The best online casino bonus offers can be the perfect way for new players to pad their starting bankroll. Yet, learning what separates good bonuses from not-so-good ones can be tough if you don’t know the lingo, and figuring out how to maximize your returns can be even tougher.
Our expertly curated list of the top online casino bonus offers for U.S. players has you covered, from sign-up bonuses to loyalty programs and everything in between. Dive deeper to learn the nuts and bolts of these offers, including the dreaded terms and conditions, and get some tailored tips on finding the best bonuses for your budget and time restraints.
We’ll also cover the best offers for existing players, including loyalty programs, cashback rates, deposit matches, and more, plus insider tips on picking the right bonus and maximizing rewards.
Contents
Sign-up bonuses at legal US online casino sites
New player sign-up bonuses fall into three main buckets: deposit match bonuses, second-chance offers, and “Bet & Gets.” Not too intimidating, right?
Well, yes and no. Bonuses that may seem similar at first glance can carry different wagering requirements, game restrictions, and expiry dates. Furthermore, some sites also reward bonus spins or no-deposit bonuses, which are great added perks but add another layer of complexity.
If you already know how to navigate bonus terms and conditions, then this list may be all you need. If not, we’ll help clear up any confusion.
Online casino sign-up bonuses
- Extensive game library
- Progressive jackpots over $2 million
- Earn MGM Rewards while playing
- Trusted and safe casino brand
- Exclusive game offerings
- Worthwhile loyalty program
- Mystery parcel feature
- Multiple deposit methods
- Unique rewards program
- VIP program and loyalty rewards
- A good range of games (400+)
- Backed by land-based casinos
- Smooth mobile app experience
- Impressive live casino lobby
- Frequently adds new games
- Attractive welcome package
- Well-known, reliable brand
- Extensive game variety
- No deposit bonus on sign-up
- High withdrawal limits
- Wide game variety, including Slingo and scratch cards
- Trusted betting platform
- 1x play-through for every bonus
- Slots from top providers like NetEnt and Microgaming
- Diverse game selection
- Great mobile app
- Operated by Caesars Entertainment
- Trusted operator offering 400+ exclusive and popular games.
- Earn rewards with Boyd Gaming’s B Connected loyalty program.
- High-quality mobile apps for seamless gaming experience.
- Huge selection of exclusive slot games
- Excellent mobile gaming experience
- Wide range of payment options
- Trusted, globally recognized brand
- Extensive game library
- VIP program for loyal players
- Regular rewards and promotions
- Massive selection of games
- Plenty of progressive jackpot table games
- Competitive welcome bonus
- Extensive slot games
- Secure payment options
- Lucrative loyalty program
- Trusted and reputable brand
- Daily spin-the-wheel promotions
- Daily free games and promotions
- Quick payouts and low payment minimums
- Dedicated VIP program
- Wide range of games
- Seamless user experience with great graphics
- Lucrative rewards program
Which states offer casino sign-up bonuses?
The states that offer legal online casino sign-up bonuses are currently limited to seven, although that number is expected to grow in coming years.
For now, players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia will have an abundance of welcome bonuses to claim.
With over 30 online casinos, New Jersey is the most developed market, followed by Pennsylvania with 22. Michigan is technically the largest market in terms of revenue but is hard-capped at 15 online casinos. West Virginia has nine.
Those in Delaware, Connecticut, and Rhode Island have considerably fewer options, only 1-2.
Best casino sign-up bonus offers
Our team has identified the best casino sign-up bonus offers, using our years of experience in spotting bonuses that provide the most value to new players. We also understand the tactics casinos use to make less attractive offers appear better than they are.
Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of the top new player bonuses, starting with BetMGM Casino, FanDuel Casino, and Bally Casino. We’ve also included offers from DraftKings Casino, Hard Rock Bet, Caesars Palace Online, and BetRivers Casino PA. These bonuses are designed to help you get the most value when signing up. You’ll also get a tip on which games to play and how to make the most of each offer.
BetMGM Casino: Best deposit match bonus offer
- New players who verify their account can claim a $25 no-deposit bonus. The bonus carries a simple 1x wagering requirement on most slots, but winnings can’t be withdrawn until you make a qualifying deposit ($10+).
- BetMGM awards first-time depositors a 100% match up to $1,000 with a 15x wagering requirement on most slots.
- BetMGM WV players get an augmented offer consisting of a $50 no-deposit bonus and a 100% match up to $2,500. They also receive 50 bonus spins on Bellagio Fountains of Fortune.
