Casinos typically offer four types of bonuses: - Free cash or no-deposit bonuses. - "Match bonuses" or bonuses when you sign up or pay your first deposit. - Bonuses for renewing your membership or making further deposits. - Bonuses for using a preferred deposit system, such as paying through Neteller. We'll consider these bonuses one by one.

Free Cash Bonuses There's nothing strange about these bonuses. Once you've signed up at casino, you can place free bets up to value of bonus. But there is a snag - you may not be able to cash in until you've either paid your deposit or staked a sum real money many times greater than bonus value. Even so, newcomers to online casinos should accept this type of bonus to use as your initial stake money. There's always a chance that you could win real cash with your free bet! However, take caution as many of these types of bonuses have onerous wagering requirements that sometimes make it difficult to cash in any money at all.

First Deposit Bonuses

Now things become a little more interesting. Deposit bonuses come in two forms, namely, straight cash bonus and percentage bonus.

Are you puzzled by workings of Online Casino bonuses, with those pulsating dollar signs and offers of free cash? Let's see if we can demystify situation.

Different rules apply to different casino bonuses - know these rules and avoid disappointment. In addition you may think you're receiving best treatment because a casino gives best percentage bonus, then you learn that your small deposit hasn't bought that much of a bonus after all, or you have problems cashing out your winnings. In this article we'll explain how to work out which bonus is actually best, drawing from typical bonus schemes to help you make your selection.

• Free cash or no-deposit bonuses.
• "Match bonuses" or bonuses when you sign up or pay your first deposit.
• Bonuses for renewing your membership or making further deposits.
• Bonuses for using a preferred deposit system, such as paying through Neteller. We'll consider these bonuses one by one.

Free Cash Bonuses

There's nothing strange about these bonuses. Once you've signed up at casino, you can place free bets up to value of bonus. But there is a snag - you may not be able to cash in until you've either paid your deposit or staked a sum real money many times greater than bonus value.

Even so, newcomers to online casinos should accept this type of bonus to use as your initial stake money. There's always a chance that you could win real cash with your free bet! However, take caution as many of these types of bonuses have onerous wagering requirements that sometimes make it difficult to cash in any money at all.

First Deposit Bonuses

Now things become a little more interesting. Deposit bonuses come in two forms, namely, straight cash bonus and percentage bonus.

Let's look at an example. A casino advertises a 400% bonus up to $100 maximum. Here you'll get free credits worth $100 for first $25 you deposit. Take note that this bonus is likely to apply only to first $25. Afterwards you qualify for other types of bonuses, like one for making a re-deposit. Now casinos terms and conditions state a 7 times wager through requirement in bonus + deposit if you elect to take a bonus. That means that you have to wager $25 + $100 = $125 x7 = $875 before you can cash out anything. Wager through requirements differ between casinos. Always understand them carefully before you make a deposit. The last thing you want is to win, only to find that you can not cash out because you have not wagered enough.

Ongoing Bonuses