Casino Welcome Bonuses

Online casino gaming is on the rise in the United States as more individual states begin to legalize the activity. Casino operators offer a plethora of welcome bonuses and promotions as an incentive for players to join new sites. New members can take advantage of such deals to boost bankrolls and win real money.

Best Online Casino Welcome Bonuses

Use our guide below to learn more about casino welcome bonuses, including the various types and benefits. Once you have a solid understanding of how these deals work, you take advantage of all the options provided in multiple states across the U.S.

What is a Casino Welcome Bonus?

A casino welcome bonus is a deal an operator provides that offers players some type of incentive. The bonus may come in extra cash for wagering or free spins. Each deal offers benefits and will suit every player type.

Types of Welcome Bonuses

Below are examples of the types of welcome bonuses you may see at online casinos. Each type provides an incentive to boost your ability to play online games. Always read the terms and conditions of any deal you are considering to truly understand how to claim and clear the bonus offer.

No Deposit: With a no deposit deal, players receive bonus cash without needing to deposit funds. It’s a great way to test an online casino before investing money.
Free Spins: A free spin deal offers a set number of spins for a specific slot game. Usually, the amount will range from 10-30 but can be more if the casino decides to boost the offer.
First Deposit: Utilize a first deposit bonus, and add bonus cash to your online casino account with the first deposit you make. This deal type usually offers a 100% bonus cash match up to a certain deposit amount, generally under $1,000.
Risk-Free Play: With risk-free play, an online casino member will receive cash back on losses at the casino. An example would be a $100 risk-free bonus. You deposit $100 and play with that amount. If you incur losses, the casino provides the loss amount back in bonus cash.

The Best Casino Welcome Bonuses of 2024

Online casinos offering services in Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey offer a wealth of casino bonuses, including welcome deals. Below we list a few of the best options so that our readers can start adding bonus cash to new accounts. Check out the deals below to see which one works best for your location and gaming needs.

Caesars Casino

Available in NJ, WV, and MI, Caesars Casino provides a solid welcome deal for players plus plenty of gaming options. The casino offers a large collection of games, including slots, table games, video poker, and much more.

Promotions are vast and change on a regular basis to ensure that players can easily access incentives. The site even offers a loyalty program for even more reward-earning potential!

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FanDuel Casino

With its user-friendly interface and solid game collection, FanDuel Casino is a top online casino choice for U.S. players. The brand includes weekly promotions plus a shared wallet with its sportsbook for seamless all-around wagering. Premium payment methods make it easy to get started, with several options for both deposit and withdrawal.

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BetMGM Casino

An easy-to-use app and desktop site make BetMGM a leading choice for online casino gamers in the U.S. The brand offers everything a player needs to get started, including one of the best welcome deals in the country. Choose from slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, live dealer, and a ton of other games at the site.

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WynnBET Casino

After launching a popular online sportsbook, the WynnBET brand branched out to begin providing online casino services to U.S.-based players. WynnBET provides a large welcome deal for new players and continual bonuses for existing members with good wagering requirements attached to promotions. The selection of games is vast, with options for slot fans, table game players, and live dealer.

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Rivers Casino4Fun

Developed by Rush Street Interactive, the Rivers Casino4Fun site is a freeplay option for online casino gamers. Available nationwide, players of the site can play on the casino for free, including slots, table games, and video poker.

Instead of using real cash, players have $VC for gaming. The currency is offered for free to new players, and welcome promotions are in the mix so players can add new $ VC to their bankroll.

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Pulsz Casino

This online casino is a popular sweepstakes site. Games are played with Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins, and it is free to join. Each day, players are provided with extra Gold Coins for gaming at no cost.

Easily add to your Gold Coin total by purchasing a coin package, and the site throws in extra Sweeps Coins at no cost! Gold Coins are used for gaming in general, and Sweeps Coins can be used as well for a chance to win real money prizes.

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How to Choose the Best Casino Welcome Bonus

There are several factors that players can consider when selecting a casino welcome bonus. Some deals are better than others, so understanding the top features helps you select a deal that will be more lucrative or work best for your casino gaming needs.

