Editorial: Bonuses in online casinos

Online Casino Bonuses For many seasoned online gamblers, a big part of the thrill of internet casinos is hunting down the biggest and best promotions. It's this enthusiasm for free casino cash that fuels much of the traffic to our site's promotional pages; bonus hunters want to know who's offering a no deposit deal this month or where they can find the largest matching percentage. If you're totally new to online gambling or just oblivious to the bonus aspect of it, then we think you'll like what you're about to read.

Players that formerly frequented live casinos are often surprised by how generous the online bonus packages can be. They're used to buying buffet comps or key chains with their players club points, and the biggest freebies they've ever seen usually come in the form of a seasonal coupon for $5 in chips. It's no wonder then that they get all hot and bothered over online bonuses that offer hundreds of dollars of extra play. If cash bonuses are still news to you then read on for an exciting introduction to the world of online bonuses.

Sign-On/First Deposit Bonuses

The first bonus opportunity you will encounter as a new member at any online casino is the sign-on/first deposit bonus. This is a one-time deal so be sure you grab it while you've got the chance. The first deposit bonus is almost always a matching bonus, which means that the amount you receive is tied to the amount you deposit. Online casinos tend to be more generous with their first deposit bonuses than online poker rooms. At the casinos a 100% matching bonus of up to $500 or more is standard with some casinos offering 200% or more. Some casinos have sign-on packages that can be worth thousands in free cash. The Rushmore Casino, for example, is currently offering a first deposit bonus of 400% for up to $2400 in free credits! Alternately because poker rooms earn cash off players in a different way (via set rake percentages) they tend to be less generous with their first deposit bonuses. About the best you can expect is a 100% match with the largest share of the free cash going to high rollers.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses are those bonuses offered on later deposits. Again casinos tend to be more generous in this department, though many casinos AND poker rooms offer no reload bonuses at all. Reload bonuses are generally smaller matching bonuses that offer an average of 20-30% in extra playing credits. Lately online casinos have been revamping their reload programs by offering new players increased match percentages on second and third deposits. Online Vegas Casino for example offers a higher matching percentage of 125% and 150% on second and third deposits respectively and continues to offer reload bonuses of 30-35% through your ninth deposit.

The best way to ensure that you get a reload bonus at the poker rooms is to check their preferred deposit methods. Often using these preferred services will guarantee you an extra 10-15% match on all your deposits.

No Deposit Bonuses

You can pretty much forget about getting a no deposit bonus from a poker room; this promotion is virtually exclusive to online casinos. Though small, these bonuses tend to be the most coveted in the online gambling world. What's the big deal? While we call a lot of bonuses “free cash” that title is truest in regards to no deposit bonuses. If you're not sure you're ready to invest your own money into trying an internet casino (or if you're just flat out broke), then no deposit bonuses offer you a free glimpse into the real world of online gambling. Just for signing up for an account—no credit card required—some casinos will automatically give you as much as $25 in complimentary credits for you to play with as you please. Even better if you win, the money—REAL money—is yours to keep!

These bonuses are usually offered by new casinos looking to attract traffic or by old casinos trying to draw a new crowd, and because no casino profits from giving away cash they tend to be a short-term thing. You don't risk anything by trying no deposit bonuses, so we recommend grabbing them when you find them.

Points Programs

Points programs are popular at both the casinos and the poker rooms and are a throwback to the traditional comps offered at live casinos. Thankfully the online points programs don't require that you carry a card around on a big plastic key chain—your comps are automatically tallied as you play. How many points you earn per credit and what you can get with those points varies from one site to the next. Many casinos will allow you to cash your points in for more credits while most poker rooms limit their comps to tournament buy-ins and site merchandise.

Recently a few poker rooms have introduced a new kind of points program. The most popular of these programs is called “Outs, ”and it awards points for in-play accomplishments like winning back to back hands and less popular in-play events like losing with a monster hand.

E-mail Perks

Some bonuses can only be had via e-mail. The online casinos know that the best way to keep their players active is by reminding them to play, and the easiest way to do that is by e-mail. Because it's sometimes hard to get into people's personal accounts, a number of gambling establishments have taken to offering special bonuses accessible only through their e-newsletters. As an example, our current leader in overall ratings, Europa Casino, offers a special $/£/€50 bonus to winners of their weekly e-mail lottery—a promotion only available to members that subscribe to their newsletter. Couldn't hurt to try!

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18-Jun-2009, 08:54

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