A few main differences exist between playing at live and real money online casinos in the US. The biggest one is, of course, the convenience that comes with the latter, allowing players to jump into the action whenever and wherever they feel like it, gaming on the go or from the comfort of their homes. The second significant difference is the bonuses.
Bonuses, especially those offered to new players when first joining a site and/or making their first deposit, are a critical part of the online casino experience. They allow players to quickly get some free extra cash they can use to play, and they are usually much more generous than free play coupons you can get at any land-based establishment in the country.
Almost all regulated US online casinos offer welcome bonuses, which can be extremely valuable if you understand how they work, what to look for, and how to maximize your reward. In this guide, you will learn everything there is to know about casino bonus offers and how to find the best deals out there.
- 100% up to $1,000 on your first deposit
- Quality live dealer action
- Exclusive progressive slots
Claiming US Online Casino Bonuses
The first step in the process is claiming the bonus offer. Casinos try to make this step as simple as possible to ensure players do not miss out, as it is also in their interest for new customers to join and make a deposit. There is nothing special you will need to do in many cases, and the bonus will become available as soon as you create your account.
However, some US casinos require players to input specific bonus codes, either when registering or making their initial deposit, to activate the bonus offer. Usually, this information is readily available on the site, so before you rush to sign up, take a few minutes to read about the offer to ensure you do not miss out on any essential details.
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Wagering Requirements — Turning Your Bonus into Cash
Once you successfully claim the bonus, the money will appear in your account, and you will be able to use it to play. What you will not be able to do, though, is cash it out — at least not straight away. It would make little sense for casinos to give away free money that you can withdraw immediately, as they would quickly be out of business.
Instead, almost every bonus you get will come with specific wagering requirements or playthrough requirements. This rule stipulates how many times the total bonus amount needs to be “turned over” before you are allowed to withdraw it as cash. This ensures a customer will spend some time playing at the casino, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the concept of wagering requirements as long as they are reasonable.
For example, if you have to wager the bonus amount 20 times, that is a rather reasonable offer as you stand to make some profit. Let us look at an example to explain this better:
- You receive a $200 bonus with 20x wagering requirements
- You will need to wager $4000 in total before you can withdraw those winnings as cash
- It will take 2000 spins on a slot that’s $2 a spin
- You select a slot with 97% RTP, meaning you only lose $3 for every $100 wagered
- After wagering $4000, your theoretical loss will be $120, resulting in an $80 profit
Of course, anything can happen in 2000 spins. You can run exceptionally well and win much more. You could also run poorly and bust before reaching the wagering requirement. In the long run, the example above illustrates how the math works out.
If we look at the same example, but wagering requirements are 40x, this is not a profitable bonus. By the time you wager $8000, your theoretical loss will be $240, which is greater than the value of the bonus.
If you are looking for the best value, we must give props to BetRivers Casino, which offers a nice 100% match bonus up to $250 with wagering requirements of just 1x. While other US online casinos also have very reasonable conditions, The BetRivers Casino Deposit Bonus is too good to pass on.
- Best wagering requirements out there
- Trusted & fully regulated online casino
- Play slots from top game providers
Game and Bet Limitations — Always Read the Fine Print
One final thing to pay attention to when looking for the best bonuses is if there are additional limitations as to what you can and cannot do with bonus funds. Some operators will not let you play certain games, or they will lower the wagering contribution from those games. For example, this can make it harder to beat the wagering playing roulette or blackjack.
Additionally, there could be a maximum bet stipulation, only allowing you to bet a certain percentage of the bonus in one round. It is critical to read all these rules and know what they are, as breaking any of the bonus terms can lead to your funds being held by the operator.
Learn more about US Online Casino No Deposit Bonuses and US Online Casino Deposit Bonuses in our comprehensive guide »
