Bojoko helps you find the best casino bonus deals. US online casinos use bonuses to attract new players. If you accept an internet casino bonus, you have more funds to the site and make the games last longer. However, there are many forms of bonuses and they can have quite different terms and conditions.
On Bojoko, you can learn all the ABCs of casino bonuses for US citizens and also compare the offers, so that you can find the bonus that's most useful for you.
Finding great bonuses isn't always easy. This is where we'll come in and help you find the right one. We have made choosing the best casino offer a fast and easy process.
Our casino tool can help you find the best bonus just for you. We have pre-made quick filters that let you see the bonuses that you like. There, you can find the biggest bonuses, no deposit bonuses, bonuses with the lowest wagering, and so on.
On this page, we explain everything you need to know about bonuses offered by US online casinos. Click on the links to jump ahead:
Bojoko is the best way to find and compare online casino bonuses in the USA. Here's why:
By reading the casino reviews you can easily see what lies ahead - without getting lost into technical mumbo jumbo.
A casino bonus is something the casinos can attract new players with, or offer to existing players to keep them interested. As a new player, the most relevant bonuses for you are included in the casino's welcome package. When you sign up to a casino, you can often get:
Most bonuses come with strings attached. Remember to check out the terms and conditions to avoid surprises.
There are also more bonus types aimed at different players. Casinos hand these out at different stages of your player journey.
There are many different types of bonuses. In this online casino bonus guide, we explain how they work and how to use them to your advantage.
First, you need to understand the difference between deposit and no deposit casino bonuses:
These are the main types of bonuses available in US-licensed online casinos:
In addition, you need to consider these things while choosing a bonus:
Below, we'll look at these factors in more detail.
Not every gambler likes the same things. This is obvious when it comes to games, but it also matters when it comes to bonuses. Certain bonus offers suit certain types of players better.
Here are some of the most common types of players and the bonuses those players might want to take a look at.
Average Joe is a player who just likes to play but doesn't have a real preference. Maybe a spin on a slot here, a round of blackjack there. You enjoy winning, but also the entertainment factor.
For the average Joe, a regular deposit bonus works best. You get to try different kinds of games and enjoy the variety.
The optimizer is the player who is out for blood. You want to play the game that gives you the best chance of winning. You want the best value, the best return to your deposit and to always stay on top.
For the optimizers, a no deposit bonus is the best one out there. There is nothing to lose and you can only win, which is the optimal situation. The second option is a low or no wagering bonus. They have theoretically the best calculated value.
Sunday spinners are a more casual bunch. You enjoy the games for what they are, games. Spinning a slot is fun, so why not spin a few rounds more. It's not so much about winning, but having fun.
The best casino bonus for a Sunday spinner is the free spin bonus. You can get a lot of spins for a small deposit. The bonus terms might not be the best, but at least you get to play more and have fun.
The High roller doesn't play around with small stuff. Everything is big in a high roller's world, including the deposits, the wagers, and of course, the wins.
For high rollers, there is only one bonus, a high roller bonus. They are deposit bonuses that give you a huge amount of bonus money with a great percentage. The catch is that they also have a big minimum deposit, which is why regular players don't take them.
1. Find a casino with the bonus you like
You can find a great variety of US-licensed online casinos here on Bojoko. Check the casino list and find a bonus that suits you the best.
2. Read the expert reviews
Read what our experts have said about the casino. Their reviews can help you see if the casino is right for you.
3. Go to the casino
Every review page has a big ‘PLAY HERE' button. This takes you straight to the casino. And if there is a special bonus available, this button activates it.
4. Register an account and claim your bonus
Once you get to the casino, register an account, make a deposit and claim your bonus. Use a bonus code when depositing if required.
Every casino keeps saying that they have the best bonuses, but what exactly makes a bonus the best. Sure, everyone can see if you have the biggest online casino bonuses available, but that number alone doesn't make a bonus the best.
