Top Entertainment: The World of Online Slots
Long gone are the days when slots came in just two or three 3-reel and 5-reel formats. Thanks to the huge advances in technology and creative minds forging the future of online slots, the variety of slots, from HD graphics and animals equal to blockbuster Hollywood movies to the mind-boggling array of Bonus Features, Mechanics, and Winning Ways, slots have taken an evolutionary leap.
For every kind of player, there is a slot to match your style of play. Do you prefer multiple swimming combinations on Megaways slots? Or are you more of a high volatility slot player, who would rather win big, though hit less winning spins?
Once you understand the variables and mechanics to look for, you’ll be able to find your ideal slot online.
What are Online Slot Bonuses?
Online slot bonuses are casino offers tied specifically to slot games, such as free spins, deposit match bonuses, or reload bonuses. To maximize your slot bonuses, understand the wagering requirements, choose low volatility slots that pay out frequently, and always read the terms and conditions carefully.
Key points:
- Familiarize yourself with the slot tied to the online casino bonus before playing.
- Have a keen understanding of wagering requirements and guidelines via the casino’s terms and conditions.
- Understand the difference between free spin, match bonus, game-specific, reload, and VIP slot bonus offers.
- Keep track of your play, to convert bonuses into cash as soon as the bonus is released.
Online Slots: It’s all about the bonuses!
One coming feature among all slots is that to get the most out of every spin, you should take full advantage of online slot bonuses. Slot sites often try to showcase a slot by offering Free Spin bonuses on a particular slot.
Deposit and cash-back bonuses tied to specific slot games are also popular offerings at slot-focused online casinos. In this article, we’ll delve further into the types of slot bonuses available, which to leverage, and how to get more bang for your buck when opting for an online slot bonus.
Common Types of Online Slot Bonuses
Here we will take a look at the most popular types of online slot bonuses.
No Deposit Bonuses
Online casinos like to give prospective new players a chance to try before they buy, and the No Deposit Bonus has long been a popular method, which is mutually beneficial to the slot player and casino.
Slot players can sign up for a no-deposit bonus, typically of around £10-£20, then test out the variety of slot games for free. No-deposit bonuses typically have strict wagering requirements and favor slot play.
3 Key Points about No Deposit Bonuses:
- Online casinos require a player to sign up and verify their details before receiving a No Deposit Bonus in their casino account.
- Online no deposit bonus offers have wagering requirements attached, which players must fulfill before converting any winnings into real money.
- Play-through requirements differ per casino game. Slots have a higher playthrough yield than table games (which are often totally restricted from wagering on no deposit bonuses.)
Welcome Bonuses
Casino welcome bonuses come in many forms, but the most typical is the match deposit bonus. When a player signs up to play at the casino for real money, an online casino will offer a bonus percentage on the first real money deposit.
For example, a common offer is a 100% Match Bonus up to £100-£1,000. These offers have wagering requirements attached, and it’s important to assess the fairness of wagering before making a real money deposit.
If a casino requires players to wager any more than 35% to turn their bonus money or winnings into cash, it would be deemed prohibitive. Wagering requirements of around 15-25% are good. This is how casino bonuses work with welcome offers.
3 Key Points on Welcome Bonuses
- Wagering Requirements are key in assessing whether it is worth opting into a Welcome Bonus. Be wary of any wagering requirement over 35%.
- Match Deposit bonuses will have a maximum amount attached, such as 100% Deposit Bonus up to £500. The higher the amount does not necessarily mean the bonus is better.
- Many match deposit bonuses have additional bonuses, like Free Spins attached.
Free spins
Catnip to slot players, the Free Spin casino bonus offers players a chance to enjoy showcase slot games for free. Free spins will be tied to one or a selection of slot games and will vary in value.
For example, 20 Free Spins on Starburst will commonly be awarded at the lowest possible stake and pay line denomination. Winnings from free spin slot offers have wagering requirements attached before you can convert free spin funds into cash.
