Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Making The Most Of Online Casino Bonuses

The online casino industry is a yearly multi-billion dollar business, thus to stay competitive, every reputable online casino offers a full line of promotional features. With the focus being to draw in new customers, the first promotion on each casinos list is going to be new player casino bonuses.

There are many different types of online casino bonuses offered by various operators, ranging from percentage based matching bonuses, to high-roller bonuses, to no deposit casino bonuses. Each is designed to suit the needs and preferences of the online casino itself, as well as individual players.

A percentage-based casino bonus is one that requires the player to make an initial deposit, then matches that player’s deposit by the specified percentage. For example, a 100% deposit bonus would grant the player an exact match of their first deposit (i.e. deposit $100, play with $200). Most of these bonuses are capped at a certain amount, such as 100% up to $500, so be sure to know the maximum bonus allowed before depositing. In the same token, a minimum deposit may be required, though this is commonly low (i.e. $10 - $25).

High-roller bonuses work in much the same way, but require the player to deposit a much larger sum of money to receive the bonus. For example, depositing $300+ may grant a 200% bonus up to $1,000, instead of the typical 100% up to $500.

Perhaps the most popular casino bonus is what is commonly referred to as a ‘No Deposit Casino Bonus’. These are bonuses awarded to new players without having to make a deposit first. Microgaming Casinos are very well known for these types of casino bonuses.

What makes a no deposit casino bonus so popular is that the player has an opportunity to win real money without actually risking anything in the process. There are generally two types of no deposit casino bonuses. The first is a free trial offer with a small bonus amount. The second is a free play time bonus, usually with a much larger bonus attached.

Free trial bonuses award a small amount, typically $5 to $50, to play free casino games. The player has a chance to win real money, while also checking out the software and overall game play at the online casino. The bonus money cannot be withdrawn, but the winnings can, so long as the right conditions are met. Often times, this requires a small initial deposit to confirm the player’s identity, plus play-through of the deposit amount. If the player has already won a nice amount with the free trial bonus, they are still essentially risking nothing to do so.

Free play time bonuses are a quick way to earn free casino cash, packed with fast-paced excitement. The player is given a large bonus, $500 - $1,000, with which to place a certain number of wagers in a given amount of time; 100 wagers in one hour is the most common. There will only be a few games at most to choose from, played out in a separate mini-window. Should the player complete the task and end with a small profit, usually $20, they are allowed to keep the bonus money and winnings.

While veteran online casino gamers are well aware of these lucrative casino bonuses, those new to the online casino community would do well to become educated in the various online casino bonuses on offer. As a golden rule, always be sure to read the fine print before taking advantage of any online casino bonuses.

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