- Expiry dates: 3 days to claim no-deposit bonus; 7 days to fulfill wagering requirements. 30 days to claim deposit match; 14 days to fulfill turnover.
- Game restrictions: Most slots count 100% toward the wagering requirements, except for about 50 titles. Table games and video poker are completely excluded, except for limited contributions in West Virginia.
BetMGM Casino’s new player package is pretty convoluted, but underneath the muck lies an exceptional deposit match. The key ingredients are the large monetary cap and the low wagering requirements.
Players who deposit the full amount ($1,000) must wager $15,000 to clear their bonus. This works out to a generous 6.67% cashback rate.
The main caveat is that bonus funds can only be used on slots and jackpot slots. Also, some high RTP slots won’t contribute at all. Most of these excluded slots are from NetEnt, but about a dozen come from other providers. In another world, this would be a huge knock against the bonus, but these days, nearly all online casinos exclude table games and video poker from bonus consideration.
In West Virginia, the bonus goes from exceptional to otherworldly, with a raised cap to $2,500 plus 50 bonus spins.
Best Strategy: First, read the terms and conditions to learn which slots are excluded. Then, find a high RTP (96.5%+), low-to-mid volatility slot that isn’t excluded, and hammer it at a low denomination until you clear the bonus. Autoplay is your friend.
FanDuel Casino: Best second-chance bonus offer
- Make a first deposit of 10+, and if you’re down after your first 24 hours, receive your net losses back (up to $1,000) as site credit with a 1x wagering requirement.
- New players also receive 200 bonus spins on the FanDuel Casino exclusive World of Wonka, and all winnings can be withdrawn immediately.
- Expiration Dates: Site credits must be used within 7 days
- Game Restrictions: None
FanDuel Casino’s offer has a very generous structure. A $1,000 cap is huge for a bonusback promo, and site credits are only subject to a 1x wagering requirement that can be cleared on any casino game.
Players have 24 hours from the time of their first deposit to play games without too much concern, pending they cap their losses at $1,000. If they’re down after that time, they’ll get site credits equal to their net losses. If they’re up, they’ll keep their winnings but won’t receive any promotional benefit.
In addition, they’ll get 200 spins on World of Wonka, awarded at a rate of 50 spins every other day for seven days. These spins aren’t worth a lot, but there’s no downside, as all winnings are immediately allocated to your cash wallet.
Best Strategy: With second chance bonuses, you generally want to “Go big or go home.” A viable strategy is to bet your entire first deposit on one hand of baccarat or a few hands of blackjack (leave yourself enough to double down or split). If you can’t stomach that, play a highly volatile slot with a decent RTP.
With site credits, you’ll want to take a much more conservative betting strategy. You should still probably play blackjack or baccarat, but only wager a small percentage of your bankroll each hand.
Bally Casino: Least risky bonus offer
- Make a first deposit of $10+ and place a wager to qualify for Bally Casino’s Money Back Guarantee. Players who incur net losses over the next seven days will receive a cash refund equal to their loss, capped at $100.
- Expiration Dates: None
- Game Restrictions: None
On the surface, Bally Casino’s welcome package doesn’t look like much. And to be fair the $100 monetary cap is low.
However, this bonus is extremely beginner-friendly, with virtually no strings attached. Just deposit $10+, and if you’re down after a week, you’ll get up to $100 back. The refund is paid in cash, so you can either stash it on Bally’s, gamble it, or withdraw it. It’s your choice.
What’s also nice about this bonus is that players aren’t incentivized to deposit more than $100, as any net losses beyond this amount won’t be refunded.
Best Strategy: With such a small bonus and a weeklong promotional period, the best strategy may be to enjoy yourself. After all, how often do online casinos treat you to a genuine freeroll? Just try to work in some high-volatility bets because they’ll give you the best chance to win big with house money.
DraftKings Casino: Best bonus offer for budget-conscious players
- New players that place $5 in cumulative wagers will receive $50 in Casino Credits with a 1x turnover requirement.
- Expiration Dates: Casino Credits expire after seven days
- Game Restrictions: The only restriction is that credits cannot be used at the Live Dealer tables in PA.
DraftKings Casino has forgone its much larger deposit match in favor of a simple, casual-friendly Bet & Get that offers players a hefty return on a small investment.
New players only have to deposit and bet $5 to receive $50 in Casino Credits. These credits carry a 1x turnover requirement and can be spent on any casino game. This bonus is as straightforward as it gets, making it perfect for beginners and risk-averse players.
Best Strategy: The best way to guarantee a solid return on investment is to spend your casino credits on high-RTP table games like DraftKings Blackjack. Bet the $1 table minimum, and grind out ~50 hands, which shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes.
