What is the best casino bonus? Don't just look at the amount, read these smart tips. This is how you turn the bonus into real money!

Casino bonus explanation

Almost all online casinos in Australia offer welcome bonuses for new punters. Even if you have been playing at the casino for a long time, you still often receive emails with bonuses.

All offers are good - "We will double your deposit! Get AUD 100 Free Credit! Get your risk-free rate!" But aren't these gifts too good to be true? What about casino bonuses? And what is the best casino bonus?

In this article, you can read exactly how bonuses work and what you should pay attention to. From now on, you can judge for yourself whether the bonus is good, and you will never encounter unpleasant surprises. With this information, you always choose the best casino bonus for you.

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How do casino bonuses work?

Whichever online casino you play at, you will almost always receive a first deposit bonus: Welcome Bonus.

The welcome bonus is usually given as a percentage and the maximum bonus you can receive.

Example: 100% bonus up to 300 AUD.

This means that your first deposit will be doubled. If you deposit 70 AUD, you will receive a bonus of 70 AUD. If you deposit 200 AUD, you will receive 200 AUD.

The maximum bonus in this example is 300 AUD. If you deposit more than 300 AUD, you will only receive a bonus of 300 AUD.

Normally, a minimum deposit is also required to receive the bonus, such as a minimum of AUD 10 or AUD 20.

And sometimes you also get a small bonus without having to deposit money. This is called a no deposit bonus. Then you only need to register with the casino and immediately get free play money to try the casino. One casino, for example, gives you AUD 10 play credit as an introduction.

Unlock bonus

Does this mean that you can simply deposit, receive the bonus, and then immediately receive the full amount paid into your bank account? Unfortunately, this is not possible at most online casinos in Australia.

You usually get a bonus in the form of “bonus money”. If you look at the overview of your online casino account, you will see your cash balance next to you as well as your balance bonus. Cash can be paid out at any time.

In order to cash out a bonus, you must first wager a certain amount at the casino. The amount that you must wager before the bonus is issued is called in English: wagering requirement, wager.

Let's say you deposit 20 AUD and receive a bonus of 20 AUD. Wager is 10 times the bonus. Then you need to bet 200 AUD. Your bonus money will then be immediately added to your cash balance and you can continue playing or claim the full amount paid out.

It seems like a lot, but it's not all that bad. This does not mean that you have to lose 200 AUD.

After making a deposit, you have a total of 50 AUD to play with. If you play the pokie machine with 1 AUD per spin, you certainly won't lose all your money after 40 spins. If you are lucky, you will have a profit, but even if you are really unlucky, you will still have money. You can use it again and what you have left can also be used again. And so on.

With 50 AUD you can make much more than 50 AUD in bets this way.

On your online casino account page, you can see exactly how much money you still need to wager in order to meet the wagering requirements and receive the bonus.

Haven't unlocked your bonus yet and still want to make a payout? After that, your bonus will be cancelled. You will only be paid out your cash balance and you will lose the bonus money.

Note: in some online casinos you cannot cancel the bonus. You can withdraw funds only after wagering the entire bonus. Until then, your entire balance is tied.

A low wagering requirement/stake is better than a high wagering requirement. Logically, because then you will have to bet less before you unlock the bonus. Up to around 30x bonus is reasonable. If the wager is higher, it will be very difficult to wager the bonus.

Beware: some casinos list the bet as "multiplied by bonus plus deposit". Let's say you deposit 10 AUD and receive a bonus of 10 AUD and the wagering requirement is 30x, then in this case you need to wager 30x20= 800 AUD to clear the bonus.

What types of casino bonuses are there in Australia?

There are different types of bonuses, and some are more attractive than others.

The most common types of bonuses in a row:

Welcome Deposit Bonus

This bonus is the most common. You deposit an amount and receive an amount of bonus money.

Once you meet the wagering requirements, your bonus balance will be converted into real money, which you can then cash out.

Example: an online casino gives a bonus of 100%. You must wager the bonus 20 times.

You deposit 100 AUD - After that, you will receive 100 AUD bonus money. You must bet 20x 100 AUD to receive the bonus, for a total of 2000 AUD . After betting 2000 AUD , you have a profit of 100 AUD . Now you have 400 AUD in your account. Since you have completed the wagering requirements, your bonus money will turn into cash. Now you can get a full payout of 400 AUD.

Sometimes the terms of the bonus are so favorable that you get an advantage over the casino. As a punter, you can expect to have money left over after wagering the bonus.

This bonus has a positive "expected value". In short: EV+, a term also known from poker strategy.

EV+ does not mean that you are guaranteed to earn money every time you receive such a bonus. But if you get this kind of EV+ bonus often enough, there is a very good chance of making a profit in the long run.

Free Spins Bonus

Free spins: free spins on an pokie machine. Many online casinos in Australia offer free spins as a bonus. You will not receive bonus money with a deposit, but a number of free spins on the pokie. The bet per spin is usually the minimum bet for this pokie.

