Casino Welcome Bonus
Online casinos provide a wealth of varying bonuses that can help you kickstart your iGaming adventure courtesy of extra funds, free cash or free spins. You could spend hours analysing each site to see what’s on offer, but to save your precious time we’ve done the necessary legwork for you.
Throughout this page, you’ll discover an overview of the most common casino welcome bonuses, along with what they provide and how you can claim them. So, be sure to read on if you’re planning on joining an online casino to get in on the action.
Top Online Casinos With a Welcome Bonus
- Four-part welcome package
- Excellent range of casino games
- Solid payment methods
- First deposit match: 100% up to €500 & 200 free spins
- Use the code: PLATIN1
- Get rewarded for first 4 deposits
- Four deposit bonuses
- First deposit 100% matched up to $1,500
- Plus 150 free spins
Our experts are constantly scouring the web for the best and latest casino offers. Below, you’ll find a fantastic range of sites that offer top casino bonuses. Simply select your favourite and click the respective link to get started.
What is a Welcome Casino Bonus?
Essentially, a welcome bonus is a casino’s primary method of attracting new customers by offering various perks and rewards. These promotions typically include a deposit match on your first payment, but they can also provide additional benefits such as free spins and further cash bonuses.
Of course, as casinos strive to outdo each other to drum up interest, these casino bonuses will vary from one site to the next. That’s why it’s important to consider precisely what’s available and if it’s the right fit for you. Before you make your decision, though, it’s important to think about whether you want a one-off deal or something that extends beyond your initial deposit, which leads us to our next point.
Two Main Types of Welcome Bonuses
Typically, a casino welcome bonus tends to come in one of two formats. The first of which is ideal for players who want a one-off boost to their bankroll, whilst the other is better suited to those of you who plan on playing for longer and making additional deposits.
A First Deposit Offer
This, as it sounds, is an offer that you receive when you make your initial deposit with a casino. Casinos advertising this bonus will provide a percentage match on your first deposit up to a specified amount – this is ideal for players who simply want a one-off bonus.
A Welcome Package
This type of offer consists of several bonuses bundled together, which are released across your first few deposits. Each subsequent deposit you make unlocks an additional reward, whether it be a deposit match or several free spins – this format is better suited to players who are confident their chosen site meets all of their demands and plan to make multiple deposits.
Top Online Casinos with Welcome Bonus Offers on First Deposit
At Slotsia, we always strive to bring you the best online casino welcome bonus deals we can find, which is why we keep our list up to date for you. Our list below will give you a great idea of some of the best value deals we believe are available for customers like you, right now, at a number of great value and highly regarded new online casinos!
- Four-part welcome package
- Excellent range of casino games
- Solid payment methods
- First deposit match: 100% up to €500 & 200 free spins
- Use the code: PLATIN1
- Get rewarded for first 4 deposits
- Four deposit bonuses
- First deposit 100% matched up to $1,500
- Plus 150 free spins
The Difference Between Welcome Bonus, Sign Up Bonus and First Deposit Bonus
A lot of potentially confusing terminology surrounds the iGaming industry and, at times, it can be difficult to glean the true meaning behind certain phrases. Welcome bonuses and their various counterparts are a prime example of this. You’ll likely come across terms such as welcome bonus, sign up bonus and first deposit bonus and it’s understandable to think they refer to the same thing – surely they do, right?
Well, whilst they’re similar in many respects, there are specific attributes that set them apart from one another. As always, we want you to have all the necessary information to make an informed decision, which is why we’ve provided a table below that outlines each offer.
- Registration Required?
- Available To New Customers?
- Real Money Deposit Required?
- Additional Bonuses On Subsequent Deposits?
- Available To Existing Customers?
- Registration Required?
- Available To New Customers?
- Real Money Deposit Required?
- Additional Bonuses On Subsequent Deposits?
- Available To Existing Customers?
- Registration Required?
- Available To New Customers?
- Real Money Deposit Required?
- Additional Bonuses On Subsequent Deposits?
- Available To Existing Customers?
How To Claim A Welcome Bonus
Claiming a welcome bonus isn’t difficult and you tend to follow each of the steps below in turn in order to access a bonus:
- Check our list of available casino welcome bonuses and decide which is best suited to your needs.