After you’re done with DK’s bonus, head over to Golden Nugget Casino, which offers a nearly identical welcome package.
Hard Rock Bet: Best free spins add-on
- New players who deposit $20 or more will be credited 500 bonus spins on Triple Gold. Any winnings from free spins are credited as cash and can be immediately withdrawn.
- Hard Rock Bet also offers a 100% first deposit match up to $1,000 with a 20x wagering requirement.
- Expiration Dates: 7 days for free spins; 14 days for deposit match
- Game Restrictions: Triple Gold for free spins; most table games and some slots contribute 0% toward the deposit match wagering requirements
Even at the lowest denomination ($0.10), 500 bonus spins are a healthy amount, bolstered further by any winnings sent directly to your casino balance. Triple Gold has a 94.83 – 94.89% RTP — a little below average, but still with an average expected return of $47.45 on $50 coin-in.
Hard Rock also throws a sizeable deposit match your way, with a fairly reasonable 20x wagering requirement (5% cashback). The problem is that most table games and dozens of high RTP slots don’t contribute, and blackjack only contributes 40%. This reduces the bonus’s value significantly.
Best strategy: Even if you opt out of the deposit match, you’ll still get the spins, so no worries. Otherwise, spin and hope for the best.
Interestingly, the best deposit match strategy is to bite the bullet and play blackjack. Yes, the wagering requirements are 50x instead of 20x on other eligible games, but the house edge on 21 is so slim that you’ll still generate more of an edge.
Caesars Palace Online: Best bonus for land-based players
- New players are awarded a $10 no-deposit bonus with a 1x wagering requirement on slots only.
- Caesars also offers a deposit bonus, consisting of a 100% match up to $1,000 (30x WR on slots), and 2,500 Caesars Rewards Credits ($25 wager required)
- Expiration Dates: 7 days for all bonuses, bonuses can only be claimed one at a time, starting with the registration bonus
- Game Restrictions: Table games and many good slots are excluded
Caesars Palace is one of the few online casinos that offer a no-deposit bonus, and the wagering requirements are low enough that new players should reap some benefit from it.
However, land-based players probably see the highest upside, as they’ll be credited 2,500 Rewards Credits for use online or at Caesars locations. Yes, they’ll have to wager $25 first, but worst case scenario they’ll get their full investment back, as 2,500 RCs are the cash equivalent of $25.
Just be warned that the Caesars Palace deposit match bonus isn’t great. At first, the high monetary cap and 15x wagering requirement seem tempting, but a look under the hood reveals that the WR is on the bonus + deposit amount. In other words, this is Caesars’ cheeky way of saying the turnover requirement is 30x.
Also, too many games don’t contribute, with table games, video poker, and most decent slots completely off the table. You also only have seven days to fulfill the bonus requirements, otherwise your bonus and any winnings turn to vapor. It’s just too much to overcome.
Best Strategy: Claim the $10 no-deposit bonus, finish the 1x wagering requirement, and then wager another $25 to collect the Rewards Credits. If you plan on consistently playing slots, it’s worth picking up the deposit match bonus, but table game and video poker players should fade it.
BetRivers Casino PA: Best PA-only casino offer
- BetRivers players in Pennsylvania receive a 100% first deposit match up to $250, with just a 1x wagering requirement.
- The offer in other markets isn’t too shabby either. First-time depositing players receive 100% back of casino net losses incurred within 24 hours, up to $500. A minimum $10 deposit is required.
- Expiration Dates: Bonus funds expire 30 days after being credited
- Game Restrictions: Bonuses cannot be wagered on roulette, baccarat, craps, and Live Casino games in PA. There are no game restrictions in other markets.
BetRivers’ second-chance offer is great, ranking second in overall value behind FanDuel. However, it’s overshadowed by its stellar deposit match offer, which is only available in the Pennsylvania market.
For perspective, we rank deposit matches with a 15x wagering requirement as good and those with 5-10x WRs as exceptional. So, we can hardly describe bonuses with 1x turnover requirements other than saying they’re practically free money.
Some may scoff at the low monetary cap. Yes, the upside is low relative to other deposit matches, but there’s hardly any downside. Even if you run horrendously, you should still see a healthy return.
Take advantage of this one if you can. But be warned that BetRivers now only allows you to claim one first deposit bonus across all state markets. So, if you snag the second-chance offer in NJ, MI, WV, or DE, you’ll be shut out of the PA offer.
Best Strategy: Deposit $250 and play a low-variance game like blackjack at smaller stakes. Even if you only wager $1 a hand, you’ll reach the $250 wagering requirement in no time.
