First Deposit Bonus in Online Casinos

One of the unique elements of online casinos is the shared nature of a first deposit bonus in a casino or online betting venue. They're almost everywhere, so it's vital to understand deposit bonuses in their entirety, including game-specific stipulations or wagering requirements.

Each casino has its own deposit bonuses, some that are casino-wide and some that are game-specific. Casino-wide initial deposit bonuses can typically be used at any game, and at times those bonus funds in your bankroll are restricted from being played on specific games. The initial deposit fine print is essential, so don't ignore it!

What Exactly is First Deposit Bonus?

You'll see first deposit bonus offers everywhere, so let's start off on the right foot and make sure you understand precisely what a first deposit is and who is eligible for it. To receive the deposit bonus, it must be your first deposit, so in essence, you must be a new player at the casino to receive a first deposit bonus. While you might think an easy way to bypass this is to create multiple accounts, we'll be the first to tell you: that's a terrible idea.

Casinos have detection software to look at similarities between player accounts. When (not if) they catch you, in the best-case scenario, they close all your player accounts, forfeit the balances of those player accounts to the casino, and block you from ever playing on their platform again. The worst-case scenario is court, and legal fees are much higher than you could ever hope to win. Once you've created an account at an entirely new casino, your first deposit of funds will be eligible for different initial deposit bonuses.

Typically, you're playing at an online casino with casino games and sports betting. In that case, there will be different deposit bonus options available to favor where you spend most of your time gambling. You should go for the bonus that suits your wagering style more, as it may be harder to fulfill the playthrough requirements of a casino game deposit bonus if you don't particularly like casino games.

First deposit real cash bonuses are available in your account simultaneously as your initial deposit becomes available and can be used on a variety of games. Sometimes there are game-specific restrictions on first deposit bonuses and playthrough wagering requirements before you can withdraw the bonus like you would cash winnings.

First Deposit Real Money Bonus: Pros and Cons

First deposit bonuses were one of the first major innovations of online casinos that became a standard for the market. Fundamentally, they work. They entice new players, giving them a bigger bankroll and encouraging them to spend more time in an online casino.

Even though players may win a few hands with that money, even those wins favor the casino because the player is engaging more and becoming more fond of the venue. Casinos know this keeps players gambling long after the welcome bonuses wear out.

Over time though, the flash of a first deposit bonus has started to wear off for players, and the strings attached to even the best first deposit bonus have become more prevalent. First deposit real money bonuses heavily favor those with a large gambling budget, as the more you can initially deposit, the bigger your bonus. This framing of a bonus naturally tends the casino because they want to entice players with the most significant budgets, while it leaves the majority of players with a small favor at best.

The truth is the vast majority of players don't have $2,000 or more dollars to deposit in their recreational gambling fund at one time. Casinos know this, so they advertise a vast number, knowing that most players will not come close to receiving that bonus. You'll notice that's why some casinos let people reuse their "initial deposit code" multiple times. The other issue is that wagering requirements and game-specific stipulations tied to the deposit bonus can severely delay or stop the withdrawal if specific parameters aren't met.

The drawbacks and commonality of initial deposit bonuses have led online casinos to begin to implement other rewards programs like weekly cashback on lost wagers. These programs are extremely popular with players due to their simplicity and equity.

How to Get Your First Deposit Bonus in Real Cash?

If you've ever used a coupon code while online shopping for clothes or tech, you'll likely have no trouble receiving your first deposit bonus. Deposit bonuses are typically linked to coupon codes nearly identical to those you would use at your favorite retailer.

Once you've found a first deposit bonus you want to take advantage of, you'll need to make an account with that particular online casino vendor. Creating an account typically just requires an email address and password. Password security is always essential, but for an online casino, it's necessary. Make sure to create a unique password that no one else knows uses uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers for the best security.

From there, track down the offer, and it should link you directly to the banking page when clicked or display the bonus code for you there. Make sure your deposit bonus code is entered, and once you make your deposit, the bonus should also be available in your account. Remember to pay attention, as some casinos will let you redeem the new player code three or even five times! You don't want to miss out on all that extra bonus opportunity. If you don't use the code but continue to make deposits, you can make yourself ineligible for the maximum number of bonus offers.

You also need to be aware of any wagering requirements that may restrict the use of your bonus or the withdrawal of it. Failure to meet requirements can result in your prize being forfeited or locked into your account. There are different types of wagering-requirement, but one of the most common is playthrough requirements. An online casino might require that you place 30 bets before you have the option of making a withdrawal of any of your bonus money. It's essential to be aware of any restrictions because some players might not place thirty bets in three months!

What Are Wagering Requirements?

Unfortunately, wagering requirements go hand-in-hand with nearly every casino's first deposit bonus. They serve a legitimate purpose: they stop players from depositing money, receiving compensation, and immediately making a withdrawal and playing elsewhere.

Wagering requirements typically come in two forms: playthrough requirements or game restrictions. We'll go over each in detail to understand the differences. Playthrough requirements: they are standard with nearly every initial casino deposit bonus. The difference between playthrough requirements can be reasonably staggering, though. For example, one online casino may require a 20x playthrough to access the initial deposit bonus, while another may require 30x or even 50x.

Large playthrough requirements can become even more challenging if time restrictions are imposed on the need. A casino may require that the playthroughs occur within only one or two weeks of the deposit bonus. Even a casino as big as Bovada has a disclaimer about trying to withdraw before bonus terms are met: "If a withdrawal is made before the bonus terms are met, all bonus funds, as well as any money earned by wagering the bonus, will be forfeited."

That means Bovada will not only take the bonus but any of the winnings acquired from the bonus funds will also be forfeited to Bovada. This is not an unusual policy and one of the reasons you need to be familiar with playthrough limits. Game restrictions: game restrictions for real cash first deposit bonuses are less common, but they are still something to be aware of before making a deposit. One of the most common restrictions is that deposit bonus funds cannot be used on live dealer poker or table games.

Another restriction you might see is that bonus funds cannot be used across game types. For example, if your bonus deposit was given to you for sports betting, those funds likely would not be available for casino games.