Online casinos constantly feature special bonuses to attract new and maintain their existing customers. They provide attractive welcome bonuses, minimum deposit bonus incentives, free spins, bonus funds, reload bonuses – and you can have them all!
If you are a first-time player in the online gambling world and want to claim bonus money or free spins, stick around to learn about the best online casino bonuses in 2021!
Table of Contents
Let’s hop into what these incentives can do for you, how you can claim them and meet the wagering requirements to withdraw real money.
What is a Casino Bonus?
If you’re a newcomer on the iGaming scene – first things first – let’s take a look at what these bonuses are and what they stand for.
There are various welcome bonuses available at online gambling sites, including minimum deposit offers, free spins, cashback rewards, or a mix from all of them.
These promotions are mainly targeted at new customers, but most casinos feature dedicated promotions for existing players as well. If you’re a rookie, you can easily claim them by signing up and meeting the deposit criteria.
Let’s take a look at an example so you can understand this process. Suppose a Canadian online casino is offering a 100% matching bonus up to C$100. The minimum deposit required to participate is C$10. If you sign up and deposit at least C$10, you will get C$10 extra credited to your account as bonus money. If you deposit C$100, you will get C$100 extra, but no more than that. This promotion is called a match deposit bonus, and it’s the most usual one you’ll come across.
In the following part, we will examine all types of promotions, including no deposit offers, the welcome bonus for new players, bonus spins, cashback rewards, and loyalty programs.
Types of Casino Bonuses and Promotions
Thousands of renowned Canadian online gambling sites exist nowadays, and they all offer incentives to attract new customers.
Because the market is saturated, they’re basically competing amongst each other. So let’s go through all exclusive casino bonuses, shall we?
Welcome Bonus for New Players
Every new player will encounter a welcome bonus when signing up – live casino bonus, free spins, no deposit offer – everything falls under the wing of this category. It’s usually the first thing that pops up on every casino page. One example is a first match deposit bonus in which the online casino matches your deposit up to a particular sum, for example, a 100% match bonus up to CA$500.
In addition, the welcome bonus can be broken down into a sequence of two or three deposit bonuses, including a 100%, 75%, and 50% match bonus rewarded immediately after your first, second, and third deposit. This is called a welcome package.
To withdraw your winnings from the welcome bonus, you must bet a particular amount on the game you’re playing. The bonus is yours to keep after you’ve met the playthrough requirements. We will explain these requirements in-depth a little bit later.
First Deposit Bonuses
When it comes to attracting new customers, the online gaming market is quite competitive. Numerous well-capitalized gambling sites are fighting to offer lucrative bonuses, which is good news if you’re an upcoming gambler. Online casinos offer attractive welcome bonuses to acquire more new punters, and one of those is the first deposit match bonus.
A first deposit bonus is a welcome bonus that matches your first investment by a certain percentage. This standard method successfully attracts and motivates new players to open an online casino profile and urge them to play at that casino right away.
The deposit bonus can match your deposit up to 50%, 100%, 200, etc. You can typically use your bonus money on slots, table games like blackjack, baccarat, video poker, roulette, and more. You’ll also be given a deadline to clear your deposit bonus from the requirements, and if you don’t – any remaining funds or spins will be deducted by the casino.
No Deposit Casino Bonus
If you want to test out some new online mobile casinos, the no deposit bonus can be your best option to take advantage of. Not only can you try out some new games and learn how they work, but you can do so entirely without a deposit requirement and any risk!
To claim this promotion, all you need to do is sign-up for an account in your preferred online casino, and the operator will add the welcome no deposit bonus to your player account. These can be free spins or bonus money.
Note that these offers are limited to one household, and making multiple accounts to claim the no deposit offer more times can get you in trouble. Additionally, don’t expect big rewards. After all, you’re not required to deposit real money, which means anything you get is an extra.
Casino Bonus Codes
Bonus codes are just an additional step you must take before you’re allowed to claim certain bonuses. In simple terms – you will have to enter a bonus code before an online casino allows you to claim their promotion. Gambling sites usually display their codes on the front page, and you need to enter them when depositing money.
Let’s explain this step by step. First, you will need to make an account and locate the casino’s bonus codes (note that not all casinos have codes). Next, access the cashier section, and before depositing money, you will see an empty field where you can enter the code. Simply type it in, deposit your preferred amount, and you should get the bonus right away.
You can also get these codes via email or SMS if you’re a regular.
