Anyone who’s been to the theatre knows there’s more than one way to grab a seat. From those lucky enough to get a much-coveted spot in the front row on opening night to those happy to get into the balconies in a midweek matinee, the show is ultimately the same. Still, the entry to see it can be very different.

This is much like welcome bonus offers at online casinos. Introductory offers also come in different formats, with varying degrees of bonus cash values and free spin amounts. Just like looking around for the best deal on show tickets, review sites like AskGamblers break down casino bonus offers, studying their value and T&Cs to help readers gauge which is the best value for them.

When it comes to welcome bonuses, not all offers are created equal. It’s worth knowing the different types out there — so here’s a quick guide to some of the most common welcome bonuses you’ll come across.

Matched Deposit Bonus

The Matched Deposit Bonus is the most common welcome offer at online casinos. In this offer, an operator offers a percentage deal, like a 100% or 200% bonus cash, to new customers based on the value of the initial deposit. For example, a $50 payment on a 200% deposit means that $100 in bonus cash is claimed.

A minimum deposit amount triggers the bonus, which is released into the account when the initial deposit is complete. This bonus cash will stay separate from the withdrawable balance.

Occasionally, the percentage value of these offers can be high, perhaps 500%. But bigger doesn’t always mean better, because the higher the percentage of matched deposit bonus, the more it is usually capped by a maximum deposit limit.

No Deposit Bonus

This is a popular welcome bonus offer among casino players as it does not require any deposit up front. An account still has to be opened first, which will likely require a payment option to be verified. But the bonus amount will be credited without a deposit, giving immediate access to the games. However, these offers come with some caveats.

A No Deposit Bonus is usually only of a small value compared to Matched Deposit Bonuses. This is a little bit like an art gallery or museum giving free admission for the last hour of the day — it’s a way to get people in with the hope that they will still hit the concessions and gift store. In the case of the online casino, that’s hoping players will keep gambling long after the welcome offer is done.

As they come in small denominations, No Deposit Bonus offers aren’t immediately eye-catching as the hundreds of dollars worth of bonus cash that Matched Deposit offers can deliver. Therefore, No Deposit Bonuses are mostly confined to smaller, newer operators and are harder to find.

Free Spins

Free spins are another type of offer, like being handed free tickets to the latest film festival. Again, free spin offers rely on an initial deposit being made to the account first, but the free spins are completely valid tokens that replace a real-money stake on slots.

It’s not uncommon for those free spins to be limited to certain machines — but the good news for art-lovers is that there are slots that touch on elements of art, like Imperial Opera, Da Vinci’s Diamonds, Renoir Riches, and Rembrandt Riches.

Packages

Bookmakers often offer appealing packages of a Matched Deposit Bonus + Free Spins as their welcome offer, such as casino tornado. This is a nice deal for many, because if completing the Matched Deposit Bonus offer isn’t viable, then the free spins are at least easy to use.

But what makes completing a Matched Deposit Bonus tricky? The wagering requirements.

Wagering Requirements

Reading the fine print of everything should be the norm in this day and age, whether that’s buying show tickets online or playing at an online casino. T&Cs exist because the casino is not just going to drop someone a $100 bonus and then see the player cash it out and never return — that would be a terrible business model.

Instead, players have to bet (with real money) the value of the bonus a certain number of times before any winnings earned from it can be withdrawn. Sometimes this includes both the value of the bonus and the initial deposit.

Wagering requirements can typically range from 30x to 50x, so if a $50 bonus was received after making a deposit, then $50 x 30 = $1500 in total would need to be gambled to meet those wagering requirements.

There are further conditions wrapped up in it, as different games have different contribution levels. There is a specific time frame to complete the wagering requirements, usually 30 days. Free spins come with wagering requirements, but they are typically much lower, perhaps 10x the value of winnings earned from them.

The True Value

Just as art is subjective, so is the format of welcome bonus offers at casinos. It’s down to the player’s gambling preferences, budget, and risk management that determines whether one is of value or not.