3 Key Points On Free Spin Bonuses
- Free Spins are offered by casinos to showcase new or popular slots and to give players a chance to test the game for free.
- To convert any winnings from free spin offers into real money, players will have to wager a certain amount before releasing the funds in their account.
- Free Spin offers are often part of a casino site’s welcome bonus package.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses are a type of bonus where players can opt into a deposit bonus as an existing player, and play with a percentage of bonus (i.e. 25%-100%) on their real money deposit.
Reload bonuses are usually part of a loyalty scheme, or as a method for online casinos to encourage ongoing play. As with all deposit bonuses, the value of this type of bonus has everything to do with the wagering requirement attached. The lower the wagering requirement, the more value the bonus holds for real-money players. That’s why no wagering slots are highly rare and attractive.
3 Key Points on Reload Bonuses
- Reload Bonuses are offered to existing real money casino players, to encourage continued loyalty.
- The value of the reload bonus is attached to the wagering requirement.
- Converting bonus funds to real money requires a playthrough, which is usually on specific casino games.
High roller bonuses
Many new online casino sites have bespoke bonus offers set up for high-roller or VIP players. You won’t often find high-roller bonuses listed on the casino site, as these will be restricted to long-term, high-value players and offered via VIP account managers.
The common format for high-roller bonuses is matched deposit bonuses, cashback or reload bonuses with a higher max value than standard bonus offers.
3 Key Points on High Roller Bonuses
- These bonuses are bespoke to high-value players and won’t be found on-site.
- High roller bonuses will have a higher max value than standard bonus offers.
- Cashback, reload, and deposit bonuses are the common forms of VIP offers.
Game-specific bonuses
Often used to highlight new or very popular casino slots, game-specific casino bonuses will be tied to a particular game and your play on that game will count towards the wagering.
While game-specific slot bonuses may be reloaded, real money deposit bonuses, or free spins, the main point will be that the bonus is only connected to a particular slot title.
For example, if an online casino offer a time-limited deposit match bonus on Gonzo’s Quest, then only play on Gonzo’s Quest will count towards real money conversion from bonus to cash.
3 Key Points on Game-specific bonuses
- Bonuses tied to particular slot titles will usually be deposit-based.
- Wagering on a feature slot game will count towards bonus conversion into real money.
- Casinos often use these bonuses to showcase top-performing slot games.
Wagering Requirements on Slot Bonuses
Getting value out of any casino bonus comes down to wagering requirements. If a casino is offering a very attractive percentage with a high money value, it will only benefit a player if the wagering requirements are reasonable.
Casinos can do a good job of packaging bad bonuses, by not being explicit about the amount a player will have to wager before seeing their funds turn into playable cash.
Below are 4 scenarios, with both reasonable and scandalous bonus wagering requirements. To get a real picture of how difficult it is to convert bonuses into cash, pay special attention to the Total Wagering Requirement field.
4 Wagering Requirement Scenarios:
| Bonus Example | Bonus Offer | Maximum Bonus Amount | Playthrough Requirement | Total Wagering Requirement |
| 1. | 100% up to £100 | £100 | 25x | £2500 |
| 2. | 100% up to £2000 | £2000 | 40x | £80,000 |
| 3. | 100% up to £500 | £500 | 15x | £7500 |
| 4. | 200% up to £1000 | £1000 | 45x | £45,000 |
Reputable online slot casino sites make Wagering clear
If you can’t find the wagering requirements easily through the casino promotion page, there’s a good chance the casino is hiding them on purpose. All reputable online casino sites will make their terms and conditions crystal clear.
There should be an easy-to-read wagering page, where you are able to see how much you need to wager, which games count towards wagering, and any other restrictions are clearly stated. If you can’t find this information, steer clear of the casino and don’t deposit real money.
Slot Bonus Strategy: Keep it Simple, Read the Terms
Getting the most out of slot bonuses comes down to some basic points:
- Have a clear understanding of the wagering and restrictions.
- Evaluate a particular slot if it has features that can boost your winning potential.
