Casino Bonuses 2024

With numerous online casinos available to NZ players, casinos often provide generous bonuses and promotions to attract customers. However, without understanding the terms and conditions of these offers, players may face disappointment or overspending.

This page offers a list of casinos with the best bonuses, most popular bonus types, pros & cons and tips from experts.

What is an Online Casino Bonus?

In simple terms, a bonus is a promotional offer made by online casinos to attract and encourage players to play. They come in many different forms, including free spins, free plays, and sometimes free cash.

An offer is usually presented to you when you sign up at an online casino, deposit into your account, encourage you to play a specific game, or make a sports bet. You’ll automatically be presented with one of the best casino bonuses and asked if you want to accept the offer with its specific terms.

The offers will come in one of many ways, including deposit-match, free spins, improved odds, or something similar.

When looking at bonuses, ensure you check their terms and know where they apply.

How Do Online Casino Bonuses Work?

As we’ve said, when you join a casino for the first time, make a deposit, or take advantage of a casino promo offer, you’ll be offered a casino bonus online of some form or another. Sometimes these bonuses are automatically awarded, and others are only awarded if you choose to accept the offer.

The bonus may look straightforward on the surface, but reading and understanding the terms and conditions can help you make an educated decision as to whether you should accept the offer or not. Remember cashing out depends on the terms of the bonus being met.

Casinos are businesses and are there to make money, so they won’t dish out cash to you out of the goodness of their hearts! This is why most bonuses come with wagering requirements.

If the casino gave you a bonus and allowed you to cash it out immediately, most players wouldn’t bother to play. They’d simply cash out the bonus and walk away.

The concept is you deposit money, the casino gives you a matching amount, and then they expect you to spend a set amount before you can cash out. In most cases, wagering requirements are around 30x your initial deposit, sometimes including your bonus amount. This depends on the terms of the bonus, and it can also be affected by the terms of the licensing body.

Let’s explain how this wagering requirement works (there’s a bit of math here!).

Say your deposit is NZ$1,000, and the bonus you’re offered is a 250% match, so in money terms, that’s NZ$2,500 (NZ$1,000 + 250%). The total amount in your account would be NZ$3,500 (your deposit + bonus amount).

Now we apply the wagering requirement of 30x, so NZ$3,500 x 30 = NZ$105,000. This means you must place bets up to the value of NZ$105,000 before you can withdraw your winnings. The situation becomes a little more complex as, in many cases, you can’t count the entire value of each bet against your wagering requirement.

If you’re unsure of the T&Cs, contact the casino’s customer support, and ask for a simple explanation before accepting the offer.

Types of Casino Bonuses

As aforementioned, there are many types of casino bonuses. Here we look at some of the most common and popular bonuses.

Welcome Bonus

This is the most popular and is a one-off offer made to new members at an online casino. It’s designed to attract new members to the online casino and is often presented in very tempting terms. The casino bonus at sign-up is, most of the time, a deposit match and usually ranges between 100% and 500% match.

Remember that a first deposit bonus often accompanies the welcome bonus. Also, a casino bonus for a deposit often has wagering requirements and time limits attached to it.

No Deposit Bonuses

A no deposit bonus, is a small amount of cash credited to the player‘s account, usually for a specific game or bet. It’s often offered to attract new payers to try the casino before committing to a first deposit. To take advantage of this offer, the player will have to find the casino bonus codes for no deposit, which will be required to claim this bonus in some casinos.

This bonus is always small, around NZ$30 or less, but it’s enough to play a couple of games, and it aims to encourage the player to make that first deposit and become a regular player.

Sometimes the player is granted a no deposit free spins bonus which gives free spins instead of cash. In this case, you’ll only be able to use the bonus on the slot machines and mostly on selected slots.

Free Spins

A casino bonus free spins are awarded as part of a casino promo offer during a bonus award while playing a slot game, or it might be linked to a welcome bonus or a no deposit offer.

In simple terms, these are a predetermined number of spins that can be used on specified slot machines. If these are part of a promo offer, the winnings can be capped, but if they are part of a bonus game and awarded during regular play, then the winnings aren’t restricted.

A casino bonus free spins are often accompanied by time limits, so the free spins must be used within a specified period. Otherwise, the unused spins and the winnings are forfeited.

Match Deposit Bonuses

A match deposit bonus is a monetary bonus offered to players with their first deposit. It’s a match paid by the casino to the amount deposited.

This can be a one-to-one match, so you get double your deposit to play with. However, most often, the match is much higher and can be as high as 500%, or it can include free spins for slots.

