Casino Bonuses: Maximize Your Winnings – Optimize Your Playtime
Our team has discovered some of the best online casino bonuses on the internet. See our detailed guide below to learn more about these amazing benefits, where to claim them, and how to get the most out of them.
What is a Bonus at an Online Casino?
Casino bonuses come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and values. And while they all include specific terms and conditions, they share the exact same goal: to give you bonus money with no risk.
Of course, who wouldnât be interested in the chance to gamble with some free money? So, casinos love to use their bonuses as part of their marketing campaigns to attract new players to their website and / or reward their current users for their loyalty.
However, all bonuses are not created equal. While some are indeed a great way to bet risk-free, others are more about getting you to bet as much of your own cash as possible.
Are Casino Bonuses Always Worth it?
Believe it or not, depending on the way the bonus is structured, it may be more beneficial not to claim it!
Indeed, some less reputable casinos hide how their bonuses actually work behind complicated or confusing terms and conditions.
For instance, a casino might offer you C$100 in bonus funds to be used on their slots or table games.
What you donât see, however, if the wagering requirements are so unrealistic it is impossible to meet them and thus convert the âbonus moneyâ into âreal moneyâ? before you can claim that cash! It sounds underhanded, and it is.
However, failing to look at the wagering requirements for a casino bonus is just one of the ways that users get taken in.
Luckily, thatâs where we come in!
At CanadaCasinoNews.com, we keep track of the entire Canadian online casino marketplace so that we are always aware of the best online casino bonuses being offered.
We then take that information, boil it down, and turn it into a list of the biggest and most achievable bonuses in the market!
Have you heard that?
Digital slots are the only casino games that typically contribute 100% towards wagering requirements. In fact, most live casino and table games are excluded from wagering T&Cs.
The Very Best Selection of Casino Bonuses
Weâve made it our mission is to find the biggest (and fairest) online casinos bonuses in Canada.
However, not just any old bonus will do. The bonus casino promotions we highlight are required to meet a specific set of criteria.
By choosing from any of the above-licensed casinos, you can rest assured that they:
- The casinos are fully licensed and are compliant with the regulations of the UK Gambling Commission, the Curacao Gambling Control Board, and the Malta Gaming Authority.
- All terms and conditions related to the welcome bonus can be reviewed before you have to click the opt-in button.
- Players are always properly notified when they are playing with âbonus moneyâ and are properly made aware of any applicable restrictions.
- Any restrictions relating to promotion play are âdo not reserve sole discretionâ of the online casino.
- Once a user decides to opt-in for a promotion, the T&C cannot be altered in any way.
What To Look for When Selecting a Bonus
Before selecting a casino bonus, you need to look at a variety of factors to help decide whether or not the reward is actually worth it.
Below, youâll find a set of questions you can ask yourself every time you want to evaluate a bonus.
Have I read the Terms and Conditions?
If you haven’t spent time reading the T&Cs of the bonus, do not click the opt-in button. You need to learn your limits and restrictions ahead of time if you want to protect yourself and your money. This should be your number one rule of thumb, executed before claiming any casino bonus.
What are the wagering requirements?
Even the best online casinos will still have strict wagering requirements for their bonuses. These are usually listed as a multiplier and indicate how much of your own money you’ll need to bet before the bonus can be withdrawn.
For instance, a C$100 bonus with a 20x multiplier means you need to wager (C$100 x 20) = C$2,000 (win or lose) before any winnings from that bonus can be withdrawn.
Are there any game restrictions?
Wagering requirements aren’t the only restrictions you’ll find on casino bonuses, as some platforms will also restrict the games or types of games that you can play with your bonus money.
Usually, you’ll find casinos excluding table games like Blackjack and Roulette as they tend to have a low house-edge that allows enables players to easily meet the wagering requirements.
Of course, a good casino will typically allow you to wager your bonus on a nice mix of slots and table games.
What is the minimum and maximum deposit match amount?
Deposit matches are extremely popular among online gamblers, as it gives them a nice way to boost their initial investment.
However, when using this type of bonus, itâs essential that you figure out the minimum real-cash deposit the casino requires from you. You’ll also want to take note of the maximum that can be matched.
At most casinos, the minimum is around C$10, while the max is about C$250.
What is the validity of the bonus?
