What is the best way to use a bonus when you sign up at a casino?

How often have you signed up at a casino without really checking the terms and conditions of a bonus, or considering whether the bonus offered is really the right one for you? It is very easy to do, we assume that because bonuses are 'freebies' that any deal we get is an added benefit to us and that we should be grateful for it.

However, that is not the case. A little research beforehand and understanding how you will play at a casino will allow you to not only hone in the bonuses that are going to most benefit you, but also pick the bonuses that will enhance your enjoyment of the site.

Also we will also consider whether it is ever right to turn down a bonus offer and what the reasons are if this should be the case.

So let's begin with the first step in the process, which should always be a look around at the different bonus offers available at the time you are looking to sign up.

Check the type of bonuses available

Although I personally feel the types of bonuses available nowadays have narrowed slightly (chiefly because casinos are far better aware of the types of bonuses that players want to receive). Each casino bonus offer for new players differs from others and there is no hard and fast rule as to which is the 'best' deal is available, as it is entirely down to how the player chooses to use the casino as to which will suit them best.

Generally, you will find that a player will be offered a matched deposit bonus of a stated percentage (this can range from 10% up to 400%, or sometimes even more), or they may be offered free or bonus spins. No deposit spins are available, but they are nowhere near as prevalent in the industry as they once were.

Occasionally a casino may offer something different to these bonuses, but that is the exception rather than the rule.

However, it is how casinos choose to utilise these aspects in their bonus offer that differs so it is always wise to check what types of bonuses are available at the casinos you are considering joining first before you sign up.

For most people the standard new player bonus is generally the best deal

The great news is that for the vast majority of players, the bonus offer you select as the one perfect for you is likely to be the best deal you can get. Given the average player, with the average deposit amount and the average amount of time they spend at the casino, these bonus offers do offer a fantastic deal for punters.

The only time this is different may be if you are a real high roller, or if you are a very experienced player that has very specific requirements on how you play, what games you play and how much you spend. We will explore this in more detail in the sections below.

But the good news is that for the vast majority of new signups to a casino, the advertised offer is going to be a great deal for you.

Try to maximise out each of the different parts of your bonus to maximise its benefit

For me, the most important aspect of any bonus deal, once you have accepted it, is to ensure that you maximise the benefits of that bonus to you. This is why you should always check the types of bonuses available to try and get one that will benefit you the most, based on how you want to deposit your cash and play at a casino.

For example, if I am a player looking to deposit £50 into my account, and I have a choice of bonuses, one of which sees a 100% deposit bonus of up to £50 plus 100 Spins offered to me, or a 100% Matched Deposit bonus of up to £500, then it makes much more sense to take up the first offer. But if I was to be depositing £500, then the second bonus offer would offer me considerably more (as I would receive £500 in bonus cash, as opposed to £50 plus 100 spins).

With some bonuses also being paid out across the first few deposits on the site, you need to be honest with yourself about how you tend to pay and play at a casino to work out what the best deal is for you. If you front load your first deposit and then don't deposit for a long time, then you want a bonus that offers you as big a bonus amount as possible on your first deposit. If you deposit smaller amounts over shorter periods, then a bonus that can be realised over successive deposits on the site will be a better choice.

Always check the terms and conditions for any bonus you claim

Before you agree to any bonus at any casino, it is always a good idea to check out the terms and conditions of the offer. You should do this for a number of reasons and the key things that you need to look at are:

• Are you eligible for the offer? - Some casinos are not available in certain jurisdictions and if you have already joined the casino once before, let your membership lapse and then joined again, you may not be eligible for the bonus.
• What is the wagering requirement for the bonus? - The wagering requirement is how many times you need to wager the full bonus amount in order to release it from that requirement to be able to withdraw to your bank account like standard funds. Wagering requirements can vary from casino to casino and can range from very small requirements (say up to 10x), to much larger (60x or more). It is also worth checking whether the wagering requirement applies to just your bonus, or your bonus and deposit.
• Is there a withdrawal limit imposed? - Many bonuses have a stated withdrawal limit for any cash won using the bonus cash. While this is not generally the case for standard matched deposit bonuses, it is common for Free or Bonus Spins offers to have a withdrawal limit imposed.
• How long do you have to complete the wagering requirements? - Most casino promotions have a time limit on how long you have to complete the wagering requirements for the offer. After this period has elapsed you need to have either completed the wagering requirements, or the bonus will then be forfeited from your account. The length of time for this can vary greatly from casino to casino.

The terms and conditions for any casino bonus can vary a great deal and can include many more items than those listed above, so it is always a sensible approach to check them out before you join.

Should I ever turn down a bonus?

For the vast majority of players signing up to a casino, it doesn't make any sense to turn down a bonus that you will get from the casino for joining.

The reasons for this are simple, firstly, you probably will benefit from the extra cash and/or spins you will receive through the offer. Secondly and perhaps most importantly, it is not that likely that the issues with wagering requirements for the bonus or withdrawal limits will matter to you as in truth, you are likely to spend that bonus cash at the casino and not win enough to make those issues pertinent.

It is only a small number of players that take out a bonus and win a significant sum, which sees these conditions kick in and the casino does this to mitigate their losses from a bonus. However, it is worth noting that on some games, such as progressive jackpot games, you may be exempt from any of the terms and conditions of a bonus offer (although some bonus offers may state you can only play certain games with the bonus funds you receive, so it is a good idea to check that).

The only time a player should consider turning down a bonus is if they are a very experienced slot player who may find that the terms and conditions of the offer are prohibitive for how they like to bet and play on site.

Some casinos offer alternatives to bonuses

One thing to remember, especially if you are a higher roller or do not want to be tied down to any wagering requirements or withdrawal limits imposed by the terms and conditions of any starter bonus, then there are some casinos that will offer alternatives to the standard starter bonus available.

Some casinos, though not all, will allow players to instead take a 'cashback' based bonus, which will see a player earn back a percentage of the cash they spend at the casino as a new player, over a stated amount of time, which will then be credited back to your account for you to spend as you see fit.

Even if you are not going to take out a cashback offer, some players may not want to be tied to the terms and conditions of a starter bonus, especially if they are prohibitive. In many cases, you can elect to not receive the starter bonus at a casino and play with your deposit as standard with no wagering requirements in play or withdrawal limits.

As with most things in this article, it is very much a personal choice, however as a general rule of thumb, the smaller the deposit you want to make, and the less experienced you are at online casino gaming, the more likely you are to find the standard casino bonus is your best option. Whereas if you are an experienced casino gamer who knows exactly what you want to play and have a significantly larger than average deposit, you may find that a different bonus, or no bonus at all, makes more sense.

Don't be afraid to shop around to find the right casino bonus

The final and best piece of advice I can give you is to always shop around at reputable casinos to find the bonus that best suits how you want to deposit and the kind of benefits you want to enjoy as a player at that casino.

For example, you may want to join the Casino Rewards network, perhaps to play the exclusive Mega Vault Millionaire slot that is only available at casinos in this group. However, within that group are a large number of casinos that broadly offer you a chance to play all the same games from top slots provider Microgaming, but each has its own starter bonus offer for players.

Weigh up how much you want to deposit, how often you want to deposit and the types of bonuses that are going to be of interest to you. If you are a higher roller that wants a big front loaded bonus payable on your first deposit, then you will want a bonus that matches that. Alternatively, if you are a lower stakes player that makes smaller deposits, you may want a bonus that can be realised in full for a small amount of money and which comes with additional features (such as bonus spins).

Even though there are many casinos in the Casino Rewards group, each has a different bonus and each will appeal to a certain type of player, so to get the best deal, find the offer which best suits how you intend to pay and play at the casino.