- Click the respective link to head directly to your chosen casino.
- Create a new account with the casino by locating the registration page.
- If your chosen offer is a no deposit bonus, then at this point you should receive your bonus.
- For certain offers, players may need to signify that they are intending to ‘opt-in’ or ‘claim the bonus’ to be eligible. If this is the case, this is the point when you signify your intent to accept the offer from the casino.
- If your bonus requires a deposit to become active, navigate to the site’s banking/cashier page. Establish a payment method and make at least the minimum qualifying deposit to access the offer. Your bonus should then become available as soon as the casino processes and confirms your transaction. This usually takes a few seconds but if it takes longer, you may need to contact customer support.
- Once both your deposit and bonus funds are credited to your account, head to the main lobby, select your preferred game and start playing!
Types of Casino Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonus with deposit
The most common type of welcome bonus available nowadays is a sign-up bonus that is activated only when you make your first deposit with the casino. Although the general premise of each is the same, the amount of bonus and how it is paid out to you can vary from casino to casino.
Sites tend to offer deposit bonuses more frequently than no deposit bonus deals. With this type of deposit bonus, you need to go one step further. In addition to signing up with the casino to open an account, you also then need to make a qualifying deposit in order to activate the bonus.
A 100% or 200% welcome bonus is the most common type that you can expect to find at an online casino, and below we have selected a few of the best deposit welcome bonuses available.
- Four-part welcome package
- Excellent range of casino games
- Solid payment methods
- First deposit match: 100% up to €500 & 200 free spins
- Use the code: PLATIN1
- Get rewarded for first 4 deposits
- Four deposit bonuses
- First deposit 100% matched up to $1,500
- Plus 150 free spins
Welcome Package
A welcome package offer is usually a number of different bonuses put together as a package. You can claim them in sequence over a successive number of deposits at your choice of casino, usually within a set time limit.
In addition to matched deposit bonuses, welcome packages also frequently include free spins and/or a no deposit bonus as part of their offer. Welcome packages tend to be paid out across your first two to five deposits with a casino, with varying percentages and amounts. The below casinos all feature such offers and come with the Slotsia seal of approval.
- Four-part welcome package
- Excellent range of casino games
- Solid payment methods
How Can You Find the Best Welcome Bonuses?
As there are so many welcome bonuses to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which are truly worthwhile. Therefore, we thought it would be helpful to share a few handy tips so that you can spot the better options with greater ease.
We’re always hunting for new offers, and whenever we come across one we believe you’ll like, we add it to our ever-growing list of top welcome bonuses. We’ll never recommend sites or bonuses that we deem to be unscrupulous or contain predatory terms and conditions.
Speaking of T&Cs, we advise that you take a look at the various conditions applied to your bonus. You’ll want to be aware of validity periods, wagering limits and whether or not there’s a cap on how much you can win. Ultimately, the better offers grant extended time frames, reasonable bet limits and no win caps, so these are some of the key factors you’ll want to consider.
When claiming a welcome bonus, there is often a specified amount that you must deposit in order to be eligible. Again, this fluctuates between different casinos so it’s something you’ll need to know before depositing to avoid any unwanted surprises.
Welcome Bonus Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements play a pivotal role in most casino bonuses. This stipulation determines how many times you’ll need to wager your entire bonus before the casino converts anything that remains into real money, thus making it eligible for withdrawal. As such, you’re ideally looking for welcome bonuses that contain realistic wagering conditions – somewhere in the range of 35x provides you with a genuine opportunity of landing a cashout.
To put this into perspective in terms of what it means from a financial standpoint, we’ll use an example: a 100% up to $100 bonus with a 35x wagering requirement.
Say you claim the offer and deposit the maximum of $100. The casino will then match the amount and credit you with an additional $100 in bonus funds. Provided the wagering only applies to your bonus amount, you’ll be required to wager a total of $3,500 ($100 [bonus] x 35x [wagering]) before you can request a withdrawal. Of course, this is already a substantial amount to play through and you’re going to need to land several wins along the way to be in with a chance of meeting the T&Cs.
