Experience shows that the type and amount of the bonus are among the first selection criteria that players consider when choosing a casino. After all, most players want to get as much out of the offer as possible before spending their money and taking their own risk.
The type of reward offered in bonus offers can generally be divided into two categories: deposit bonuses and no deposit bonuses, also known as no deposit bonuses.
What are the main differences between these two popular types of bonuses, and is one actually better than the other?
Here you will find all the information you need about the two most important types of casino bonuses, their respective advantages, and the situations in which it makes sense to use which bonus.
What is a no deposit bonus and how does it work?
There is a wide range of no deposit bonuses available. However, two different types have become established at most online casinos, which differ significantly from one another. A distinction is made between free spins and bonus credit.
Free spins With a no deposit bonus that is granted in the form of free spins, the player receives a set number of free spins on a slot machine. It is not necessary for them to finance the bets themselves; instead, they can place one bet per free spin. Providers usually grant between 25 and 50 free spins in such a package, while 100 or more free spins are offered less frequently.
Keep in mind that this no deposit bonus is intended exclusively for slot machines – free spins are specifically designed for this part of the casino offering, and due to how they work, it would be illogical to use them on other games anyway. In addition, free spins can usually only be used on a specific slot game.
Bonus credit without deposit Another variation of the no deposit bonus is to credit a fixed amount of money to the player’s account. This amount is usually between $50 and $200.
This is also done without the player having to make a deposit first. With this type of bonus, the player has a little more freedom in how they use it. Not only is the bonus usually applicable to all (or most) slot games, but it can also be used for table games such as roulette or baccarat. However, the bonus credit cannot be used for live games.
No deposit bonuses are often found in the form of a combination package. This means that the casino offers both free spins and a credit bonus. You will often find combinations that include 50 free spins for a specific slot game and $100 to $200 that can be used on all games in the casino.
Deposit bonus – the more generous bonus?
The second important bonus category, the deposit bonus, is in some ways the exact opposite of the no deposit bonus. As you can easily guess, the player must first deposit their own money into their casino account before receiving the bonus. The deposit bonus is almost always granted as a percentage bonus on the real money amount that the player has deposited.
To create more excitement, the deposit bonus is usually spread over several deposits and is tiered. The player receives a certain percentage on the first deposit and usually a smaller bonus on the second and occasionally on the third deposit. However, it is important to consider the upper limit: the bonus can only be increased up to a certain amount of the deposit, but not beyond the maximum amount.
Let’s look at an example to illustrate this: Suppose the online casino you have chosen offers a deposit bonus of 100% for the first deposit and 50% for all subsequent deposits. A maximum of $200 is allowed per credit. Regardless of the amount of your deposit, you can therefore never receive a bonus of more than $200 per deposit.
Deposit: To reach the maximum bonus amount, you must deposit $200 yourself. After the bonus has been credited, you will have $200 (your own deposit) + $200 (maximum bonus amount with a 100% deposit match) = $400 in your player account.
Deposit: With the bonus reduced to 50%, you only need to deposit $400 to receive the maximum amount. After your second deposit, your account balance will be $400 (first deposit including bonus) + $400 (your second deposit) + $200 (maximum bonus for the second deposit) = $1,000.
Deposit: The same applies here as for the second deposit. If you also pay $400 here, you will end up with a total of $1,000 (your first two deposits including the bonus) + $600 (third deposit including the bonus) = $1,600 in your player account.
As you will notice, deposit bonuses are usually somewhat more generous, making it possible to quickly increase your player account to a considerable amount. In return, you need to commit a little more of your own money.
Conclusion Regardless of the bonus, these “gifts” are ultimately marketing tools aimed at lowering the player’s inhibitions and encouraging them to take a closer look at what the casino has to offer. Nevertheless, players can also benefit from these offers by using them primarily to try out the casino’s offerings under real money conditions and thus gain a comprehensive first impression of the available games.