Bonuses & Rewards in Online Gambling
Updated: 2025
If you've read our article on the pros and cons of online gambling, then you'll know that one of the biggest advantages of betting and gambling online is the bonuses and rewards that are available. Every single gambling site we've ever used offers these in one form or another, although it's fair to say that some sites are much more generous than others.
One of our top gambling tips is to try and make the most of bonuses and rewards, as they are an easy way to get better value for your money. Serious players who are looking to make a profit should always be on the lookout for any extra value they can get, and even casual players who are just having fun shouldn't ignore the chance to get what is effectively free money.
On this page, we'll help you make the most of the bonuses and rewards available to you online. We start by explaining what they are and how they work, and then look at why gambling sites offer them. We also cover the different types of bonuses and rewards, and finally give you some important advice on the terms and conditions associated with them.
Before we get into all that, let's get one thing straight. As we've already mentioned, not every site is as generous when it comes to the extra value they offer their customers. In order to get the most out of your gambling bonuses, you really need to be selective about which sites you use. Luckily, we've put together a list of recommended sites that are particularly generous with their offers.
Bonuses & Rewards: The Basics
If you have never played online before and know absolutely nothing about the bonuses and rewards available, here are four main points that are important to understand.
- What they are
- Why sites offer them
- How to claim them
- The terms and conditions
We'll cover points three and four later in this article, but for now we'll focus on points one and two. Here's a brief explanation of what bonuses and rewards are and how to claim them.
What are gambling bonuses and rewards?
Bonuses and rewards come in many different types, but each type has the same basic principle. They're all extra money added to your online gambling account for the purpose of betting and/or playing. They usually come with certain terms and conditions, which we will discuss in more detail later, so they are not technically "free" money. However, most types are still valuable and worth taking advantage of.
How to claim gambling bonuses and rewards
The methods for claiming bonuses and rewards vary from site to site and may also depend on the specific type of bonus or reward being claimed. It is generally a very simple process, and the funds may even be added to your account automatically without you having to do anything. Some types require you to make a deposit before claiming, while others do not.
Please note that many sites will require you to enter a bonus code in order to receive a bonus. You should always check if this is the case, as not entering the correct code may result in you missing out on the extra value.
The Purpose of Bonuses & Rewards
You may be wondering why gambling sites like to give away money to their customers in this way. The answer is that they have two very good reasons.
- To gain new customers
- To retain existing customers
It's as simple as that. They want you to sign up as a customer, and they want you to stick around and keep playing with them.
The online gambling industry is extremely competitive with a plethora of sites for players to choose from. Many of these sites offer very similar products and services, so bonuses and rewards can be effective marketing tools to help them stand out and attract new customers. They are also a great way to keep existing customers happy and ensure that they aren't tempted to leave and go elsewhere.
Their motives are very much commercial, but don't let that diminish the fact that bonuses and rewards are a clear benefit of playing online.
Different Types of Bonuses & Rewards
All gambling sites have their own individual methods of incentivizing and rewarding their customers, but most bonuses and rewards can be categorized into a specific type. There are several different types, and they all fall into one of two broad categories. There are those that are for new customers and those that are for existing customers.
New Customer Bonuses
These are often referred to as sign up bonuses or welcome bonuses and are only available to customers who are joining a site for the first time. A site will usually offer one, or possibly both, of the following options
- Deposit Match
- No Deposit Bonus
A deposit match is when the site gives you a percentage of your first deposit as a bonus. For example, an online casino might offer a 100% deposit match up to $500.
This means that you would receive a bonus of $100 if you deposited $100, a bonus of $200 if you deposited $200, and so on. The maximum amount that can be claimed in this example is $500. Most sites also require a minimum deposit. The percentage offered and the minimum and maximum size of the bonus can vary greatly from site to site.
A no deposit bonus, as the name suggests, is one where you don't have to make a deposit. Sites that offer them will simply add a few dollars to your account when you first sign up so that you can try them out without risking any of your money. These aren't as common as deposit matches, and they're usually much smaller amounts.
Existing customer bonuses and rewards come in a variety of forms, but the following are the most common.
Existing Customer Bonuses & Rewards
A reload bonus is basically a deposit match for an existing customer. Some sites will give you a weekly or monthly reload bonus, while others will offer them on a predetermined basis. Some sites don't offer them at all. An example would be a poker site that offers a 50% reload up to $250 on the first deposit of each month.
- Reload Bonuses
- Loyalty Schemes
- VIP Programs
Loyalty programs and VIP programs are both based on a customer's betting and gaming activity. A typical loyalty scheme involves some sort of points system where customers earn points every time they place a sports bet, play for real money in the casino or poker room, or buy bingo tickets. These points can then be redeemed for rewards, often directly into your account.
A VIP program is really just a glorified loyalty program, but for particularly valuable players. The rewards are usually better, and there may be additional perks.
The bonuses and rewards you can earn online usually depend to some extent on the type of gambling you play. For example, a sports bettor may receive their extra value in a completely different way than a poker player. For more information on how the bonuses and rewards work for different forms of gambling, please read the following pages.
More On Specific Bonus Types
If we could only give one piece of advice regarding online gambling bonuses and rewards, it would be to always read the terms and conditions associated with them. It is really important that you fully understand all the rules and regulations. They generally relate to the following
Terms & Conditions
These are just a few of the most common items covered in terms and conditions. There are usually many more, and they are usually very long. However, this is no excuse for not reading them. If you don't fully understand them, you may be missing out on some extra value, which is never a good thing.
- What you need to do to be eligible for a bonus.
- How you go about claiming it.
- What it can and can’t be used for.
- Whether it can be withdrawn or not.
- If it can be withdrawn, what requirements have to be met first.
- How long you have to meet those requirements.
These are just a few of the most common points covered in the terms and conditions. There are generally many more, and they are usually very lengthy. This is no excuse for not reading them though. If you don’t fully understand them, then you might find yourself missing out on some extra value, which is never a good thing.