The pokie you can play on depends on the casino. Sometimes the focus is on a new pokie. Sometimes it's just a classic.

Profits you receive during free spins are immediately paid out in cash at most online casinos in Australia. Some casinos also give you some free spins as a no deposit bonus.

Hybrid bonus

Hybrid bonus: free spins and game credit

Some casinos give both bonus money and some free spins on your first deposit.

Cashback

Some casino punters swear by cashback. The idea is simple: if you make a loss today, you will recoup a percentage of your losses tomorrow. Sometimes your loss is calculated weekly. The advantage of cashback over regular bonuses is that you will never be bothered by annoying rules. You can bet and play any game.

Note: There are also casinos that advertise the so-called cashback, but if you read the fine print, it turns out that you receive cashback in the form of bonus money.

What is the best casino bonus for you?

What kind of punter are you?

Do you just want to play a short game as a pastime? Or are you trying out an online casino for the first time?

Then it is advisable to choose a bonus that you do not need to wager. This way your money never gets stuck and you don't have to play longer or more than you actually want.

There is actually no risk associated with a bonus without a wagering requirement. So it's really a free gift.

If you win, you can claim your winnings immediately at any time.

Do you like to play for a long time? Is fulfilling wagering requirements a sport for you? Or do you want to win big?

Then the best casino bonus is one where you get a decent amount of extra play money, preferably a 100% bonus.

You can then play twice as long for the same amount of money. And if you're lucky, you might unlock the bonus and suddenly get a lot of extra money.

Even if you're playing to win a big amount (or a big jackpot in pokies like Mega Mula Lions below) a big deposit bonus is the most profitable. Then you are twice as likely to hit the target. And once you get a big win, wagering requirements don't mean anything anymore.

Do you find bonuses a hassle? Do you just want to play the way you want and ignore the rules and maximum stakes?

Some people hate bonuses. Or they play for large amounts and do not expect free spins of several dozen at all.

Best casino bonus: additional rules when playing

Unfortunately, unlocking the bonus is governed by the rules of all online casinos. The following lines are common:

  • Bets on table games such as blackjack and roulette count less, if at all.
  • Bets on some pokies count less or don't count at all.
  • There is a maximum bet per spin (often AUD 5 or AUD 6 per spin in pokies).
  • Low-risk bets are not allowed (e.g. banker and punter play at the same time).baccarat).
  • Progressive jackpot pokies like Mega Moolah are excluded.

Some casinos include entire lists of excluded games in their bonus terms. Other casinos are a bit more flexible.

If you violate one or more of the bonus conditions, the casino may void your bonus, including all winnings you have made up to that point.

If you accidentally make a mistake, such as betting too much on a pokie, stop playing and contact the casino support immediately. Preferably via chat. Say that you made a mistake and ask the casino not to notice it once.

Best Casino Bonus: Watch for Sticky Bonus

Online casinos won't tell you that quickly, but there are bonuses that you can never cash out. They are called sticky bonuses.

How does it work? You can play with bonus money. And whatever you win with the bonus turns into cash once you've met the wagering requirements. But the bonus itself never turns into money.

Example: An online casino offers a 100% bonus. You must wager the bonus 20 times.

You deposit 100 AUD,-. After that, you will receive 100 AUD in the form of bonus money. You must bet 20x 100 AUD to receive the bonus, for a total of 2000 AUD. So far, everything is the same as with the "regular" deposit bonus.

You're in luck. After betting 2000 AUD, you have a profit of 100 AUD. Now you have 400 AUD in your account. You have completed the bet, but only your winnings turn into money. You now have 200 AUD cash and 100 AUD bonus money in your account.

You can get 200 AUD in cash, but then the bonus 100 AUD will disappear. Thus, the bonus remains with the casino - hence the name "sticky".

The expected value/EV of a fixed bonus is usually lower than that of a "regular" bonus.

Best Casino Bonus: Fine Print

Bonus conditions sometimes contain some tricky rules that can bring unpleasant surprises. For example, think about:

  • Max profit e.g. 100 AUD - If you win more than this amount through the bonus or free spins, you won't be able to claim it.
  • Excluded payment methods. For example, some casinos do not give bonuses to punters who deposit with a credit card.
  • Abuse clause. The casino may cancel your bonus without giving reasons if it suspects that you are "abusing" the bonus.

The last line is pretty common. Of course, such an abuse clause helps stop scammers and money launderers, but the casino can also take your bonus and winnings if they think you are winning suspiciously. This is of course very unfriendly to the punter.

We fully read the terms and conditions of all legal online casinos in Australia. If there are annoying rules, you can read them in casino reviews. There was a lot of explanation and advice, but it's always a good idea to read well before using a suggestion.

With the explanation above, you can do your own research and you will automatically find the best casino bonus for you!

Author: John Smith