Casino Bonus Guide

Online casinos offer a wide range of casino bonuses to reward new players and keep the exciting players motivated. Although this is a strategy used by casinos to gain more players to their site, you can use the offers to boost your bankroll and keep you playing for longer.

Casino bonuses come in all shapes and sizes and can be activated at various stages of the games. They can be in the form of free cash, complementary play, or prizes.

But whether you are a beginner or a veteran, it is important to know how these bonuses work and the terms and conditions to look out for before claiming them. Stick around to learn these and more in the guide below.

Online casinos offer several types of bonuses and promotions, ranging from deposit bonuses to free spins and cashback.  There are those available only to new players, while others are available to existing players and VIP players.

Welcome bonus

The welcome bonus is usually in the form of a welcome package that is only available to players signing up to the casino for the first time. The welcome package varies from online casino to the other. This could come in the form of a no deposit bonus where a player is rewarded free cash or free spins immediately after creating an account without making a deposit.

The welcome package could also be in the form of a matched deposit where after signing up, you are required to make your first deposit. Some online casino will extend their welcome package up to your fifth deposit, which is a great way to boost your gameplay with additional funds.

Deposit match bonus

A deposit match bonus can be part of the welcome bonus as well as a stimulus package for existing players. In this case, when you fund your account, your deposit is matched by a certain percentage.  For example, if a casino has a 100% match bonus up to KSH 5,000, it means that when you make a KSH 4,000 deposit, you will be awarded an additional KSH 4,000 in the form of a bonus fund. Thus, you will have a KSH 8,000 total bankroll to play with.

For existing players, the deposit match bonus can be available on specific days or during certain holidays, which is why you should keep an eye on the promotion page to see some of the offers you could take advantage of.

Deposit bonus

Deposit bonuses are almost similar to deposit matched offers and can also be available to new and existing players. In this case, when you make a deposit, you could be awarded free cash or free spins.

For example Deposit KSH 500 and get an additional KSH 200

Or

Deposit  KSH 100 and get 100 free spins

In this case, to claim the offer, you must make the required minimum deposit. For example, you cannot claim the 100 free spins if you make a KSH 100 deposit.

Cashback bonus

This is another casino bonus that is becoming more popular and is linked to the net loss you make when playing.  This offer acknowledges that playing casino games comes with the risk of losing your money. However, even when on a losing streak, you can still save some of your money using the cashback bonus.

The casino calculates the loss and provides a percentage of the money you have lost in the form of bonus money.  The cashback percentage offered by most online casinos usually ranges between 5% and 30%.

Refund bonus

A refund bonus works the same as a cashback offer where you are refunded a certain amount when you incur a loss. However, it is important to read the terms and conditions of this offer to understand up to what amount of the loss incurred can the casino refund.

Free spin bonus

This is one of the most common casinos offers that allows you to play certain slot games without risking your own money.  Free spins are mostly linked to a specific game, and casinos use this restriction to promote new slot games or popular slots.  Although not all free spins offers are the same, they are very similar and work the same. Typically, all winnings obtained from using the free spins must meet set wagering requirements before you can withdraw.  However, these bonuses have slightly easier playthrough requirements compared to other bonuses.

No deposit bonus

As the name suggests, a no deposit bonus does not require you to fund your account to claim the offer. No deposit bonus can be in the form of free cash or free spins.  Since this offer requires casinos to offer free money, the free bonus is mostly offered to new players when they sign up.  No deposit bonuses are not available in substantial amounts, such as KSH 10,000 but will often range from KSH 500 to KSH 2,000 or up to 30 free spins.

Refer a friend bonus

Word of mouth is one of the most effective marketing strategies, and casinos use the refer a friend bonus to get existing players to bring in more new players.  When you refer a friend to a casino and they sign up using your link, you are awarded bonus credits, which could either be in the form of free cash or free spins.

High rollers bonus

High roller bonuses are designed for players who wager massive amounts. High rolling, big-spending players often get preferential treatment at online casinos and are offered bonuses and promotions that suit their lavish spending lifestyle. They can claim bonuses ranging from KSH 100,000 up to KSH 1000,000.

Reload bonuses

Reload bonuses are available to existing players, and you can claim them after making a deposit. Although they are not as high as the welcome bonuses, they are still worth taking advantage of since you can get an extra 50% of your deposit.

