What Are First Deposit Bonuses? – Check Your Knowledge
Before we even get into the nitty-gritty of it, let’s talk definitions. What is a first-time deposit bonus? This is the bonus you receive after you’ve made your first deposit at an online casino site. Casinos use this promotion type to reward customers for signing up and adding funds to their accounts. As a deposit bonus, your deposit will be matched as a percentage in the form of a bonus.
For example, if you receive a 50% bonus, half of your deposit will be added to your casino account. These funds will boost your bankroll from the start of your online casino journey. You can use your bonus to get a feel for the casino, try new games or play one of your favourite games risk-free in a new online casino.
How CasinoAlpha Rates First Deposit Bonus Offers
CasinoAlpha serves an important purpose. We exist to be your go-to unbiased experts for everything casino-related. So, how do we ensure we’re giving you the best info? That’s simple: we look into the ins and outs of any question you might have. To rate any type of bonus or the casinos offering them, we research and test everything. When researching this bonus, here are a few of the aspects we focused on:
- Bonus amount and percentage: Less is more; it definitely doesn’t apply here. The bigger the bonus, whether relating to the monetary or percentage amount, the more money you’ll have to play with in the online casino.
- Wagering requirements: This can be a tricky one and an aspect that new casino players might not be aware of. We’ll discuss this a little later on, but for this section of our article, let’s just say, as a player, you want a lower wagering requirement. This will make it easier for you to withdraw any bonus winnings later on.
- Game restrictions: A lot of casinos only allow you to use your bonuses on specific types of games, such as slots. Given the flexibility to use your bonus on other games, such as virtual table games and live casino games, it is a huge treat. We’re here to let you know when and where such bonuses are available.
- Validity period: No matter how great a bonus is, you’ll want time to enjoy it. When an online casino gives you more time to play your bonus through, you’ll be able to think about where and how you place your bets rather than just meeting the requirements.
- Payment methods: To receive a deposit bonus, it’s no surprise that the way you make a payment might come into play. Customers like you value variety and accessibility. The more payment methods available, the higher the rate will be.
We hope that by evaluating these factors, we can help players find great first deposit bonuses that offer real value.
How to Choose the Best First Deposit Casino Bonus Offers
There are a lot of online casinos out there, which makes finding the best bonus you can claim from your first deposit a tricky endeavour. Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are a few tips to make it easy:
1. Compare, Compare, Compare
Comparing what’s out there is what you want to do to find the best offers. Never settle for the first offer you see. Even when you look at a single casino they change their promotions regularly, add to that the fact that there are new casinos out there regularly, and it seems like a herculean task.
Sound like a lot of work? Don’t worry, we’ll do it for you. We look into everything available and only present you with the best options. We also update our recommendations list regularly, so you’ll always be up to date.
2. Read the Fine Print
Understanding terms and conditions is essential for making the most of any bonus. T&Cs seem to go on forever, but if you know what to look out for, you can quickly skim them and differentiate between what makes a bonus good and what makes it great.
3. Check-in with CasinoAlpha
Whenever you’re not sure where to find the best offers, you can always have a look at our carefully curated list of top casino bonuses. We update it regularly to ensure you have access to the latest promotions and bonuses from reputable European casinos. This way, you can make informed decisions, maximize your gaming experience, take advantage of exclusive deals, and potentially boost your winnings.
How to Claim First Deposit Bonuses – Your Go-To Guide
- Find a casino: Choose a casino from our carefully curated list, or go with your gut.
- Sign up: Complete the registration processes to create a new casino account.
- Make your first deposit: Navigate to the casino’s banking section and transfer some money to your account. Most bonuses require a minimum deposit amount to be activated.
- Receive your bonus: The casino will match your deposit with a set bonus percentage.
- Meet the requirements: You’ll need to wager the bonus amount a specified number of times before you can withdraw it. For example, if you deposit €100 for a 100% match bonus casino, you’ll receive a €100 bonus. If a 20x requirement is added to the bonus terms, you must wager €2,000 before you can withdraw your bonus.
Other Requirements to Redeem Your First Deposit Bonus
Making your first deposit isn’t the only thing you need to do to redeem your first deposit bonus. Before activating your bonus, there are other common requirements to redeem first deposit bonuses:
- Email Verification: After you sign up and before you make a deposit, you’ll need to confirm your email address. Simply click the link sent to your email.
- Phone/Card Verification: As an additional security step for payment methods, you’ll also need to verify your payment method. You’ll most likely be sent a code to the number linked to your account.
- KYC (Know Your Customer): This is done to prevent fraud and protect both you and the casino. They will request that you prove your identity by submitting a copy of your ID and proof of your address.
Most Recommended Types of First Deposit Bonuses
The bonuses you can claim along with your initial deposit come in various forms, each with its unique perks. Here are a few of the offers you might be able to claim:
Deposit match
Sometimes called reload bonuses, a deposit match is rewarded as a percentage of the amount you add to your account and is the most common type of first deposit reward given by online casinos. For instance, a casino might offer a 100% deposit match up to $500, meaning if you deposit $500, you’ll get an additional $500 from the casino, giving you $1000 to play with. Another example could be a 50% match up to $1000, where a $1000 deposit earns you an extra $500. Some casinos offer more generous deals, like a 200% match up to $300, turning a $150 deposit into $450. Such a promotion for new players can be found by using a Gxmble Casino bonus code or a bonus code from Island Reels. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions of the offers carefully.
