Welcome Bonuses: Best Casino Sign Up Bonuses 2023

We’ve condensed some of the most popular new player deals and how to make the most of them into one handy guide, where we share our top tips and tricks on spotting the best casino bonus.

You’ll also learn how the bonus works and what are some of the most significant bonus terms you should be aware of at any legitimate online casino. In addition to all the pros and cons, you’ll also find an up-to-date list of some of the best casino bonuses from our experts to give you a better start to your online casino journey. There’s more exciting stuff to discover, so let’s get going.

Top Casinos with a Welcome Bonus

There are so many casinos on the market, and all of them have different welcome bonuses. To save you the time, our experts have compiled a list of the top casinos with a welcome bonus out there.

What is a Welcome Bonus?

A casino welcome bonus is a new player’s special invitation from an online casino to explore the site and check out their games collection. Depending on the offer, it can either boost your initial cash deposit several times over or give you free spins on some of their most popular slots games.

As a new player, you’ll mostly encounter a casino welcome bonus, or a signup bonus, which essentially means the same thing. Some casinos might use the term ‘signup bonus’ for no deposit bonus offers which are free to claim upon registration.

Casino Welcome Bonus

When you register at an online casino you like, as a new player, you’ll be rewarded with a casino welcome bonus. Only a few casinos come without a welcome offer, but the majority will have one that consists of a match bonus on its own or a match bonus + spins.

Each casino has its welcome bonus advertised on their homepage. It’s like their business card because it’s usually the first thing you see when you open the site. You can also find the best welcome bonuses here at JohnSlots, including some exclusive offers that you won’t find on the casino’s site!

Claiming a welcome casino bonus, just like any other bonus, is simple. To trigger the reward, you have to make a deposit. The minimum deposit you have to make is predetermined by the casino and usually starts at £/€/$10 or equivalent in your local currency.

Once you’ve made your deposit, you’ll see an extra amount of credits/cash in your bankroll depending on the percentage of the bonus and the size of your deposit. So, if you deposited £/€/$10 or equivalent and the offer is 100%, you get bonus cash to play with, making £/€/$20 or equivalent in your currency in total. Simple, right?

Sign Up Casino Bonus

Sometimes, a casino will have a stand-alone signup casino bonus for all new players which doesn’t require you to deposit. This means that all you have to do to claim the bonus is to sign up/register with the casino, without having to spend your cash to claim this offer. That’s why it’s called a signup bonus. To avoid confusion, casinos will usually specify that it’s a no deposit signup bonus.

A signup bonus can consist of free spins but it can also be a free cash bonus like 5 free or 10 free in your local currency. The best part of this type of a signup bonus is that you are not required to make a deposit and get to play for free without spending any of your own cash.

However, you should always check the terms and conditions of such a bonus as it usually comes with certain constraints. These can include time limits, winning caps, wagering requirements, games restrictions etc.

Types of Welcome Bonuses

The types of new player bonuses can differ from one casino to the next so we’ve listed some of the best casino welcome bonus options for you below.

Free Spins

These are some of the most popular bonuses across online casinos worldwide. They are easy to claim and allow you to test some of the best slots from top developers. Many casinos offer 10, 20, 100 or more free spins as part of their welcome package, in which case you’ll have to make one or several deposits to claim them. Other casinos may advertise free spins as a sign-up bonus, meaning you’ll get a batch of free spins just for signing up, no deposit needed.

Typically, sign-up or no deposit bonuses include fewer free spins than deposit bonus offers. Still, it can differ from site to site, so it’s always a good idea to shop around. But remember to check the wagering requirements – just because you don’t have to deposit cash to claim free spins doesn’t always mean they’re free. Either way, your free spins will automatically appear in your player account, and the winnings will be credited to you in the bonus or withdrawable cash, depending on the casino and the offer.

No Deposit Bonus

The casino welcome bonus no deposit offer is perhaps one of the most sought after among new casino players. It doesn’t require you to deposit any cash when claiming this type of casino bonus. This casino sign up bonus usually consists of free spins or bonus money, and all you have to do to claim it is to register with the casino. However, unless stated otherwise, before you can withdraw your winnings, you’ll have to fulfil the wagering requirements.

Match Bonuses

Match or deposit bonuses are the most common offers at online casinos. They come in many different forms and boost your initial deposit sum by a certain percentage. It can be anything from 100% up to 500% or more, depending on the casino. The match bonus funds will be credited to your player account separately from your real money deposit and act as a buffer once you’ve used up your real cash balance.

Any winnings from your bonuses will first be credited to your account as bonus money and converted to real money after you fulfil the full wagering requirements.

100% Bonus

A 100% casino bonus is one of the most common deposit bonuses available to new players. It’s awarded to you as a welcome bonus on your first deposit. And, if you’re lucky, as a reload bonus when you return.

Whenever you claim your 100% bonus, it means that your first deposit will be doubled. For example, you found a casino that offers a welcome package of a 100% bonus up to 100 in your local currency.
In this case, you can deposit anything up to 100. Your minimum amount is set by the casino at 10.

Let’s say you choose to deposit 20 of your own money. What you get in return is an extra 20 in bonuses. Now you have 40 in your local currency to play with.