Free Spins Bonuses
The most important thing to investigate before you register with an online gambling site is their availability of free spins – the most common casino bonuses. Free spins are incentives you can use to try out certain slots for free – or not. Free spins are mostly given as part of a welcome bonus, and depending on the offer – you can get them with or without depositing any real money. Nonetheless, free spins are the most popular type of casino bonuses, and they appeal to all gamblers.
Note that the free spins you get from a no deposit offer won’t be too big quantity-wise. You will mostly get up to 20. When offering a deposit bonus, certain casinos will provide up to 200 free spins.
However, the free spins are only available on casino slot games, sometimes only for a specific slot game. As with other promotions, you can withdraw your bonus winning once you meet the wagering requirements.
Cashback Bonuses
Welcome incentives can sometimes be challenging to grasp, but cashback bonuses are pretty straightforward to understand. High rollers are the ones who benefit the most from these promotions. That’s because the more you spend – the more you will get back. It’s a good reward for rookies as well, but not as good as a decent welcome bonus.
Nevertheless, a ton of online casinos offer cashback rewards. This is when the online casino will provide you with a percentage of the lost money you spend on casino games back to your gambling account once a week or every 30 days. Keep an eye out for promotional cashback offers since they’re available at many casinos and may frequently be earned as a reward for playing.
Loyalty Bonuses for Existing Players
Online casino bonuses aren’t for new players only. The loyalty program for existing players is a unique and highly lucrative reward designed by online casinos. This scheme entices existing players to remain loyal, rewarding them with points they can later exchange for bonus money, free spins, or other rewards.
If you’re a truly loyal customer of a certain Canadian online casino, you will benefit from enrolling in this kind of promotion.
Casino Bonuses for High Rollers and VIPs
Let’s define high rollers first. High rollers or whales are gamblers that deposit huge amounts of money. Therefore, high rollers are essentially risk-takers, considering the fact they can lose everything.
Now, certain Canadian casinos have bonuses specifically tailored to high rollers. These promotions have a high minimum deposit requirement, and one good example of such a bonus is 100% up to CA$5,000 with a min deposit of CA$100.
However, the catch with this offer is that you must deposit at least CA$100 to participate. That’s exactly what makes it a high-roller bonus. Both the requirements to claim it and the reward are high.
Game-Specific Bonuses
Аre you a loyal player who gambles only on one type of casino game? There are some online casino bonuses available for various games, and there are others available only for a specific type of game or even just one game.
One good example is a promotion tailored to live casino games; let’s take Speed Blackjack, for example. Certain casinos will sometimes limit their promotion to only one game – usually a game they want to promote. If you claim a live casino bonus specifically tailored to Speed Blackjack – you will only be able to use your bonus funds on this particular game.
However, the most common bonus tied to one game are free spins. Most casinos featuring free spins limit their promotion to only one game, as we said – a game they want to promote. For example, many Canadian casinos are currently offering free spins that you can use exclusively on the slot Bubble Bubble 2. It’s an upcoming game that’s trendy at the moment.
How are Casino Bonuses Calculated?
A deposit match bonus is a common offer at most online casinos. An example of how most of them are displayed is 100% match up to CA$300. Most active gamblers are already familiar with what these numbers stand for, but we’ll take a deeper look at them for the sake of newbies.
The first thing we need to look at is the matching percentage. This shows how much a casino is willing to match your funds. Let’s first take a look at the 100% matching offer. This one is pretty straightforward, as the funds you deposit will simply be doubled. If it’s a 50% match bonus, half of your deposit will be matched.
The second crucial part of the bonus calculation is the second half of the incentive, CA$300. This means that you can get a maximum of CA$300, and depositing CA$500, for example, won’t provide you with any additional funds.
Now, let’s practice what we’ve learned. If you deposit CA$200 and claim the 100% match up to CA$300 bonus – you will get $CA200 extra to play with.
How to Pick the Best Casino Bonuses
Online casino providers constantly come up with appealing offers to entice customers to register and start spending. To provide punters with more winning chances, online casinos have implemented several incentives and promotions. But the big question is – how to choose the best casino bonus?
Stay with us while we try to point you in the right direction to choose the best casino bonus for your gaming pleasure.
Amount
All casino players should look at the amount they’ll receive before depositing money. This amount solely depends on the casino and how much they’re willing to offer.
Validity
The validity period stated as a standard in any online casino is 30 days, but this period mostly depends on the casino you choose. Some of them only allow you to use your casino bonus in 7 or 14 days from claiming.