Did you know that most online casino bonuses come with an expiration date? If you did, youâre in a better position than most other gamers.
You see, most Canadian online casinos maintain their bonuses for about one week after registration, while free spins can last as little as 24 hours!
This means you donât just have an amount to hit, but you also have a time limit to clear the wagering requirements.
Are there any restrictions on the deposit method?
Itâs not uncommon for some online casinos to restrict which payment methods allow you to claim a bonus.
For instance, digital wallets like Skrill and Neteller are commonly excluded from most deposit match bonuses, which prefer a Visa, Mastercard, or bank account.
You can find these restrictions in the terms and conditions, so read them closely.
Are there any market restrictions?
Itâs not uncommon for a Casino to limit its promotions and welcome bonuses to specific areas or nations.
Fortunately, here at CanadaCasinoNews, we only provide you with information about sites that are fully accessible to Canadian players.
What are the siteâs turnover requirements?
Each category of game may contribute towards the bonus wagering requirements in a different way.
For instance, online slots will usually count 100% toward helping you clear your bonus.
However, table games and live casino games may be limited to a mere 10% or 15%.
This means youâll need to spend way more time (and money) to meet your requirements playing them.
Types of Bonuses (And How to Decide Which is Right for You)
Weâve already mentioned that there are many types of casino rewards.
In this section, weâll explore the different kinds of casino bonuses out there in more detail, so you can decide which type or types fit your style of play.
- Welcome bonuses (also known as a sign-up bonus)
- Free spins
- No deposit bonuses
- Reload or Deposit bonuses
- No Wagering Bonuses
- Live Casino bonuses
- Cashback bonuses
- Mobile casino bonuses
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses or sign-up bonuses are easily the most common type of online casino promotion.
They are available upon registering for an account with the site and usually take the form of a deposit match with or without additional free spins.
Each deposit match is structured around a percentage, which can be as much as 500% of your first real-money deposit!
This is quite rare, of course, and most casinos simply offer a deposit match of $100.
The Betsafe Online Casino Welcome Bonus
One of the best examples of a welcome bonus can be found at Betsafe. Not only does it reward any deposit of at least C$15 with 50 free spins, but you will also be eligible to claim a 100% match deposit on up to C$1000.
To learn more about Betsafe, click here.
Free Spins
As weâve mentioned, casino bonuses frequently take the form of free spins.
They could be the entire bonus itself or just an add-on to a deposit match bonus.
Either way, they allow you to play for free at a variety of slot titles, which means you can win without wagering any of your own money.
The ComeOn Online Casino Free Spins Bonus
ComeOn Online Casino has one of the best free spin bonuses around, with a total of 300 spins distributed across the userâs first three cash deposits.
To learn more about ComeOn Casinoâs welcome bonus, click here.
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses are some of the most popular promotions out there.
These are usually risk-free, which means that you donât need to put any funds into your account in order to claim them. In fact, you usually get a chance to start playing the moment you sign up.
Though rare, these are a great way to maximize your online experience.
Casino Reload Bonuses
Casino reload bonuses are â by definition – not intended for first-time users but for those players who already have an account.
They work much like a deposit match bonus.
If you havenât played in a while or have a low balance, you may get an alert stating that you can receive anything from 25% to 100% of your deposit in bonus funds.
No Wagering Bonuses
No wagering bonuses are another relatively rare type of casino promotion, but they are very popular among players.
As you might have guessed, no wagering bonuses donât have any associated wagering requirements.
This means that any winnings you earn (no matter how big or how small) can be withdrawn to your bank account or e-wallet immediately.
Live Casino Bonuses
Live casinos offer streaming gaming experiences that are incredibly popular among most players.
To encourage newcomers to the platform to give these games a chance, many online casinos in Canada will offer both a regular casino bonus and a live casino bonus.
Most of the time, these are of the deposit match variety. This means you get extra money to spend at Live Blackjack or Live Roulette tables.
Cashback Bonuses
Most promotions try to give the players cash immediately. Instead, a casino cashback bonus refunds a percentage of your losses over a specific period of time.
For instance, this might cover the first week as a member by offering you cashback ranges of around 5% to 20%.
This means that if you lose C$100 in your first seven days, you can get either C$5 or C$20 back to continue betting.
Mobile Casino Bonuses
Most modern online casinos offer their game via a dedicated app so that their users can play on their mobile phones.
