The Different Types of Casino Bonus
Irish players will come across a number of different online casino bonuses once they’ve created a casino account.
The first, known as the welcome offer, is available to new players for one time only. It’s usually a sizable bonus and is redeemable once you’ve created an account. After the welcome offer, there are plenty of additional rewards up for grabs for loyal customers.
New sign up offers can come in many different forms – here are some of the most common bonus types.
Matched Deposit Bonuses
Matched deposits are one of the most common casino bonuses. These bonuses see the casino equal the player’s deposit amount at a certain percentage and up to a set limit, giving players a healthy bankroll to play with. For example, a matched deposit bonus of 100% up to €100 would see players land €200 in their account after a €100 deposit, with half of this sum coming at the casino’s expense.
The best offers come with lower bonus wagering requirements, meaning cashing out some winnings is more likely — that said, even low requirements can be hard to meet so we’d suggest using your casino bonus to familiarise yourself with the site and its games.
No Deposit Bonuses
The best online casinos will offer up no deposit bonuses — freebies doled out to players without the need for a qualifying deposit. No deposit bonuses tend to be given to new players upon sign-up and prior to any deposits into their account.
While these bonuses come entirely at the casino’s expense, the values of no deposit bonuses are much smaller than the likes of matched deposits, and strict terms and conditions are likely to apply. No deposit bonuses may be in the form of free non-withdrawable funds, betting credits, or free spins.
Free Spin Bonuses
Players who prefer to spend their online casino time on video slots should pay attention to free spin bonuses – an injection of free spins that can only be used to spin the reels. If you’re making your first deposit, you may be offered a bundle of free spins as part of the site’s welcome offer; many of the best online casino bonuses combine these free spins with a matched deposit for new accounts.
For existing players, free spins bonuses are often handed out in exchange for a minimum deposit, such as an offer of 50 spins following a €20 deposit. This is sometimes known as a reload bonus.
The free spins included in the bonus will have a monetary value attached, typically around €0.10 per spin, and the amount you’ll get runs the gamut from under ten up to several hundred. If these spins are part of the casino’s welcome bonus, they’re likely to only be eligible on one or two slot machines, as stated in the T&Cs. Other free spins bonuses may come with a longer list of games, or even the full catalogue of slots on their respective sites.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses is the term given to offers made to existing players. Signifying a ‘reloading’ of funds into a casino account, these bonuses can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Reload offers might come as free spins, a match on your next deposit, or bonus credit to use on games — they’re usually found within your account at the site, but are sometimes handed out as casino bonus codes via newsletters or emails. As always, terms and conditions such as wagering requirements will apply.
Loyalty Points
The best Irish gambling sites will reward regular players with loyalty bonuses or points. These points are accrued through deposits and bets, and can be exchanged for various prizes, including cash bonuses, free spins, and even invites to special tournaments or branded merchandise. The loyalty programme may require you to opt in, so check as soon as you sign up.
Cashback
Cashback bonuses see players receive a portion of their wagers or losses back as withdrawable cash. For example, if a player stakes €10 at the roulette wheel with a cashback bonus of 10% on daily losses, they’d reclaim €1 if their bet were to lose. 10% represents a standard cashback offer, but some casinos and bonuses will offer more generous values, particularly for VIP customers.
Bonus Codes
Bonus codes, or promo codes, provide players with a special one-off promotion that can take any of the above forms. The casino will usually specify what stands to be won via a bonus code, but sometimes they’re a bit of a mystery, with players only discovering the substance and value of a bonus code once they’ve redeemed it on-site.