The best casino sites usually offer great welcome bonuses to attract new players. Popular promotions include a 100% match on your first deposit and free spins on select games. A great welcome deal can get your membership with a new site off to a good start and make your money go further.
But when you find the best casino welcome bonus, you want to take full advantage of it to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. To help you do that, we’ll share a selection of strategies and tips below.
How to Maximise Your Welcome Bonus
Here are four ideas to help you make the most of your welcome bonus.
Only Choose a Welcome Bonus with Viable Wagering Requirements
As seasoned players know, most welcome bonuses and other promotions at casinos include wagering requirements. They specify how much you need to wager before you can withdraw any winnings generated by the bonus. Even the best casino welcome bonus on the market is likely to have a wagering requirement.
For example, let’s say you find an offer for a 100% deposit match on a $10.00 deposit or higher with a wagering requirement of 40x. That means you need to bet the bonus amount (e.g. $10.00) 40 times (totalling $400.00) before you’re able to withdraw the winnings.
If you don’t meet the wagering requirements before the deadline (such as after 14 or 30 days), you’ll lose the bonus even though the casino will keep the bets you placed. To maximise your welcome bonus, always check the wagering requirements and only sign up if you’re confident that you can meet them in time.
Otherwise, you’ll lose the money you wagered and won’t receive your bonus at all. If the requirements seem a little too harsh, look for a bonus that seems more viable.
Understand the Games that Contribute to the Wagering Requirements
Even if the best casino welcome bonus on the market has reasonable wagering requirements (such as 20x or 30x), only certain games will contribute to those.
Take a few minutes to check the small print and make a note of the contributing games. That’s crucial to avoid wagering money on games without getting closer to meeting the requirements.
In most cases, slots often contribute 100%, while other game types have a lower contribution percentage. Playing table games, for example, might only contribute 50% to requirements.
Focus on playing the games that contribute the most, even if it’s a slot you’re not massively excited about, to meet the requirements as soon as possible.
Check Bet and Bonus Limits
The terms and conditions for casino welcome bonuses typically stipulate the maximum bet that you can make with bonus money. Even the best casino sites impose these limits. The aim is to encourage you to play fairly, be responsible, and (crucially) to prevent you from placing higher wagers on contributing games to meet the wagering requirements sooner.
Similarly, online casinos apply a maximum amount that you can claim with a welcome bonus. You might see an offer for a 100% match on your first deposit, but this will be capped at a specific level (such as $100.00). That allows casinos to control how much extra you receive and keep their bonuses financially viable.
When looking for the best casino welcome bonus, always check the limits to ensure you understand the terms. If the limits seem too unfair, think twice about signing up.
Assess Your Betting Budget Before You Choose a Welcome Bonus
Responsible gambling is essential for all players, regardless of bankroll or experience. That’s why our fourth tip is to check your betting budget before you choose a deal.
The best casino welcome bonus you find may have wagering requirements that seem beyond your usual betting limit. For example, if profiting from a bonus requires that you wager more in 30 days than you normally would in three months, you should keep looking for more reasonable options.
To avoid getting out of your depth, make sure you have a fair bankroll you’re comfortable with and read the terms of any welcome bonus carefully.
Conclusion
Follow these strategies and tips to maximise your welcome bonuses. The most competitive offers can help you get more value out of your first (or more) deposits, but be clear about what you can expect in return.
If you want to find the top welcome deals online, check out Gambling Zone’s guide to the Best Canada Casino Sites to get started!