- Keep track of your play so that you know exactly when wagering has been met and you can convert your slot bonus into real money.
Slot mechanics: know your game
Once you have received your slot bonus, you should research a slot game if your bonus is tied to a specific title. Knowing if a slot has certain patterns, understanding the winning combinations and if it has bonus hold features, will all enhance your potential of turning your free spins session or bonus play into a winning session, which will equate to real money at the end of the day.
Low volatility vs. high volatility slots
One consideration to keep in mind, when playing through your slots bonus, is that some slots are designed to pay out more often than other slots. The concept of high and low-volatility games is becoming common parlance among slot players.
Knowing whether the slot you are playing with a bonus is high or low volatility could be crucial. For example, if you have the choice to play through a bonus on either Immortal Romance or 9 Masks of Fire, armed with knowledge of volatility, you should opt for 9 Masks of Fire, as it pays out more often.
Playing for real money, you may want to opt for high volatility slots, because they pay out less but the winnings are bigger when they hit.
Slot Bonus Pitfalls
Opting into a slot bonus by making a real money deposit without first reading the terms and conditions is the easiest way to fall foul of disreputable online casinos. Free spins will often be awarded after a deposit, and while seeing a big offer like 250 Free Spins looks good, often it’s too good to be true.
Carefully assess the steps you have to take in order to cash out any potential winnings. If the casino asks for wagering requirements over 30X on winnings, it will be very difficult to convert those bonus winnings into real money.
Top 3 Bonus Mistakes to Avoid:
- Making a real money deposit and opting into a slots bonus without understanding the Terms and Conditions.
- Joining a slots bonus with prohibitive wagering requirements over 30-35X.
- Being blinded by big dollar amounts of free spin numbers, without checking the restrictions.
FAQs:
1. What are online slot bonuses?
Online slot bonuses are casino bonuses tied specifically to slot games. Free spins on a slot, or deposit, no deposit bonuses or reload offers are often attached to a particular selection of slot games.
2. How do wagering requirements work?
Wagering requirements are a predetermined amount of spins or bets a player must make before bonus funds or winnings from free spins can be converted into real money in their casino account. E.g. if a welcome bonus has a 25X Wagering Requirement on a bonus, the bonus and deposit amount will have to be played through 25 times before the funds can be withdrawn or used as real money.
3. Can I win real money with slot bonuses?
Yes, reputable casino sites set clear guidelines about how you can convert bonus or free spins into real money. With reasonable wagering requirements, slot bonuses can be converted into cash.
4. Are all slots eligible for bonuses?
Depending upon the casino site’s restrictions, commonly only a selection of slots will count towards wagering on a slots-specific bonus. Welcome bonuses often include the majority of slots with a 100% contribution towards wagering. But it is different for every casino and offer. Read the terms carefully to be sure.
5. How can I maximize my slot bonuses?
By ensuring you only opt into slot bonuses with low wagering requirements, you can maximize your chance of turning bonus money into real money. Also, if you have a choice of slots to choose from, select low volatility slots, as they pay out more and you are more likely to meet wagering requirements.
Ready to spin?
Entertainment is fundamental when talking about slot games. We want you to get the most value out of your casino slots bonus, but we also want you to have fun!
Browse the slots on a casino site by making the most of as many no-deposit bonuses out there, and then find slot offers that are tied into your favorite slot games, that way it’s always going be a win, win because you get to play your favorite games with the perks of turning bonuses into cold hard cash.
Remember, before jumping into any casino bonus offer, always read the terms and conditions very carefully, as it will pay off big time.
Conclusion
With so many offers on slot games out there, it can be overwhelming knowing which slot bonuses are worth joining. With no deposit slot offers, you don’t have to worry too much about getting value, as these offers are vehicles for players to test the casino site.
But when it comes to real money slot bonuses, the key is having a firm understanding of wagering requirements and the mechanics of a slot game. If you are opting into a free spins offer, just taking five minutes to research the slot and understand its pay lines, symbols, features, and mechanics, will make all the difference when maximizing the value of your online slots bonus.