Competition among online casino firms is fierce, as each strives to attract a larger clientele. One of the most common points of disagreement includes free money for the player, while this war is fought on many fronts, from game selection to overall design.

Typically referred to as “sign-up bonuses,” these freebies are awarded in the form of monetary credits to the customer’s account. While some casinos only award bonuses after a player has made a deposit, others give out freebies only for signing up with their email and a password.

 

If you’re just getting started with online casinos, you might have yet to claim your first registration bonus. I’ve compiled this essay detailing the various bonus types and withdrawal conditions for individuals that desire additional information before getting started.

 

How to Claim a Casino’s Welcome Bonus for the First Time

It won’t take much effort on your part to end your status as a casino bonus newbie. If you have access to the Internet, your bonus should be available to you in a matter of minutes.

 

Going to a casino’s website is the first order of business. I recommend taking your time and conducting some research before making this decision, as it is often the most crucial part of any adventure involving online gaming. You should check the site’s reputation and security measures before trusting them with your personal information or money.

 

When you’ve settled on a website you like, you’ll need to set up an account with a username and password. This may entitle you to free money, while some services need you to deposit monies before giving you any free money.  It’s a piece of cake that can be accomplished by gamblers of varying skill levels in either situation.

Popular Forms of New Customer Rewards

There are a number of different ways to get a bonus, but they’re all rather simple. The only real need for success is a player’s willingness to risk their own cash. Some of the most typical examples from online casinos all over the world are:

 

Online gamblers desire no-deposit bonuses, but the rewards aren’t always what they seem at first glance. On the surface, this appears to be a bonus that can be claimed without putting any of the player’s own money at risk. However, as we’ll see in the following section, there is a significant drawback to this incentive structure.

 

Bonuses that can’t be cashed out are frequently paired with no-deposit bonuses to even things out. This is a bonus and not a withdrawal, as the name implies. In contrast to the “phantom” kind, which disappears once a player requests a withdrawal for the first time, the “sticky” type remains in the player’s account until it is lost.

 

The term “welcome bonus” generally refers to a bonus that doubles or even triples a player’s first deposit. In certain cases, a player’s first deposit bonus is just the beginning; on their second and third deposits, they’ll receive additional funds. This sum may also be tied to a particular casino game, rewarding regulars who stick to that activity.

 

Bonus money could be split between you and the person you suggest if you both play at the same casino. When the new customer makes their first deposit and specifies that they were suggested by you, you both get a bonus. While some sites pay the referrer immediately, the majority of them do so once the new player has made a certain number of bets.

 

So, if the casino is giving out free money, what’s the catch?

You can’t immediately turn around and withdraw the money given to you by the casino. This was a common occurrence in the early days of online gambling, but savvy operators eventually implemented measures to prevent it.

 

A wagering requirement (or “playthrough”) must be met before any bonus funds can be withdrawn from the casino. Typically, this is given as a certain number of times the initial incentive.

 

For illustration, assume you were offered a $100 welcome bonus, but in order to withdraw any winnings, you must first meet a 30X playthrough requirement. To receive the first $100, you would need to place a bet of $3000 ($100 times 30).

 

There could be a time limit attached in certain circumstances. The player has a limited amount of time to complete the required wagering. In the event that they do not, they will forfeit the bonus and all potential winnings associated with it.

 

The casino’s end purpose is not to give you “free money” but to make you lose it all as you try to achieve the playthrough requirements, therefore not all games contribute to that end. Slot machines are always permitted, however wagers on “50/50” propositions like “red” or “black” in roulette could not be allowed.

 

Conclusion

You can quickly and easily claim your first casino welcome bonus. If this weren’t the case, it wouldn’t be very effective as a promotional tool or to bring in new customers.

 

While the promise of free cash is undeniably alluring, online gamblers should bear in mind that the term “free” has varying connotations depending on who you ask. Free money in your account probably comes with certain stipulations, and some gambling sites may be stricter than others.

 

Take advantage of the casino’s perks as much as possible, regardless of the small print. For players who intend to stay with the casino for the long haul, every cent the house deposits into their account is a dollar they won’t have to spend.