Best First Deposit Bonus Casinos
The online casino industry has grown exponentially over the years and is currently in full swing. New gambling websites are becoming available every single day, and it is becoming increasingly harder to actually choose a casino. When you are having doubts when making your pick, you can always look at their promotional deals, especially the first deposit promotions reserved for new users.
In fact, first deposit bonuses have become a common practice and they are available at nearly all online casinos today. If you are new to the world of online casinos and are not entirely familiar with how bonuses work, then please read on. In this article, we will cover all relevant information regarding casino bonuses.
Casinos with the best Welcome Bonuses
As we have discussed, bonuses can give you an excellent boost to your bankroll, but only if you get them under the right terms and conditions. Since determining the value of each promotion is a time-consuming and monotonous task, we have done all the work for you. Below, you will find a list of online casinos with the best Welcome and first deposit bonuses on the Internet. Each website found in the list below is a reputable online casino, proven by the licensing from government regulators and the testimony of users.
William Hill
William Hill is a major online gambling brand that has been around for quite some time. Established in 1998, William Hill Casino has always offered its playerbase a wonderful gambling experience. At William Hill Casino, you will be treated to a wide selection of high-quality slots, table games and more.
Opt in required. Available 1x per customer. First deposit only. Minimum £10 deposit. Maximum £40 bonus. 35x wagering. Bonus expires 24 hours from issue. New customers to casino page only. Player, currency, country, game restrictions & terms apply.Read More
Golden Tiger
Golden Tiger Casino has been a major brand in the online casino industry ever since 2000. Part of the prestigious Casino Rewards Group, Golden Tiger has left many players satisfied over the years. This online casino is powered by Microgaming, one of the largest software providers in the industry.
With a massive selection of both virtual and live games, users will have the time of their lives playing at Golden Tiger. Additionally, this online casino also offers very generous promotions to both new and returning users. This makes Golden Tiger one of your best options and you should definitely consider giving it a try.
BitStarz
BitStarz is a newly established online casino and one that is rising very quickly in popularity. Established in 2014, BitStarz quickly gained popularity by offering a solid and exciting gambling experience. Users of BitStarz have a wide and diverse selection of games at their disposal, powered by a long list of popular software providers.
A major feature of BitStarz is the ability to use Bitcoin to deposit and take part in special promotions. This online casino is licensed by the Government of Curacao, which serves as an indicator of its legitimacy.
Guts Casino
Guts Casino has been at the head of the online casino industry for several years. Established in 2013, Guts Casino has set the standard high for other gambling websites. Guts Casino is powered by the likes of Microgaming, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming, Betsoft, and many more. As a result, users will be able to enjoy a full gaming library, consisting of high-quality virtual and live dealer games.
New customers only. $10 min deposit. Offer contains three deposit bonuses. 100% up to $500 per each deposit . 35x bonus wager in 15 days. Skrill, Neteller, PaySafe excluded. Game weighting and terms apply.Read More
Bet365 Casino
Bet365 is perhaps the largest online gambling brand in existence and one of the most accessible casinos on the Internet. Established in 2001, it quickly rose to conquer the international online casino market and now stands as an industry leader.
As such, it has set a precedent that the player should always come first, and Bet365 has achieved this by hosting an extensive selection of high-quality games. Additionally, users are also able to benefit from a variety of promotions, which further enhance the experience and give gambling mavens the oppotunity to enjoy games of chance free of charge.
Casumo
Casumo is a casino that made its iGaming debut in 2012, and since day one, it has striven to ensure a stellar gambling experience for its users. Casumo's catalog is one of its most distinctive features, encompassing thousands of slots, table game products, and variety games like slingo. There is also a rich assortment of live dealer lobbies that will be perfect for gambling mavens craving to enjoy the atmosphere of land-based casinos.Read More
Yako Casino
Yako Casino is a relatively experienced casino, first released in 2015, and it is now one of the most popular gambling websites available. Powered by NetEnt, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and more, Yako Casino can offer its playerbase an extensive selection of high-quality games.
New customers only, min deposit $/€/£20, wagering 40x, max bet $/€/£5 with bonus funds. 100% up to $/€/£99 bonus + 99 free spins on 1st deposit. No max cash out on deposit offers. Welcome bonus excluded for players depositing with Skrill or Neteller. Cashback is cash with no restriction. Full T&Cs apply.Read More
888casino
Known the world over for its top-notch iGaming selection, generous bonuses, and excellent reputation, 888casino is a reliable choice for pretty much anyone looking to enjoy games of chance at home or on the go.
In terms of slots, games like 9 Masks of Fire, Sweet Bonanza, and Book of Dead can give you an idea of what you can expect at 888casino. Of course, table classics, crash games, and live dealer games are also available in abundance, resulting in a comprehensive catalog that can cater to the preferences of most gambling enthusiasts.