Bonus terms can play a much bigger role than the actual bonus the casino is offering. You can read more about bonus terms and learn what requirements and restrictions are commonly used.
Check the bonus type you like and see what the casinos have written in the fine print.
Deposit bonuses are common stuff and they are sold with big numbers. The amount of bonus money isn't the only thing you should be looking at.
The best deposit bonus is the one that has a large sum of bonus money available, a big bonus percentage and a decent playthrough requirement. If any single leg is weak, the bonus offer will fall. Then you either don't get much, have to deposit a lot to get it or you are going to have a hard time withdrawing it.
No deposit bonuses are always great, because you don't have to deposit to get them. Unfortunately, they have a lot of small print attached.
The best no deposit bonus is the one that gives you free bonus money with easy terms. No winning caps and a decent playthrough requirement are the makings of a great bonus offer. A quick check of the bonus terms will tell you if the offer is actually the best.
Playing slots for free is fun and the chance of getting real money out of them makes these bonuses enticing. The more spins, the better the bonus, right?
Free spin offers are generally easy to tell whether they are good or not. It's all in the terms and limitations. 100 spins is always 100 spins, but if the bonus has a winning cap, it can't be the best free spin bonus. You should also check the playthrough requirement just like with deposit bonuses.
A bonus offer where you don't need to wager sounds great as it is. These no playthrough bonuses are good, even if their other terms might be tough.
What to look for in the best no playthrough bonuses are the other terms. Sure, the bigger the bonus, the better it is, but you need to check if it has any winning caps or other limitations.
Practically all online casino gambling bonus deals come with some strings attached. The idea is to guide players to use the bonus on casino games and limit the risk to the casinos.
Every casino and every bonus type has its own specific terms. Here's a quick overview of the terms and conditions you may encounter:
This may sound confusing and intimidating. However, we want you to be a well-informed player who's ready for everything. Do your homework and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Wagering requirements tell you how much you need to bet before the bonus funds become real money and can be withdrawn. They're also known as playthrough or bonus rollover.
The wagering requirement is expressed as a multiplier of the bonus sum, e.g. 35x (B). However, it may also apply to your deposit (D) or both (D+B).
In most cases, wagering only begins when your real money deposit and winnings run out and you start to play with bonus funds. Even though you have only the bonus funds to complete the wagering, you may need to bet the total sum of your deposit and bonus multiplied by 30 or more.
Rule of thumb: Any wagering requirement over 35x (B) is hard to complete.
A high bonus percentage usually goes hand-in-hand with high wagering requirements.
All casinos have a minimum deposit limit. Because handling money transfers and onboarding new players aren't free, casinos try to incentivize players to deposit more on one go.
However, the casino's minimum deposit may not qualify you for the bonus.
EXAMPLE: The casino's minimum deposit is $10 but the minimum qualifying deposit for the bonus is $20. If you only deposit $10, you can play the games with real money but you won't get the bonus.
Most casinos have a long list of supported deposit and withdrawal methods. However, your options for the first deposit are more limited.
Many casinos routinely exclude e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller from bonuses. Also, PaysafeCard is occasionally on the exclusion list.
This may be down to KYC procedures but mostly for safety concerns. Since e-wallets provide a degree of anonymity, some casinos would rather play it safe and exclude them.
Online gambling regulators work to ensure that casino operators aren't used for fraud or money laundering. They're not the biggest fans of the methods listed above: the chances of fraud and money laundering increase twofold with e-wallets.
Neteller and Skrill are often connected to bonus abuse. Players try to exploit loopholes in the terms and conditions to increase their chance of making a profit.
Additionally, e-wallets have some of the highest fees amongst deposit methods. This makes them both costly and risky for operators when they are offering a bonus.
The maximum bet is the biggest bet allowed on a single spin while you're wagering your bonus.
For most deposit bonuses, the maximum bet is $5. Some casinos also have limitations for bet per payline and the max bet compared to the deposit.