Free spins
Sometimes, instead of a reload bonus, casinos might reward new customers with free spins. While this is great as a regular bonus, avoid this one as a first deposit bonus, as free spins typically offer less value. For example, 50 free spins might come with lower potential winnings. Another example is 100 free spins restricted to low-value bets. Some casinos provide up to 200 free spins spread over several days, which can be inconvenient and often come with high wagering requirements, making it harder to withdraw winnings.
Cashback
Sometimes, casinos give new customers free spins instead of reload bonuses. While great as a regular bonus, free spins offer less value as a first deposit bonus. For example, 50 free spins might have lower potential winnings or 100 spins might be restricted to low-value bets. Some casinos offer up to 200 free spins with high wagering requirements, making withdrawals harder. Cashback, though not ideal for new customers, cushions regulars when luck isn’t on their side by returning a percentage of losses over time, aiding in bankroll management.
What to Look for When Picking First Deposit Bonuses
Since this is one of the first bonuses you’ll be able to claim when joining a new casino, finding the right bonus for your first deposit can enhance your gaming experience. Before selecting a bonus, you might want to consider a few of these factors:
- Bonus amount and percentage: Look out for higher amounts and percentages as they provide more value.
- Wagering requirements: The lower the requirement, the easier it will be to fulfil. Even better, no wagering offers are a big plus.
- Game restrictions: Bonuses that apply to various games offer more flexibility. Try to claim a bonus that can be used on your favourite games.
- Validity period: Longer periods give you more time to wager your bonus through.
- Payment methods: Check if your preferred payment method is eligible for the bonus.
The key to making the best of any bonus is understanding the terms and conditions attached to it. While it’s important to always read the T&Cs, they can be a little wordy. Here are a few terms to look into before accepting any bonus:
| Aspect | Description |
| Wagering Requirements | Number of times you need to wager your bonus before you can withdraw it. |
| Game Restrictions | Bonuses can usually only be used on specific games. It’s best to only accept bonuses for games you want to play. |
| Validity Period | The time frame within which the bonus must be used. |
| Bet Limits | Maximum bet amount allowed when using bonus money. |
| Maximum Cashout | The maximum amount of winnings that can be withdrawn from bonus funds. |
| Contribution Percentages | The percentage of each bet that contributes towards meeting wagering requirements. |
Casino Games to Play with First Deposit Casino Bonuses
Beware that when playing through your bonus to meet your wagering requirements, not all games contribute in the same way. The weighting attributed to each type of game varies from casino to casino, but you might expect something like this:
Deposit Values for the First Deposit Match Bonuses
The most standard and most common minimum deposit is €10, but occasionally, you can get lucky and find bonuses with a €5 or €1 minimum deposit requirement.
The bonuses related to your first deposit can vary a fair amount in terms of the minimum required deposit amounts. If you want to go for a bigger bonus, this won’t apply to you, but if you want to ease into a new casino slowly, you might want to start with a smaller bonus. That means finding a casino bonus with a low minimum deposit is required to activate a bonus.
Best Payment Methods to Redeem First Deposit Offers
Different payment methods come with varying limits and conditions for redeeming bonuses. Here are some of the best options:
The minimum and maximum values seen in the table are what you are most likely to find in most casinos. However, some casinos will allow deposits of as little as €5, and some casinos don’t place a limit on the amount of money you can deposit.
2024 Alternatives to First Deposit Bonuses
While first deposit bonuses are popular, there are other attractive alternatives, such as:
First Deposit Offers vs Cashback
Losing money in a casino is never fun, to cushion the blow online casinos sometimes offer cashback as a reward. You’ll receive a percentage of your losses over a set period in the form of bonus cash. For example, you might get back 10% of your losses over a week.
If you compare first deposit offers and cashback, it all depends on what you are looking for, cashback offers lower risk and you’ll get some of your losses back, but the proportion received is always relatively small. First deposit offers give you extra money from the get-go but require wagering.
First Deposit Offers vs Free Spin Welcome Offers
Free spins no deposit promotions are often awarded to players when they join a casino, either as a reward for signing up or verifying their mobile devices. Free spins are a set number of spins given on a specific slot game.
First deposit bonuses can be used on a wider variety of games, but free spins are sometimes rewarded without needing to make a deposit.
Pros and Cons of First Deposit Bonuses
| Pros | Cons |
| Extra funds to play with | May hold higher wagering requirements |
| You can use bonus funds to try games you might not have tried before | Bonus funds may be limited to certain games |
| More money can lead to bigger wins | Bonuses have expiration dates |
Final Verdict on First Deposit Bonuses
First deposit bonuses are usually the first type of bonus a casino player will encounter. Their your initial window into a new casino. You’ll have the chance to try out their selection of games, test their customer care (by how quickly and efficiently they handle KYC) and get a feel for their overall bonus offering.
Just a final word of advice: check those terms and conditions, get the best of the bonus, and don’t get burned by tricky wagering requirements and game restrictions.
