Casino bonuses are a tool used by online casinos to encourage players to register at their sites. Since most online casinos run on platforms created by a handful of software providers, they tend to feature the same game titles. This makes it critical for each casino out there to look for ways to stand out from the rest – and one way to do this is by offering enticing free casino bonuses where you often get this extra money to play before you make your deposit.
Best Free Casino Bonuses
| Brand | Bonus | Rating | Play |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 30 free roulette chips no deposit 100% up to £100 | 4.3 / 5 T&C Apply | |
 | 25 free spins no deposit 100% up to £200 + 25 FS | 4.5 / 5 |
Casino promotions are also bonuses meant to offer you a better gaming experience. For the player, casino bonuses are great, but you should be aware that this is not free money; understanding this will help you make the most of each opportunity you get. While there are bonuses for new players, there are others specifically designed for rewarding returning players. Other special casino offers and bonuses reward regular players simply for making bets and depositing. You have the choice of either accepting or declining a free casino bonus. To help you and other members stay informed about any special bonuses coming up, most online casinos send out newsletters. Reading the material will help you jump on the best deal before it’s too late. Other sources of information on free casino bonuses include gaming forums and review websites.
Free Spins
A free spin offers you the chance to spin the reels on a slot, without paying for it. When you use free spins, nothing is taken out of your casino’s money balance. Many casinos offer the free spins bonus as part of the welcome bonus package that may include other bonuses. For example, a casino can offers new players a match deposit bonus plus 50 free spins. In order to get the bonus, players will be required to make a deposit at the casino. This type of bonus offers you several free spins that you can use to place bets on any slot or only a certain game – the rules are set out before you accept the offer. In most cases, the free spins are spread over a couple of days; for example, you may be required to make 10 free spins a day for the first five days of membership.
Maybe you have often heard of free spins and “No Deposit Free Spins”. However, do you know what the difference is? For starters, to earn free spins you will be required to make a deposit – just like in the example above. The “No Deposit Free Spins” option does not require you to make any type of financial commitment. A couple of online casinos offer the no deposit option as part of the welcome bonus that you get by simply creating an account, and the free spins are automatically added to the account. Other casinos will periodically reward loyal players with free spins. Once you receive the free spins and playing with them, the good news is that you can win real money with them! While you are not paying for each spin, any wins generated by the spins are added to your account. However, you should be aware that there may be wagering requirements before you can withdraw your wins; more about this shortly.
Other Types of Casino Bonuses
Apart from the widely popular welcome and free spins bonuses, online casinos also offer you other types of bonuses. However, you should remember that each casino might use other names for 
every casino bonus explained below. The No Deposit Bonus, just like the No Deposit Free Spins bonus, does not require players to make a payment into the casino. This type of bonus is most popular among the newer casinos as they try to convince players to try out their platforms without any risk. Many casinos have a high wagering requirement as well as other restrictions in order to reduce instances of abuse the no deposit bonus may attract. Deposit or Monthly Bonuses, also known as reload bonuses, are bonuses that you receive every month to keep you playing – for example, a casino site may offer you 100 percent reload bonus of up to £100 every first day of the month.
One of the greatest advantages of online casinos is that they offer you a huge range of banking methods for depositing and withdrawing funds. Some casinos go a step further and encourage players to make use of certain payment methods by offering an additional Payment Method Bonus. However, this type of bonus is not a common feature. On the other hand, High Roller bonuses are common and they are designed to reward players that deposit more and play often. Such players are known as whales, high rollers or VIPs and they receive better bonuses because of their higher deposits. Such players also enjoy other benefits like tickets to popular sporting events. The Refer-a-Friend casino bonus is not usually common today, but it rewards you whenever you invite a friend to join a casino.
Wagering Requirements and Restrictions
The most common feature in just about all online casinos is wager requirements and game restrictions that help in protecting the bonuses they are giving away. They are also known as play through (or playthrough) requirements and are displayed by a number followed by an “X.” The play through rate indicates the number of times you are allowed to bet or stake using your bonus before any wins are cashable. For example, when a casino x indicates that its wagering requirement is 20X deposit, it means that you have to play the bonus of £100 20 times before you can withdraw you winnings. Back to the example, this means that you will need to bet 20 x £100, making it £2,000. Casinos may go further and place game restrictions, which dictate the games you can play on using the bonus. Each online casino has its own game restrictions, so it helps if you could read the casino’s terms and conditions concerning bonuses before making your first deposit.
Generally, online casinos are not losing money when they offer you free bonuses. For example, fictional Casino X has an overall payout of 97.50 percent across all its games, and a welcome match bonus of 100 percent up to £200 and 35X deposit wagering requirements on the bonus. When you take the max bonus, £200, the total wagering would become £14,000. When you multiply wagering amount by 100% minus the overall payout percentage, 2.5%, what you have left is £350. This is much higher than the £200 bonus that Casino X offered you, meaning that the casino is not losing out. To see wagering requirements and game restriction for each casino, visit the bonus Terms & Conditions sections of each website. In case the deposit bonus is not mentioned in the Terms & Conditions document, call customer support or avoid the casino altogether.
Free Casino Bonuses Best Practices
Online casino bonuses are certainly attractive incentives that continue to push the popularity of this form of gambling. However, playing your favourite game, even with free casino bonuses on your side, can seem daunting, but follow this advice and you will enjoy your experience even further. For starters, make sure that you can gamble legally online on your chosen online casino. In most cases, you will forfeit your bonuses if you are playing from a location that is not covered by the bonus. Second, research and investigate the online casino you are about to register at. Third, investigate and identify the most convenient payment and withdrawal option for you; there is nothing as frustrating as making a bunch of money through bonuses only to realize that you cannot withdraw it. Most importantly, read the Terms & Conditions of all bonuses you want to participate in. Online casinos put in place restrictions on what games you can play or will increase wagering requirements to shield themselves from abuse.
Free Casino Bonuses Are Worth Your Time!
The worthiness of an online casino’s free casino bonus is pegged on several factors, including the type of game you choose, the casino’s house edge and the wagering requirements. In most cases, games like video poker, blackjack or roulette have high wagering requirements. In such cases, expect their bonuses to be more expensive to cash out because the number of plays you have to make is high. Overall, if a free bonus on a particular casino is too good to be true or too catchy, avoid it at all cost. Therefore, practice due diligence before game play to understand how the various aspects relate to the game. Free casino bonuses are great tools for online casinos to get players to make deposits and play even more. The bonuses, however, work both ways since they also act as an extra source of additional money that you can use to play your favourite online casino games. Reading the casino’s Terms & Conditions relating to any bonus on offer will help you fully comprehend the games you can or cannot play using the bonuses you receive. The document will also help you understand if a particular bonus is open to players in your geographical location, the wagering requirements and will also indicate the amount of time you have to complete the requirements – however, not all online casinos have requirements pegged on a timeline.