Also, the casino will limit the amount of the deposit they’ll match. For example, they may say they’ll match 250% up to a maximum of NZ$1,500. This means that if you deposit NZ$2,000, the casino will only match NZ$1,500 of your deposit.

Frequent players and high rollers may be offered match bonuses when they reach a certain level of play. These bonuses will be individually tailored to the player or a level in a loyalty or VIP program.

No Deposit Bonuses

Minimum deposit bonuses are when a casino offers you the opportunity to deposit a small amount that the casino doesn’t match. This allows the player to try any of the games in the casino without making a firm commitment. However, a win limit amount applies to this type of bonus.

Remember always to read the T&Cs of a bonus. For example, this bonus type may state that it’s only valid within the same group of casinos. So, in this case, you can’t go to another casino belonging to the same group to claim this offer.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses, sometimes called recharge bonuses, are offered to players who’ve made previous deposits into their account and want to make a new deposit.

It’s a means for the casino to reward loyalty for players that have made more than one deposit. This incentive ensures a player remains with the casino longer, as they receive a little extra each time they make a deposit.

Sometimes, these bonuses are tied to special features, such as a special bonus for depositing funds on a Monday, just before the weekend, or before a significant sporting occasion such as the Super Bowl.

Reload bonuses are often restricted to one bonus per day, so you can’t make many small deposits and claim a reload bonus for each one!

An added advantage of these bonuses is they usually carry lower wagering requirements, so you can withdraw your winnings quicker with a reload bonus.

Cashback Bonuses

This is another loyalty type of bonus usually awarded only to VIP players. It’s rarely a standard bonus and is generally at the discretion of the VIP Loyalty Manager, who can grant a player a percentage of their losses paid back in cash or credits.

These bonuses aren’t tied to reloads and usually don’t carry any wagering requirements. They’re granted based on the player’s value to the casino. The player is compensated for the losses incurred based on the value of that player’s money passing through the casino.

In rare cases, the casino won’t limit the value of the cashback, but for most players, a maximum amount will be paid back.

No Wagering Bonuses

The casino bonus no wagering is relatively new and has emerged due to the frustration expressed by players with wagering requirements tied to many bonuses.

As the name suggests, in this type of bonus, there’s no wagering requirement, or the wagering requirement is one-to-one, meaning you must play with the money you have deposited.

These bonuses are relatively small and limited as the potential for loss to the casino is high. So, they won’t permit a “No Wagering Bonus” with a high value.

High Roller Bonuses

This prestigious bonus is awarded to players at the discretion of the casino management. This applies to those that have deposited and spent a great deal of money at the casino.

These bonuses can be matched, cashback prizes, free spins, reload bonuses, or cash awards.

High rollers, or in industry terms “whales,” are courted by casinos and given many perks and bonuses, including instant deposits and withdrawals. To qualify as a high roller is different at each casino, but a deposit of NZ$10,000 and playing NZ$100 per blackjack hand or slots spin may well get you to qualify.

Exclusive Bonuses

These bonuses stem from deals made between a particular casino and the games provider. This type of bonus applies to select casinos and games from one provider, limiting players to playing these games so they can take advantage of the bonus.

The casino and the games provider agreement will run for a specified length of time and can include prizes, cashback, free spins, or any combination of these items.

How to Choose the Best Online Casino Bonus?

There are hundreds of online casinos, and the competition in this segment is fierce. This is excellent news for players, and it helps make the terms and conditions around bonuses more favourable.

It’s unrealistic to think that you can take advantage of every bonus opportunity, so you need to consider the bonuses on offer carefully before deciding whether to take up the offer or not.

Here are five tips to help you choose the right bonus for you:

• What Do You Want From Your Play?

The first factor to consider is what you want from your gaming. Is this just a fun pastime you enjoy with friends or casually spend a few hours away? Do you make the odd sports bet, or are you an avid sports betting fan? Are you aiming to become a high-roller?

These are important considerations as they affect how you view the bonuses on offer. For the casual gamer that views this as a fun pastime, fulfilling the requirements for a welcome bonus may be impossible. It may be better for you to refuse the welcome bonus and simply make small deposits and thoroughly enjoy your gaming.

• Check the Wagering Requirements

We’ve covered the Wagering Requirements, but don’t underestimate them. If you’re unsure how to calculate this, do an internet search for an online tool to calculate the wagering requirement. This will indicate how much you’ll have to spend to meet the requirement.

• Check the Expiry Date of the Bonus

Bonuses don’t run forever. Time limits are imposed on most of them. Make sure you check the expiry date for the bonus and understand how long you have to fulfil the requirements of the bonus.