Types of casino bonus sign-up offers
The types of casino bonus sign-up offers generally follow a few different formats, including No-Deposit Bonuses, Deposit Match offers, Second-Chance promotions, bet-and-get offers, and Free Spins. Operators often experiment with these to see what resonates best.
Let’s explore each type in more detail so that you can quickly identify them and understand their key components.
No-deposit bonus
A no-deposit bonus is exactly what it sounds like. New players receive these upon successfully verifying an account with an online casino, with no deposit required.
They’re usually gifted as a small monetary award, ranging from $10 to $50, and to cash them out, players must meet the casino’s terms. The most common term is a 1x wagering requirement (WR).
We’ll get more into wagering requirements later, but for now, know that a 1x WR means you’ll have to wager your bonus exactly once before it converts to cash. You don’t have to do it in one shot, but if you receive a $50 bonus, it won’t clear until you place $50 in cumulative wagers.
Some online casinos also require that players make their first deposit before cashing out their no-deposit bonus winnings.
A good example of a no-deposit bonus that enforces both of these conditions is the one offered by BetMGM. New registrants receive a $25 no-deposit bonus with a 1x WR that cannot be withdrawn until players make a qualifying deposit.
Occasionally, casino apps award new players with free spins. These are usually set at the lowest possible denomination, and winnings may convert to cash (which is good) or a bonus with wagering requirements (not as good).
Deposit match
Although they’re starting to fall out of favor, match bonuses are still the most common casino offer. Players that make their first deposit receive a percentage of their deposit as a bonus. For new player bonuses, this percentage is usually 100% or higher.
Deposit matches have an easily recognizable format that looks like this: [x]% match up to $[xxx].
For example, a 100% match up to $500 means that players who deposit anywhere from the minimum required deposit to $500 will receive a dollar-for-dollar match on their deposit, gifted as a bonus. However, if they deposit $501, $700, or $1,000, they’d still only get a $500 bonus because that’s the bonus’s cap.
If the match were 200% up to $500 instead, players would get a $2 bonus for every $1 deposited. Thus, players who deposit $250 would have a starting bankroll of $750 —$250 in cash and $500 in bonus funds.
Don’t be fooled by the maximum bonus amount. A $500 bonus can be far more lucrative than a $2,500 one. It ultimately depends on the terms and conditions, particularly the wagering requirements.
Second chance
A second chance or bonusback promotion acts as a sort of insurance policy. The online casino will grant new players a grace period typically lasting 24 hours from their first deposit. During that period, any net losses incurred will be given back to the players as a bonus, up to a certain amount.
Net losses are calculated via the following formula: wagers – winnings. For instance, if a player places 100 $1 wagers on World of Wonka and wins $80, their net loss is $20.
The easiest way to track net losses is to look at your balance. If you deposited $200 and currently have $150, your net loss is $50, pending you didn’t make any additional deposits or withdrawals.
Second chance bonuses usually take the format “Get Up To $XXX Back.” The monetary component is important because it’s the maximum refund you’ll receive. So, if the bonus reads “Get Up To $500 Back” and your 24-hour net losses equal $1,000, you’ll only receive a $500 bonus. Therefore, try to limit your net losses to the maximum bonusback amount.
The bonuses carry wagering requirements, but they’re usually 1x. Any higher than that, and the offer loses substantial value. Occasionally, an online casino will offer a true refund, paid as cash. Bally Casino does this with its Money Back Guarantee welcome package.
The biggest knock against bonusback offers is that players who win even a single penny won’t receive any benefit. It’s like the promo never existed. That’s why we encourage players to be less risk-averse when playing through these bonuses. Either you’ll win big or get your funds returned.
Bet & get (or deposit & get)
Bet & Get welcome packages are targeted specifically at budget-conscious and casual players. The return on investment (ROI) is massive, but the bonus amounts are small, usually in the $50 – $100 range.
For example, Golden Nugget Casino awards new players who make a $5+ deposit with $50 in Casino Credits. These credits can be used on any casino game and any winnings convert immediately to cash.
Notice that players don’t even need to place a wager to claim the bonus, so this offer is technically a Deposit & Get. If it were a Bet & Get, players would first have to wager $5.
The best Bet & Get we’ve seen was offered by DraftKings Casino, which gave $100 in casino credits to new players that wagered $5. That’s a 2,000% ROI.
The upside may be strictly limited, but Bet & Get offers are one of the fastest and least risky ways to prop up your bankroll.
Free spins
Free spins are never the focal point of a welcome package, but the best offers add decent value.
