Decoding the RNG: How Fair Are Online Casinos?
The digital entertainment landscape is rich and varied, with online casinos representing a significant component. In this sense, the question of fairness within these virtual...
The Ultimate Casino Bonus Guide for iGaming Operators
An online casino bonus guide for operators on ways to leverage bonus strategies for attracting new players, retaining existing ones, and preventing bonus abuse.
All online casinos rely on great game providers, web designs, targeted marketing, and SEO to catch potential players’ attention. But what should be the next step when the player has already landed on your platform?
Someone who came to your website to try his luck will be turned into a new player and then a loyal player if he gets what he wants as soon as possible. Having a solid online casino bonus strategy will help operators engage loyal players who genuinely love the game. To explore popular bonuses, plus useful tips that’ll help you to engage the right audience, let’s dive deeper into this insightful online casino bonus guide.
What are online casino bonuses?
Online casino bonuses are rewards that players receive from the casinos. Casinos’ history goes back to the 1600s, yet the first casino bonus was suggested in the mid-1900s by an operator who realized that offering just something extra could, in fact, attract more players. Since then, this method has become the most powerful tool in the gambling industry, engaging both new and existing players. Nowadays, almost every iGaming operator is using this psychological hook, called a casino bonus, to retain players worldwide.
Popular casino bonus types
Operators offer multiple online casino bonus types to engage players and retain the existing ones. Players, in turn, love attractive perks, so the bonus system is one of the main points they consider when looking for entertaining casinos. Casino bonus systems, from welcome bonuses to free spins, are designed to create a rewarding environment for players.
Welcome bonus
Welcome bonuses are among the most used bonus types. Otherwise called an online casino sign-up bonus, the mentioned bonus type is especially useful for low-budget players. It grants them the opportunity to wager at higher stakes with a lower initial investment. Because virtually all casinos leverage welcome bonuses, the ones who can’t afford them risk falling behind the competition. It is exactly this stage that defines the further partnership with the player.
Deposit bonus
After welcoming a player to your platform with a welcome bonus, an operator must quickly follow up with a deposit bonus offer. Depositing is what this game is about, and offering a deposit bonus may encourage players to deposit using their own money. An offer must be captivating. For example, “Double your fun! Deposit $100 and unlock an extra $100 in bonus cash!”
No deposit bonus
As the name itself suggests, no deposit bonus is a casino welcome offer players can avail of without making any deposits. This is a brilliant opportunity for players to start betting with zero initial investment and for casinos that need to stand out in a highly competitive market.
Special bonus
Some of the industry’s leading operators offer their players a selection of special bonuses. This includes everything like bonuses on popular holidays like New Year’s Eve and bonuses for special occasions like the signup anniversary of a player. Moreover, gambling operators who carry out thorough identity verification can also offer their users customized bonuses on their birthdays, which can greatly help enhance their loyalty rates.
Achievement and loyalty bonus
Providing both achievement and loyalty bonuses is an effective strategy for retaining players. Achievement bonuses will add excitement to the player’s gaming experience and will motivate them to keep playing. This will create a personal connection with a player, turning him into a loyal and long-term partner.
Continuously, after turning a simple player into a loyal one, the next step is to give loyalty bonuses offering rewards such as loyalty points, free spins, multipliers, or playing credits.
Cashback
Casino cashback bonuses are refunds intended to reward players a certain percentage of the lost amount for a specified period. Cashback rates differ from operator to operator, typically ranging from 15 to 25%. Rates also vary per game, so if you wish to provide this bonus, be sure to set out the details clearly in your terms.
Additionally, cashback bonuses can also be implemented by refunding players a certain percentage of their deposits each time they fill their balances on the operator’s website. These types of bonuses are another excellent strategy for attracting gambling enthusiasts, especially those who do not wish to spend much on the pastime. Cashback bonuses accomplish the main goal of online casino bonuses, providing players with an enhanced value quite well.
Free Spins
Free spins are among the best casino bonuses online gamblers love. This bonus type gives a brilliant chance to win without the risk of losing, just like in the case of no deposit-free spins. The amount of free trials is usually case-specific, meaning it can differ per casino, per game, and other circumstances. That’s why if you’re planning to offer your players free spins, you should define the terms transparently on your website.
Multiplier Bonuses
Multiplier Bonuses are pretty self-explanatory, as operators can give their players a boost in their games. This can be done either throughout the casino’s entire catalog of games or on a select few titles, which gives these types of bonuses a good degree of flexibility.
How to prevent abuse of casino bonuses & commissions?
Using casino bonuses to engage and retain players should not be a goal; it should be a strategy that, as an operator, you can use to attract real gambling nerds and prevent abuse of bonuses and commissions from bonus hunters. The bonus hunters are not into gambling. Their main purpose is to sign up, grab a bonus, and leave without further ado, thus taking the place of a real gambling nerd. So, before starting to implement online casino bonuses, it is vital to understand that casino bonuses must benefit the casino and not the contrary. Now, how do you make sure that the online casino bonus strategy will only benefit you?
