Are Welcome Bonuses a Good Way to Try Out a Casino

Are Welcome Bonuses a Good Way to Try Out a Casino?

Online casino bonuses are generally offered to new players to get them to open an account. Are they a good way to try out a casino? Find out here.

When you register a real money account at a fully licensed online casino, you can often claim what is referred to as a new player welcome bonus or sign-up bonus. 

Most online casino bonuses come in the form of a matching deposit bonus, where the site operator will match your deposit up to a certain amount. You can also find free spins bonuses, which let you try out selected slots in the real money mode. This is usually 10 to 100 free spins (FS). 

The question being asked on this page is, are welcome bonuses a good way to try out a new online casino? Let’s dive straight in and find out. 

Why do online casinos offer new players a guaranteed welcome bonus?

The number-one reason today’s online casino operators offer new players some kind of guaranteed sign-up bonus is to entice them to sign up in the hope of that player becoming a frequent real cash player. The ultimate goal is to increase revenue. 

Some online casino bonuses come with a unique bonus code that must be entered into the required field when logged into your casino account, and others are automatically credited to your account without any bonus codes required. 

Bonuses immediately increase a player’s bankroll and give them more chances to win, and they are a great way for players to try out a casino, whether that person is playing from a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer

Are online casino bonuses worth claiming?

Yes, and no. Any online casino player can grab a welcome bonus and have fun playing their favourite games. However, some bonuses are far more lucrative than others. Before accepting a bonus, you should take a few minutes to review the terms and conditions attached to that bonus. 

The Ts and Cs will explain everything you need to know about how to get the most out of your bonus, including more information about wagering requirements (aka rollover/playthrough requirements), how much time you have to complete your wagering requirements, and which games contribute more towards getting them completed. 

What are online casino bonus wagering requirements?

The wagering requirement is the number of times a player must wager their bonus money (+ the initial deposit amount) before they can attempt to withdraw any bonus winnings they have made. 

Without completing your wagering requirements, you won’t be able to cash out. If wagering requirements weren’t attached to bonuses, the majority of players would no doubt immediately withdraw their free money and spend it elsewhere. 

In other words, if online casinos give away free money without players having to complete wagering requirements, they would quickly go out of business. 

Therefore, wagering requirements are in place to protect casino operators and prevent players from withdrawing the free bonus money the moment they receive it. 

Low wagering requirements are anywhere from 1x up to 25x times the bonus amount. Medium/average wagering requirements attached to bonuses are worth between 30x and 50x times the bonus amount, and high wagering requirements can be worth 60x to 200x times the bonus amount.

The lower the wagering requirement, the quicker you will be able to complete them, and the better it is for you as a player. You may want to avoid claiming bonuses with high wagering requirements. 

If you have just received a 100% match bonus worth $/€/£100 (or equivalent currency value), and you deposit $/€/£20, your account will instantly be credited with a free $/€/£20 bonus on top of your deposit (giving you $/€/£40 to play with).

If your new player matching deposit welcome bonus comes with a 25x wagering requirement attached, before you could withdraw, that bonus money you receive (+ the initial deposit amount) would need to be wagered 25x times (25 wagering requirement multiplied by $/€/£20 deposit = $/€/£500 + $/€/£20 deposit, means you would need to wager a total of $/€/£520 before you can make a withdrawal). 

Top bonuses worth claiming in 2023

There are many lucrative online casino bonuses you can claim today, but remember that some payment methods, such as Skrill or Neteller, may be excluded from the bonus, so always read the small print. 

More information about the latest new player welcome bonuses can be found on the official Ask Gamblers website. Examples of several generous bonuses currently up for grabs include the following offers:

  • Lite Wins Casino – new players claim up to 500 FS 
  • Watchmyspin Casino – get a 100% match worth $/€/£200 + 20 FS
  • Luckster Casino – 100% match up to $/€/£200 + 100 FS
  • Mr Play Casino – 100% match up to $/€/£200 + 100 FS
  • Pirate Slots Casino – 100% match up to $/€/£2,000

Ask Gamblers also has the latest welcome bonus information and unbiased reviews for over 4,000 other fully licensed online casinos that are controlled by trustworthy operators with excellent reputations. 

If you want to claim a welcome bonus with fair and realistic wagering requirements, this trusted site has something to suit all types of players.