This information will always be stated in the T&C of the promotion. If you fail to use your funds within the given timeframe, your bonus will no longer be valid.
Percentage
Always make sure to compare the match deposit bonuses’ percentage. Some operators offer 50%, whereas others can go up to 200%. While other aspects play a huge role here, it’s typically better to go with a higher matching percentage.
Games
Your casino bonus choice should also depend on the casino games you prefer since not every incentive is eligible for every game you choose to play. Do you love table games? Choose a promotion that you can use on blackjack or baccarat. Choose a live casino promotion if you want to play games versus real human dealers.
And if you’re a fan of slots, it goes without saying that free spins are your best shot.
Safety
Online casino safety plays a huge deal in choosing an online casino bonus. While not many, certain operators feature too-good-to-be-true promotions. Well – they usually are!
If you come across a promotion that’s too good to miss, make sure the casino offering it is legit. Simply check whether they hold a license or not. Additionally, check whether their license is valid. You can easily do this by scrolling at the bottom of their page and clicking on the ‘license seal.’
A 200% up to CA$2,000 without wagering requirements doesn’t seem real, does it?
Fairness
Even a good casino bonus is useless if the casino operator features impossible wagering requirements. Let’s say you found yourself a rock-solid promotion, and you’re ready to grab that extra cash and start playing games.
Well, hate to disappoint you, but if the promotion has 90x wagering requirements – you’ll most likely never withdraw any winnings. We consider up to 40x fair playthrough requirements for deposit bonuses, and up to 60x for no deposit promotions.
How to Activate a Casino Bonus
How you activate a specific casino bonus is different in every online casino. But they always make the activation as easy as possible because they want you to keep playing and become their devoted customer.
It’s uncommon that the money will immediately show up in your account; that only happens with the no deposit casino bonuses. Others require you to make a deposit, enter a bonus code, or a combination of both.
Check the T&C of any promo offer before joining as a new client at every online casino to be sure that you are protected from any scams or frauds.
Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements
These words confound both newcomers and veteran fellow players, but they are crucial in blocking casino bonus abuse. We’ll try to explain them in a way you can all comprehend immediately.
Your gambling journey consists of depositing real money that immediately transfers into casino funds, claiming any casino bonus promotions if available, playing with them, and cashing out any winnings into real money again.
But before you come to the part where you can cash out any winnings, you will come across some wagering requirements attached to the casino bonus money. For those who don’t know, the playthrough requirements are generally a certain sum of money multiplied by the reward amount of reward winnings that every bettor needs to wager before receiving an allowance for a real money cash withdrawal.
Bonuses can range from the ones with no wagering requirements to others that require certain times of wagering. The average number of times a bonus needs to be wagered before it becomes withdrawable ranges from 30-50x. Rarely, if you are in luck, you can come across a casino bonus with wagering requirements from 5 or 15x.
Minimum Deposit for Wagering Bonuses
Before you start playing at a particular casino, look into the bonus offers and new online casino promos the establishment has to offer. Read the T&C, and you will uncover how much you have to deposit before you can claim a certain promotion.
Almost all bonuses that require a minimum deposit will have a wagering requirement in place. Below, we will explain precisely how it works.
How Do Wagering Requirements Work?
Depending on the casino you choose to play in, the wagering requirements may be connected only to the casino bonus amount or to your deposit amount as well. Don’t worry – we’ll provide examples!
Every bonus consists of the following criteria:
- Amount of cash or free spins
- Wagering requirements
- Expiry date
- Wagering contribution
Suppose you’ve claimed 20 no deposit free spins with a 40x wagering requirement, and you’re now ready to spin those reels! You start spinning, and you manage to win CA$100 with your 20 free spins. You can’t withdraw them just yet, as you will have to meet the playthrough requirements of 40x.
So, to clear and withdraw the CA$100 you won, you will have to play them through 40 times, meaning you will have to wager CA$4,000 before withdrawing them. This applies if the requirements are only tied to your bonus money, as they can also be tied to real money deposits.
In that case, you will have to wager both the bonus and your real money before withdrawing it. We’d advise you to stay away from the ladder, as it’s a bit unfair to wager your own money in order to withdraw bonus funds.
The next step is wagering contribution (this doesn’t really apply to free spins). Let’s say you claim a matching deposit bonus worth 100% up to CA$100. You can now use your bonus on slots, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette.
If you play slots, they will contribute 100% towards the requirements; therefore, for every dollar you wager – one dollar will contribute towards the requirements. As for table games such as blackjack – the contribution is a bit different. It’s typically at 10%, which means you will have to bet CA$10 to contribute one dollar.
