Are Casino Bonuses Worth It?

Q: What is a casino bonus?

A casino bonus is a gift from the casino, this can be for signing up or even for existing customers as a surprise.

Q: What is a welcome bonus?

A welcome bonus is a welcome gift casinos give to new players. When signing up most casinos will offer a promotion just for signing up - such as free spins or bonus cash.

Q: Are no-deposit bonuses worth it?

No deposit bonuses can still have wagering requirements attached to them, so check if they’re realistic before jumping the gun. The best types of bonuses are no wagering no deposit bonuses but they are a rarity.

Q: Can you actually withdraw bonus winnings?

Once you have completed the wagering requirements you’re free to withdraw your bonus winnings. However, if you don’t meet the wagering requirements you won’t be able to withdraw any winnings - so, keep this in mind!

Table of Contents

What 'Worth It' Really Means
When a Casino Bonus Is Worth Claiming
When You Should Skip It
A 60-Second 'Should I Claim This?' Checklist
Bonus vs Playing With Your Own Cash
FAQs

What 'Worth It' Really Means

If you're new to playing online casinos you're probably wondering "are casino bonuses worth it?" and the answer lies in the casino bonus value.

There are a variety of different types of casino bonuses you can claim with different casino bonus terms & conditions that will ultimately decide whether or not the casino bonus is worth it. If a bonus has too high wagering requirements it will be difficult to clear, meaning you won't make any withdrawable funds - which equals not worth it in our books. Ideally you want to look for low wagering casino bonuses or no wagering casino bonuses.

Included in the welcome bonus is either: free spins, matched deposit, bonus funds, money back or a mix of the elements such as bonus funds plus free spins.

So where does the value lie? The value lies in the amount of real money you're able to turn over from the bonus and how quickly it takes you to clear it. Some light math should point you in the right direction - if you're struggling you can view our odds guide for some help on how to go about calculating the value of a bonus.

When a Casino Bonus Is Worth Claiming

Is a casino bonus worth it? Well if you were going to play at the casino anyway, yes. But regardless of that, everybody wants to come out ahead when playing at a casino, especially when claiming a bonus. There are four things to look out for when evaluating whether or not a casino bonus is 'worth it'. When to claim a casino bonus:

You like the casino: If you would play at the casino anyway, without a bonus, then any bonus - in any form - is beneficial as it essentially lets you have some 'free play' at the casino. And, if the T&Cs are good you might even finish playing the bonus with some extra withdrawable funds in your account.
Reasonable wagering requirements: No one wants a casino bonus where it is basically impossible to leave on the up, so if it has 1x or no wagering it is definitely worth claiming as you stand a good chance of leaving the casino with a little more than you came with.
Eligible games: Do you like the games on offer? If so, then the bonus is a great way to get some extra spins with little risk, and you might even make some real money off the back of them. Another point to consider is whether the game has a solid RTP (94%+) if it has a low RTP it will be more difficult to clear the bonus.
Amount on offer: Is the amount on offer actually worth it? If you only receive 10 free spins then a $20 deposit most likely isn't worth it and you're probably best off looking for a better bonus, offering more, elsewhere.

When You Should Skip It

If you are still unsure on whether a casino bonus is worth claiming, you can review these five red flags to help you judge when to skip a casino bonus:

Not in your state: You should only play at licensed casinos or you risk many issues such as being unable to withdraw your funds as well as data protection issues with your payment details. When a casino is licensed and regulated you have a governing body you can go to with any issues. This is a glaring red flag.
Sizable wagering requirements: Realistically you want a bonus that is possible to make a bit of money from. If wagering requirements are too high it will make it incredibly tough to clear the bonus so stay away from anywhere with high wagering requirements.
Large 'games excluded' list: The last thing you want is to wager and then realize the game you've wagered on doesn't qualify toward your wagering requirements. If a casino has a big list of excluded games - we would say to avoid it to prevent any mishaps like that.
Low maximum win: Similarly, imagine winning a big amount of money and then you can't withdraw it because the max win attached to the bonus is incredibly low… ideally go for casinos with no max win.
T&Cs are unclear: If you find the T&Cs lack clarity and come across as confusing it's probably for a reason…avoid these companies like the plague!

A 60-Second 'Should I Claim This?' Checklist

To summarize the above points, when it comes to how to claim a casino bonus, make a mental note of this checklist and if no outweighs the yes it's probably wise to stay away:

Quality: Is this bonus a good offer?
Overall appeal: Do you like the look of the casino?
Trust: Is the casino trustworthy/ licensed?
Wagering requirements: Are the wagering requirements realistic?
Expiry date: Is there enough time to meet the wagering requirements?
Games: Can you play any game with the offer?
Max win: Is the max win uncapped?

Bonus vs Playing With Your Own Cash

If the bonus isn't beneficial and you have to play your deposit to unlock the bonus you're probably better off just playing with your own cash. Nothing is stopping you from playing at a casino without a bonus. Simply, don't opt-in to the bonus and just play with your own cash - that way you aren't restricted to any wagering requirements or bonus terms.

However, if it is a no wagering bonus then it is worth doing as you get to keep all of the winnings from the bonus - so why not!