You don’t walk into a land-based casino and expect to be given a loaded credit card of money to play on slots. Yet most of us wouldn’t think of signing up for an online casino without taking a casino bonus offer, thinking it’s free money.
Bonus money is rarely real money. Because if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
You use the bonus money in online casinos to play any of the games on the gambling site. This bonus money can only be used at the casino that has given it to you and cannot be withdrawn immediately. To withdraw bonus money, or any winnings made using bets placed with casino bonus money, you need to clear the wagering requirements first.
If this all seems too complicated, don’t worry. We take you through the simple steps of what a bonus is, how to use it, and (if you are lucky) how to withdraw it.
What is a casino bonus?
A casino bonus is extra money added to your account as a ‘bonus.’ In many ways, it resembles real money because when you open up a slot machine, you can play with the bonus money as you would with real deposit money.
Choose your bet amount, spin, and win or lose.
The difference is that with real money you’ve deposited, if you gamble and win, you can withdraw the winnings immediately. It’s your money to do whatever you like.
If you play and win with a casino bonus, any winnings are placed in your bonus balance, and you need to play through the wagering requirements before you can withdraw a single cent.
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Related: What should I be asking myself about casino bonuses?
What does bonus balance mean?
Most good mobile casinos online will split your pots of money: one with the cash you deposited, the other with any bonus money you’ve accumulated via offers or free spins.
The bonus balance holds all the bonus money you’ve received so far. You only use the bonus money if you run out of cash in your real money pot. If you withdraw your real money pot before using the bonus, you forfeit the bonus.
A casino bonus is like a safety net that allows you to keep on playing, even once you run out of money. But unlike real money, the bonus money still belongs to the casino.
The best use of bonus money at online casinos
Think of casino bonus money like game tokens. You can use it to try new slot machines, check out features, try and hit those elusive free spins. What you probably can’t do is withdraw the bonus.
Bonus money has wagering requirements, usually somewhere between 30x to 40x. So if you are given a no deposit casino bonus of £€$30 with 35 times wagering requirement, you would need to play £€$1050 worth of bet (with the bonus money) to then be able to withdraw.
It’s one of the top 5 reasons why casinos won’t pay out winnings – because players are not aware of how the wagering requirements work.
If it all seems like an impossible sum, that’s because it usually is. You would have to have some crazy wins to clear the wagering. And while it’s not impossible (we’ve seen it happen), it’s pretty rare.
It’s why you should always use a casino bonus calculator before you take an offer.
So how do you use bonus money in Online Casino?
The system is pretty much automatic. You don’t have to do a thing.
- Sign up to one of our recommended online casinos
- Click yes on offers and promotions
- When you deposit you will be automatically added a bonus to your casino account
- The casino will automatically use the bonus money once you run out of real funds
Remember that you can accept a bonus but not use it if you don’t want to. You can forfeit the bonus money whenever you want.
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What’s the use of bonus casino funds?
It’s like free drinks at the slots in Vegas. The casino gives you a little happy boost to keep you seated and playing. But, unlike with Vegas, you can keep a clear head and use it wisely:
- Play brand new slots – test the new machines to see if you like them before using your deposit money.
- Play new types of casino games – always been a little afraid of Megaways slots? Tempted to try online scratchcards or bingo? Now is the time.
- Play progressive jackpot slots – they have the worst odd in slots, but who cares? You can win millions in one spin, whether it’s bonus money or real money.
- Test the online casino – if it’s a brand new site, have a play with bonus money to see that the games don’t crash, what the customer service has to say, and how easy it is to deposit, play and withdraw.
- Play slot tournaments – many casinos, such as Videoslots or Casumo, will allow you to use bonus money to play in their slot tournaments. You might only be able to win bonus prizes, but it’s a bonus for a bonus, and you get to try fun new games.
- Play, Win, Withdraw – It’s rare but not impossible.
And if all else fails, a nice little bonus can help you place a few bets before payday to scratch that casino itch safely.
What’s the best online casino bonus?
We always look at the quality of the casino first, and the bonus second. A flashy offer is nice, but it means very little if the site is awkward to use, slow with withdrawals, light on good games, or unclear with its terms.
The best casino bonus is usually one that feels simple, fair and easy to understand. Low wagering, no wagering, cash spins, regular promos and clear withdrawal rules matter far more than a headline number that looks huge but comes with strings attached.
That said, bonuses are still part of the fun. Even sensible players like getting extra spins, bonus cash or a little something back while they play. The trick is choosing a casino where the offer supports the experience, instead of distracting from the small print.
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Play at Hyper Casino
Hyper Casino is a strong option if you want a modern casino with a big game lobby, regular promotions and a straightforward mobile experience. It is not just about the welcome offer either. The site has slots, live casino games, table games and sports betting, so there is more going on than a one-off bonus at sign-up.
Depending on your location and the current offer, if you’re new to the casino you may find free spins or deposit-based promotions available. The important bit is to check the terms before claiming, especially the wagering rules, expiry times, eligible games and minimum deposit. Hyper Casino’s appeal is strongest when the offer is simple and the games behind it are worth playing anyway.
Add in a broad slot selection, live dealer games, a clean site layout and ongoing promotions, and Hyper Casino becomes more than just a bonus filled casino. It is the kind of casino where the offer can be useful, but the overall experience still needs to do the heavy lifting.
Head over, check the latest Hyper Casino bonus terms, and see whether the current offer fits the way you like to play.
