As you can see, there are many different kinds of bonuses, and since only one can be used at a time, determining the quality of a bonus can make a big difference.
There are four important criteria, or qualities, that you should look at when deciding if a bonus is right for you.
- Bonus amount
- Game context
- Redeemable/Non-Redeemable
- Wagering requirements
Amount
Pay attention to the amount of money that you need to deposit, unless it’s a no deposit bonus, to be eligible for the bonus. Many of the Welcome Bonuses and reload bonuses have a minimum bonus that is required to claim the bonus. If that amount is more than you want to deposit, wait for something that fits your budget.
Game Context
Some casino bonuses can only be used with certain games. If you claim a Live Dealer bonus but never play Live Casino games, this will prevent you from claiming a bonus that is useful for you. Similarly, if you like playing certain slot games, like Age of the Gods, for example, finding a bonus that can be used for that game, can be really beneficial.
Redeemable / Non-Redeemable
Whether a bonus is a deposit, no deposit, casino code, or for VIPs, they will fall into one of two categories:
- Redeemable Bonus: Most bonuses fall into the redeemable category. It means that bonus money, and any money won while betting with the bonus money, are added to a special account. Once you’ve reached the wagering requirement, all the money in that account is transferred to your general account and can be used or withdrawn at your discretion.
- Non-Redeemable Bonus:  The bonus money and your winnings are added to the special bonus account. However, when you meet the wagering requirements, only the money won can be transferred to your general account. The principal bonus money can’t be redeemed.Â
Wagering Requirements
Whenever you read about casino bonuses, you will also hear about wagering requirements. This is basically a way for the online casino to make sure that a player doesn’t create an account, claim a bonus and then withdraw the money without ever playing a game.
The wagering requirements, also known as playthrough and rollover, can be confusing at first. There are a few different types of wagering requirements, so it’s important to look at the Terms and Conditions and make sure you understand them before you claim the bonus.
There are three main types of wagering requirements are: Â
- Multipliers of a deposit
- Multipliers of the bonus
- The sum of the multipliers of both the deposit and bonus amount
The one thing these have in common is you have to use the bonus money multiple times before it can be redeemed. For example, if you claim a $10 bonus for slot games and it has a 10x rollover, you will need to bet at least $100 before it can be redeemed.
Another important factor is the game contribution percentages and how it affects when you can redeem your bonus money. Not all games are equal when it comes to reaching your playthrough. For example, a $100 bet on a game like Blackjack, which has a low house edge, might only have 5% of the bet contributed to the playthrough, but a game like scratch cards or some slot games might contribute 100% of the bet to the playthrough.Â