In addition to their regular bonus, players receive bonus spins for use on one or a group of hand-picked slots. Often, the casino awards hundreds of spins, but don’t get too excited, as they’re usually set to the lowest denomination. Winnings from free spins may be paid as cash or as a bonus with a 1x wagering requirement.
To figure out how much the spins are worth, use the following formula: number of spins * denomination * RTP
Putting this into practice, if FanDuel Casino offers 200 spins at a $0.20 denom for World of Wonka (94% RTP), then the spins have a value of $37.60 (200 * 0.20 * .94).
Free spins are usually awarded automatically to new depositing players, but it’ll be up to you to play through them before they expire. However, some online casinos award free spins incrementally across several days or a week. They want you to keep coming back, after all.
Types of casino offers for existing players
Casino offers for existing players include a variety of rewards aimed at keeping loyal members engaged. These offers range from Deposit Match Bonuses and Free Spins to daily incentives like Daily Freebies and Leaderboards.
Players can also participate in Giveaways, enjoy special Happy Hours, or benefit from Bonusback Offers. For loyal players, Loyalty Cashback and VIP Exclusives are available, along with occasional Spot Bonuses and even Refer-A-Friend promotions.
Deposit match bonus
Existing players may occasionally receive a deposit match offer with a similar structure to the ones new players receive. The main differences are that the percentage match and the bonus cap are usually much smaller.
For instance, a recent promo on Caesars Palace Online awarded players with a 40% match up to a $20 bonus. On the plus side, the wagering requirements for these smaller bonuses are generally pretty low. The Caesars promo had only a 6x turnover on slots.
Free spins
Free Spins promos come in a few different flavors. First are Game of the Week promos like the ones found on FanDuel Casino, where players who bet a specific amount on a hand-picked slot will be awarded bonus spins. These are by far the most common free spin offers.
Now and again, online casinos spice things up by offering returning players free spins on their next deposit or allowing them to purchase spins at a discounted rate from their loyalty stores.
Daily freebies
Gambling sites have begun incorporating more free game promos into their casino lobbies. BetMGM is aggressive in this concept, nearly always offering some variation of a daily Spin the Wheel game where players can win small bonuses.
FanDuel has a perpetual Reward Machine promo where winners get bonuses and free spins on its exclusive games.
Free games are a win for casinos because they increase player engagement and also a win for players because they can pad their bankrolls without investing real money.
The prizes are usually nominal, so don’t expect to get rich from these promos. We’re talking $1 – $5 casino bonuses and a few bucks worth of free spins.
Leaderboards
Casino leaderboards are a popular offer that can be a double-edged sword. The upside is that top players will receive a healthy kickback on their play, but landing a leaderboard spot might require significant play.
DraftKings Casino is probably the best site to find leaderboards. They even have a tab dedicated to them, where players can track existing promos and view the results of previous ones. Generally, DK’s leaderboard prizes start at $10,000 but shoot up to $1 million+ during special events.
Prizes are split among tens or even hundreds of winners, with top performers winning the lion’s share. Players earn points by playing select real-money games and climb the ranks by gambling more than their fellow gamblers.
The main pitfall of leaderboard promos is that they encourage players to gamble more than usual. Avoid that trap by opting in only if you plan on playing anyway.
Giveaways
Many casino sites have ties with retail brands and leverage these partnerships to offer giveaways. Usually, these are sweepstakes promos where players earn tickets via real-money play and are entered into a drawing at the end of the qualification period.
Over the years, we’ve seen all sorts of giveaways, from cruise line experiences to casino getaways, trips to Vegas, Caribbean vacations, and more. Caesars Palace Online and BetMGM support the most giveaways, which makes sense, considering they’re two of the largest retail casino brands.
Happy hours
Happy Hour promos are more of a sports betting thing, but a few casinos offer them, too.
For instance, BetRivers Casino frequently runs a promo where players can earn 2x loyalty points from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Unfortunately, the points multiplier only applies to a hand-selected slot, but it’s still a valuable opportunity.
Bonusback offers
Bonusback offer promos work the same way as second-chance welcome bonuses. Casinos cover a player’s net losses for a specific period, up to a certain amount.
The main difference is that the maximum kickback is generally lower than welcome bonus caps. If welcome bonuses offer $500 – $1,000 bonusback, then recurrent promos may only offer $20 – $200.
In our eyes, it doesn’t matter if the bonusback is a $1 — these are promos worth taking advantage of, pending the bonus wagering requirements being 1x.
Loyalty cashback
Most larger online casino brands have adopted loyalty programs, similar to ones found at retail gaming outlets. The programs vary significantly from casino to casino, but one common thread is their cashback rewards systems.
