Online Casino Bonuses and Promotions

In order to attract new customers and keep the regulars, online casinos need more than just high quality gaming. This is where the bonuses and promotions come in.

The bonus most often offered to new players is the match bonus. This is usually presented in percent and can as an example be 100% up to $100, meaning if you deposit 100$ the casino will give you another $100 to play with. Sometimes the bonus is presented as a cash bonus offering the $100 directly upon a deposit of $100. The bonuses are really the same just with different names. This kind of deposit bonus usually keeps being offered to the regular player as a monthly promotion or can be offered if you use a specific payment method.

Another type of bonus commonly found is the refer-a-friend bonus. This is another way of the online casino to attract a greater crowd and rewarding you for doing the job. This bonus can greatly vary in size but always demands an actual sign-up by your friend for you to receive the reward. Sometimes you can find very special promotions such as a week of vacation to an exotic corner of the world or a weekend to a land based casino. These kinds of prizes are usually time limited and offered through a tournament.

Cashing out your Bonus

While most online casino bonuses might come across as ‘cash in hand’, it is really not that simple. Most online casinos have a set amount of wagering you have to do before you can cash out any of the bonus amount. Even so, many online casinos experience fraud by less honest people and this has led to some countries being banned from the bonus system at some establishments. The amount of the requested wagering can greatly vary and it is not always applicable to all games. You will find that most online casinos give detailed information on the conditions for their bonuses and you should take the time to read it before you count your money. Remember that the main idea of the bonus is to enhance your gaming, not to be an easy way to money.

Loyalty Programs

Another way of rewarding the player is through bonus points. This way of promotion usually goes under the title of a Loyalty or VIP Program. Many online casinos will let the player collect points from the first game played and when a certain amount is collected it can be traded in for cash, more gaming or specific prizes. When cash outs are rewarded they come with restrictions to prevent any abuse.

Josh Kingsley – Executive Editor 2007-08-28