All things considered, your best shot is playing slots.
Comparison of Different Wagering Requirements in Canadian Online Casinos
Each casino site has different wagering requirements. Every online casino bonus can have a different number of playthrough requirements starting from 5x up to 50x most of the time. The first thing punters need to do is read the terms and conditions of different casino bonus promotions available and compare these wagering obligations.
Most of the casino incentives have 15x, 20x, 35x, 40x, or 50x. As a result, the idea is to find a Canadian online casino with the lowest wagering requirements. Lower wagering requirements represent a smaller goal to attain and faster payout of your bonus winnings.
Advantages of Joining a VIP/Loyalty Programme
Online casinos’ long-term success depends on loyal players. A VIP program is an excellent tool for attracting and retaining loyal customers, but also it’s a great way for online casinos to see who their greatest customers are. At the same time, by providing them with the best online casino bonuses, prizes, and benefits, the casino keeps them coming back for more.
The chances of you registering and playing in a particular online casino are bigger if it has a VIP program. The VIP programs simply provide a highly motivating atmosphere by increasing the rewards and privileges of loyal players.
The most common scheme of a loyalty program is allowing players to climb levels. The bigger the level – the bigger the benefits and rewards. Another common way is by collecting comp points. Most casinos will allow players to collect points they can later exchange for certain rewards.
Limitations to Using Casino Bonuses
To have the bonus amount and wins released from their accounts, players must complete a rigmarole of casino bonus terms and conditions and rules. Below, we will introduce you to the most common limitations you can encounter while using casino bonuses.
Bonus Restrictions
Yes, deposit bonus promotions are incredible. They provide you with casino bonus funds, free spins, and many other rewards. But they also come along with many restrictions. The only money that has been verified in your account will be accepted.
If you wish to gamble or play a game, you must first fund your account with real money. For you to gamble responsibly, many online casinos don’t accept large sums of deposits for the first time. You may come across deposit limits but also withdrawal limits for your casino bonus earnings too.
Some deposit bonuses require a bonus code, and they cannot be claimed unless you enter the code. Make sure you already have the code before placing your first deposit.
After claiming the casino bonus, you must meet the wagering requirements provided by the casino. But along the way, you need to check which games contribute the most toward these playthrough requirements.
In terms of game limitations, the bonus may only be used on selected games. Any stakes you place on games such as blackjack or roulette will only contribute a small portion towards your playthrough requirements – sometimes none at all. Slots have drastically different contribution percentages – they go all the way!
Anyone playing at a casino has the potential to win large or perhaps strike the jackpot. However, can you imagine how aggravating it would be if your casino limits your withdrawals? You must know the online casino’s withdrawal limitations beforehand.
Sticky bonuses
An additional welcome bonus on your first minimum deposit is common in today’s gambling websites. If a bonus is ‘sticky,’ it’s so-called because the free money you get from the casino is ‘stuck’ in your bonus balance.
It means it may be wagered but not withdrawn along with your winnings. As soon as this occurs, the bonus money is gone forever since you may only withdraw the profits you’ve accumulated with your sticky bonus.
Another popular name for this casino bonus is ‘for wagering purposes only.’ Most of the time, these casino bonuses are generous. There is a lot more money to be earned with sticky bonuses since they match your first deposit up to 400 percent. As a result, your chances of winning huge money are increased.
Game Restrictions
Apart from the deposit and withdrawal limits, and the playthrough requirements, some of the casino bonuses possess game restrictions. This means they are only available for you to use them playing certain types of casino games like blackjack bonus, roulette bonus, free spins for slots, or even one particular slot only. Most of the time, these promotions have nothing to do with the casino you are playing in since they are offered from the software provider the game is released from.
While playing slots, players must be made fully aware of the operator’s total losses and winnings. In addition to limiting the pace at which spins are used, there will be a permanent prohibition on any features that speed up play or celebrate losses as victories.
Payment Method Restrictions
Many casino players value the convenience of fast, easy, and safe deposits at an online casino. But sometimes, choosing the best payment method for playing casino games can be an exhausting process. Deposit payment options provided by casinos vary widely; some let you make deposits and withdrawals, while others only enable you to place a deposit or take your winnings out of the casino account.
When we associate bonuses with payment methods, there is one noteworthy detail. Certain Canadian online casinos won’t allow players to claim their promotion if they deposit through a specific banking option. One famous case is casinos that won’t let you claim a promotion if you deposit via Neteller or Skrill.