  • Wagering Requirements: This is a big factor that must be considered. Every bonus deal requires wagering. The range is usually from 1x to 40x. Pick deals with lower wagering requirements so the deal can be cleared quickly.
  • Game Contribution Percentage: It is important to consider how games will contribute to clearing the bonus. Usually, slots will clear bonus funds at 100%, while some table games like blackjack provide 50% or less. Choose deals that offer games with a 100% clearance rate that you enjoy playing, so the bonus wagering requirements will be completed as quickly as possible.
  • Game Restrictions: Players should also consider any game restrictions. If games you enjoy are restricted, you might want to skip the deal. Some games cannot be played with bonus cash.
  • Bonus Amount: How much bonus cash can you earn with the deal? Consider how much bonus cash you will earn and how it can be played and cleared before moving forward. Are the connected wagering requirements worth it?
  • Time restrictions: What time restrictions are connected to the deal? Must you complete the offer in 24 hours, or do you have 30 days? Think about how long it will take to clear the bonus and if the set time frame is long enough.

How Do Casino Welcome Bonuses Work?

If you are new to U.S.-based online casino gaming, you may wonder how welcome bonuses work? Are there rules or terms and conditions? Any deal you take advantage of at an online casino will have certain steps that must be taken to claim the deal and clear it to cash out winnings. Below we detail several common welcome bonus types, with insight into how each promotion works.

No Deposit

A no deposit bonus comes in many forms, be it free money, free play, or free spins. The one thing the deal type has in common is that players do not need to add any money to participate. Simply create an account and claim the deal at a freeplay casino. If the deal provides free play or money, you can usually use the funds on any game type, such as slots or table games. Free spin deals will require you to play a specific title. Remember, this deal type also has terms and conditions. You may be required to deposit before any wins can be withdrawn.

Free Spins

There are two ways players can receive free spin welcome deals; upon registering for a new account or depositing. Either way, the free spins can only be used on the game listed in the promotion. A certain number of spins are also provided, usually from 10-30. The spins will have a set wager value per spin, and any wins you earn are yours to keep up to a certain amount. The full details of the deal are listed in the terms and conditions.

First Deposit

The first deposit bonus is perhaps the most common promotion offered via online casino sites. There are different variations of the deal, but the most common is a 100% match. Sometimes, sites may offer 150%-200%.

An example of this deal would be a 100% first deposit bonus worth up to $500. For any amount you deposit up to $500, the casino gives you the same amount in bonus cash, doubling your bankroll. This gives you more money for wagering.

Remember that a first deposit deal requires players to play the bonus amount a certain number of times before a withdrawal can be made, anywhere from 1x to 40x. Pick a deal with a low requirement so the bonus cash can be cleared quickly and choose one of the instant withdrawal casinos for a fast payout.

Risk-Free Play

A risk-free play deal offers players a bonus based on losses. An example of this deal would be a risk-free blackjack wager of $25. You deposit $25 and play that amount on blackjack games. The site gives you $25 in bonus funds if you lose it all. It’s a win/win situation essentially because you earn the same amount back if you lose the wager, which minimizes your losses.

How to Claim a Welcome Bonus at an Online Casino

If you are new to online casino gaming, you may feel uncertain about how to claim casino bonuses. Below is a step-by-step guide on what to do to acquire welcome bonuses. Follow the easy steps to get started.

Step 1: Explore

Take a look at our recommended online casino sites to see which ones offer the best deals for your gaming needs. Once you locate a provider that meets your requirements and has a good bonus deal, you are ready to create an account.

Step 2: Register

Use our link to visit the online casino of your choice. Click Join Now or Register to create an account. This will take a few minutes to complete. The casino will require your name, address, email, birthday, and last four digits of your social security number.

Step 3: Claim The Welcome Bonus

After your account is created, log in. From there, you are ready to claim the welcome bonus. No deposit deals should automatically be added to your account. You may be required to enter a bonus code when adding funds for a first deposit bonus. If a code is listed, such as TGDCASINO, use it in the bonus space when adding funds. After the funds are added to your account, you should see the bonus amount too.

Step 4: Ready to play!

You are ready to play with the bonus funds in your casino account! Slots, table games, video poker, and more await. Be sure to note the game types you need to play to clear bonus funds before starting.

Some promotions are connected to specific game types or only allow certain games to provide 100% clearance for bonus cash. Read the terms and conditions to know which games work best to clear the bonus.

Who Can Claim a Welcome Bonus?

Almost every player can claim a welcome bonus as long as they meet certain criteria. In the U.S., players must be 21 years or older and located in a state that offers legalized casino gaming to participate. Players must not be listed on any self-exclusion list in a state, be it with a retail casino or online operator.

Welcome offers are open to new players only, so if you have opened an account before, you are not eligible. Some online casino operators that offer services in multiple states carry over their deals. If you have claimed a welcome offer in one state and try to do so in another, it might not work. Read the full terms and conditions to know if you can claim an offer in a single state or multiple ones per provider.