200% Bonus

A 200% casino bonus is another popular deposit bonus, but slightly more generous than the 100% bonus. What it does is it triples your initial deposit.

Here’s a quick example of how a 200% bonus works. You want to claim a 200% up to 100 casino bonus and wish to deposit 50 in your local currency. In return, you are awarded 100 in bonus cash and have a total of 150 to play with.

300% Bonus

A 300% casino bonus is harder to come by. These are found at either well-established or brand-new casinos that want to attract new players.

To keep things simple, let’s use an easy example here. You want to claim a 300% up to 100 casino bonus by depositing 30 in your local currency. What you’ll receive is 90 in bonus and have a total of 120 to play.

Look out for a 300% casino bonus offered as a reload bonus to returning customers. It’s a great way to boost your bankroll. Sometimes a casino will award it to its returning customers or those who haven’t played for a long time.

400% Bonus

A 400% welcome bonus is rare but not uncommon. Mostly, it can be seen at brand-new online casinos looking for new players to join their site. This type of offer is very enticing because a 400% bonus means that the casino will match your initial deposit 5 times up to a certain amount.

However, remember that a casino welcome bonus as large as 400% doesn’t come without a catch. Often such bonuses come with hefty wagering requirements and other restrictions that might impact your overall experience. We recommend checking the bonus terms first to avoid disappointment later. But if this is something you’re looking for, then go for it; not all casinos are out there to get you.

500% Bonus

Like the 400% bonus, 500% first deposit bonus offers are still hard to come by due to strict gambling regulations. But across Europe and North America, they are becoming more common among online casinos. If luck strikes you and you find a casino offering this type of welcome deal, it will give you a smashing head start on your casino experience, boosting your initial deposit 6 times!

Again, remember to check the bonus terms to ensure that the bonus you’ve found is fully legitimate and you’re aware of any terms attached to it before claiming the offer.

How do Welcome Bonuses Work?

With such a huge variety of welcome bonuses available online, it can get confusing trying to figure out how each of them works. So here’s the rundown of how to use one and make the most of it:

First of all, you’ll want to pick a casino with the best sign up offer for you and create a new account. Use our list to quickly find casinos with the most generous bonuses.

Now you’ll want to register and/or deposit to claim the welcome offer. Be sure to check your new account to see if the bonus has been added. It should be stored separately from your real money funds.

While you have fun playing eligible games with your deposit money first, the bonus cash sits in your casino account as a safety net in case you deplete your real cash.

If you win with your own money, you can forfeit the bonus. But if you’ve exhausted your own cash, the bonus money will give you a 2nd chance to win and continue playing for free!

How to Choose the Best Welcome Bonus

Choosing the best welcome bonus can be a minefield. But fear not, our expert casino team have gladly offered to share some of their all-time favourite tips for spotting the best gems:

• Decide on the type of bonus – this is one of the first things you’ll want to check when choosing the most suitable casino welcome bonus for you. If you are after playing slots, look for a bonus with free spins included in the offer. If you prefer playing table games, you’re better off looking for bonuses with bigger cash amounts and fewer free spins.
• Beware of the minimum deposit – the minimum deposit is another factor you’ll want to consider before claiming welcome bonuses. A low minimum deposit limit is perfect for new starters as it poses fewer risks. The lower the deposit, the less of your own money you’ll have to spend to claim your chosen bonus.
• Mind the wagering requirements – these can be exasperating for both new and seasoned players. Look for a casino signup bonus offer with wagering requirements as low as possible, ideally below 40x. Anything above 40x is considered to be too high.
• Take heed of the time limits – bonuses don’t last forever and knowing how long you’ve got left to wager your bonuses is important. Usually, you’ll have 7 days or longer, so it’s always worth looking for a welcome bonus with a more distant deadline.
• Watch for excluded payment methods – excluded payment methods can be a real con when claiming any welcome bonus. At some casinos, due to compliance regulations, players using e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller can be exempt from receiving bonuses. In which case you’ll have to use alternative funding methods.
• Look at the games selection – Another way to choose the best casino welcome bonus is to see which games are eligible for the bonuses, especially those involving free spins. At most casinos, you’ll have a pre-selected list of specific slots you can play using your bonus cash or free spins. For example, Starburst and Book of Dead are some of the most frequently available slots to play with the signup bonuses.

How to Claim a Casino Welcome Bonus

The hardest part about bonuses is choosing the best welcome package for you. Securing it is a piece of cake – it only takes several minutes. When you feel prepared to claim the casino welcome bonus offer, these are the steps you’ll want to take to kickstart your new casino adventure:

• Check the eligibility: most casinos offer a welcome bonus to new players only, so it won’t count if you already have an account with that casino. Also, you must be 18 (19 in most parts of Canada) or over to play at an online casino.
• Create a new player account:you can’t claim bonuses without registering with the casino first. To create a new account, go to the registration page and follow the on-screen instructions. It will only take a few moments.
• Opt-in where needed: alongside registering a new account, some casinos may require you to opt-in to receive the welcome offer – not all bonus offers are added automatically to your player account.
• Check the bonus terms: just before depositing, check the bonus terms and general terms and conditions to stay in the know.
• Deposit enough real cash: to be eligible for your bonus, you’ll need to deposit the minimum amount required by the casino or more. Some casinos may exclude e-wallets from bonuses so remember to check that before using Skrill or Neteller to deposit.
• Playthrough real cash first: start by using your real money on eligible slots. If you don’t win, you can then use the bonus money as a buffer for a second chance to win!

