What a new casino bonus is
A bonus is money or spins a casino adds to your account, usually with your first deposits. New casinos lean on large welcome packages to win their first players, often spread over three or four deposits, plus free spins, cashback, reloads and occasional no deposit offers.
Types covered on this site: free spins, no deposit bonuses and bonus codes. For limited-time offers, see exclusive new casino bonuses and promotions.
A welcome match adds a percentage of your deposit as bonus money. Free spins give a fixed number of spins on a named pokie. Cashback returns a share of your net losses over a set period. Reload bonuses repeat the match on later deposits. Each type has its own wagering rule, so the type tells you which term to read first.
Expected value: the number that matters
Expected value (EV) is what a bonus is worth to the average player after wagering. Work it out in three steps:
- Amount to bet = bonus × wagering multiple.
- Expected cost = amount to bet × house edge (1 minus the RTP).
- Value = bonus minus expected cost.
Example: a $100 bonus at 35x means $3,500 of bets. On a 96% RTP pokie the expected cost is $140, so the bonus is worth about minus $40. At 20x it is worth about plus $20.
Wagering is the term that moves the result most. A 20x requirement on a $100 bonus asks for $2,000 of bets. A 40x requirement asks for $4,000 of bets. Offers with no wagering at all are rare, and our page on whether no wagering bonuses exist at new casinos explains how they are built. Read those offers twice, because the limit can move into another term such as a win cap.
How to claim a bonus
- Read the bonus terms on the casino's site before you register.
- Register and verify your account.
- Opt in or enter the bonus code when you deposit; most codes do not work afterwards.
- Pay with a method the offer allows; e-wallets and vouchers are often excluded.
- Track the wagering in the cashier and keep each bet under the maximum.
Claiming a bonus takes a few minutes. Most mistakes happen before the deposit, when the terms go unread. The walkthrough in how to find and claim new casino bonuses covers where offers are listed and what to check at the cashier.
Terms to read
- Wagering and whether it applies to bonus only or bonus plus deposit
- Maximum bet while the bonus is active
- Game weighting for table and live games
- Time limit to finish wagering
- Maximum cash-out from bonus or free spin winnings
- Sticky or non-sticky: see sticky and non-sticky bonuses
Why bonus terms differ between casinos
Casinos set bonus terms to balance the cost of the offer against the players it attracts. A higher match percentage is often paired with a higher wagering multiple. A lower multiple is often paired with a smaller match or a win cap. The headline and the terms therefore need to be read together.
New casinos have little player history to lean on. A large welcome package is a quick way to draw sign-ups. The terms then keep the cost of that package manageable. Comparing the terms across several offers shows where the real price of each one sits.
Which bonus suits which player
A bonus suits a player when its terms match how that player bets. Beginners usually do better with small offers and low wagering. Our list of bonuses for beginners follows that approach. Experienced players can weigh larger packages, because they can track weighting and maximum bets unaided.
Players who bet mostly on table or live games should check the weighting first. A bonus that counts those games at a fraction multiplies the wagering. Pokie players can worry about weighting less, since pokies usually count in full.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| More playing time for the same deposit | Wagering usually costs more than the bonus is worth above 25x |
| Free spins let you try new pokies | Max bet and game rules can void winnings |
| Cashback softens a losing session | Time limits push you to play more than planned |
If a bonus has gone wrong, see why your bonus did not work.
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