Now, imagine the wagering requirements were even higher, let’s say 60x. You’ll then be facing the prospect of playing through a total of $6,000 before you can even consider a withdrawal – if you were to attempt to, your bonus may end up becoming null and void.
Ultimately, this is one of the most important factors you’ll need to consider when selecting a welcome bonus. The percentages and numbers displayed may seem appealing but it’s the fine print that indicates whether or not a bonus is truly worth accepting.
Difference Between Cashable and Non-Cashable Welcome Casino Bonuses
Another distinction that may crop up in relation to welcome casino bonuses is whether they fall into the cashable or non-cashable category. There’s a stark contrast between the two, as one allows you to keep any bonus winnings you may earn, whilst the other does not. As such, below you’ll find an outline of each, along with other similar phrases used to describe each category.
Cashable Bonus (Non-Sticky Bonus)
- Usually award less bonus cash than sticky bonuses.
- All funds/winnings can be withdrawn as soon as you meet the wagering requirements.
- Meeting the wagering requirements may be more difficult but, overall, the conditions are less complicated.
Non-Cashable Bonus (Sticky Bonus)
- Often award more money in comparison to non-sticky bonuses.
- Bonus funds are used for wagering only.
- Any winnings you earn from the bonus cannot be withdrawn.
- Grants you an increased chance of meeting the wagering requirements so your initial deposit remains intact.
Are Welcome Bonuses Available for All Payment Methods?
Nowadays, online payment technologies have advanced to the point where you can make payments in a variety of ways. Online casinos quickly adapted alongside these developments, as now you can make deposits and claim bonuses using a range of market-leading card, eWallet and instant banking solutions.
Popular payment options such as Visa and Mastercard can almost always be used to claim various bonuses. However, when it comes to the alternatives, things get slightly murkier. Ultimately, it depends on the casino but at some sites you will be ineligible to receive a bonus if you use specific eWallet payment methods – PayPal, Neteller and Skrill to name but a few.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a matter of checking the terms and conditions to see which payment methods are accepted. It’s worth taking a few minutes to confirm this detail so that you don’t end up missing out on the bonus entirely.
Gamble Responsibly
On this page, we have outlined the pros and cons of welcome bonuses. Whilst they can be a great opportunity to make your money go further and try out new games, it is crucial that you never lose sight of responsible gambling. Create a budget and stick to it to ensure that your hobby never becomes unhealthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome bonuses can be deceivingly complex at times, so we have prepared answers to some of the most common questions.
A casino welcome bonus is an offer that a new customer receives when they sign up with a casino (in the case of a no deposit required bonus) or make their first deposit with the casino (in the case of a deposit or match bonus). Offers can include spins, bonus money or other rewards.
The first step towards realising any casino welcome bonus is to sign up with the casino. After that, you may need to make a qualifying deposit to receive your bonus.
Some depositing methods can incur costs to a casino that will mean that offering a bonus using these methods is not cost-effective for a casino. In these cases, if you elect to fund your account using these deposit methods, then the Welcome Bonus and other offers may not be available to you.
In most cases, yes. You will need to meet the attached wagering requirements before you do so though, else you may risk forfeiting the offer. However, there are specific occasions when your bonus funds cannot be withdrawn, you can only use them for wagering. This is referred to as a non-cashable (sticky) bonus.
Generally, for the vast majority of players, online casino welcome bonus offers are always worth it as they offer you a great value bonus when you join a casino. For the typical customer wanting a little extra for their cash, or to try a casino before they deposit, these offers are superb value, but always gamble responsibly.
Provided you’re not an existing customer and don’t already have an account, in most cases you’ll be able to claim a welcome bonus. Certain payment methods may preclude you from being eligible, however, so be sure to check the terms and conditions beforehand.
Online casinos offer a variety of different introductory offers, each of which has their pros and cons. Sign-up bonuses and no deposit bonuses are ideal if you don’t want to make a real money deposit, whereas first deposit bonuses and welcome packages are better options for players who are committed to spending real money.
Casinos can restrict what games players can play with their bonus cash. For example, it is common that bonus cash cannot be used on live casino games and some casinos also stop players from using their bonuses from playing games with higher RTP percentages.
