Best Casino Welcome Bonuses in Australia

The Best Australian Casino Welcome Bonuses – Online Casino Australia

Welcome to the best online casino Australia section! Find the best first deposit bonus casino from the list below.

1. Zoome Casino: 250% up to AU$ 2,500 + 250 Free Spins, Wagering 40 x Bonus
2. King Billy Casino: 250% up to AU$ 2,500 + 250 Free Spins, Wagering 30 x Bonus
3. Slotman Casino: 225% up to AU$ 5,000 + 150 Free Spins, Wagering 25 x (Deposit + Bonus) and 50 x Bonus
4. Horus Casino:  250% up to AU$ 1,500 + 125 Free Spins, Wagering 1 x (Deposit + Bonus)
5. JVSpin Casino: 200% up to AU$ 2,295 + 150 Free Spins, Wagering 35 x Bonus
6. Jettbet Casino: 450% up to AU$ 6,000 + 325 Free Spins, Wagering 30 x (Deposit + Bonus) or Highroller Bonus 450% up to AU$ 9,000 + 425 Free Spins, Wagering 40 x (Deposit + Bonus)
7. Snatch Casino: 450% up to AU$ 4,500 + 325 Free Spins, Wagering 35 x (Deposit + Bonus)
8. JeetCity Casino: 225% up to AU$ 10,000 + 180 Free Spins, Wagering 40 x Bonus
9. Betflare Casino: 250% up to AU$ 3,300 + 300 Free Spins, Wagering 40 x Bonus
10. iWild Casino: 550% up to AU$ 6,400 + 550 Free Spins, Wagering 35 x (Deposit + Bonus)

What Are Casino Welcome Bonuses?

A welcome package is a form of bonus online casinos use to improve their business and engage new players. A welcome bonus includes a bonus amount in cash, a match percentage value, and in most cases bonus free spins. To acquire them, casino players must make a deposit using their real cash via bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, etc.

However, the acquired bonus money and free spins winnings are not yours to withdraw immediately. Instead, your welcome casino bonus must be wagered and turned into real money you can pull out of a casino. Only bonus funds count towards your wagering requirements, and once you complete the rollover and pass the KYC you will be able to withdraw your real cash.

Definition and Overview

When it comes to casino bonuses, the most important thing to distinguish is the difference between bonus money and real money. Whenever you claim a bonus, online casinos will give you bonus cash once you deposit real cash, and you must complete the rollover requirements (wagering) to convert your bonus funds into real money and start withdrawing your winnings.

Other key aspects of every welcome bonus are the match percentage and the minimum deposit amount needed to claim it. You need to make a deposit in real cash to acquire a welcome package, and the match bonus value determines the amount of your bonus money.

The best welcome bonus casino will offer a lot of cash, anywhere from AU$ 2,000 to 5 Bitcoin, a lot of free spins, usually over 200, and player-friendly wagering requirements, set at 40 times the value of the bonus or lower.

Why Casinos Offer Welcome Bonuses

Deposit match bonuses for new casino players are designed to attract new patrons and give them something to play with right off the bat. All online casinos use welcome bonuses for marketing purposes and to boost players’ engagement and the online casino industry is packed with different welcome bonuses offered by online casinos from all across the world.

By giving us welcome bonuses, casinos improve their revenue and we spend more time playing casino games. Also, a player who receives a welcome bonus is more likely to continue making deposits long after he or she depletes the bonus funds, turning themselves from a casual random player into a regular and loyal customer.

Are Welcome Bonuses Worth It?

Good welcome bonuses are absolutely worth it, and bad ones are obviously not. This is a debatable topic, and the answer lies within casino bonus offers themselves. Worthy welcome bonuses include a high amount of bonus money (AU$2,000+), a lot of free spins (200+), low wagering requirements (40 x bonus value and lower), and plenty of time to resolve the wagering and convert the remaining bonus funds into real cash we can withdraw.

A generous welcome bonus casino may drastically improve your chances against online casinos, but only if the bonus is player-friendly. No worries, we will help you find the best online casino bonus and use your bonus funds most effectively, complete the rollover, and withdraw your winnings.