• Pick Codes for Your Games

When looking at bonuses offered, choose bonuses that match the games you want to play. For instance, taking on a bonus that pertains to sports betting is pointless if you’re not a regular punter.

• Terms and Conditions

Make sure that you fully understand all the terms and conditions. If you’re unsure, you can contact customer support and ask them to explain.

How to Claim Online Casino Bonus?

Claiming a bonus is a straightforward task.

Selecting an Offer

Before claiming a bonus, you should first look at all the bonus requirements. Look at the percentages, the wagering requirements, and any time limits. If you’re happy with the terms, then you must check if there’s a promotional code applied to it. You’ll need this code to claim the bonus.

What Casino Games Can I Play With Bonuses?

The games you can play using the bonus are detailed in the terms and conditions.

If this is a welcome bonus, only a portion of the bets placed on games will likely count toward the bonus amount, so be sure you understand what those percentages are and where they apply.

The exclusive bonus will pertain to particular games. If you don’t play those games regularly, this bonus isn’t for you.

Wagering Requirements

Many bonuses have wagering requirements, so do your homework and make sure that you understand what the wagering requirements are, and do the calculations to know if you’ll be able to fulfill those requirements before accepting the bonus.

Time Restrictions

Most bonuses come with time restrictions. So, you need to read the terms and conditions to ensure you understand the time restrictions. Many bonuses indicate that the terms must be fulfilled within seven to 14 days. If you don’t fulfill the conditions within the required time, you’ll lose any remaining bonus and all winnings associated with the bonus.

Free Spins Information

This information can be found in the terms and conditions. There’ll be a certain number of free spins, and they may be restrictions on which slots you can play to get the free spins.

Many casinos will allow a No Deposit – Free Spins. These are great for novice gamers who want to try them before buying in. Usually, a few spins are granted to new account holders so they can play for free. The winnings from these free spins will also be capped.

Deposit Requirements

When reading the terms and conditions for a bonus, check on the deposit requirements. Often bonuses will indicate that the bonus will only apply to deposits from a certain amount to a certain amount. For example, the minimum deposit may be NZ$15, and the maximum is NZ$15,000. If your deposit falls outside of these limits, the bonus won’t apply.

It’s important to note the currency in which the casino operates. In many cases, the values quoted are in US dollars, so the amount you see on the screen and the amount you need to deposit in NZ dollars will be different.

Promo Codes

Casinos will often run promotions or special events that attract bonuses explicitly designed for the event or promo that the casino is running. When this happens, the bonus will be advertised with a promo code. If you want to take advantage of the bonus, you must capture the promo code to activate it.

Promo codes aren’t interchangeable between one casino and another. They’re specific to one casino.

Top Tips for Maximum Bonus Wins

There isn’t a human alive that doesn’t enjoy getting something for nothing, but as the old saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch!”

You’re responsible for investigating the bonuses on offer and deciding which is the best for you.

Look at all the conditions that we’ve already listed concerning bonuses. Remember, a bonus may suit one person, but that doesn’t mean it’ll suit you.

Before signing up, assess all the factors:

• Maximum value and percentages: what’s the maximum you can win from this bonus, and what’s the multiplier percentage.
• Contributions by games: you must understand what games you can play and what is the contribution from each game. Often slots will contribute 100% of the wagered amount toward the bonus, but casino games and sports betting may only contribute a small percentage of each wager toward the bonus.
• No deposit-free spins: some casinos offer the opportunity to have some free spins without having to make a deposit. For novice gamers, this is a great way to try before buying in. Take note of the maximum you can win, though, as this is often capped at a pretty low amount.

Remember, to claim their bonus winnings, players must complete certain requirements:

Casino Bonuses by Software

The slots and casino games you play are provided by software providers specializing in developing games for the online casino industry.

Many casino promo offers and unique and exclusive bonuses are driven by the software providers rather than the casino itself. This makes it essential that the casino you choose to play at has the games supplied by top-class software providers to ensure a steady supply of new material and bonuses.

The software providers drive jackpots, especially progressive jackpots, based on multiple casinos.

Why Do Casinos Give Bonuses?

The answer to this question is simple: to attract and retain players. With the fierce competition in this segment of the economy, every player is a potential gold mine, so casinos offer attractive welcome bonuses to attract new players and ongoing promos and bonuses to retain their players.

Popular Terms and Conditions Explained

Terms and Conditions can be hard to understand. Below we provided 5 common terms and condition explanations, that online casinos use for bonus terms:

1. Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are conditions set by online casinos that tell how many times a player must bet the bonus money and free spins, before they can withdraw their winnings.

If a casino offers a $200 bonus with a 10x wagering requirement, the player must bet a total of $2000 ($200 x 10) on eligible games before they can withdraw any winnings gained from the bonus money.

