There is a wide range of bonuses and promotions up for grabs when gambling online however, they can often appear to be very similar to one another. To make choosing the best bonus simpler we’ve put together a list of all the different types of offers available for Canadians. We include a short description of what it is and how to use it.
Not only that, but we’ve added a casino bonus manual at the end of the guide so you can easily navigate the tricky world of bonus Terms and Conditions. Never get caught out with our T&C’s guide!
What are Casino Bonuses?
The online gambling market is an exciting and competitive environment, where operators seek to win over players. One of the best ways to encourage new players to sign up is to offer enticing bonuses and promotions.
Casino bonuses generally offer free credits, valuable rebates, or free spins on popular slots as a way to add more value to your bankroll and your experience of the venue. This way, players can explore the site without having to spend too much of their own money first.
Of course, there are conditions to all these offers, many of which we will cover in this helpful Casino Bonus Guide.
Types of Casino Bonuses
Casino bonuses vary greatly, so it helps to understand the variety of types out there. That way you can discover the most suitable ones to fit your exclusive playstyle. We have put a quick and convenient guide together for you so you can identify the main online casino bonuses that can be found in the industry. Keep reading and you will be snatching them up like a pro in no time!
Welcome / Sign-Up Bonuses
So you’ve signed up to a new casino, congrats! Before you start spinning those reels, you’ll want to check out their fabulous welcome bonus. It’s usually the best offer you’ll get at the casino, so be sure to take advantage of it.
Casinos will want to show you their hospitality, and the best way for them to do this is by extending bonus credits to you to play with, from the start.
The benefits of the welcome bonus are that it can seriously boost your starting balance, which lets you play more games and make more bets on your favourite slots.
Match deposit bonuses
A match deposit bonus is where the casino will MATCH your deposit by a certain percentage, which will be stipulated in the offer. The commonly offered 100% match bonus will effectively double your bankroll.
- Deposit $20 – receive $20 bonus
- Deposit $35 – receive $35 bonus
These offers will be capped to the amount the casino is willing to match up to. The typical offer will therefore stipulate a 100% Match Bonus up to $100.
You can receive match bonuses as part of your welcome package or as part of the casino’s promotional calendar. Therefore, it’s a good idea to click YES to receiving promotional emails when you register on the site, so you don’t miss out on some of the amazing offers.
Free Spins
Free spins are like bonuses but are made exclusively for online slots! Instead of receiving bonus money to play with, you can spin the reels a specific number of times, for free.
The free spins are normally assigned a bonus value (for example $0.10 per spin) and the winnings made from the resultant spins can be withdrawn but may be capped. There may also be wagering requirements that need to be fulfilled before making a withdrawal. Be sure to read the terms and conditions for more information.
Free Spins can be offered in various ways. Some casinos will give them to you without a deposit, just for signing up on their site, while other offers will require a deposit first.
Sometimes they’ll be called extra spins, bonus spins, welcome spins or cash spins – there are lots of different names for them.
Reload Bonus
After your welcome bonus, you’ll be added to the casino’s bonus calendar, where on certain days, of each month, you’ll receive a deposit bonus of varying sizes, which you can choose to claim and use.
The operator can offer anywhere between a 20% bonus up to 200% match on your deposit, depending on the casino’s promotion at the time.
Reload Bonuses most often come in the form of Match Deposit Bonuses, and are generally marketed to celebrate special occasions or specific times of the month.
During the big holidays like Christmas, you’ll find that casinos are more generous, giving out bigger reload bonuses than usual.
Cashback Bonus
Instead of bonus money, online casinos can also opt to offer you cashback. One of the most significant advantages of cashback is that you don’t always have to wager it before cashing out. In some instances, it is awarded as real money and in others, it is awarded as Bonus Credits that can be spent on games.
The offer will usually apply to a certain percentage of your losses over a specific amount of time. Online casinos will commonly offer you a 10% Cashback up to $100 or $200.
Loyalty and VIP clubs
Land-based casinos are known for rewarding their loyal customers, and online casinos are no different. Their loyalty programs will shower you with gifts, such as free spins, cashback and bonuses, the more you play. And if you’re a high-roller, you may be invited to join their VIP club, which has all kinds of perks only available to its members. VIP clubs have been known to reward tickets to events, all-inclusive holidays, and bigger and better bonuses.
No Deposit Bonus
No deposit bonuses are ideal for exploring the games at casinos before spending money. What’s unique about them is no deposit is needed to claim it, which is why they’re so popular. Free spins are a popular form of No Deposit Bonus, but in some cases, bonus credits will be offered instead.
Be sure to familiarise yourself with the bonus policy of no deposit bonuses, as you may have to make a deposit before cashing out any winnings with it, or you’ll need to wager a notable amount of cash. If you’re not sure what these terms mean, then continue to our Bonus Manual.
It’s time to check out the best bonuses for Canadian players. Everything you need is right here to get the greatest casino experience.
Bonus Manual
Not all bonuses are equal, and to help you find the best casino offers online, we’ve put together a helpful bonus manual to ensure your rewards are fair. Here are a few things you will need to know about the bonus policy of any online casino.
- Bonus codes: Certain bonuses require a code in order to claim them. This code may be given via email, SMS, from a popup, or even from a TV commercial. You can usually redeem your bonuses in this way by going to the cashier’s page on the site and entering the promo code.
- Wagering requirements: Also known as playthrough requirements, this is the amount of money you should wager prior to cashing out any rewards or winnings made from bonus money.
If you receive a generous bonus with wagering of (deposit + bonus ) x 40, fill in the gaps with your deposit amount and bonus amount, and then multiply them by the wagering amount to get to your playthrough requirement. In this example, let’s say you deposited $20 and received a $20 bonus. so… ($20 deposit + $20 bonus) x 40 = $1,600. Once you have wagered $1600, you will be able to conveniently withdraw any wins and rewards made with the credits.
- Min Deposit: All deposit bonuses will require a minimum deposit amount before you can claim the offer. This is usually a nominal amount of around $10 or $20
- Casino game limits: Familiarise yourself with the minimum and maximum bet levels in each exciting title prior to playing.
- Min/Max bet:Familiarise yourself with the minimum and maximum bet levels in each exciting title prior to playing.
- Withdrawal limits: A casino may cap the amount you can withdraw, daily, weekly or monthly. It will be stipulated in the casino’s Terms and Conditions.
- Validity period: Each bonus should be claimed within the time-frame stipulated in the bonus policy.
Not all casino bonuses are worth signing up for. Bonuses with unrealistically high wagering requirements or extremely short validity periods could end up wasting your time instead.
FAQ about Casino Bonuses in Canada
How do you make money from online casino bonuses?
Online casino bonuses effectively boost your bankroll, giving you more money to play with and experience the games on offer.
Do casinos limit how much players get with their bonuses?
There's usually a limit to how much bonuses a casino account can receive - be it a certain number of free spins, maximum bonus funds, or even a win cap when you play with the bonus.
Do Canadians get better rewards?
Absolutely! Canada is a very important market for online casinos which is growing at a significant rate. Therefore, many operators want a share of this market and craft lucrative bonus reward packages for Canadian players.
What is a casino bonus code?
Some bonuses are automatically credited to your account while others require you to opt-in or key in a unique code, known as a casino bonus code, to activate a specific bonus.
How can I withdraw my bonus winnings?
Do I pay tax on winnings?
Online casino winnings are tax-free in Canada.
Can I get bonuses on mobile?
Yes, some casinos offer exciting bonuses exclusively for mobile gamblers.