Types of Casino Welcome Bonuses

Online casinos offer several types of welcome bonuses. They all share some similarities, but also some differences as well, which is why it’s important to know them by heart. All sign-up bonuses serve the same purpose and principles, it’s how we handle them that makes a difference and creates a chance for massive casino wins. Let’s check them out one by one.

Sticky vs. Non-Sticky Deposit Bonuses

Sticky and non-sticky deposit bonuses often confuse people new to online casinos, but in reality, it’s a very simple division. As the name suggests, Sticky bonuses merge your bonus and real cash into one big pile and are sometimes called “wagering only” bonuses because you can’t withdraw your bonus cash even after you resolve the wagering requirements. However, you can still use it to place bets.

Likewise, non-sticky bonuses keep your bonus and real money separated at all times, and once you resolve the wagering you can withdraw your bonus cash like real money, if any remains. As a rule of thumb, you will always make bets with your real, previously deposited money first, and if you lose it you will start placing wagers with remaining bonus cash.

Pros and Cons of Sticky and Non-Sticky Bonuses

• Sticky bonuses tend to be more generous, and they award large sums of money before you even begin to play
• Sticky bonuses offer bonus cash you can’t withdraw, and it’s for wagering purposes only
• Sticky bonuses are usually used by high rollers and players with big bankrolls and a lot of assets to plan with
• Non-sticky bonuses usually carry lower values and are less complicated to handle
• Non-sticky bonuses can be withdrawn anytime, but if you do so before completing the rollover you lose the bonus cash
• Non-sticky bonuses are frequently used by casual players with average and smaller bankrolls

Match Deposit Bonuses

This is the most frequent welcome bonus on the planet. It consists of a match percentage and the maximum bonus value, for example, 100% up to AU$ 1,000. The match percentage shows how much bonus cash the casino will give to us upon our first deposit, in this case, if we deposit AU$ 100 the casino will award us with a 100% match offer, or another AU$ 100.

On the other hand, the maximum bonus value shows the upper limit of a particular bonus. In our example, if a player deposits AU$ 1,500, the casino will award that player with AU$ 1,000, since a full match offer of 100% would break the upper limit of AU$ 1,000. So, that player would end up with AU$ 1,500 of real deposited money, and additional AU$ 1,000 bonus cash.

Free Spin Bonuses

Alongside match deposit bonuses, free spins bonuses are the most frequent casino incentive for first-time depositors. A welcome bonus will almost always include a batch of free spins, anywhere from 20 to 500, but like everything else that’s free in online casinos, they come with a caveat.

The first one is rollover requirements, and all winnings made from bonus free spins must be wagered. The average multiplier is 40 times the winnings, but this can go as low as 25, or 60 in casinos with unfavourable rules and conditions. So, if you claim 100 free spins and win AU$ 100 in total, you have to wager AU$ 4,000 on average to withdraw your funds.

The second limitation is a winning limit, which casinos sometimes impose on free spins acquired via welcome bonuses. Online casinos want to protect themselves against huge winnings made on bonus spins, which is also why jackpot pokies can’t be played with awarded free spins in almost all online casinos. On top of that, free spins are given in daily batches of 20 to 50, depending on the bonus, and each free spin has a minimum value, frequently set between AU$ 0,10 and AU$ 0,30.

Lastly, free spins acquired via welcome bonuses have designated pokies they can be played on. Most casinos try to select really good pokies with decent RTP (95% to 96%), but in most cases, casinos will hesitate to allow free spins to be used on pokies with high RTP, like 97,5% or higher.

No Deposit Bonuses

A no-deposit bonus is probably the best casino sign-up bonus in terms of popularity. It’s a simple proposition, since players are more than eager to get something for free, and online casinos use no-deposit bonuses to attract new customers with small incentives that serve as a perfect promotional asset.

