Picking a Casino Welcome Bonus

When you decide to take that step into the world of online casinos, one of the first things you’ll need to think about is the welcome bonus. A brilliant way to attract new players through the doors, these bonuses can be the perfect way to start your online casino journey with a bit of a boost.

However, unfortunately, not all welcome bonuses are created equal – and you need to make sure you pick the right one for you. Here, we’ll look at everything you need to know and think about when you pick your welcome bonus, so you make the best decision possible for you.

About Welcome Bonuses
A welcome bonus is simply a bonus that is offered to new players when they open a new account and make their first deposit. However, when you look through a list of online casino welcome bonus offers, you’ll probably notice that they come in all shapes and sizes – deposit match bonuses, free spins, no-deposit bonuses and even a mix of the three. Each one comes with its advantages and disadvantages, so you need to make sure you know what they entail before taking your pick.

Match Bonus
This is the most common welcome bonus, where the casino matches a percentage of your first deposit. So, for example, if it offers a 100% match bonus up to £250 and you deposit £200, you’ll get another £200 from the casino – giving you £400 in total.

Free Spins
These are usually offered on top of your match bonus – and they let you play certain slot games without using your own money – with the winnings usually being subject to wagering requirements.

No-Deposit Bonus
As the name suggests, you won’t need to make a deposit to get this one. It’s usually a small amount of bonus money or a relatively limited number of free spins that you’ll get just for signing up. However, they usually come with stricter terms and win caps.

What to Consider When Picking Your Welcome Bonus
When you choose a welcome bonus, you need to look beyond those impressively big numbers and check out the terms and conditions carefully. Here are the main things you need to think about.

Wagering Requirements
Probably the most important factor of all, wagering requirements basically dictate how many times you’ll need to wager the bonus amount (and sometimes the deposit amount) with your own money before you can withdraw any of your winnings. So, for example, if there’s a 40x wagering requirement on your £100 bonus, it means you’ll need to wager £4,000 of your own money before you can cash out.

If a bonus comes with high wagering requirements, it can make it difficult to actually get anything out of your bonus, so you need to go for bonuses that come with lower requirements. Generally, you should go for one with 35x or lower… though some casinos offer even lower or no wagering requirements, which are great if you can get them!

The Bonus Percentage AND Maximum Amount
Although a 200% match bonus might sound better than a 100% bonus, the maximum amount you can get should also be looked at. A 200% bonus up to £100 means that the most you can get is £100, while a 100% bonus up to £500 means you could potentially get up to £500 in bonus money. So, you need to decide what is best for you.

Eligible Games
Not all games contribute equally to those annoying wagering requirements. You’ll usually find that slots contribute 100%, but table games like blackjack or roulette tend to contribute around 10% or even less. Some bonuses are only usable on certain types of games or even certain titles.

Make sure you can use the bonus and fulfil the wagering requirements on games you like playing.

Time Limits
Welcome bonuses usually come with time limits – in which you need to use the whole bonus and fulfil the wagering requirements – and it can range from anywhere between a few days to a few months. Make sure that the time frame is realistic for how often and how much you play – and, if in doubt, go for a bonus with a longer expiry date.

Withdrawal Limits
Sometimes, you’ll find that there’s a limit on how much you’re allowed to withdraw from your bonus winnings – especially with no deposit bonuses. For example, a bonus might come with a maximum withdrawal limit of £100, so even if you win £500, you can’t get any more than £100.

Deposit Methods
You’ll also sometimes notice that you can’t claim a welcome bonus with certain payment methods – usually eWallets like Skrill or Neteller. So, make sure you check which deposit methods qualify for the welcome bonus, especially if you prefer playing with eWallets.

Reputation and Licensing of the Casino
Finally, you need to think about the reputation and licensing of the online casino you’re thinking of joining. Even the most generous-looking bonus is worthless if the casino is unreliable or untrustworthy. Only claim a welcome bonus from a casino with great reviews, strong security measures and a licence from the UK Gambling Commission.

So, hopefully you know everything you need to know about picking and claiming a welcome bonus. So, good luck, shop around, have fun and play responsibly!