Casino Bonus Tips: Best Strategy for Casino Bonuses in 2024

Play Games That Contribute 100% to Playthrough Requirements

Perhaps one of the most important yet complicated sections of bonus terms and conditions is the playthrough requirements. The good news is that if you’re looking to maximize your chance to convert a casino bonus into real money, there’s only a small section of these requirements you should focus on, and that’s the games that hold a 100% contribution rate.

For example, if you’re looking to clear a $100 bonus, a game that holds a 100% contribution rate will only require you to wager $100 to convert it to real money winnings. On the other hand, a game that holds a 50% contribution rate will require you to wager $200 to convert that $100 bonus to real money winnings. Because every game holds a house edge, this could make it significantly harder to end up with real money in the end. Most commonly, slots hold a 100% contribution rate, while table games such as blackjack hold a lesser rate.

Play Games with the Best Odds

Of the games that hold a 100% contribution rate, choose the ones that have the best odds. For example, some slots have a 98% RTP (return-to-player), while others have a 96% RTP. Games that have a 98% RTP will theoretically return $98 for every $100 wagered, while 96% RTP games will theoretically return $96. While this may not seem like a big difference, keep in mind that you’ll most likely be wagering quite a large amount, and theoretical math is theoretical, so it won’t always result in that exact outcome. The bottom line is that casino games with the best odds give you the best chance to win.

More: Why Some Games Pay Better Than Others

Play Low Volatility Games

It’s a given that when clearing a bonus, you want to complete the playthrough requirements as easily as possible. Unsurprisingly, the best way to do that is with frequent wins. This is where volatility comes into play.

In short, low volatility games theoretically feature more frequent, smaller wins. High volatility games feature more infrequent but larger wins. You’re already one step ahead by having a bonus in your account, so you should focus more on clearing that bonus than you should on obtaining larger wins. Volatility spans the gamut from low to high, so we recommend sticking with low volatility if possible or low-medium to medium volatility if you must.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Cancel a Bonus

Just because you claimed a bonus doesn’t mean you can’t take it back. While you can’t get back gambling losses (unless part of a promotion), you can cancel a casino bonus at any time. This will forfeit the bonus money, but you’ll retain the money you deposited without having to finish completing the playthrough requirements. Then you can simply withdraw the money or play the games.

Become an Expert in the Games You’re Playing

The best way to succeed is to know what you’re doing. The best way to learn is two-fold; first, learn about the games, their intricacies, and their strategies by visiting our Online Casino 101 page. Here, you’ll learn everything from online casino basics to experienced advice and strategy talk from our experts. Next, practice them by taking advantage of free casino games online. This way, you can fully familiarize yourself with the games you’re playing before risking any real money (or risking losing your bonus by not clearing it).

Take Your Time – But Don’t Let the Bonus Expire

Do not let yourself feel rushed, that’s when mistakes are most commonly made. Space out your bets and take your time following all of these tips and strategies to ensure the greatest chance at success. That being said, keep in mind that almost every bonus has an expiration. These expirations can be as quick as one day, all the way up to a month or longer. Make yourself aware of the window of time that you have, and then take full advantage of that window.

Seek Out No Wagering Bonuses

When looking to cash out a bonus, one of your best options is to take advantage of no wagering bonuses. These bonuses allow you to withdraw any and all winnings from your bonus money with no additional wagering required, greatly increasing your chance of walking away with real money.

Check Out the Casino Before Claiming the Bonus

All of the online casinos we recommend here at Bonus.com are thoroughly vetted and highly recommended by our casino experts. With that in mind, you should follow our lead and do your own research. When you find an online casino, don’t just sign up right away. Take your time to read reviews. Browse the website to see the games on offer to make sure they align with what you want to play. Check out the promotions offered for existing players. After all, if you’re planning on sticking around after the welcome bonus, you’ll want the opportunity to claim more bonuses to play your favorite games. Some of the best online casinos will even allow you to demo their games right on their website before playing with real money, and we highly recommend that you do so.

Customer Service Is Available Before Signup

Before you sign up for an account and prepare to claim your bonus, you should have no questions, concerns, or doubts. If you do, simply reach out to customer service. Many players don’t realize that customer service is available before you even register an account. The best time for online casino dispute & complaint resolution is before you’ve even provided your information.

Claim More Bonuses

In one of our earlier tips, we mentioned promotions for existing players. It should be a given that you want a casino that continues to offer alluring bonuses to you after you’ve claimed your welcome bonus. Have you ever dealt with an internet provider, for example, that only offers their best deals to new customers? This is where you can get ahead of that frustration before you even begin. You’ll always have the opportunity to claim more bonuses, whether they are the aforementioned promotions for existing customers, welcome bonuses at other online casinos, or both. And you absolutely should. Check out all the top online casino bonuses.

Avoid Illegal, Unlicensed Casino Sites

Players should never sign up at an illegal online casino site. Bonus hunters will inevitably come across these sites, such as Bovada and BetOnline. These offshore casinos do not offer the same player protections as legal, licensed online casinos. If you’re in a state that doesn’t have real money casinos, you can win cash prizes playing slots and more at social casinos, which are a lot like the real thing.

“Refer a Friend” Probably Isn’t the Best Deal for You

We’ve all been there – a friend sends you a referral link to get you to sign up, and you know full well that they’re doing it to earn a large bonus of their own. The other side of that referral coin is that you generally won’t get a large bonus for yourself. For example, many referral bonuses come with a $50 bonus for the referrer and a $10 bonus for the referred.

In general, you can get a lot more bang for your buck by claiming a bonus of your own using our exclusive offers here at Bonus.com. You also usually have to make a deposit to qualify, which is short of idea for players who want a no deposit casino bonus.

Go Beyond the Bonus Code Sites

We admit it; we don’t cover it all. While we try our hardest to obtain exclusive deals with only the very best online casinos, there are more out there. We recommend checking with your state to see every licensed real money online casino and visiting them to see what they’re offering in terms of welcome bonuses and promotions for existing players. Offers are almost always easy to find on the homepage of each website, and every online casino will have one.

Consider Skipping a Bonus with High Playthrough Requirements

Every bonus isn’t necessarily a good bonus, even if it’s being offered by a good casino. Some bonuses are borderline unattainable due to high playthrough requirements, a small selection of eligible games, or one of many other contributing factors. Read through the casino bonus terms and conditions before you claim, and consider skipping a bonus that seems unfair, unattainable, or one that would put you out of your comfort zone. There’s nothing wrong with depositing money and playing games without actually getting bonus money.

Don’t Overlook Social & Sweepstakes Casino Bonuses

While they don’t deal in real money, social and sweepstakes casino bonuses offer some of the best bang for your buck available. We recommend at least taking a look at what’s on offer and claiming what you’d be interested in. You can see our top recommended and trusted options on our sweepstakes casino page.

Gamble Carefully, Even with Bonus Money

Always, always practice responsible gambling. You should never play a bonus that would make you uncomfortable in terms of wager amount, games you’d need to play, and so on and so forth. You should only ever play with what you’re willing to lose, and you should understand that no bonus is ever truly risk-free. Make sure to always stay within your comfort zone. After all, online casinos should, first and foremost, be about having fun.