In most instances, a no deposit bonus will include a small number of free spins, anywhere from 5 to 20, a small bonus cash reward, like AU$ 10 or AU$20, or a Free Bet bonus for sports betting worth usually from AU$ 5 to AU$ 20. To get a no-deposit bonus players must open a casino account, verify their information, claim an exclusive promotion via newsletter or social networks, and in some cases, players get awarded for successfully inviting other people to a particular casino, or when they write a positive casino review on a frequently visited website.

However, online casinos are not run by fools and no-deposit bonuses are quite rare and severely limited, not just in terms of value. After all, a casino must make a profit and giving no-deposit bonuses with favourable terms would be financially suicidal. This is why no-deposit bonuses offered to new players as a welcome bonus tend to have extremely severe wagering requirements (60 x bonus up to 100 x bonus) and strictly capped winnings, usually between AU$ 50 and AU$ 100. Any winnings above that threshold made by a no-deposit bonus fund are kept by the casino.

No-deposit bonuses often come with bonus codes you must enter in a designated box during depositing, and it is possible to claim many no-deposit bonuses over some time, not just during signing up.

Free Bet Bonuses

Free Bet welcome bonuses are usually a part of a sports welcome bonus. Sportsbook players will receive a relatively small amount of bonus cash compared to casino bonuses, most often AU$ 150 to AU$ 300, and some Free Bet cash to use on different betting markets. Free Bet amount varies and we saw casinos with an AU$ 5 Free Bet, going all the way up to AU$ 50.

Free Bets are awarded to new players during the sign-up period, but it is not uncommon to get Free Bet bonuses multiple times during promotional periods. Like all casino bonuses, Free Bets also come with rules and limitations. They can exclusively be used in particular sports events, and sometimes players can split their Free Bet offer into several bets, but they all must be wagered at once.

Betting markets open to Free Bet wagers are all marked with a distinguished “FB” sign to signal players they can use their Free Bets. Likewise, Free Bets often come with wagering requirements and capped winning limits and scoring astronomical wins is impossible even with ludicrous betting odds. However, it is still free money players get from casinos and the popularity of Free Bets is extremely high, with online casinos benefiting from increased revenue, more time-play and players’ increased loyalty.

Cashback Bonuses

Although quite rare, cashback bonuses are a viable and for some players a desired form of welcome bonus. Instead of getting a lot of free money from the casino upon registration, some players prefer to receive a portion of their losses accumulated over seven days in most instances.

A cashback percentage usually sits between 10% and 25%, but players who elevate to high VIP or loyalty levels can get much better deals. In fact, some casinos offer cashback bonuses exclusively to VIP players, or high-roller players making a substantial first deposit.

The casino will determine what type of casino games are included in the cashback, and pokies are the obvious choice due to low RTP. But, there are online casinos out there offering cashback bonuses exclusively for live casino games, or they allow players to accumulate losses on multiple gambling verticals such as pokies, table games, and live dealer games.

The best casinos will offer you cashback without the wagering requirements, but they constitute a minority. Most likely, you will get a cashback bonus with wagering significantly lower than a cash welcome bonus, or a wagering set at average value.

High Roller Bonuses

High Roller bonuses are designed for players with big bankrolls, they require significant deposit amounts and are quite common in the online gambling industry. They are highly desirable due to their immense cash values, sometimes breaking the AU$ 5,000 limit split between several deposits.

High roller welcome bonuses share most of the terms and conditions with regular welcome packages, but some differences exist. Most importantly, a high roller bonus will have a much higher minimum deposit limit, so instead of depositing AU$ 30 players must pay AU$ 300, or even AU$ 1,000 per deposit bonus.

Another change introduced concerns the maximum betting amount. While normal welcome bonuses usually have a limit of AU$ 7,5 per bet, high roller bonuses raise that limit anywhere from AU$ 15 to AU$ 30, allowing big ballers to wager higher amounts on each hand or spin. As for wagering, it’s an open game. High roller bonuses can have the same wagering as regular welcome bonuses, higher or even lower – depending on the casino involved.

Rakeback Bonuses

Rakeback bonuses give players some of their money back, but they do so using different mechanics and percentages than cashback bonuses. Rakeback, rebate or refund, is a bonus often confused with cashback and it’s an honest mistake due to their rules and nature.