Two offers can be claimed by new players, depending on their preferences, the first one being a 100% first deposit bonus. Up to $1,000 can be won from this bonus, and a rollover of 40x applies, but do remember to avoid using Skrill and Neteller since both are prohibited for bonuses at 888casino. Alternatively, a $25 bonus with a wagering requirement of a mere 1x is up for grabs for anyone who verifies their account.
Casino Action
Casino Action is an excellent choice for pretty much any online gambler. This online casino was established in 2000 and it has been running a very successful operation ever since. Fans of Microgaming’s software will be especially pleased to know that the casino features the entire catalog of this software supplier.
At Casino Action, users will be able to enjoy a variety of slots, table games, and more. Additionally, there are several worthwhile promotions that players should definitely take advantage of, and patrons can also take advantage of the generous Casino Rewards loyalty program. Users can also rest assured that Casino Action is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
Yeti Casino
Boasting games by software giants like Amatic, Evolution Gaming, and Pragmatic Play, Yeti Casino has ensured that its clients will have a vast range of gambling products to pick from. Slots dominate in Yeti Casino, but table games, slingo, and live casino games are also available in spades. The gameplay is further enhanced by the casino's excellent 100% deposit match bonus, which grants players 100 free games and up to $333 in bonus funds.
If you are eager to make your first deposit, you can pick between a range of deposit methods. Visa, PayPal, Flexepin, and Skrill are just a few of the available options, and regardless of which one you go for, you will find that you will be able to top up your casino balance immediately. In addition to supporting transactions via secure payment solutions, Yeti Casino is also licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, and Sweden's gambling regulator.
Welcome Bonuses Explained
Welcome Bonuses are the most common promotion type, and you are practically guaranteed to come across such offers at online casinos. Welcome promotions serve as as rewarding initiative for players to register at a given gambling website. This often comes in the form of bonus funds, which can at one point be converted into withdrawable cash.
Bonuses have become quite commonplace in the online gambling industry, with the vast majority of online casinos offering Welcome promotions with varying terms and rewards. Free spins on selected slot titles are another common reward offer. These will allow you to spin the reels of a given slot game a number of times without actually having to pay for the spins. Of course, you will be eligible to take the winnings from the game, but those will usually be considered bonus money.
Welcome bonuses are a good way to get your game going, and they will provide you with some form of value should you choose to claim them. Of course, they are completely optional, but there is little reason not to take advantage of the casino’s generosity. However, as you have already figured out, bonuses do not come without strings attached. When you decide to take part in a promotion, you also agree to follow the casino’s bonus terms. This means that you have to abide by those rules if you wish to cash in the bonus sum. This is something that many users fail to account for and, ultimately, end up forfeiting their bonus due to a breach of terms. Below, you will find more detailed explanations about some of the most common bonus conditions.
What is a wagering requirement?
Wagering requirements (also known as the rollover) is a term that you will often see if you decide to read through a casino’s rules regarding bonus play. Since casinos cannot simply give away free money to every customer who deposits, they impose a so-called wagering requirement. This rule dictates that users have to place bets equal to X number of times of the total bonus value.
For example, you load your casino bankroll with $100 and claim a 100% match bonus to your deposit. Essentially, you have $100 in ‘real’ money and $100 in bonus funds. With a wagering requirement of 35 times that applies to the bonus amount, you will have to place $100×35 = $3,500 worth of bets before you can cash in the bonus. It does not matter if the wagers are successful or not, just that you wager the money.
This is done to prevent certain individuals from simply depositing, claiming the bonus, and withdrawing their balance without playing, thereby taking advantage of the casino. A wagering requirement is applied to almost any casino bonus you will find on the Internet and it is a staple in the online gambling industry. The range of the wagering requirements varies between the different websites and each casino sets its own rules to how much they want users to wager.
Typically, the wagering requirement will be anywhere between 25 and 40 times the value of the bonus. There are, of course, casinos that stray from this standard, either offering low requirements or entirely too unreasonable ones, but those are few and far between. Generally, the lower the wagering requirement is, the faster you can play through it and be able to withdraw your bonus.
Additionally, the terms of a wagering requirement vary, with some casinos demanding that a player wagers the combined value of the bonus and the deposit to fulfill the requirement. For example, you deposit $100 and claim $100 in bonus funds. With a wagering requirement of 35 times the combined value of the deposit and bonus, you will have to place ($100 + $100)x 35= $7,000 worth of bets before you can cash in the bonus. Typically, this is a worse deal and if you can find a promotion that requires you to only wager the value of the bonus X number of times, that is the ones you should take.
In the next point, we will cover how bets placed on different games contribute to the overall wagering requirement.
