Who doesn't want free money to gamble with in an online casino? Well, that all depends on just how "free" the money really is. In actuality, there is no such thing as a 100% unconditional free bonus. Yes, that's the kicker - there are conditions. And depending on how strict these conditions are, will likely be the chief reason whether or not you accept or decline a free cash bonus offer. That's what this page is all about - explaining what these conditions are and explaining the different types of bonuses. For more information on Casino Bonus terms and conditions please read further.

Casino Bonus Terms

Before taking an online casino bonus, you need to ask yourself how much gambling you intend to partake in. This isn't about how many times you login to gamble at the casino. It's about how much gambling you actually do when you are logged in. The reason being is that in order to cash out the winnings derived from your bonus (not the bonus money itself), you will be required to make a minimum of wagers. Called the "wager requirement" or "play-through", this is one of the primary conditions governing your free cash bonus.

Wager requirements usually range from 8x to 40x. For example, an 8x bonus in the amount of $100 would require that you make $800 in wagers (8 x $100) before you could cash out winnings derived from the bonus. A 40x bonus would require you to wager $4,000 (40 x $100). Obviously, the 8x bonus sounds a lot more appealing. However, there is another bonus condition that you must consider. Most bonuses have "game restrictions" for meeting the "play-through" requirement. In other words, not every wager will go toward meeting the wager requirement.

For instance, if a bonus has game restrictions on blackjack, video poker, craps and roulette, any wagers made on those games will not apply to the "play-through". Obviously, if blackjack is your game of choice, you will want to seek out a bonus that allows blackjack wagers to go toward the play-through. All of this information is spelled out in the "terms and conditions" of the bonus, and must be published on the website of the casino. There is usually a link that says "Read Bonus Terms and Conditions". Do not take this for granted - you should ALWAYS read the T & C's.

Most bonuses that you come across will have playing restrictions on games with a low Casinos Edge and/or which can be played with strategy, such as Blackjack, Craps and Video Poker. This is understandable, for online casinos would go out of business by players who use perfect mathematical strategy. However, there are bonuses which allow all games or even specific strategy-associated games to meet the play-through. New online casinos will often offer these types of bonuses as a means of getting attention from the online gambling community. You just have to be on the lookout for them. There are other bonuses which simply impose a higher play-through requirement when strategic-based games are eligible for play.

Lastly, unless you are receiving a no-deposit bonus (see "Types of Casino Bonuses" section further below), all bonuses will require that you make a real money deposit with your personal funds, thus making "free cash bonuses" a sort of quasi-free cash. Remember, there are no rules that require you to claim a bonus. While playing with a bonus can certainly help you stretch out your bankroll, especially if it's not too large to begin with, the choice to claim one is entirely up to you.

Casino Bonus Management

Before explaining the different types of bonuses, let's discuss how your bonus is managed. After accepting a bonus, you will be given a bonus account along with your personal funds account. By default, all of your wagers will first be pulled from your personal funds account, so long as there are still funds present. Not until you have run out of funds in your personal account will wagers be pulled from the bonus money account. At that stage, winnings from bonus money wagers will be added back to the bonus account until the original bonus amount is retained. Further winnings in excess of the bonus amount are then added back to the personal account.

If this sounds all too confusing, think of it this way: The bonus money itself cannot be cashed out. Only winnings derived from using the bonus money and personal funds to make wagers can be withdrawn. Once the play-through requirement has been met and a withdrawal is requested, the original bonus amount will be subtracted from the withdrawal. This is why wagers are first pulled from the personal account.

To avoid any confusion, the best online casinos have a bonus management system integrated with their software platform. Players need only access their bonus account to see how far along the play-through requirement has been met. This will prevent any premature withdrawals on the players part, which is important to avoid at all costs. NOTE: If you make a withdrawal of any funds before the bonus play-through requirement has been met, the bonus money will be deemed null and void.

Types of Casino Welcome Bonuses

No-Deposit Bonus - The rarest of the casino bonuses, a no-deposit bonus does not require a deposit. It will however, still be governed by play-through requirements. Since no-deposit bonuses are the closest thing to "free" bonus cash, they are generally in smaller amounts (no more than $10).

Match Bonus - This is a bonus that matches the amount of the deposit amount. It is the same thing as a 100% bonus. Match bonuses are commonly in the amount of $100.

Percentage Bonus - Anything other than a 100% (Match) bonus, can technically be classified as a percentage bonus. A $200 deposit on a 50% bonus would earn $100 in bonus money, while a $50 deposit on a 200% bonus would earn the same amount ($100 Free).

Reload Bonus - Sometimes advertised as a welcome bonus, this is a bonus that covers multiple deposits. A common setup is one that awards an initial welcome bonus on the first deposit, and monthly bonuses on further deposits thereafter. Reload bonuses also come in the form of "player rewards" as part of an online casino's comp/loyalty program. Depending on how high up in the loyalty program a player is, these reload bonuses generally offer more favorable terms and conditions than the original welcome bonus.

Preferred Deposit Method Bonus - Most online casinos offer incentives for using preferred deposit methods, like Neteller or Click2Pay. These come in the form of small bonuses generally ranging from 5-15% on deposits made with these eWallets.

Game Specific Bonus - These are bonuses with wager requirements that can be met by playing specific games. Generally, the most common of these are slots bonuses, although you are likely to find Blackjack Bonuses as well.

High Roller Bonus - The largest of the bonuses, high roller bonuses offer more in free cash, but require a greater deposit amount. High roller bonuses are generally worth 50% of a single deposit up to $500 free. Don't be fooled by bonuses advertising thousands in free bonus money. They are not high roller bonuses. Rather, these are simply a welcome bonus followed by concurrent monthly reload bonuses.