Online casinos love giving bonuses – and players love taking them. But “free money” almost never means literally free.
This guide breaks down the main bonus types – welcome, reload, cashback, free spins, no-deposit and loyalty rewards – and explains how they work in practice, where the traps are, and which ones can actually be worth your time.
1. Why casinos offer bonuses
Bonuses are a marketing tool. Casinos use them to:
- Attract new players with welcome offers.
- Keep existing players active with reloads and free spins.
- Reward loyal or high-volume players with VIP perks and cashback.
- Stand out from competitors by promoting higher percentages or “exclusive” deals.
For you as a player, a bonus is good if it:
- Gives more playtime for the same money.
- Comes with realistic conditions you can actually complete.
- Matches your stakes, favourite games and bankroll.
2. Welcome bonuses
The welcome bonus is the main offer you see on the homepage when you first land on a casino. Typical formats:
- Deposit match – for example, “100% up to €200”. Deposit €100 and the casino adds another €100, so you play with €200 total.
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Welcome package – spread across several deposits, such as:
- 1st deposit: 100% up to €200 + 100 free spins
- 2nd deposit: 50% up to €300
- 3rd deposit: 100% up to €500
- Deposit + free spins – for example, “50% up to €200 + 50 spins on Book of Dead”.
- Hybrid offers that mix bonus money, spins and sometimes a tiny no-deposit bonus.
Welcome bonuses are usually the most generous offers you will see from a brand – but often with the strictest rules.
Key things to check before you claim:
- Wagering requirement – is it on the bonus only or on bonus + deposit?
- Game restrictions – some slots or live games may not count.
- Max bet while wagering – for example, “max €5 per spin”.
- Time limit – how many days you have to complete wagering.
3. Reload bonuses
A reload bonus is like a smaller welcome bonus that keeps returning. It is offered to existing players to encourage regular deposits.
Examples:
- 50% up to €100 every Friday.
- 40% up to €200 + 20 free spins on your weekly reload.
- 25% up to €50 on your second deposit of the day.
Why reloads can be useful:
- You already know the casino: payouts, support and games.
- Terms are often slightly softer than on huge welcome packages.
- They give consistent extra value if you were going to deposit anyway.
What to watch out for:
- Lower percentage and smaller caps than welcome bonuses.
- Standard wagering and max bet rules still apply.
- Sometimes limited to certain payment methods or specific days.
4. Cashback bonuses
Cashback returns a percentage of your net losses over a given period – usually daily, weekly or monthly.
Common formats:
- 10% weekly cashback on net casino losses.
- 15% daily cashback – no wagering.
- 5–20% VIP cashback depending on your loyalty level.
Real vs bonus cashback
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Real (wager-free) cashback
Whatever you get is instant cash. You can withdraw it or use it for further play.
Example: you lost €200 this week, cashback is 10% → you receive €20 in real money. -
Bonus cashback (with wagering)
The refunded amount is treated as a bonus and must be wagered before withdrawal.
Example: you receive €20 cashback with x10 wagering → you must bet €200 to unlock it.
Details worth checking:
- Is cashback calculated only on real-money play or also on bonus funds?
- Which games count: slots only or also live casino and tables?
- Is there a maximum cashback cap per period?
- Do you have to manually claim it, or is it automatic?
5. Free spins
Free spins are tied to slots and can be part of welcome offers, reloads, tournaments or loyalty rewards.
They mainly differ in what happens to the winnings from those spins:
- Bonus money spins – all wins go into a bonus balance with wagering.
- Real money spins – wins are paid in cash, sometimes with a max win cap.
Example:
- You get 50 free spins at €0.10 each and win €12 in total.
- If it is bonus money with x30 wagering → you must wager €360.
- If it is real cash with no wagering → you are free to withdraw or keep playing.
Always check:
- Which slot they are for and if you actually like that game.
- Whether spins are credited at once or in daily batches.
- Expiry time: many free spins and spin winnings expire in 24–72 hours.
6. No-deposit bonuses
No-deposit bonuses are the classic “play for free” offers – a small amount of bonus money or free spins just for registering an account.
They sound amazing, but usually come with very heavy limitations:
- High wagering requirements (often x40–x60 or more).
- Strict max cashout (for example, you can only withdraw €50 from a €10 no-deposit bonus).
- Mandatory ID verification before withdrawal.
- Sometimes limited to specific countries or first-time customers only.
No-deposit offers are fine for testing a new casino, but do not treat them as real “free money”. Think of them as a slightly upgraded demo mode.
7. Loyalty programs and VIP rewards
Most serious casinos run a loyalty or VIP scheme to reward regular players.
Typical structure:
- You earn comp points when you bet real money.
- Points convert into bonus cash, free spins or cashback.
- Higher loyalty tiers unlock better exchange rates and extra perks.
VIP players may also receive:
- Personal account manager and priority support.
- Higher withdrawal limits and faster payouts.
- Exclusive reload offers, birthday bonuses and event invitations.
What to look at:
- How many points you earn per €1 wagered.
- Conversion rate: how many points = €1.
- Whether converted rewards have wagering or are wager-free.
- Whether tiers expire if you stop playing for a while.
8. Wagering requirements: how “x35” really works
Almost every bonus comes with a wagering requirement – written as x20, x35, x40 and so on.
In simple terms, wagering is how many times you must bet the required amount before you can withdraw the bonus money as cash.
Basic examples
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x35 on bonus only
You deposit €100 and get €100 bonus.
Wagering: 35 × €100 = €3,500 in bets. -
x30 on bonus + deposit
You deposit €100 and get €100 bonus.
Wagering: 30 × €200 = €6,000 in bets. -
x10 on cashback
You receive €20 cashback with x10 wagering.
Wagering: 10 × €20 = €200 in bets.
Remember that not all games contribute equally. Slots usually count 100%, but:
- Many table games and live games may count 10–20%, or not at all.
- Some high-RTP or bonus-buy slots can be completely excluded.
9. Hidden rules that matter more than the percentage
Before accepting any bonus, scan the terms for these small-print details:
- Max bet while wagering – if you exceed it, the casino can void your bonus winnings.
- Game contribution – which games count and at what percentage.
- Max win / max withdrawal – especially important for no-deposit and free spin offers.
- Payment method exclusions – some e-wallets or crypto methods may not qualify for bonuses.
- Country restrictions – not all offers are available in every jurisdiction.
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Sticky vs non-sticky bonus:
- Sticky – bonus is for play only; you can withdraw winnings but not the bonus amount itself.
- Non-sticky (“parachute”) – your real money is used first; if you win big, you can withdraw before touching the bonus.
10. Choosing the right bonus for your style
Best bonus type depends on how you play:
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New players testing a casino
Smaller welcome offers with low wagering and simple rules are usually better than huge, complicated packages. -
Regular slot players
Consistent value often comes from reloads + cashback + loyalty points, not from chasing one giant bonus. -
High-risk, larger bankroll
High-percentage welcomes and VIP reloads can make sense, especially if the casino has good cashback and fair limits. -
Casual players who hate restrictions
Look for wager-free spins, low-wagering bonuses or even no-bonus play with instant withdrawals.
Key takeaways
- Welcome bonuses are big but often strict – always read the rules first.
- Reloads and cashback can offer more stable long-term value than one giant offer.
- Free spins and no-deposit deals are mainly for trying a casino, not for getting rich.
- Loyalty and VIP schemes matter if you play regularly – check how points convert.
- Wagering, game contribution, max bet and max win rules matter more than the banner percentage.