In this article we explain the different types of casino bonuses and how each of them works. We look closely at these bonuses to identify their different characteristics that you need to consider when deciding on a casino to play at, or whether to take up a bonus offer.
Best Australian Casino Bonuses
Here are our picks of the best Australian casino bonuses. We've taken into account the bonus amounts, the wagering requirements of each one, and only list reputable online casinos that offer a safe and trustworthy service.
C
Cashback
F
Free Play
H
High Roller
M
Match
N
No Deposit
P
Post-Wager
Exclusive
Types of Casino Bonuses
There are different types of Australian casino bonuses that you should be aware of and look out for. Here's a short explanation of each.
Cashable bonus
This is a simple bonus that you get when you make your first deposit at a casino. It is subject to specific wagering requirements and you can withdraw it once you have met these requirements.
Sticky bonus
A sticky bonus is a bonus that can't be withdrawn. It remains in your account for you to use to play with. It is usually given when you make your first deposit.
Post-wager bonus
This is also a deposit bonus but you only receive it once you've have completed the wagering requirements that are attached to it.
Sticky Post-wager bonus
This is the same as a normal post wager bonus, except that it can never be withdrawn.
Cashback bonus
This bonus refunds you a certain percentage of your losses. They sometimes carry wagering requirements and sometimes not.
Cashback bonus on wins
This bonus is rarer. It is a bonus that represents a certain percentage of your winnings. It also comes either with or without wagering requirements.
No deposit bonus
As the name implies this is a bonus that is awarded to you without you having to make a deposit first. It is placed in your account when you open a real money account at an online casino and is also known as a free money bonus. It is usually subject to wagering requirements.
Free spins bonus
This is a bonus that comes in the form of a specific number of free spins on a certain slot. You get it when you open your account at an online casino. The casino provides the credits for you to play with and you generally get to keep your winnings that are over a certain minimum threshold. There are usually wagering conditions applicable to this type of bonus.
Free play bonus
Also referred to as a "one hour free" bonus. Free play bonuses typically give you one hour to make a small profit using a starting balance anywhere in the $500 to $1500 range. The money won is treated as a bonus, and can typically be no more than $150.
How To Claim a Bonus
There are three ways to receive a bonus:
- 1. Automatic - Most casinos automatically allocate a casino bonus once you maker a deposit (instantly or within 24 hours). In most instances you can email the casino to ask them to reverse the bonus if you do not want it. Example: Planet 7 Oz Casino
- 2. Bonus Code - this requires you to enter a bonus code in the cashier when you make your deposit. Example: Maple Casino
- 3. Request by email - very few casinos use this method but in this instance you need to send casino support and email with your login ID to request the bonus. Example: Platinum Play Casino
Always study bonus fine print
This is a crucially important point for us to make. The defining characteristics about a bonus are not the value or the type of bonus - they are the terms and conditions. Theses govern when you get a bonus, what qualifies you for a bonus, when the bonus is released, what conditions are attached to the bonus and when you can withdraw bonus funds, if at all. So it pays to know what these terms and conditions are so that you are not disappointed.
You should look for the following:
- When do you receive bonus money? - some bonuses are awarded when you open your account, others are given on your first deposit, and others are only given once you have met certain wagering requirements.
- What are the wagering conditions/playthrough requirements - the wagering conditions, also known as the playthrough requirements, are conditions attached to the bonus that dictate when you may withdraw your account balance. Typically they will require you to bet the value of the bonus amount a certain number of times over. For example, if you get a $100 bonus, the wagering conditions may be 30x bonus monies received, meaning that you have to place $3,000 worth of bets to meet the playthrough requirements.
- What kinds of games contribute to the wagering conditions - different games contribute different percentages to the wagering conditions. Games that have a lower house edge usually contribute the smallest percentage. In practice this means that if you have to bet a total of $3,000 as the wagering condition, only 20% of your video poker play will count, and 60% of your slots play will count, and so on.
- Can you withdraw bonus money or not - some bonuses can't be withdrawn at all. You have to leave them in your account. While this doesn't give you any money in your pocket, it does mean that you have more casino credits to play with.
Casino Bonus Q&A
How does a match bonus work?
A match bonus is a bonus that gives you a certain percentage of a deposit you make as a bonus. For example, a 50% deposit match will give you $25 extra in your account when you make a $50 deposit.
Some casinos call their bonuses "free cash". Can I grab it and cash in?
No you can't, as there are always playthrough requirements attached to this type of bonus. You will usually have to wager the bonus amount a certain number of times before you can withdraw it.
What are Free Spins?
Free spins are a type of bonus offer where you are given a certain number of free spins on a specific slot machine, funded by credits that the casino supplies. You get to keep anything you win above a certain amount. For example, if you get 100 free spins and you end up winning $150 in total, if the threshold is $100 your bonus amount is $50.
What is a cash back bonus?
A cash back bonus is when you get a percentage of (usually) your losses back. For example, if the casino offers a 10% cash back bonus and you lose $50, you'll get a bonus of $5.
Should I always go for the biggest bonus?
Not at all. Your decision on which bonus to take should also be based on the wagering conditions (playthrough requirements) that are attached to the bonus. Often a massive bonus has very onerous playthrough requirements. For example, there may be a 40x playthrough requirement, which means that if you get a whopping $3,000 bonus, you have to make bets to the total value of $120,000 before you can withdraw the bonus. By contrast, if you get a $100 bonus, the playthrough requirement may only be 10x, so you only have to wager $1,000.
Can I play any game with my bonus?
Yes, you can play any game with your bonus, but not all games will count towards your playthrough requirements and some games will contribute a higher percentage towards these than others.
What is the wagering requirement?
The wagering requirement is the betting value you must meet in order to withdraw your bonus amount. It is typically expressed as a multiple of the bonus amount e.g. 35x the bonus amount. This means that if you receive a $100 bonus, you must make bets to the total value of $3,500 before you can withdraw.
What happens if I withdraw before I make the wagering rules?
You won't be allowed to. The casino software will prevent this.
How do I know if I am allowed to cash out?
Some casinos have bonus tracking software where you can see how much you have bet towards the playthrough requirements. With other casinos you may have to call the casino support and get them to look it up for you.