Players earn loyalty points by placing real-money wagers, which can be converted to cash or bonuses. For instance, BetRivers awards players 1 loyalty point per $0.25 in theoretical loss. Caesars Palace Online takes a more traditional approach, offering players 1 Tier Credit and 1 Reward Credit per $5 of slot coin-in.
Generally speaking, players should expect about 0.1% – 0.3% of their wagers returned to them. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s enough to trim the house edge by up to 20%.
Most loyalty programs also provide other benefits, including luxury gifts, exclusive promos, milestone rewards, and priority customer service and withdrawals. Graduating to higher loyalty tiers can potentially earn higher cashback rates, like with DraftKings Dynasty and BetMGM Rewards.
VIP exclusive
Some of the best casino offers are hidden from public view, only reserved for players classified as VIPs.
VIP exclusive promotions take various forms, including deposit matches, bonus back offers, point multipliers, and signature leaderboards. The consistent theme is their substantial size, often surpassing typical welcome package offers.
The bigger you play, the better your exclusive bonuses. And if you’re a hosted player, you’ll have the opportunity to work out custom promos tailored to your preferences.
Spot bonuses
Online casinos don’t offer free play via mailer like land-based properties do. Instead, they hand out spot bonuses based on your play.
Spot bonuses are given to players who either give casinos consistent volume or who hit a run of bad luck. They’re usually awarded in the form of casino credits and, just like free play, have a 1x wagering requirement before they can be withdrawn.
Often, the best way to collect spot bonuses is to ask. You’ll be surprised how amenable customer service can be, especially if you’re a site regular with a decent loyalty tier.
Refer-a-friend
Refer-A-Friend casino offers are among the easiest ways to score a hearty bonus. Players with an existing account in good standing can send a verified link to their friends, and if the friend signs up and completes a small wagering requirement, you’ll get paid.
Bonus amounts vary, ranging from about $20 up to $100. The better referral programs award bonuses to both the referrer and referee and allow players to refer 20+ friends annually.
Important casino bonus offer terms
When reviewing casino bonus offers, it’s essential to pay attention to several key terms that can impact your ability to withdraw winnings. These include the wagering requirements for both the deposit and bonus, the game contributions that determine how different games count toward wagering, the expiration dates of the bonuses, and the minimum deposit required to claim them.
Wagering requirements (bonus)
If you’ve been around online casinos for a while, you’ve undoubtedly heard the term wagering requirement thrown around (also known as turnover or playthrough requirement).
In short, a wagering requirement is the number of times you must play through a bonus before it becomes withdrawable.
Wagering requirements are why you have two online casino balances — cash and bonus. Your cash balance is money you can withdraw, and the bonus balance holds funds that can be used on the site but cannot be withdrawn because the WR hasn’t been fulfilled. When the WR is met, the bonus balance converts to cash.
Turnover requirements vary widely, from 1x to 30x or higher, and lower ones are objectively better than higher ones:
- 1x wagering requirements are stellar and should always be taken advantage of
- 5x – 10x WRs are still good, but don’t guarantee you’ll be profitable
- 15x – 20x WRs can be good under the right conditions
- You may squeak out an edge playing bonuses with 25x – 30x WRs, but it’s hit-or-miss
- Anything above 35x should be avoided like the plague
To understand why, let’s take an example. Say a casino offers a $1,000 match bonus with a 5x turnover. That means to clear the bonus, players will have to wager $1,000 x 5 = $5,000. This equates to a 20% cashback rate, which is extremely good.
If players choose to play an average slot with a 96% RTP, their effective RTP would be 96% + 20% = 116%, resulting in a sizeable edge over the house.
If, instead, the wagering requirement was 20x, players would have to bet $20,000 to clear $1,000. That works out to 5% cashback. Now, that same 96% slot only generates a 1% advantage.
Wagering requirements (deposit + bonus)
Normally, turnover is calculated off the bonus amount. So, if an online casino offers a 100% match up to $1,000 with a 15 WR, the assumption is that you’ll have to wager just the bonus amount 15 times for a total wager of $15,000.
However, if you’re required to wager 15x the deposit + bonus amount, that works out to ($1,000 * 15) + ($1,000 * 15) = $30,000. That’s effectively a 30x turnover requirement. A bonus that seemed pretty good at first glance is mediocre at best.
If there’s one term you’ll want to watch out for, it’s this one.
Game contributions
If wagering requirements weren’t already complicated enough, casinos assign weights to how games will contribute to the turnover.