Check the T&Cs to be sure.
Deposit bonuses are only valid for a certain time. Once you make a deposit and claim your bonus, you only have a limited time to complete the wagering.
The wagering only starts after your real money balance is depleted, but the clock starts when you accept the bonus. However, you usually have a week or even a month or two to complete the playthroughs.
Check the expiration time so you don't accidentally miss your bonus.
While wagering your bonus money, your game options at a casino are somewhat limited. Although you can play most slots, some high-RTP game types don't get you closer to completing the playthroughs.
Casinos have three mechanisms to restrict the games:
EXAMPLE: Playing live dealer blackjack contributes 10% towards wagering. Every $10 bet counts as $1 in wagering.
Many bonuses have so-called "maximum conversion", also known as the bonus cap. This is the maximum sum you can win and withdraw from a certain bonus. Everything above that is confiscated.
EXAMPLE: You get a $50 bonus and the maximum win is capped at $250. After completing the wagering, you have $350. You can only withdraw the $250, the casino keeps the rest.
As with deposits, also handling withdrawals costs the casinos money. Besides, they'd rather see you playing that money instead of taking it home just yet. That's why casinos have a minimum withdrawal limit.
You have the right to withdraw your real money balance at any time. However, if your withdrawal is below the minimum threshold, the casino can charge additional handling fees. These can be several dollars, which makes the fees swallow up a large portion of your withdrawal.
This rule is relevant to no-deposit bonuses.
You can win real money without risking your own. Unfortunately, you can't get it out of the casino without making a deposit.
Casinos need to satisfy anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) rules. That's why they need you to verify a banking method for withdrawals. This happens by making a deposit and playing through it one more time.
The banking method needs to be one that supports withdrawals. That's why many pay by mobile phone methods are off the table.
There's really no way around this step. All you can do is pick a casino with a low minimum deposit.
When comparing bonuses, there are two main goals:
Often, these are mutually exclusive. As the bonus sum and the bonus percentage grow, so do the wagering requirements. These in turn hurt your chances of withdrawing.
This is what you need to know to calculate the expected value of a bonus:
Here's how you calculate what you will have left after completing the wagering. It's a bit tricky, so let's break it down into five steps:
EXAMPLE: You get a 100% bonus up to $100. The wagering requirement is 30x (B) and the highest RTP allowed is 97%:
Why is the "return on investment" in quotes? You can calculate how much value you get compared to the money you put down. However, you shouldn't consider the money spent on gambling an investment. Besides, the bonus money only becomes relevant after you've lost your original deposit. A consolation prize would be a more accurate term.
Remember, these calculations only give you averages. The RTP (return to player) of a casino game is based on the results of thousands of rounds. Your results within a single gaming session will vary.
Depends on the bonus.
A good bonus can make your games last longer and act as a second chance if your real money runs out.
However, a bad bonus may actually hurt your chances of coming out ahead.
Here are our casino bonus tips. Only accept a bonus if it's:
Unfortunately, this stuff is usually in the fine print. Most players pay more attention to bonus sums, bonus percentages, and free spins. Although they make the bonus more appealing, they're just the icing on the cake.
Don't be a sucker. Choose your bonus carefully and have fun playing.
As good as some bonus offers seem to be, it's worth reminding yourself exactly why casinos have them. Bonuses have two main goals:
Also, you should be realistic about what's the probability of winning and, more importantly, withdrawing your winnings.
If you've accepted an offer for a deposit bonus, you still have the playthrough requirements to think about even if you happen to win. The bigger the bonus and larger the wagering requirement, the slimmer the chances are for you to actually get the money out.
Only play with the funds you can afford to, and never gamble away the money you need for necessities or if it means cutting back from something else. Use the tools for responsible gambling the casinos provide and set limits for your deposits and/or losses.
Read our Responsible Gaming page for more information.
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Article by:
Kati Saari