When it comes to the best casino bonuses online, there's a set of criteria you should consider. Start with the offer's value and proceed with its terms and conditions, including the minimum required deposit, wagering conditions, eligible games, and payment methods. As gambling experts who assess the highest payout online casinos, we always include these in our evaluations.
Playthrough Requirements
The playthrough requirements are crucial and can make or break a bonus. Simply put, you won't be able to withdraw your bonus winnings if you don't meet them. Also known as wagering conditions, they are expressed as a multiplier and indicate how many times you'll need to play through the bonus money.
For example, if you claim a $10 bonus with a 10x wagering requirement, you'll need to wager $100 before you can withdraw any bonus winnings. It's best to avoid offers with playthrough conditions of 50x or more, as they are often difficult to meet. Additionally, focus on playing eligible games with high contributions.
Bonus Validity
Most bonus offers have validity periods, meaning you'll have to use the bonus funds and complete the playthrough requirements within a specified time frame. Watch out for short promotion periods, as they tend to work against you. Anything lower than 14-30 days is already a bit dicey.
Let's take a promotion period of 7 days. Even if you deposit $20 on a %100 match bonus with a low wagering requirement like 10x, that's still $200 you have to playthrough by the end of the seventh day. The validity periods vary from bonus to bonus and casino to casino, so pay attention to that.
Minimum Deposit
Regardless of whether you play at VIP Preferred online casino websites or anywhere else, most bonuses have low minimum deposit requirements. That's usually equal to the overall minimum deposit amount on the site, but it may vary from platform to platform and across the different promotions.
In our personal experience, this will usually be around $10-$20. At most casinos that accept Venmo, for example, the minimum deposit amount is $10. If you're lucky enough to come across a no deposit bonus offer, you'll be able to play safe, which is an excellent opportunity.
Overall Bonus Amount
Oftentimes, the bonus amount is a maximum that can only be activated by a matching deposit. So, if a casino offers a 100% deposit match up to $1,000, then you need to deposit the $1,000 to get the full amount. Of course, you can also make a deposit of $10 and receive an extra $10 to play with.
If you're having difficulties calculating how much you can get from a particular bonus or how much you'll have to wager before being able to withdraw any potential winnings, you can use our bonus calculator. All you have to do is enter a few details, such as the minimum required deposit, wagering requirements, etc.
Eligible Games
Every bonus comes with a list of eligible games, which you can find in the corresponding terms and conditions. Different types of games usually have different contributions towards the fulfillment of the wagering requirements. While US online slots normally contribute 100%, roulette and blackjack games have a contribution of about 20%.
Live dealer tables, on the other hand, oftentimes have no contribution whatsoever. It's your responsibility to check if your favorite games are exempt before claiming an offer. This will make your gambling experience a lot easier and way more pleasant. Another thing to check is if deposits with your preferred payment methods count for claiming the bonus.
By Mike J. Davies
Senior Editor at Casinos.US
Updated: September 19, 2024