Bonus types compared
| Bonus | What you get | Good for beginners when |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome match | A percentage of your first deposit as bonus money | Wagering is under about 20x |
| No deposit | Free spins or a small credit for registering | You want to try a casino for free and accept a low withdrawal cap |
| Free spins | Spins on named slots at a fixed value | Winnings have low or no wagering |
| Cashback | A share of losses returned | It is paid as cash, without wagering |
| Refer a friend | A reward when someone you invite deposits | Rarely worth chasing |
A worked example
A 100% match up to €200 on a €100 deposit gives you €100 in bonus money. At 35x wagering on the bonus you must bet €3,500 before you can withdraw it; on a 96% RTP slot that costs about €140 on average, more than the bonus is worth. At 10x you would bet €1,000, lose about €40 on average and keep a bonus worth about €60.
Our bonus hub has a worksheet you can fill in with any offer.
The drawbacks
- Wagering: the higher it is, the less the bonus is worth.
- Time limits: short windows push you to play more than planned.
- Game restrictions: table and live games often count little or nothing.
- Complex terms: if you cannot explain the offer in one sentence, skip it.
When an offer does not work as expected, our guide to bonus problems walks through the fixes.