The best way to illustrate this is through a hypothetical example:
- Slots contribute 100% towards the casino wagering requirement
- Roulette contributes 50%…
- Video poker and most table games contribute 10%…
- Blackjack and select slots contribute 0%…
How do you make sense of this? First, divide the wagering requirement by the game contribution percentage to get the effective turnover. For instance, if a game contributes 20% and the wagering requirement is 20x, we get 20/.2 = 100.
So, if you choose to play that game, you’ll have to wager 100x the bonus amount to clear it.
Next, multiply the WR by the bonus amount to get the required coin-in. Using the previous example, if the playthrough requirement is 100x and the bonus is $1,000, you’ll need to run through $100,000 (100 * $1,000) to clear it. That works out to a paltry 1% cashback rate, so you’d need to play games with at least a 99% RTP to generate an edge. Sigh.
It goes without saying that you’ll usually want to avoid games with a <100% contribution amount. Unfortunately, the recent trend has been for casinos to only count some slots at a 100% contribution rate, while every other game contributes nothing (0%).
Online casinos take these drastic measures to prevent players from exploiting their bonuses. That’s why so many high RTP games are excluded from the list.
Expiration dates
Once you claim a deposit match or similar casino offer, a countdown begins. If it reaches 0 before the wagering requirements are met, all bonus funds and free spins will be removed from your balance.
You may also have a limited time to opt-in to a bonus. Thankfully, welcome bonuses are usually awarded automatically upon successfully verifying your account, but if they’re not, you’ll be on the clock. Wait too long, and the opportunity turns to dust.
Expiration dates vary, but usually, you’ll be given at least a few days, and as many as 30, to fulfill the wagering requirement. Plan accordingly.
Minimum deposit
To qualify for most welcome bonuses, you must meet the minimum deposit threshold. Usually, it’s only $10, which is the minimum amount you can deposit via most payment methods anyway.
Tips on picking the right casino bonus for you
Knowing how to pick the right casino bonus for you is the key to longevity at the virtual reels. Here are some basic guidelines we recommend following:
Stick with your budget
To get the most out of bonuses, you’ll generally want to deposit the maximum amount. However, not everyone feels comfortable plunking down $500 or $1,000. If you only intended on depositing $100 or $200, don’t alter your plan.
Instead, alter where you play. Seek out gambling apps that offer smaller bonuses with lower or non-existent wagering requirements. Bet & Get bonuses are excellent for budget players, as is Bally’s Up To $100 Money Back Guarantee.
Once you have cleared a few low-risk, low-reward bonuses, you can consider aiming for big deposit bonuses, which have a considerable upside.
On the flip side, if you intend on playing with $2,000, seek out a 100% deposit match up to $1,000. That way, you only have to invest $1,000 for a $2,000 starting bankroll.
Tip: If a bonus’s wagering requirement is greater than 1x, there’s a risk of getting felted. The bigger the wagering requirement, the higher the risk. So stay cautious, and don’t deposit more than you can afford.
Shop around
There’s no hard and fast rule stating that you can only play at one online casino. The savviest gamblers scour every legal gambling app in their state for the best promotions.
Once you play long enough, you’ll get a sense of when casinos have their best offers. One casino could have a great 3x loyalty multiplier on Mondays, while another hosts Happy Hours on Wednesday evenings. A third might never run promos except during the holidays.
That being said, you’ll want to dedicate the majority of your play to just one or two casinos, preferably ones with the best loyalty programs. Just don’t be afraid to cheat on them once in a while.
Understand the terms and conditions
If you’re not reading a casino offer’s terms and conditions, you’re doing it wrong. Play detective and dissect every relevant detail.
You’ll be on the lookout for wagering requirements, game contributions, and expiry dates. If it’s a leaderboard promo, look at the current standings to see how much volume you’ll need to land a spot. Or if it’s a free-to-play promo, check out the prize table.
While you’re at it, make sure that the online casino supports your preferred payment options. Luckily, most legal gambling apps host a wide variety of payment methods, but some niche or trendy options may only be offered by larger brands.
Play high RTP games
Online casinos often exclude table games, video poker, and some high RTP slots from contributing to wagering requirements.
Yet, with the average casino now supporting over 1,000 slots, some good slots with an RTP exceeding 96.5% should still be eligible. You’ll just have to search for them.
Here’s a snapshot of the RTP you’ll want to target for different wagering requirements:
- 10x WR: 90%+ RTP
- 15x WR: 93.33%+ RTP
- 20x WR: 95%+ RTP
- 25x WR: 96%+ RTP
- 30x WR: 96.67%+ RTP
As you can see, it starts becoming difficult to find good games to play at the 30x level. In that case, just skip the promo and move on to the next one. Teach the casino a lesson for being greedy with their turnover requirements.
