Most casinos offer some sort of incentive scheme to entice new registrations
and it seems the most common sign-up scheme is the "Welcome Bonus" This
incentive is designed to be a win-win scheme, whereby the casino enlists new
recruits and players feel rewarded for downloading gaming software. I searched
the internet to find the best welcome bonuses on offer and found that whilst
they are all in essence the same thing, they do differ in principle from casino
to casino.
Basically, welcome bonuses are gifts from casino operators for player
patronage. Players are issued with a coupon or welcome bonus code that they must
enter in at the cashier in order to redeem their reward. The value of the gift
differs depending on the casino selected, and the rules governing the issuance
of the gift varies too. Some operators issue free money welcome bonuses, meaning
that players simply need to register and download software to be eligible for
free credits. Others require that gamers make an initial deposit at a specified
minimum amount before being able to redeem their welcome bonuses. Sometimes
casinos reward their members with gifts that equal the amount they deposit. This
is more commonly referred to as the match bonus and encourages clients to make
larger deposits. All-in-all, the welcome bonus might be packaged differently
from operator to operator, but it is simply the presentation of free credits to
new members.
The most common similarity across all welcome bonus incentives is the "playthrough
requirement". This is a regulatory structure put in place by online casinos to
discourage abuse from players who utilize free credits to turn a profit before
moving on to the next casino. The playthrough requirement is usually set at
between 10X and 30X the welcome bonus amount, but can sometimes also include the
player deposit amount. Basically what this means, is that the player needs to
place bets totaling the stipulated playthrough requirement before he/she is able
to make a withdrawal. In the case of free money welcome bonuses, the player
might also be subject to a maximum withdrawal amount.
Casinos offering welcome bonuses include Cocoa Casino with a £10 no deposit
bonus and up to £500 in match bonuses, Silver Dollar Casino with up to £1 350 in
bonuses, Onlinevegas Casino with up to £5 000 in committed bonuses and Royal
Vegas Casino with £1 200 in bonuses. A word to the wise though...the greater the
bonus, the longer it takes to reach the playthrough requirements. In my mind,
its a lot better to void welcome bonuses and take your chances with your own
money. That way, you can withdraw your winnings at any time without having to
meet casino playthrough regulations. On the other hand, If you don't have much
money to play with, the welcome bonus will allow you to enjoy an online gaming
experience and give you an opportunity to win utilizing free credits.