Probably the most common sign up bonus that you can get, the welcome bonus (aka sign up bonus) is one that is offered by virtually every other online casino.
As the name suggests, a sign up bonus is given out to players whenever they sign up and deposit money in their online casino accounts to ‘wecome’ the player. A lot of people think that signing up with a casino is a great idea if it is giving out a good sign up bonus, though some people prefer to go for a bonus that is spread over the entire spectrum of their planned play-time.
These bonuses can generally come in the form of matching bonuses, percentage bonuses and even no-deposit bonuses, so check to see which of these you are getting (usually shown in their terms and conditions) and ensure you are getting a bonus that you fully understand.
Matching Deposit Bonus
Usually a matching deposit bonus or ‘cash match bonus’ is part of the welcome bonus category, in the sense that only new players can get it as they are ‘welcomed’ to the casino. Matching deposit bonuses are great to get and are offered by casinos to ‘match’ your deposited amount, hence ultimately giving you double to play with. These are usually advertised as 100% match or welcome bonus. For instance, if you deposited £50, the casino will match that and you can start playing with £100!
Percentage Deposit Bonus
Basically, the percentage deposit bonus is a way by which the casino decides to add a certain amount to your deposited amount. Again, this comes under the category of welcome bonuses and can be advertised as a tripple deposit bonus depending on the percentage offered. For instance, if you decide to deposit £100 in your casino account, and the percentage deposit bonus stands at 25%, the casino will add another £25 to your balance to play with. These bonuses come in all shapes and sizes and are generally figures of 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, right up to 300%!
Pros
- An excellent way to boost your casino balance straight away giving you more money to play with from the off.
- Great opportunity to win more money as your casino bank balance is higher so you may wish to use higher stakes.
- Ideal to try out games (with small stakes) before risking your own cash deposit.
Cons
- You have to deposit some of your own cash first before being rewarded a bonus.
- Some casinos require you to deposit and actually bet / play games before getting your bonus.
- Withdrawal restrictions can apply and from time to time have a time limit placed on the bonus.
Final welcome bonus note: Always check the small print. These bonuses are usually ‘one or the other’ and can not be combined with any other bonus. For example; if you sign up to claim a cash match deposit bonus, you can not take advantage of the percentage bonus and vice verser.