THE FIRST DEPOSIT BONUS EXPLAINED

With the advent of modern technology, every aspect of human civilisation has changed, and gambling is no exception. Today, online casinos are the first frontier of the gambling industry thanks to the relative ease of the internet, the proliferation of slot machines on online casino sites, and the adaptation of classic table games through Live Casino services.

Due to the democratised nature of online gambling, many casinos have had the chance to sprout up online, leading to a hugely competitive market. This is ultimately to the player’s advantage; the more casinos there are to choose from, the harder they need to work to attract players to the services.

There are several ways they can go about this, such as hosting an ever-larger selection of games or coming up with promotions and exclusive offers to heighten the gameplay experience. And while casino games are great, one of the most popular ways licensed casinos make their services more attractive is the use of casino bonuses.

Casino bonuses come in almost as many shapes, sizes, and styles as slot games, and how one works is up to each casino to decide. One of the most common promos offered by Deposit Bonus casinos worth their salt is a First Deposit Bonus.

In this article, we’ll go through the ins and outs of the First Deposit Bonus, including how it works, how to claim one, the Terms and Conditions you need to know before claiming it, and everything in between! First, though, let’s take a step back and answer the most obvious question: what is a First Deposit Bonus exactly?

What is First Deposit Bonus?

There’s a wealth of information about casino bonuses, but none of it means anything unless the player understands what a bonus is.

A First Deposit Bonus, also known as a Welcome Bonus or Sign-up Bonus, is a bonus given to the player upon placing their initial deposit with the casino. This type of bonus is usually available upon signing up with the casino, and the rewards given out can depend on the size of the player’s deposit.

Upon sign-up, the player is offered a particular percentage of bonus money in addition to the funds deposited into their account. Most casinos have their own method of deciding how much bonus money will be awarded. 

Such a bonus may have a maximum bonus amount capped at a 100%, which means that the player receives double the amount of their first deposit, up to 100% of their funds. For instance, if a player deposits €100 and claims the First Deposit Bonus offer at a casino, which is at 50%, the player receives an additional €50 in bonus funds to use at the casino.

How does a First Deposit Bonus work in online casinos?

To make use of this bonus money, you need to make your first deposit and opt for the Welcome Bonus when depositing. A First Deposit Bonus is a one-time offer that is not available upon subsequent deposits. And, since players only have one chance to claim it, it’s plain to see how important it is for such an offer to be attractive to a prospective player.

As one can imagine, this bonus can undoubtedly give an online casino a particular edge over brick-and-mortar casinos. As such, First Deposit Bonuses have the potential to be quite attractive for players and lucrative for an online casino business.

As the boom of the internet has led to a much more competitive industry, online casinos do their homework in figuring out what kind of casino bonus they can offer to customers to stand out from the sea of competitors. A bonus must benefit both the player and the casino. While it might seem strange to make money by “giving it away”, a bonus offer is a sound business decision for an online casino because most online casinos will ultimately earn more money through the player’s deposit.

The nature of casino games (and the presiding influence of Lady Luck over all things casino) ensures that casinos make their profit from the losses of the player. So, it stands to reason that to prop up their business, online casinos need to make the prospect of playing with them seem as attractive and exciting as they possibly can. This is why it’s vital players look around to find the best First Deposit Bonus they can get their hands on.

How to claim a First Deposit Bonus?

Now that we’ve identified what a First Deposit Bonus is, how it works and why it works, let’s look at how to claim one for yourself. 

The steps are pretty straightforward, and seeing how First Deposit Bonuses are offered to prospective players as an incentive, their accessibility is such that players of all skill levels can easily avail themselves of these casino bonus offers.

Here’s the basic rundown of how First Deposit Bonuses are claimed:

1. Find an online casino that appeals to your taste (it’s essential to do your research and make an informed decision on what online casinos offer before committing).
2. Sign up with the online casino of your choice.
3. After signing up, take your casino account through the verification process. You will need to verify your casino account first before accessing certain features.
4. Once your casino account has been verified, you now have the option to deposit cash funds into your account. Find the option for a First Deposit Bonus and select it. Almost all online casinos will make the option for a Welcome Bonus easily accessible.
5. Go to the deposit section to make your first deposit.
6. Select your preferred payment method.
7. Make sure you’ve selected the option that opts-in for the Welcome bonus offers, as these particular Deposit Bonuses may not necessarily be automatically handed out. They often come with bonus codes that you will need to input later in the claiming procedure.
8. Enter any required information, such as a bonus code, if the casino requests it.
9. Once all the relevant information has been entered, go ahead and complete the transaction.
10. When all the steps above have been completed, the casino adds your bonus money to your account instantaneously.

Once you complete these steps, you’ll be all set to start playing your favourite slot games and Live Casino games with real money!

How to cash out a First Deposit Bonus?

Now that we’ve covered the steps to claim a First Deposit Bonus let’s talk about cashing out bonus money.

It’s not possible to cash out a First Deposit Bonus (or other Deposit Bonuses, for that matter) unless you have used it as intended by the casino. If it were, loads of people would sign up with a casino, claim the Deposit Bonus, cash out and leave with the bonus amount.

How do casinos insulate themselves from this? They put some rules in place to regulate the use of bonus money. Before a player withdraws their funds, the casino will specify the bonus rules upon which the player may withdraw, such as the number of times you must play a game until you can claim any wins resulting from a bonus offer. This, in particular, is known as wagering requirements, which we’ll get to in the next section. Bear in mind that not all bonuses follow the same rules.

CASHABLE VS NON-CASHABLE PROMOTIONS

A critical factor regarding any casino bonuses on offer is whether they are cashable or non-cashable. 

A cashable casino bonus is a reward that allows you to withdraw your total winnings once all requirements have been satisfied.