(Usually) don’t cancel bonuses
There are not too many instances where it makes sense to cancel or opt out of a bonus. One case would be if you automatically receive a welcome bonus with oppressive wagering requirements. Then sure, opt out before taking a single spin.
Another exception is if you’re up heaps and just want to lock in your winnings. It’s not optimal, but we get it.
Otherwise, stay the course because there’s nothing worse than canceling a bonus halfway through. The reason is that online casinos pull from your cash balance first and only from your bonus balance once your cash reserves are depleted.
Let’s say you claim a 100% match up to $1,000 and deposit the full amount. You now have a $1,000 cash balance and a $1,000 bonus balance. However, things don’t go your way, and you’re quickly down $500.
Disgusted, you drop the bonus and are shocked to learn you only have $500 left. Weren’t you playing with bonus funds? Nope, the losses were deducted from your cash balance.
Say you lost $1,000 instead. Now your cash balance is $0, and your bonus balance is $1,000. Canceling the bonus would be catastrophic because you’d be losing an opportunity to gamble with house money.
The rule of one
Many online casinos have integrated sportsbooks. They may also conduct operations in multiple states where online gambling is legal.
Some players take this to mean that they can claim both the online casino and sports welcome bonuses and then repeat the process in different states.
That’s not the case. With little exception, if you claim one welcome package, that’s it. So choose wisely. If the sports betting bonus offers more value, skip the casino bonus. Or, if one state offers a much better sign-up package than another (this does happen), consider making the drive.
It’s also worth mentioning that online casinos generally don’t allow you to have multiple bonuses active at once.
FAQ
What’s the best online casino offer for new players?
The best online casino offer for new players depends on various factors, as bonuses are constantly updated and tailored to different player types, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
However, we can confidently say that bigger isn’t always better. Wagering requirements, game contributions, payment methods, and time investment are all factors players should consider when weighing the pros and cons of a casino offer.
What’s the biggest available online casino bonus?
Right now, the biggest public offer is a $2,550 new player package offered by BetMGM. It consists of:
- $50 no-deposit bonus
- 100% match bonus up to $2,500
- 50 bonus spins on Bellagio Fountains of Fortune
However, this offer is only available to West Virginia players. In other jurisdictions with legal online casinos, BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, and Borgata all offer $1,000 packages + extras.
Why do online casinos even offer welcome bonuses?
Online casinos offer welcome bonuses as a way to get you in the door. Consider it a mutually beneficial marketing trick, similar to how retail outlets entice new customers.
The casino gets a new player, and the player gets a temporary edge over the house. Win-win.
Which online casinos have the best recurrent promos?
For the best free-to-play promotions, BetMGM probably has the best selection. Their other recurrent promos aren’t too shabby, either.
Caesars Palace Online also keeps its promotional tab well stocked, but the promos vary in quality, so make sure to read the fine print.
VIP Only: If you manage to reach Level 7 of BetRivers’ iRush Rewards loyalty program, then you’ll unlock a VIP Calendar overflowing with awesome promos, updated monthly.
What games can I play with online casino bonuses?
The games you can play with online casino bonuses ultimately depend on the casino. Although as a general rule, you’ll only be able to clear deposit match bonuses on slot machines.
Leaderboard and Game of the Week promos are usually even more rigid, restricting players to just one or a small group of games.
Bonusback offers are probably the most flexible promos. Usually, you can just play whatever you want.
When in doubt, check out the terms and conditions and seek out information on eligible games.
What does a bonus balance mean at an online casino?
At an online casino, a bonus balance means funds that are gifted to you by the casino, which cannot be withdrawn until you fulfill the bonus’s wagering requirements. Every online casino splits your balance into two categories: cash and bonus.
- A cash balance is money that can be immediately withdrawn
- A bonus balance is funds gifted to you by the casino, and they cannot be withdrawn until you fulfill the bonus’s wagering requirements.
For clarity, imagine that you have a bonus balance of $500, and the bonus has a wagering requirement of 10x. You must wager $5,000 ($500 * 10) before the bonus converts to cash.
Typically, bonuses convert all at once, meaning that you’ll have to fulfill the entire turnover requirement, although a few online casinos allow for incremental conversions.
What’s the best state for online casino bonuses?
New Jersey is the best state for online casino bonuses. It has the most online casinos and offers over $12,000 in bonus value through its 30+ apps.
Pennsylvania is a close second, followed by Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island.