What To Look For When Claiming a Welcome Bonus?

Players should look for a few key elements when claiming a welcome bonus. Keep the following points in mind when making your selection:

  • Wagering requirements: Always check the wagering requirement section of a bonus deal. Does the amount you need to play include the bonus and deposit amount or just the bonus? How many times must you play the amount before you can withdraw? These details are essential to claiming a bonus that you can complete without delay to avoid forfeiting bonus funds.
  • Game selection: What games are included in the deal? Does the offer limit players to slot games only or table games? You want to claim a bonus that allows you to play games you actually want to play.
  • Contributions: Check the terms and conditions to see how games contribute to clearing the bonus funds. Do slots provide 100% clearance? What about table games? You want to play casino games with bonus funds contributing 100% towards the wagering requirements so you can cash out as quickly as possible.
  • Time Frame of Completion: How long do you have to clear the bonus? Some deals will give you 24 hours, while others can provide 30 to 90 days. The larger the bonus and wagering requirement, the more time you need for completion. Take a look at the time frame and determine if you can clear it in time. If not, don’t claim the deal, as any funds you do not clear are forfeited.

Advantages Of A Welcome Bonus

There are several advantages to claiming a welcome bonus, from adding cash to your account and free spins. Learning more about each deal type can help players fully understand the benefits of welcome bonuses.

  • Double your bankroll: One of the main reasons welcome bonuses are so popular is first deposit offers. These deals can provide a 100% casino match deposit bonus, giving you double the bankroll for gaming.
  • Enjoy Freebies: No deposit deals and free spins allow you to play at no cost. Freebies are always good and can be included in welcome deals.
  • Test out a new online casino operator: Players can test out an online casino site without investing funds with no deposit deal or free spins. It’s a great way to see if you like what an operator offers before adding funds.

Requirements Around Welcome Bonuses

No matter what type of welcome bonus you claim, some requirements will be included. It is important to understand the deal requirements and know you can easily clear every step before claiming a deal. Review the factors below to see what requirements you can expect when claiming a welcome bonus.

Minimum deposit

Most every deal will require a minimum deposit to claim. The minimum amount for a deposit is generally set at $5-$10. Be sure to know the minimum you need to add before claiming the deal. If you do not deposit the correct amount, then the deal is not activated correctly. Read the terms and conditions to locate your deposit amount to get started.

Timeframe

How long do you have to clear the bonus? This is essential information that you need to know. Some promotions have a 24-hour turnaround, while others may give you 30 to 90 days. Take a look at the terms and conditions to see how long you have to meet wagering requirements to complete the offer. Only claim deals you can complete on time to avoid forfeiting any bonus funds.

The maximum bonus amount

What is the maximum bonus amount you can earn? Let’s say you are claiming a 100% first deposit offer that is valid for up to $250. If you deposit more than $250, you only receive a match up to the maximum amount. Be sure you know the top end of the offer before depositing, so you don’t expect more bonus cash than you will receive.

Welcome Bonus Vs. Reload Bonus Offers

As you start to explore promotions at online casinos, you will find that sites provide welcome bonuses and reload offers. Players need to understand both options’ differences to know what to claim.

A welcome bonus is open only to new members. Once you create a new account, the welcome bonus can be activated. For a reload bonus, the deal is open to existing players. So, after you claim a welcome deal and clear it, you can focus on reload bonuses.

With a reload bonus, players are provided a percentage of bonus cash based on the deposit. This deal is usually open-ended, meaning that players can claim it over and over again. The percentage and amount of the bonus will generally be lower than a welcome offer. An example would be a 50-100% match worth up to $250. Welcome bonuses often go as high as $1,000 to provide extra cash to new members.

Welcome Bonus Vs. Loyalty Bonuses

It is also important to note a loyalty bonus, as this is a common offer for players of an online casino. Welcome deals are always offered to new players. Some online casinos offer reward programs for members. The more you play at the site, the better the rewards.

The online casino can offer loyalty bonuses as part of the reward program. This deal can vary, from deposit matches to no deposit bonuses or free spins. The loyalty bonus is based on the reward tier level or other factors based on the casino type. Players should be able to click on the casino’s reward program to see any available loyalty bonuses.

Author

Sadonna Price

Sadonna Price

For almost two decades, Sadonna has provided quality content for online gambling operators both in the United States and abroad. With a focus on casino gaming and poker, Sadonna has covered the latest legal developments in the industry, including new services as they launch in the US, as well as fun and interesting articles on new games and exciting tournament action.