The purpose of wagering requirements:

• Prevent immediate withdrawal of the bonus funds,
• Ensuring that players engage with the casino’s games
• Reducing the risk of financial loss.

2. Minimum Deposit

Minimum deposit is the smallest amount of money that a player is allowed to deposit into their online casino account in a single transaction. If an online casino has a minimum deposit requirement of $20, players can’t deposit amount less than the minimum deposit.

3. Game Restrictions

Game Restrictions are specific limitations placed on games regarding their eligibility for meeting bonus requirements or being played with bonus funds.

4. Maximum Bet Limit

The Maximum Bet Limit at online casinos is the highest bet amount that players can place while playing with bonus. This limit is a common condition in the terms and conditions of casino bonuses.

5. Time Limits

Time Limits are the duration within which players must use their bonuses or meet wagering requirements. These limits are set to encourage active play and manage the validity of promotional offers.

Responsible Gambling With Bonuses

Responsible gambling with bonuses involves using bonus play at online casinos while adhering to safe and controlled gambling practices. It means using casino bonuses without risking financial stability or mental well-being, setting clear limits on time and money spent, understanding the terms and conditions of bonuses, and avoiding chasing losses

What Is Bonus Abuse?

Bonus abuse is the practice of exploiting bonus offers without intending to engage in fair gameplay. It involves:

• Manipulating or violating the terms and conditions of bonuses,
• Creating multiple accounts to claim the same bonus,
• Using betting strategies that minimize risk just to clear wagering requirements,
• Other actions that go against fair play and the rules set by the casino.

Online casinos monitor such activities closely and will penalize players found guilty of bonus abuse – withdrawing their winnings and account suspension.

How To Avoid Being Labelled A Bonus Abuser?

To avoid being labeled a bonus abuser at online casinos, it’s important to follow the terms and conditions of the bonus offers and engage in fair gameplay. Here are 8 key practices to follow:

1. Read the Terms and Conditions: Before accepting any bonus, read the terms and conditions. Pay attention to wagering requirements, game restrictions, time limits, and any other rules associated with the bonus.
2. Create Only One Account: Casinos only allow one account per person. Creating multiple accounts to claim the same bonus more than once is bonus abuse.
3. Stick to Normal Betting Patterns: Avoid employing betting strategies that are designed to exploit bonuses for example – only betting big to meet wagering requirements quickly.
4. Do Not Only Play with Bonuses: Regularly play with your own deposited funds, not just with bonus money.
5. Avoid Minimal Risk Betting: Placing bets that cover a significant portion of the outcomes just to clear wagering requirements (like betting on both red and black in roulette) is going to be flagged as bonus abuse.
6. Respect Game Restrictions: Some games may be restricted when playing with bonus funds. Playing restricted games is considered a violation of terms.
7. Withdraw Responsibly: Making large withdrawals immediately after meeting wagering requirements will raise red flags. It’s better to continue normal gameplay even after meeting these requirements.
8. Communicate with Customer Support: If you’re unsure about any aspect of a bonus offer or your activities, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer support for clarification.

Do Bonuses Encourage Problem Gambling?

Bonuses at online casinos can encourage problem gambling in some individuals. Here’s how that can happen:

• Increased Playtime and Engagement: Bonuses come with wagering requirements that necessitate playing for a longer period or with more funds than a player might ordinarily intend to. This leads to increased time spent gambling.
• False Sense of Security: Free spins, no-deposit bonuses, or matched deposits create a false sense of security and reduced risk, encouraging players to make larger or more frequent bets.
• Chasing Losses: Bonuses can sometimes encourage players to chase losses in an attempt to meet wagering requirements or capitalize on bonus offers, leading to further gambling.
• Encouraging Continual Play: Regular bonuses or rewards for frequent play can incentivize players to gamble more often to qualify for these bonuses.
• Psychology of ‘Free’ Offers: ‘free’ money or spins can be strong and lead some individuals to gamble more than they would without such incentives.

Final Thoughts

Bonuses can be a great boon to the online gamer, or they can be a trap from which you struggle to escape.

Before accepting any bonus, ensure you understand all the terms and conditions associated with any bonus. If you can’t work it out from the text, contact customer support and ask questions until you understand. Also, check the wagering requirements and calculate how much you’ll have to wager before withdrawing your winnings.

If you’re satisfied with a bonus that’ll benefit your style of play and that you can meet the requirements, then go ahead and accept it.

References

New Zealand Gambling Commission

NZ Department of Internal Affairs

Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand

Safer Gambling Aotearoa

GambleAware