Best Online Casino Welcome Bonus
Understanding the Casino Welcome Bonus
One of the first things you notice when you load up a casino is the welcome bonus displayed across the homepage. It’s the Australian casino’s way of alerting you to their offers and hoping it will entice you to join and claim.
For you as a player, it is a great way to bank some free bonus cash or free spins, which will help to extend your gaming session enjoyment. Welcome bonus online casino sites offer them in various formats that we will try to explain:
| Deposit Match | The most common bonus. You will receive an amount to match your initial deposit with a minimum amount required. The typical percentage is 100%, but we have encountered some going up to an incredible 500% match. |
| No Deposit Bonus | This is the creme la creme and everyone’s favourite. You don’t have to make any deposits and will receive a free amount, which you can use to enjoy the games or spins on the pokies. There are winning caps on these, but they are free, so it’s still an incredible deal. |
| Free Spins | These often form part of the deposit match, so you will also receive a set number of free spins alongside your welcome offer. Some platforms will offer a casino sign-up bonus offering free spins only on a particular or a couple of pokies options. |
| Cashback | This is a less popular method, but we come across them occasionally. They work because you will have a period, typically a week after joining, to play to your heart’s content and receive cashback on any losses. The percentages here can vary. The 100% ones are the best, but they can come with various amounts, such as 50% back or lower, like 20%. |
💡Expert tip: We recommend taking advantage of welcome bonuses if they have realistic wagering requirements and time limits.
Criteria for Choosing the Best Sign-Up Bonus Casino
While the casino sign-up bonusmay look incredible on paper, we dive deeper to discover precisely what it entails. A few criteria are essential to knowing and understanding the differences, which will help you choose the right one. You can find these in the T&Cs, and we suggest you always have a read before claiming or playing.
Wagering Requirements
If you are new to gambling, wagering is how often you must turn over your bonus funds before they convert into withdrawable cash. For example, if you have received an A$100 bonus with a 30x wagering, the simple maths is 100 x 30 = 3,000. It means you must play A$3,000 bonus funds on the allowed games. We will tackle any up to 50x. The lower, the better, with a greater chance of turning a profit.
Size of Bonus
While we all prefer to claim a more significant offer, consider whether you have the bankroll or the initial amount required to claim. Also, look at the wagering. As discussed above, it can prove challenging to complete if it is too high.
Game Restrictions
There are also typically unallowed games; most online casino welcome bonus offers have restricted titles. You can usually only use pokies, with some restrictions. Usually, live dealer games don’t count for wagering, and table games may only count as a percentage. For example, if roulette only counts 20% on the A$100 bonus of A$3000 wagering, it now becomes A$15,000, which we don’t recommend.
Expiration Dates
There are two dates to consider. The first is when you have to claim it after registering. You may have a week or even a month but will lose out if you don’t claim in time. The other time limit is how long the bonus funds will last after activation before expiring. It also varies; we have seen some for only 24 hours and some for up to a month.
Other Terms
Other factors influencing your decision are whether all payment methods allow you to claim. Some, like Neteller and Skrill, often don’t qualify and have a look at the minimum amount required to activate it. The other thing to check is the maximum bet allowed when using bonus funds. If you go over, it’s a breach of terms, and you may lose the bonus funds.
💡Expert tip: Having a quick read-through of the terms is the best advice we can give as they can change, and it ensures you have up-to-date details of what’s required.
Top Australian Sign-Up Bonus Casino Sites with the Best Welcome Bonuses
First: 100% up to A$1,000 and 100 free spins
Second: 75% up to A$1,500 and 50 free spins
Third: 50% up to A$2,500 and 150 free spins
First - 100 % up to A$300 and 100 FS on Wolf Treasure
Second – 75 % up to A$500 and 75 FS on Sun of Egypt 3
Third – 50 % up to A$700 and 75 FS on Gold Rush with Johnny Cash
Fourth – 50 % up to A$1,000 and 75 FS on Buffalo Power 2 Hold and Win
Fifth – 25 % up to A$1,500 and 75 FS on Gemhalla
First - 100% up to A$750
Second - 75% up to A$450
Third - 50% up to A$300
First - 100% up to A$500 and 100 FS on Aztec Magic Deluxe or The Hive
Second - 75% up to A$1000 and 75 FS
Third - 50% up to AU$500
First - 100% up to A$100 and 100 FS on Dig Dig Digger or Mechanical Clover
Second - 50% up to A$300 and 50 FS on Johnny Cash or Elvis Frog in Vegas
💡Expert tip: Welcome bonuses are subject to change. The bonus details listed in this article were correct at the time of writing this review. Please check the casino website for current sign-up bonus offers.