A non-cashable bonus, on the other hand, is a bonus that may only be used for playing. A non-cashable bonus works by deducting the bonus amount from your withdrawals, essentially leaving those bonus funds in your account to use solely to boost your gameplay. A Reload Bonus can be a type of non-cashable bonus, for example.

CASHABLE AND NON-CASHABLE BONUSES IN USE

Here’s an example of how a cashable bonus works: Let’s say you deposit €100 into your account and opt-in for a bonus offering 100% up to €100. Now you have your own €100 in funds as well as an additional €100, at a total of €200, in your account to play with. Once you have satisfied all the requirements to withdraw your amount, you can then withdraw the maximum amount of winnings.

Conversely, if the bonus is non-cashable, and you deposit €100 of your own money into your account while opting-in for a 100% bonus up to €100, you can only withdraw your own funds plus the winnings generated. So, with €100 of your funds plus €100 in bonus funds, as well as winnings totalling €50, the total in your account will be €250. However, the non-cashable conditions mean you withdraw €150, as the €100 in bonus funds are deducted from the grand total.

Cashable bonuses are a popular choice with players as they are straightforward and easy to get to grips with, and they are also the most common type of bonus in general. However, non-cashable bonuses are also an option that is becoming increasingly popular. There often isn’t a massive difference to be observed between one or the other, as either can be offered as a standard Deposit Bonus. In the end, what makes or breaks a bonus are the Terms and Conditions set out by the casino.

First Deposit Bonuses – Terms and Conditions you need to know

Anyone who’s been around the online casino block knows that Terms and Conditions are the bedrock of how players interact with casino offers. In the context of bonuses, players must be absolutely sure they fulfil the requirements for a bonus before getting their hopes up to claim more money than they are eligible for.

One such condition is wagering requirements which we touched upon briefly above. However, there are a few more that you need to be aware of, so let’s look at each one and break them down to see what they mean for the player.

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements are conditions imposed on bonus funds that dictate how and when such funds can be used. For example, suppose you have a €100 bonus with a wagering requirement of 20x. In this case, you need to wager €100 at least 20 times before withdrawing your winnings. Wagering requirements are one of the essential details in the Terms and Conditions. Generally speaking, the lower the wagering requirements, the easier it is to claim your rewards.

Minimum deposit

Minimum deposits are another central element of all Terms and Conditions imposed by casinos. Most bonuses, although not all, require a minimum amount of funds to be deposited before they can be activated. For instance, some bonuses may require a minimum deposit amount of €10 to be activated.

Maximum bet per spin

In addition to a minimum deposit amount, the Terms and Conditions for a bonus can also stipulate a maximum bet amount. You may find that online casino sites restrict the betting amount on each spin when using a bonus, which means the maximum bonus amount will differ from the maximum amount in-game to bet.

Game Selection

First Deposit Bonuses and other bonus offers may specify a list of games the bonus rewards can be used on, highlighting a specific slot, series of slots or games released by a particular provider. However, First Deposit Bonuses tend to be less stringent on which slots are eligible, as the idea is to let players explore what the online casino offers in their own time. More often than not, the specified games contribute towards wagering requirements, so it is always best to check.

Excluded games

In many cases, bonuses only apply to a certain crop of games or providers. There is a multitude of reasons why a bonus is applied to one slot and not another. Some slot games may be excluded due to a high RTP (return to player),for instance. Live Casino games such as blackjack and roulette are often left out of these deals, although you may find some online casinos that offer bonus chips (as opposed to bonus funds or bonus spins) to cover their bases.

Irregular gameplay

Irregular gameplay may affect eligibility. Suppose a casino operator thinks there is some form of suspicious activity related to your account and gameplay, like, for example, a player with multiple accounts claiming the same bonus over and over. In that case, the operator may void the player’s winnings and ask them to clarify any issues raised. In the context of a First Deposit Bonus, which can only be claimed once, this is a clear breach of the Terms and Conditions.

Expiry

In addition to being wagered several times, some bonuses require that the funds must be used by a specific date, or they will be voided. This condition was imposed to prevent opening the door for abuse from the player’s end, such as a build-up of bonus funds in their account. The expiry date can vary according to the bonus, so always check to see how much time you have to use your bonus rewards.

Jurisdiction

In addition to the terms listed above, your jurisdiction is another condition that can affect your eligibility for a bonus on offer. Some casinos offer different rewards based on other locations, so to avoid signing up and getting a different reward than what you expected, check the Terms and Conditions.

The Best First Deposit Bonus

Okay, we’ve gone through the bulk of what a First Deposit Bonus is, how it works, and the general Terms and Conditions around bonuses. It’s a lot of information which can seem somewhat abstract; the best way to get to grips with it is to try it out for yourself! Luckily, the HotSlots online casino knows a thing or two about generous bonuses, so you can see first-hand how we elevate the best casino games and take your gameplay experience to a whole new level!

At HotSlots, we offer a phenomenal Welcome Package for new players, featuring not one but two Deposit Bonuses! The First Deposit Bonus offers a sensational 150% in bonus funds, up to €250, as long as you make a minimum deposit of just €10. If you thought that sounded great, the Second Deposit Bonus comes knocking with a jaw-dropping 200% up to €250 in bonus value, with a minimum deposit of €15! To find out more, simply head over to our site, click on the ‘PROMOTIONS’ tab, and scroll down to the ‘WELCOME BONUS’ section.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg, though. We offer a variety of the best casino bonuses, including a Reload Bonus awarding extra spins on a range of slots, Cashback Bonuses as well as bonus spins offers. These promos are all available on some of the hottest online casino games, including some of the biggest jackpot games on the market! Of course, if playing slots isn’t your thing, our online Casino offers Live Casino bonuses, so you’ll be covered in every aspect of the experience!