What is a Casino Bonus?

The world of online casinos has exploded since the humble beginnings that were all the way back in 1994. Back then the supposed first ever online casino was launched and hosted on the gaming platform by the renowned developer Microgaming. Since then, there have been literally many hundred online casinos. Some have gone defunct, new ones have opened, and the life-cycle of any given casino goes on in a similar fashion. Every single casino strives to capture a bigger contingent of patrons. What better way to do that then offer perks, rewards and bonuses? So what is a casino bonus? We will answer that question here, as it has become one of the most important elements in the offering presented by the casinos.

Online Casinos Have Come A Long Way

The beginnings of online casinos were indeed humble. There used to be just a few casinos and in their very first year they didn’t offer money transfers, which means that players weren’t able to play the casino games with money. Once the testing period passed and players made note of the possibility of playing poker, blackjack, roulette, holdem and slots online, the casinos stepped their offer. There are estimates that by 1999 there were around 800 casinos online, and this is where we run into the matter of licensing and why this is important regarding the casino bonuses and in providing answer to the question of what is a casino bonus.

The Matter of Online Casino Licensing

Today there are two types of online casinos, and we take the liberty to generalize across such terms. One type are regular casinos, in the true sense of the word, while the other type are, simply said, ‘shady’. The latter bunch of casinos operate out of some jurisdictions that aren’t typically associated with sound practices. They launch their casinos from various locations and make them appear as legitimate and on par with those that are licensed by relevant international bodies such as Gibraltar’s, Malta’s and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. The shady casinos offer slot games and casino table and card games that are produced by some unknown developers. The unsuspecting players are offered welcome bonuses that are too good to be true – either lots of money or lots of free spins for a small deposit.

To learn how to differentiate between the first and the second type of casinos you should get familiar with the popular slots developers and with all the signs that are telling of a solid casino operation, such as the license number, the badges of relevant authorities, the availability of various venues of communication with the customer service, and last but not least, payment and money transfer services from companies and platforms such as the following: Skrill, PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Paysafecard, NETeller, Trustly, Zimpler, Boku and few other. Also, there should be badges such as Gamble Aware, GamStop, and the logo of the gaming platform.

What Is A Casino Bonus Offer?

Casino bonuses serve to attract new and existing players to an online casinos. There are lots of casinos and lots of diverse offers, so the players are enticed to change the casino frequently, which is not a good practice and we will explain why soon. The welcome bonuses or the welcome offers usually require a minimum deposit to be made for the player to unlock the bonus. Some offers come with free spins or a specific slot game. There are offers that come with bonus money on the deposit. There are other types of bonuses as well, in which the player can choose to play on one or few games from a list of several titles.

Say there is a bonus that has 100% double on the deposit. This means that if the player deposits 10 of his or her currency units, the bonus will be 20 in total. If the player deposits 100, the bonus will be 200. And so on. The casinos will most likely put a limit on the bonus, such as 100% double for up to 500 pounds, for example. Whenever a bonus comes with free spins it means the player can take the free spins and use on the specified slot.

Wagering Requirements

The overwhelming majority of casinos set a wagering requirement and many players are not in the clear what exactly this means. A wagering requirement is basically a rule that pertains to the bonus funds. The bonus amount is money that you can use to play on the slots or casino games, and certainly not withdraw. The bonus money can be used to play and even win a significant sum of money. In the event, the player will have to fulfill the wagering requirements, which means, the money will need to be played over a number of times before it becomes available for withdrawal. Each site sets its own wagering requirement. If the player wins a huge jackpot the initial bonus funds will need to be played a number of times, and even if losing that money, still a hefty sum will be available to be deposited back into the player’s account.

How to Claim a Casino Bonus

Claiming a welcome bonus takes few clicks. On the casino’s front page there is most certainly going to be a banner which displays the bonus. The player can click on that banner to open up a window in which he or she will need to fill in the credentials, such as first name, last name and email address. Then the player can go on to confirm the registration and the bonus funds will be in the player’s account. The process also includes making a casino account on a mobile phone, so that works for the players as well.

Concluding Remarks

Not just what is a casino bonus, but also, what is a casino bonus good for, are two questions that we have answered in this text. The second question is simple – the casino bonus is good for entertainment and even to score some winnings. There is no better way to entertain yourself on the slots and casino games then with a welcome bonus. If you have decided that you want to play, feel welcome to try the Secret Slots welcome bonus.

Claim the bonus offer right from this page and play at one or few slots from a list of more than 300.