Define minimum betting requirements
Wager requirements define how many times players must bet before they’re allowed to withdraw their winnings. Suppose a player gets a $100 welcome bonus upon signup, and the casino sets a 30x wagering requirement. This means that a player must bet $100 30 times to be able to have access to the bonus funds. So, players will already have engagement with your online casino before they can withdraw the available amount.
Set withdrawal minimums and limits
Implementing cashout minimums, especially throughout an initial period after a user’s signup, is another strategy that can help online casinos avoid bonus abusers and potential money laundering or terrorist financing risks. These minimums will ensure that players will have to play for a little while before being able to withdraw their money and leave the casino, which will encourage them to try your business’s bonus offers for an enhanced gambling experience instead of a quick financial gain. Integrating withdrawal limits throughout this period could also work, as limits can also encourage players to use the bonus funds for gambling. However, having artificial limitations for new users may dissuade some gamblers from registering at your casino.
Identify multi-accounts
Multi-accounting is a problem for many different industries, and iGaming is no exception. Creating multiple accounts is one of the most widespread tactics used by online casino bonus hunters to manipulate the systems of their targeted online casinos for bonus abuse. Specifically, players create multiple accounts to constantly avail of various perks, take tournaments with beginners while being an advanced player, bet on different outcomes in bookies, as well as circumvent account bans.
Operators who carry out detailed identity checks before accepting players will be less likely to face such issues. However, many advanced online casino bonus-hunting techniques may go a step further and utilize stolen or fake information to accomplish their goals. This can include stolen financial assets, which can lead to even greater losses for operators targeted by casino bonus abuse through chargebacks. Moreover, stolen information and financial assets are often utilized in various financial crimes, such as money laundering, further expanding the potential consequences of being targeted by casino bonus abusers.
Gambling firms that offer a more anonymous experience as part of their casino bonus strategy, on the other hand, are likely to be targeted by multi-account bonus abusers more frequently. Fortunately, identifying such users shouldn’t be too challenging if the operator has incorporated appropriate fraud prevention methods. Many points of data, such as a user’s IP address, browser and device fingerprints, and payment addresses, can be used to identify new duplicate accounts.
Prevent malicious affiliation
Players are not the only ones who employ unfair practices towards operators. There are common patterns of affiliates’ cheating, so it’s imperative to know how to avoid iGaming affiliate fraud as an operator. To get high commissions, fraudulent affiliates often create multiple fake accounts by registering with stolen IDs, delivering low-quality traffic to their operator partners, and artificially inflating their performance metrics as a result. The most effective solution to this problem is the partnership with only top-tier affiliates who strive to form long-term collaborations and make a name for themselves in the industry.
As you are already in the right place by reading this article, the best iGaming affiliates list is just a click away from you, with advanced filters at your disposal.
Transparency of casino bonus terms
Players should be well-versed in all the benefits they can claim, so transparency is key. Setting terms transparently also helps bypass bonus abusers because once they get to know your robust system, they’ll realize there’s no point in even trying to manipulate it.
Set out minimum betting requirements
It’s essential to state the minimum wager amount on your website so that players get an idea of how much they should invest for a start. Suppose a player receives a welcome bonus upon signup, he/she should know how the betting requirement is compared to the welcome bonus amount. In order to prevent casino bonus abuse, some casinos set a benchmark of x times or x amount to wager before players can claim the right to withdraw.
Define cashout limits
Casinos set withdrawal limits for a specified period in order to have better control over their finances, circumvent bonus hunters, and contribute to fighting money laundering. As an operator, make sure to be transparent, stating the cashout limits so that players have a better insight into what they should expect. Bonus abusers, in their turn, will not count on your casino as a good target for manipulations.
Set payment method limitations
Players should also have an understanding of payment method restrictions. Some payment methods are limited in terms of bonus availability. For instance, operators don’t usually provide casino bonuses to players who use electronic wallets for deposits and withdrawals.
Define the casino bonus timeframe
Last but not least, make sure to define the timeframe during which the provided casino bonus is effective. If bonuses are effective for a week, for example, make sure to state it clearly in your terms.
Bonuses are perks promoted to engage players and retain the ones that are already in play. As an operator, you should leverage bonuses and affiliate commissions wisely so that abusers have no idea of how to manipulate your system. You should state your bonus terms clearly, which will ensure a better introduction of players to your service and help keep bonus abusers away from your casino. When it comes to affiliates, leveraging robust casino affiliate management software and finding a professional affiliate manager will lay the foundation for starting off successfully.
FAQs
What are online casino bonuses?
Online casino bonuses are rewards that players receive from the casinos. This is the most powerful tool in the gambling industry, engaging both new and existing players. Nowadays, almost every iGaming operator is using this psychological hook, called a casino bonus, to retain players worldwide.
How to prevent abuse of casino bonuses & commissions?
Casinos can start by limiting bonuses to one per household or IP address, which reduces the chance of multiple accounts claiming the same offer.
Best online casino payment methods for 2025
Online casino payment methods have become a critical choice today. Explore the best options now!