So, while a rare case, you should look into the casino’s deposit methods and whether depositing through a certain payment provider might restrict you from claiming a bonus.
Maximum Bonus Winnings
Just like online casinos are setting stake limits, they also have maximum bonus earnings limits. This means that you can’t expect to withdraw CA$10,000 from a CA$100 promotion. Most promotions will be tied to a certain amount of winnings – some more with some less.
Let’s take a look into no deposit bonuses first. As you don’t have to deposit to claim this promotion, it’s only natural to expect a tight limit. Most Canadian casinos limit the winnings to CA$100 when it comes to promotions such as this one.
When it comes to matching offers, you should expect a bigger limit. Most promotions worth 100% up to CA$100 will have a limit of CA$1,000 up to CA$2,000 in winnings. Of course, certain operators completely exclude any limits whatsoever, but they are pretty rare.
It’s because of these limits that casinos don’t allow you to play progressive jackpot slots. After all, what happens if you win Mega Moolah’s multi-million jackpot with free spins? Yeah, we thought so – you won’t.
FAQs on Casino Bonuses
What happens if I can’t meet the wagering requirements?
If you fail to fulfill the rollover requirements within the casino’s timeframe, your bonus funds will be sent back to the operator. You can find how much time you have by reading the terms and conditions of the casino.
How do I use an online casino bonus code?
Getting an online casino bonus without entering any promotional codes is possible, but it’s not always the case. First, log in to your account after you’ve signed up, and look for the promo section. You can claim the bonus code that you have to enter in the cashier section when you deposit money. The new casino bonus will be transferred to your account, and you can start searching for games to use it on.
How do I withdraw real money from my bonus cash winnings?
You will have to meet the wagering requirements attached to the bonus you’ve claimed. If you’ve claimed CA$200 with 30x wagering requirements, you will have to stake a minimum of CA$6,000 before asking for withdrawals. Once you meet the rollover requirement, simply visit the cashier section and proceed with withdrawing your winnings.
Can I claim a mobile casino bonus using my phone?
Nowadays, most online casinos are mobile-friendly. Just like you can play casino games through the mobile device you use, you are entirely able to claim any of the latest bonus offers from your smartphone or tablet as well. Online casino sites operate the same, no matter which gadget you visit them from. The only difference is whether the casino has an app or it’s a web-based one. Nonetheless, you can claim bonuses through your mobile just like you can through your desktop computer.
Does the casino bonus expire?
Yes, every casino bonus has an expiration period. But this period is different for every new casino bonus and in every online gambling site. The average expiration period for a bonus amount is 30 days. But most Canadian betting sites prefer to make it shorter and offer their latest casino bonuses with an expiration date of 7 to 14 days after claiming.
Does the casino bonus have a betting limit?
Bonus rules overrule the game rules, and most gambling sites set the maximum stake at CA$5 to CA$6.50. The betting limit of the game you’re playing doesn’t matter, as the rules of your bonus apply. So, you won’t be able to wager more than the amount specified in the T&C. However; some online casinos don’t impose these limits.
What are the game contribution rates?
Table games contribute the least towards the wagering requirements. But they vary depending on the online casino you decide to play in. In general, table games such as blackjack, baccarat, craps, or roulette contribute between 10% and 25%.
For the most part, all of your winnings from online slots, keno, and scratch cards count toward the playthrough requirement 100%. So, it’s best if you stick to these games only and hope to get lucky.
Can I use more than one type of bonus at an online casino?
Yes, you are allowed to use more than one type of bonus in an online casino, but not at the same time. For example, when you register in an online casino, you can claim the welcome package, which most of the time consists of bonus funds and free spins. You can use the bonus funds on table games and the free spins on slots. Later, you can place a minimum deposit to claim more free spins, or a reload bonus, and so on. However, you can’t claim two promotions at the same time.
Are casino bonus winnings taxable in Canada?
Whether you’re a professional gambler or a casual gambler will influence the response. Gambling gains are exempt from taxation for Canadians who partake in it regularly. If they win a few thousand bucks playing blackjack at a casino, they’ll be just as happy as if they won CA$10 million playing the lotto. It’s not a taxable item, so don’t worry about it.
On the other hand, it’s a different tale for professional gamblers. For example – pro poker players. Gambling gains must be reported and taxed. Additionally, they may deduct their gambling losses and any other relevant costs, and they are obligated to fill out and submit a T5 slip.
