An online casino bonus can play a significant role in determining whether a casino is a good fit for you. It’s not just about the bonus itself but also its terms and conditions and what suits your personal preferences as a player. When selecting a casino based on its bonus, there are a few key factors you should consider:
- Type of Bonus
- Bonus Amount
- Wagering Requirements
Types of Casino Bonuses
To make it easier to navigate, we can divide casino bonuses into two main categories:
- No Deposit Bonuses: These are free bonuses (such as free money or free spins) offered without the need to make a deposit. They are great for players who want to try a casino risk-free. No deposit bonuses allow you to test out the casino without any financial commitment.
- Welcome Bonuses: These are deposit bonuses that players receive after making their first deposit. Casinos offer these bonuses to encourage new players to join. The bonus amount typically depends on the size of your deposit.
What to Look for in a Casino Bonus
When you’re deciding which casino to play at based on its bonus offer, there are two primary factors to consider:
- Bonus Amount: How much is the casino offering you? A higher bonus might seem tempting, but the overall value depends on the wagering requirements.
- Wagering Requirements: The lower the wagering requirements, the better the bonus is. Casinos often require players to wager their bonus amount several times before they can withdraw any winnings. A bonus with low wagering requirements is always preferable, even if the bonus amount itself isn’t as large.
Why Wagering Requirements Matter
Wagering requirements indicate how many times you need to play through the bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings. For example, if a casino offers a €100 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, you’ll need to bet a total of €3000 before you can withdraw any winnings.
A lower wagering requirement means you can convert your bonus into real cash more quickly. Therefore, it’s crucial to assess both the bonus size and the wagering requirements before making your choice.
How to Compare Online Casino Bonuses
Here’s an example of how to choose the best casino bonus by comparing two casinos from our top list.
LeoVegas bonus VS NovaJackpot bonus
When choosing between two online casino bonuses, it’s important to evaluate both the bonus amount and the wagering requirements. Let’s compare LeoVegas and NovaJackpot to see which casino offers the best value for Irish players.
- LeoVegas offers a high deposit bonus of up to €1000 with a very low wagering requirement of only 20x.
- Nova Jackpot offers a bonus of up to €500 with a wagering requirement of 35x bonus + deposit which means that both your deposit and your bonus need to be wagered which in effect becomes a 35+35=70x wagering requirement.
| Bonus | LeoVegas | NovaJackpot | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wager | 20x | 70x | LeoVegas |
| Percent | 100% | 100% | – |
| Max amount | €1000 | €500 | LeoVegas |
LeoVegas has much lower wagering requirements, the same percentage bonus and a double maximum cap for the bonus than NovaJackpot.
LeoVegas comes out on top, offering a much lower wagering requirement (20x vs. 70x), the same bonus percentage, and a higher maximum bonus (€1000 vs. €500). Therefore, LeoVegas offers the better Irish casino bonus compared to NovaJackpot.
Online Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions Explained
When you claim an online casino bonus, it’s important to understand the terms and conditions, especially the wagering requirements. These requirements determine how much you need to wager before you can withdraw any bonus money or winnings from it.
How Wagering Requirements Work
Once you activate a casino bonus, you agree to the bonus’s wagering requirements. This means that you cannot withdraw either your deposit or your bonus funds until you’ve met the specified wagering criteria.
Example of How Wagering Requirements Work:
If you receive €100 in bonus funds with a wagering requirement of 25x, the total amount you must wager is calculated by multiplying €100 by 25. In this case:
- Wagering Requirement: 25 x €100 = €2,500
This means you need to wager €2,500 at the casino before you can request a withdrawal of your winnings.
You can also play without a bonus!
If you’re new to online casinos and not comfortable with wagering requirements, one option is to skip the bonus altogether. This means you won’t have to meet any wagering requirements—you can simply deposit your own funds and play with the exact amount you deposited. The benefit? You’ll be able to withdraw your winnings at any time, without any restrictions.
No Deposit Bonuses: Play Risk-Free
Another way to play risk-free is through a no deposit bonus. With this bonus, you don’t need to make a deposit—just create an account, and the casino will give you free spins or free money to play with. However, just like regular bonuses, no deposit bonuses come with wagering requirements.
How No Deposit Bonuses Work:
To calculate the wagering requirement for a no deposit bonus, you simply multiply the bonus amount or the value of your free spins by the wagering requirement. For example:
No Deposit Bonus: If you receive €20 and the wagering requirement is 30x, you would need to wager €600 before being able to withdraw any winnings from your no deposit bonus.