Wagering Contributions Explained
Not all wagers are created equal when wagering requirements are concerned, and you will find out that certain games give you much better contributions than others. Generally, the unofficial rule is that slot games will contribute the full amount of the bet to the wagering requirement. Other games are nowhere near as useful when it comes to the rollover, however.
For example, it is common practice that table games, such as roulette or blackjack, will give you much smaller contributions than if you were playing slots. If you place a $10 bet on a game that only offers 20% contribution, then in effect, you will have contributed only $2 to your wagering requirement. Each online casino determines the wagering contributions of its games and you will be able to find a detailed description within the bonus terms page. There is no point in trying to list any here since they vary considerably between different websites.
Another thing that you have to take into account, is that some games may be excluded from contributing to the wagering requirement. The casinos do not give their reasoning behind this, but it is something that we have to consider. For example, NetEnt’s Blood Suckers slot is often found among the list of excluded games, alongside several blackjack and video poker titles. It is very important to actually go through the list of banned games before you start playing with your bonus, as you may end up forfeiting it if you do not follow the rules.
Additionally, there are often rules on how much you can actually wager while spinning the reels. Any bonus you claim will come with specific conditions on the maximum bets that you can place. For example, most casinos will limit the maximum bet size to $5 or 30% of the total value of the bonus. Moreover, you will most likely not be allowed to use any double down or gamble function in the games you are playing.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing With a Bonus
Having covered the basic rules governing promotions, we shall now weigh the positives and negatives of playing with a casino bonus. Since nothing in this world is perfect, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages that come with claiming a bonus, and you should be informed about them before you decide to participate in a promotion.
Advantages of Playing with a Bonus
Bonuses are a good way of determining the quality of a given gambling website. While players new to gambling might think otherwise, promotions are generally one of the most important aspects of an online casino, alongside the gaming library and its regulatory licensing.
When you take a look at the available promotions you get an idea of how the casino likes to treat its playerbase. The better options you have, the better your experience with the casino will be. There are websites out there that try to pass under the radar by offering promotions that are hardly worth your while and these are exactly the ones that you wish to avoid. A good online casino will offer generous promotions with reasonable terms and conditions, giving you a good chance of cashing out the bonus at the end of your stay.
Bonuses are a good way to get your foot in the door when playing at a new online casino. They offer much value to those who claim them and allow players to fully experience everything a casino has to offer. With a bonus, you can play for much longer and may actually end your gaming sessions with a relatively good amount of profit. Playing with a bonus is one of the best ways that you can start your gambling experience and get a good idea of how good the online casino is. Free spins are often offered as part of a Welcome Package and they will let you play certain slots free of charge, allowing you to see what the game is about without having to spend money on it.
Disadvantages of Playing with a Bonus
On the other hand, playing with a bonus might restrict your play style in certain ways. Since every promotion comes with an extensive list of rules, you may find yourself not playing like you typically would. Maximum bets are often limited when playing with a bonus, which means that high rollers will not be able to fully appreciate the games. Moreover, the wagering requirements at some online casinos are not exactly player friendly, meaning that you will likely have to play much more than usual if you wish to cash in the bonus at the end.
On the same note, there is usually a certain time frame in which you are required to meet the wagering requirement, otherwise, you risk forfeiting the bonus. Depending on the casino in question, this may be anywhere between one week and three months, but it is very rare to find a casino which will allow you to play for months on end. This will force you to play much longer than usual since meeting a wagering requirement is not as easy as one would think.
Something which is not often considered is that certain games have limited contributions to the wagering requirement or are excluded altogether . Fans of table games will often find themselves wagering much more than, for example, a slot enthusiast for the simple reason that table games have much lower wagering contributions. There is also the worst case scenario, where your favorite games are excluded from contributing to the rollover, forcing you to play something else if you wish to withdraw the bonus.
It is true that most casinos offer reasonable terms to their bonus schemes, but there are also those who set their requirements incredibly high. If you have inadvertently chosen the latter, then you may get a wrong impression of the casino industry and refrain from playing again if the experience is not to your liking.
Reading the terms and conditions of a certain promotion is very important but not something that many players do thoroughly, if at all. Not understanding the rules of a bonus offer could lead to you breaching its terms and, ultimately, forfeiting the said bonus. This is not a situation anyone wants to be in, but it is one that many gamblers find themselves in simply from not doing their research.
| Payment Method | Deposit | Withdrawal | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Visa Card | YES | YES |
 | Mastercard | YES | NO |
 | InstaDebit | YES | YES |
 | PayPal | YES | YES |
 | Skrill | YES | YES |
 | PaySafeCard | YES | NO |
 | Citadel | YES | YES |
 | Neteller | YES | YES |
 | Sofort | YES | YES |
 | PayForIt | YES | NO |