these is a percentage, and the other is a cash sum. For instance:
- Claim a 100% match deposit bonus worth up to $5,000
What this means is that whatever you deposit will be met with a cash bonus worth 100% of the original deposit up to a total value of $5,000. For instance, if you deposited $100, you will be given the equivalent of 100% of that deposit (another $100) which can be added to your cash pile. In short, you will start playing with $200 in the kitty, consisting of your original $100 deposit and a $100 bonus. As the example offer implies, you can deposit up to $5,000 and, therefore, claim up to $5,000 in bonus cash.
Sometimes, match deposit welcome bonuses may be expanded to your second, third, even fourth and fifth deposits, sometimes further. Match percentages and the total value of each offer may vary.
Where Do Free Spins Fit In?
Sometimes, a welcome bonus may offer free spins instead of cash bonuses. In this case, players will be given several free spins, often based on the amount they deposit. For instance, depositing $20 might see you eligible to claim 20 free spins, but depositing $50 gives you a hundred of them.
These can vary from offer to offer. In most cases, those spins are only valid on selected slots and are set to be worth the lowest possible stake using all a slot’s paylines. For instance, a free spin on a 20-line slot which has a coin value of $0.01 will be worth $0.20 per spin.
Reading the Fine Print: Terms and Conditions
There are a few terms and conditions which are worth looking at before you claim any sign-up deposit bonus. These include wagering requirements, max cashout caps and minimum deposit limits.
Most major bonuses come with wagering requirements in place. These mean that you must wager a bonus so many times before you can withdraw any winnings you have acquired with it. For instance, a welcome bonus of $100 with 30x wagering requirements means that you must wager that bonus sum thirty times (bet a total of $3,000) before you can withdraw winnings. This is commonplace across the casino world. Some bonuses are credited in real money, which can be withdrawn once you meet those playthrough rates. Others are credited in bonus funds which cannot be withdrawn no matter what.
Cashout caps may also be in place with deposit bonuses. These state that you can only withdraw a certain amount with your bonus. Other caps, such as max win caps determine how much you can win with bonus funds.
Lastly, you will also find minimum deposit limits. These provide you with the figure that you are going to need to deposit to be eligible to claim a casino’s sign-up deposit bonus.
Check Out Our List of Top Sign-Up Deposit Bonuses
Now that you know a bit about sign-up deposit bonuses, it could be an excellent time to revisit our list. You should now understand what all the information displayed means, and that should enable you to judge which offers are considerably better than others.
If you still feel as though you do not have a solid grasp on sign-up deposit bonuses, then read our FAQ (frequently asked questions) guide to see if that helps.
Sign Up Deposit Bonuses – A Handy FAQ to the Best Bonuses
Our handy FAQ guide to sign-up bonuses might just provide you with answers to any lingering, straightforward questions and queries you might have. With that in mind, let us begin…
Do I Have to Claim a First Deposit Bonus?
No. While there are many good reasons for claiming a first deposit bonus, not every player wants to. If you like the look of a casino, you can always opt-out of claiming an offer. Just do not touch a bonus if you are given it automatically. Head to customer support before you bet and ask them to remove the bonus.
Can I Cashout Whatever I Win?
Most likely not. Read the terms and conditions of any sign-up deposit bonus you are thinking of claiming. In most cases, you will probably see a maximum win cap, or a maximum cashout cap. Even if there is not one in place, you are still going to have to fulfil a bonus’ wagering requirements before you cash out anything.
How Do Promotional Bonus Codes Work?
Promotional bonus codes are often found on the promotions page at an online casino. We have provided them where relevant in our extensive list. The codes tell the casino which bonus it is that you wish to claim. Promo codes can be entered when you register at a casino when you deposit on the cashier page, or you can hand them to customer support via live chat. The method of delivery varies from site to site.
Can I Use a First Deposit Match Bonus to Play All Games?
Sometimes you can, yes. However, sometimes a first deposit bonus is only valid on selected games. If we are talking specifically about a first deposit match bonus (so, bonus cash), you are likely going to be able to use that on a broader variety of games (near enough all of them) than a free spin first deposit bonus. The latter offer tends to be quite specific. It may be valid on all slot games, or just a handful of predetermined games selected by a casino.
Can I Win Real Money with a Sign-Up Deposit Bonus?
Yes. The casino will permit players to walk away with real money, although how much you can win will vary from site to site and offer to offer. It is always worth checking out the specifics of any offer (such as its terms and conditions) before you claim it, so you know exactly how much you can win. However, in most cases, winning real money with a sign-up deposit bonus will not be an issue.
Is the Biggest Sign-Up Deposit Offer Always the Best?
No. Some sign-up deposit bonuses are worth crazy sums of cash, but they often come with very steep wagering requirements of 50x the deposit and bonus sum of more. Other sign-up deposit bonuses are worth far less by comparison. These, however, tend to come with minimal and far more manageable wagering requirements. It is up to you to gauge which is better for you. A suitable method is to weigh up how much you will pocket from a bonus, compared to how much you want to receive. Then, compare that with how long it is going to take you (based on how often you wager) to clear the wagering requirements. This should help you determine if an offer is worth your time or not.
How Do I Claim a Casino Sign-Up Deposit Bonus?
Unless it spans several deposits, you are only going to be eligible to claim a casino’s sign-up deposit bonus once. It usually occurs immediately after you have registered as a new player. Some casinos automatically trigger this bonus when you deposit. Others require you to enter promo codes (on the cashier page) to claim an offer, and some require you to opt-in. The method of delivery will vary from casino to casino, so check out how it works at a casino before you decide to sign up and play there.
