Are Casino Bonuses Worth It?
When it comes to casino bonuses, EU players really are spoilt for choice, but how do you know when to accept or refuse casino bonuses. This can be tricky, and most bonuses sound amazing until you look deeper. In this article, we’re going to look at the promotional offers you can expect to find at the best European online casinos and when to accept them and when to refuse them.
Best European online Casino Bonuses
Most EU players at online casinos, especially those that are new to online gambling will look at the bonuses being offered and more than likely claim them. The best European online casino will offer a range of promotional deals including welcome bonuses, reloads, free spins, no deposit codes, etc., as an incentive to get you to sign up with their site. They sound great but it is important to check the terms and conditions to see exactly what you are agreeing to.
Important Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions
There are some additional important things to look at too before you claim a European online casino bonus. The first is to make sure the site is safe and reliable, and we recommend checking to make sure the casino is licensed and regulated by a reputable licensing authority. Below are some of the elements of the bonus T&Cs you need to check.
What are the wagering requirements?
All the best European casinos online offer bonuses that have wagering requirements. This is the number of times you need to playthrough the bonus money before you can withdraw your winnings. The wagering requirements can vary from 30x up to 100x and some will be based on your bonus and deposit amount. Try to choose offers with the lowest playthrough requirements.
Is the withdrawal amount capped?
Some casino bonuses have a cap on the amount you can cashout. The maximum payout will be listed in the terms and conditions and in the case of a no deposit bonus you will find that this can be between £50 and £100. Anything you win over this will be removed from your account when you request a withdrawal so don’t go chasing jackpots.
What games can I play?
You might find that the bonus being offered is only valid on certain casino games. This means that you can only play these games and if you wager bonus money on any other game you forfeit your bonus and your winnings.
How long does the bonus last?
The validity period tells you how long you have to meet the wagering requirements and cash out your winnings. Free spins might only be valid for 24 hours and no deposit bonuses might expire after 7 days. Deposit bonuses tend to have the longest time frame and many EU players will find they have 30 days to use their bonus.
Claim a European Online Casino Bonus or Not?
Now that you know what to look for in the bonus terms and conditions it’s time to look at the different bonus types and whether or not you should claim them. There are very strict guidelines on the advertising of bonuses in the UK and sites that flout these rules face serious penalties.
No Deposit Cash/Chip Bonus
This is a free play offer for new players that can range from £5 to £15 in free cash/chips. Once you sign up for a new real money account you get to play games with no risk using your free money. It is a great way to try out a new European online casino and there are no monetary costs involved. You also get to keep what you win up to a fixed amount. There are a couple of reasons you might not want to claim a no deposit bonus and this includes the high wagering requirements and a limit on the amount you can win.
No Deposit Free Spins
Free spins are similar to the free chip bonuses but are restricted to slots. Some of the best free spins offers at European online casinos will see new players receiving up to 200 spins on the top slots when they create an account. Reasons to claim this bonus include no deposit being required and no risk of losing any money. You can win real cash and they are a great way to try out video slots for free – also great to see what casino game you like. The reasons not to claim this bonus are that you might only get to play 1 slot machine and there will be a cap on the amount you can win after meeting the wagering requirements.
First Deposit Bonus
To claim this you have to make a deposit at the casino. This is usually a percentage match up to a fixed amount like 100% up to £200. There are wagering requirements, but these are much lower than no deposit bonuses and you can usually play a bigger variety of games including blackjack and roulette. There is no max cashout. If you don’t want to have wagering requirements or they are higher than 35x you might not want to claim this bonus. Another reason not to claim it is if your winnings are capped or you can’t play the games you want to play.
Free Spins with Deposit Bonuses
Some sites offer new players a first deposit that includes a large number of free spins too when they make a minimum deposit of say £20. The free spins can be up to 300 and they are often spread out over your first couple of days as a member. There will be wagering requirements but some of the best European online casinos have non-wagering spins, so you get to keep what you win. You should claim this bonus if you enjoy playing slots and you are happy to make the minimum deposit amount. You should also make sure the wagering requirements on the spins are lower than 50x. You might not want to claim this bonus if you prefer to have full control over your winnings or if the wagering requirements are higher than 50x.
Reload Bonuses
These are for existing players and a deposit is required. Reloads are a great way to boost your bankroll and the percentage match value is usually 50% or more. There are wagering requirements that must be met before you can request a withdrawal. You don’t have to claim reloads and if you prefer to maintain control over your bankroll and winnings then you might want to give these a miss. If you are going to claim reloads make sure the wagering requirements are lower than 35x and that you can play the games you want to play.
The main advantage of casino bonuses is that they allow new and existing players to experience games without too large a financial risk, especially during lockdowns due to COVID-19. Of course, this often means winnings will be limited. Regardless of whether you choose to claim a bonus or not, always remember to play responsibly.
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