As earlier mentioned, casino bonuses are lucrative offers that can boost your bankroll and help you play for longer when adequately utilized. However, these bonuses come with terms and conditions which can be quite restrictive and confusing to new players.

Online casinos are in business to make a profit, which means that most T&Cs are slightly skewed in their favor.  Some of the limitations imposed on a player could include game limits, withdrawal limits, and time limits.

Time limits/sensitive

Online casino bonuses are time-sensitive in the sense that you can only claim them within a particular time frame after making a deposit or signing up. More so, even after claiming them within the required time limit, you also have to make sure you meet the wagering requirement within a certain time.

This is why it is important to check the bonus details carefully before claiming an offer since the tight time restriction may not suit your timetable.  Most bonuses will have a 30-day time-frame to expire while others have even tighter restrictions of 7 days.  Thus, it is vital to decide when you are going to play and how often you plan to visit the casino.

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements, also known as playthrough requirements, are among the most crucial terms and conditions.  These are imposed by a casino to prevent players from signing up for the highest casino offer, withdraw and do a runner.  Instead, after claiming an offer, you are required to play the bonus money a set number of times before you are allowed to make a cash withdrawal.

Most rewarding bonuses will have a wagering requirement set as high as 30x, and this means that you have to make bets worth 30x the original bonus before you can take your prize money.  For example, if you receive a KSH 2,000 in bonus fund, you will be required to make bets valued at KSH 60,000 before you can withdraw your winnings.

Almost all casino bonuses have wagering requirements, and it is always advisable to settle for bonuses with reasonable playthrough requirements and those that are achievable.  For example, a casino offer with a 10x wagering requirement is better than that with a 30x.

More so, look for casino bonuses that do not combine your deposit amount with the bonus amount.  These are known as no sticky bonuses, which allow you to start by playing with your deposit amount, and the wagering requirements are only activated when you start using your bonus funds.

Game limits

Game limits come in two forms; restrictions on the games you can play and restrictions on the games that contribute towards the wagering requirement.  Casino bonuses such as free spins are mostly restricted to specific games, and this means that you cannot use them on any other game other than the specified slot machine. However, some allow you to play your favorite slot machines.

In terms of games’ contribution to the playthrough requirement, some casino games will have a higher contribution than others. Ideally, slots will have a 100% contribution while other games such as roulette, blackjack, and live casino games will have a 5%-10% contribution. Knowing how much each game type contributes will save you the hustle of placing wagers on games that don’t help you attain your playthrough requirement fast.

Win limits

The maximum win limit is another crucial restriction to check. Casinos will put an upper limit on how much you can win to protect themselves from incurring losses. With this restriction, being lucky and winning a jackpot does not guarantee a breakthrough since any win above the set limit will not count.

A bigger bonus win limit will mostly be harder to claim your cash, and it is always recommendable to settle for smaller bonus deals with smaller win limits since these are more likely to be available as cash.

Banking restrictions

Online casinos accept several deposit and withdrawal methods, but the terms and conditions vary between casinos.  Most casinos will have minimum deposit and withdrawal limits, which depend on the payment method.  To withdraw your winnings, you need to verify your payment method, and some banking methods may include fees that are charged directly to your account.

With deposits, most casinos will only allow you to claim welcome bonuses or deposit offers only if you fund your account with certain payment options. Deposits made using e-wallet options such as Skrill do not qualify to claim bonuses. Hence, be sure to check if your preferred payment option qualifies for a bonus.

Although online casino bonuses come with stringent restrictions in the form of wagering requirements, time limits, game limits, and withdrawal limits, they can still be highly rewarding.   If you are trying a casino for the first time, these offers provide an excellent way to understand how the casino works and if they deliver their promises.

Some free spins do not require you to make a deposit, which is a great way to test a game before deciding whether it is worth risking your money. More so, free spin offers do not have high wagering requirements, making it easier to withdraw your winnings.

Since there are numerous bonuses you can claim, it is advisable to settle for casino bonuses with

• Clear terms and conditions
• Reasonable wagering requirements preferably less than 35x
• Bonuses with enough time, at least 30 days, to meet the set wagering requirements
• Casino bonuses with low deposit requirements or no deposit requirements
• No limit on how much you can win
• An option to opt-out of the bonus completely

It is important to note that you are not obliged to claim online casino bonuses, and you can always opt not to use them.  And if you opt to use them, only play from reputable online casinos.