How to Claim Casino Sign-Up Bonus Offers
If you are new to claiming online casino welcome bonus offers, we’ve got the steps for you to claim:
- Register for a new account at your chosen casino.
- Check the minimum deposit requirement and activation method. Does it require a promo code or opt-in, or is it automatic?
- Read through the terms so you know the wagering and any other restrictions or conditions of the bonus, like games allowed max bet, etc.
- Deposit money and receive your bonus.
- Complete the wagering to request a cashout of any winnings.
More Casino Bonuses
Maximising Your Online Casino Welcome Bonus
After receiving your casino reward as a new member, there are some strategies you can use to make the most out of it:
- Choose high RTP Pokies: The higher the RTP (Return to Player) percentage, the more chances you have of turning a profit. Look for pokies with 96% RTP and above and low to medium volatility to make your funds last longer.
- Play eligible games: Ensure you have read the terms. If you play games that aren’t eligible, it won’t count towards your bonus. You might also find some games have higher wagering requirements, making it harder to release your bonus funds.
- Play with monies you can afford: If the offer is up to A$1,000, you don’t have to claim it all. You can still receive free funds if you make the minimum deposit within your budget.
Things to Watch Out For
Players make some common pitfalls when claiming one of the sign-up bonus casino offers. These include not checking the wagering. If it is too high, you should choose another option. Also, have a look at how long it lasts. Some have short time frames, which will take a lot of work to complete.
The bonus terms include all this information and any restricted games. While it may seem daunting if you are new to gambling, there are a few important terms to look out for. The main ones are your deposit amount, wagering, time frame, restricted games, and any maximum wagers.
Responsible Gambling
We are proud ambassadors of responsible gambling. We don’t want our readers to cause themselves any distress by losing money they can’t afford. Therefore, we recommend using the casino’s online tools and setting up deposit and time limits to ensure you only spend time and money you can afford to lose, and it always stays fun.
Wrapping Up
A welcome bonus online casino is an excellent opportunity to try out a new casino site, whether you are a new or seasoned player. It lets you increase your balance on your first deposit and sometimes on your first few. Many include free spins, too, and it is an excellent chance to try out some new games while enjoying the entertainment and with the ultimate aim of making a profit.
If you’re ready to take advantage of a new welcome bonus now, then sign up with one of the top Aussie casinos our experts recommend on this page. You can also check out our unbiased and reliable casino reviews for more info.
FAQ
- When I join a new casino, will I receive its welcome offer automatically?
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Not necessarily. Each platform will have a different method for you to claim, whether with a promo code or opting in, while some are automatic. If you need more clarification, check the terms, which will have the details.
- What is wagering?
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It is the number of times you must turn over your bonus before converting it to cash. If you have a 30x wagering on A$10, it equates to having to spin A$300 on the pokies.
- What happens if my bonus expires before I complete it?
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If the timer runs out, there is, unfortunately, not much you can do. That’s why it's always best to check the terms before you begin so you have all the details.
- Can you cash out a casino welcome bonus?
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Yes, but you must first satisfy the conditions attached to the bonus, such as wagering requirements. If you receive free spins, the promotion terms might specify a maximum win available.
- What’s the difference between a welcome bonus and no-deposit bonus at an online casino?
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A welcome bonus is a promotion offered to new players. It might be a matched bonus, free spins, or a cashback offer. A no-deposit bonus is the ultimate bonus because you don’t have to deposit your own money. Instead, you play with bonus funds and can usually withdraw winnings, subject to terms and conditions.
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