Wagering vs Wager-Free Welcome Offers

When searching for the best welcome bonuses, you’ll bump into two types of welcome bonuses – a bonus with wagering requirements and wager-free bonuses. The main difference between these two bonuses is the way the wins are paid into your player account.

Any wins from your bonuses with wagering will be paid in bonus money which you can withdraw after you’ve completed the wagering requirements.

But, any wins from the wager-free bonuses will be paid in real cash, which automatically makes it a much better offer. This type of bonus allows you to withdraw your winnings any time without having to worry about any hefty wagering requirements. We’ve searched high and low for the best wager-free offers that you can find right here!

Common Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions

Every legitimate online casino has a list of bonus terms included in the offer, and it’s your responsibility as a player to read the small print before playing. Otherwise, you’re running the risk of missing out on essential details like winning caps, timings, wagering requirements and many other restrictions attached to the bonus you’re about to claim. Here’s what to look out for:

• Eligibility: at most online casinos, you must be a newly registered player and 18 (19 in some countries like Canada) or over years of age to claim the welcome bonus.
• Geographical restrictions: some online casinos may only allow players residing in the respective country to claim the casino welcome bonus offer.
• Welcome bonus limitations: one bonus offer per player/account.
• Bonus codes: you may need to use a special promotional code to activate the offer.
• Time restrictions: check the validity of your bonus from the day you activated it. Depending on the casino, it can be valid for 24 hours, 7 days or a month. That’s why it’s important to check this information.
• Minimum deposit: different casinos have different minimum depositing amounts.
• Restricted payment methods: some casinos may exclude e-wallet deposits from bonuses. Also, you’ll want to check which payment methods qualify for withdrawals. Often, you can only withdraw using the same banking method you used to deposit.
• Bonus validity: your bonus may be valid on specific games only.
• Wagering requirements: in most cases, you’ll need to wager your bonus amount a certain amount of time before you can withdraw your winnings in real cash. Also, not all games count equally towards the wagering so you’ll want to check the list of illegible games in the bonus terms.
• Game weightings: not all games count equally towards the wagering and it’s important to check the list of illegible games in the bonus terms. In most cases, slots (with exceptions) count 100%, but games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, video poker and live casino titles can sometimes contribute 10% only or nothing at all.
• Max bonus cash out: the casino will indicate in the terms and conditions the max sum of cash you can win from your bonuses. Unfortunately, any winnings exceeding the threshold will be claimed by the casino.
• Max bonus bet limits: indicates the max amount you can bet when using your welcome bonus.

John’s Top Welcome Bonus Recommendations

Looking for some of the best casino welcome bonus deals? Our casino buffs have done the legwork for you and put together a complete list of offers for you to explore. Why not click around and claim one of these fantastic offers handpicked for you by our experts!

Pros and Cons of Using a Welcome Bonus

Casino welcome bonuses are a great way to explore a new online casino and test out their games collection, but they do have a prickly side too. Here’s a quick comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of using a welcome bonus at an online casino:

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FAQ Section

In case you have any more burning queries on the topic, here are some more answers to the most commonly asked questions about casino welcome bonuses:

Why do casinos give away welcome bonuses?

The main reason why casinos give away welcome bonuses is to attract new players to their site, allowing them to explore and test some of their most popular online games.

Where can I use my welcome bonus?

Depending on the type of welcome bonus, you can use them on different slots and casino games. Bonus cash and free spins can be used on slots, but if you’re after table games, you’ll want to choose a bonus cash offer instead of spins.

Can I win real money from a welcome bonus?

Yes, but you will need to fulfil the full wagering requirements first before your bonus cash is transformed into real money. If you’re lucky to snatch a wager-free welcome offer, then the wins are paid in real cash.

Which is the best casino welcome bonus?

Some of the best casino welcome bonuses include no deposit bonuses, free spins and wager-free offers. Also, look for deals with low wagering requirements or low minimum deposits.

Do all casinos offer the sign up bonuses?

Unfortunately, not all casinos offer sign up bonuses. Check out our top list above to find the best casino welcome bonus offers available right now.

Why would I use the welcome bonus?

Welcome offers are a fun way to get bonus money to explore a new casino and test some of their best online games. Plus, you can also win real cash!

How do casinos make money on welcome bonuses?

Online casinos offer tempting bonuses upfront in the hope that new players will stick around after they’ve used up their welcome offer. The wagering requirements also help to ensure that players can’t just take their bonus money and disappear.

Can a Welcome Bonus be used on any game?

Unfortunately, not all games are eligible for welcome bonuses. Each casino will most likely indicate which games can be played using the welcome bonus. It’s also a good idea to check their general T&Cs to learn which games do not contribute or contribute less towards the wagering requirements.

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