Today, virtually every online casino will give new players a bonus to entice them to play. Some casinos offer No Deposit Bonuses; others may match your initial deposit giving you a 100% bonus. There are even a number of casinos that will give you 125%, 200% even 400% of your initial deposit.
How do casinos stay in business while still giving away "Free Money"? Well, as with most things that sound too good to be true, there are restrictions. In this article we'll look at the most common online casino bonus structures and what you'll need to do to actually cash out that nice bonus.
No Deposit Bonuses
A very popular way for a casino to attract new players is to offer a no deposit bonus. In this situation, the player is required to download and install the casino software then create a new "real player" account; some casinos also ask you to register a valid payment method. Next the new account is credited with the "free money". Typical amounts given are $10 to $15, usually just enough for the player to try a few of the games. To cash out the free money the player will usually have to wager the bonus amount some number of times (Twenty times the original deposit is a typical number). Further, there is usually a maximum amount that can be cashed out, say a $50 max. cash out on a $15 freebie. So, by all means take advantage of the no deposit bonuses, just don't expect to get rich doing so.
Deposit Bonuses
Deposit Bonuses are the most common online casino bonus. This is a bonus you're given for making a real money deposit. Casinos are much more generous with these types of bonuses because the players have already deposited some of their own money. It's not uncommon for a casino to match first deposits of $200 to $300. Many casinos also offer deposit bonuses of over 100%. For example, some casinos will give you $200 for a $50 deposit (a 400% bonus). As usual, there are restrictions that apply to these types of bonuses. Typically, you'll have to bet or "play through" the bonus amount and the deposit amount some number of times (10 to 15 times), before you can cash out. With this type of bonus, once the play through has been met there should not be a maximum cash out amount.
Specific Game Bonus
With this type of bonus, the casino is giving you a bonus that can only be used for certain games. This is typical when a casino has just launched say a new slots version and wants to get people playing. You may get a "no deposit bonus" or possibly a larger then normal deposit bonus. Again, there will be play through requirements and if it's a No Deposit Bonus, there will probably be a maximum cash out amount.
About the Author
David Olsen has been writing about online casinos and casino strategy for over five years and is considered an authority in the online gambling world. His latest website is all about the many variations of Online Slots. Visit His site to learn more http://www.onlineslotmachines.us Mr. Olsen works from home and is married with one young son.