Because this means more playtime, casinos have a vested interest in providing special mobile bonuses to their players.
Of course, if you prefer to gamble this way anyway, these bonuses basically represent free money.
Have you heard that?
HTML5 technology has completely revolutionised mobile gaming by allowing casino games to be played on any sized phone or tablet via an app or the web browser.
Activating a Casino Bonus
Youâd be surprised just how many first-time online casino users attempt to claim their bonus but end up making a mistake in the process.
To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, we’ve outlined all the steps to make sure you get every penny or spin that’s coming your way.
- 1. Register â It all starts when you register for an account on the online casino’s website.Usually, there is a “Bonus Code” field in the registrations form. Sometimes you need to copy and paste a code into it. Other times you merely need to choose the bonus by clicking on it. Either way, you need to make sure the promo box is filled in before you click “register.”
- 2. Deposit – Most online casinos have a âCashierâ tab where you can enter your payment information and deposit / withdraw funds. Unless the bonus the site is offering is a âno depositâ promotion, youâll have to complete a deposit to get your money, spins, etc. Just make sure that whatever payment method you choose is covered by the bonusâs Terms and Conditions.
- 3. Play â When you initiate your first session, make sure that youâre using your bonus funds and free spins before anything else. Some platforms do this automatically, but itâs important to pay attention as you donât want your bonus to expire!
- 4. Withdraw â Once you meet the wagering requirements stipulated for the bonus, you can withdraw any winnings you might have earned.
Common Casino Bonus Problems (and Their Solutions)
Even with all the advances in technology, things can still go wrong when you attempt to sign up for or claim your bonus. Thatâs why weâve included this quick guide to give you some idea of what to do when things go less than perfect.
Your bonus failed to activate
Contact the customer support team for the casino website immediately.
You may need to provide proof that the bonus was not properly activated when you clearly opted in. In most cases, the casino can see all this information on the back end and fix it ASAP.
Your bonus is missing
If your bonus does not end up in your account, you may have forgotten to input the code, used an improper payment method, or deposited an amount that was under the bonus –Â minimum requirements.
Check the Terms and Conditions first before you attempt to contact customer service.
You canât find the bonus wagering requirements
Every licensed casino is legally required to display all of the wagering requirements in its Terms and Conditions.
If you check this document and still find yourself unable to locate them, you should immediately contact customer service for the website.
You want to change or remove a bonus
If you’re yet to have used any of your free spins or bet any of your bonus funds, you may still be able to contact customer service to cancel the bonus altogether.
Have you heard that?
The primary reason why e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill are not allowed by most online casinos is to prevent money laundering and other types of fraud. These forms of payment simply make it too difficult for a casino to verify a customerâs identity.
6 Tips for Getting the Most from Casino Bonuses
- 1. Check our casino bonus guide often. You should make it a habit to visit this page regularly so you can learn about the latest casino bonuses. We update our information often so that you can take full advantage of the best bonuses out there.
- 2. Be sure that you opt-in for the casino welcome bonus. Before claiming a bonus, make sure you understand the proper procedures. You may need to type in a bonus code, or you may simply need to click a box. Pay attention so that you don’t miss out!
- 3. Only bet with money youâre prepared to lose. Itâs extremely important that you always play responsibly when gambling online. Be sure to watch for bad habits and to only make deposit match bonuses that you can afford to make. Remember, this is a recreational activity, not a guaranteed way to make money.
- 4. Watch out for new casinos. We are one of the first websites to check out the latest, greatest online casinos to hit the Canadian market. Remember, new casinos often have the best bonuses so that they can compete for new players. However, our bonus graph only displays promotions from reputable, licensed, and legal casinos.
- 5. Double (and triple) check the bonus wagering requirements. If a player suddenly finds out that they canât claim their bonus, the most common reason is that they didnât read the wagering requirements. Make sure you know how much you need to spend, where you can deposit from, and which games you can play before you sign up.
- 6. Free spins bonuses let you try out new games. There are thousands of different slot machines and jackpot games out there. And though free spins are not technically cash, they can be used to make a mint if you happen to hit the jackpot. So get out there and play some slots you might otherwise never try.
Note: Most online casinos only allow one account per household to claim the bonus. However, you can sign up for multiple casino accounts to get all the bonuses as you wish!