A cashback bonus will let players claim some of the money they lost playing casino games. Conversely, a rakeback bonus awards players with a percentage of their bets made in a particular game. So, to get a high cashback bonus a player must lose a lot of money, and to get a big rakeback a player must wager a lot of cash.

High-volume players and those interested in fast-paced games with frequent bets and hands can benefit the most from a good rakeback bonus. For a casual player with short game sessions, a cashback is a better deal since it recovers a percentage of lost assets, while high rollers and frequent bettors may benefit more from a rakeback bonus. The rakeback percentage varies and ranges from 5% to 30% in most casinos.

How to Claim a Casino Welcome Bonus

There is more than one way to claim a welcome offer. Below are the most frequent examples, but you can run into fantastic casino deals via social media. However, the simplest way to get a welcome bonus is to sign up at a casino and open a new account.

Steps to Sign Up

• Visit the casino you like and check if there is a button or a banner for instant bonus access, usually listed in the “Promotions” section or homepage
• Press the bonus button and take it from there – enter your personal info, create your casino account, and make a minimum deposit or more. The welcome bonus will be assigned automatically as soon as you confirm your account via email or phone
• If you can’t access the welcome bonus directly, press the “Register” or “Sign In” button on the casino’s homepage
• Type in your data, address, email, phone number, currency, and country and select a currency
• Tick all the boxes and use the confirmation code sent to your email address or phone
• At this point, some casinos will automatically offer you to choose from the bonuses available, select a welcome bonus offer and proceed to the Depositing page, or Cashier
• If you are not offered a welcome bonus during the registration process, once you open your casino account go to the My Bonuses section and select the welcome package from the list
• Make a minimum deposit or more and your welcome bonus will be awarded automatically
• If there is a promo code involved, type in the welcome bonus promo code during depositing, or when a casino allows you to do it during registration
• Claiming a welcome bonus is optional, and you can refuse all casino offers presented during the sign-up period
• Some welcome bonuses can be acquired only after you make your first successful deposit, or even spend your deposited real money. If so, use the procedure described above right after you deplete your real money balance
• At any moment, if any problems arise, or your bonus is not credited after a successful deposit, you can contact the live chat support

Verifying Your Account (KYC)

In most instances, verifying your casino account is a two-step procedure. First, you will have to confirm your casino account by clicking the confirmation link or code number sent to you via email or a smartphone. This is done after you fill out the questionnaire during the registration process.

Once you have created and confirmed your casino account, you can acquire welcome and other casino bonuses. However, most online casinos will not let you withdraw any money until you resolve the KYC procedure (Know Your Customer). Also, KYC can be mandatory once you reach a certain deposit or winning threshold, sometimes set at AU$ 3,000, or 2,000 Euros or American dollars.

The majority of licensed and regulated online casinos are forced to do KYC verification to comply with international laws against money laundering, terrorism financing, and other criminal activities such as tax evasion. To resolve your KYC, you must prove your identity and physical address, and some casinos also demand proof of your income.

Our advice is to prepare all necessary documents in advance and send them to the casino support team as soon as you start to play games. That way, you will avoid unnecessary stress and complications once you decide to withdraw your winnings. Below is the list of the documents needed, and online casinos have the right to call you up via phone or Skype, or ask for a selfie of you holding a relevant document.

• Proof of identity: Valid ID, passport, driver’s license, etc.
• Proof of address: Ownership contracts, utility bills, rental agreements, etc.
• Proof of income: Bank statement, proof of employment, payment screenshot, copies of credit cards, inheritance documents, etc.

Entering Bonus Codes

Sooner or later, you will run into a welcome bonus with a code consisting of capital letters and numbers. They are called welcome bonus deposit codes, or welcome bonus promo codes, and they must be entered in a designated box during bonus acquisition, most often when you are depositing real money needed to claim your welcome offer.

Bonus codes are introduced by casinos for several reasons. They are a powerful promotional tool for exclusive or regular casino offers and promotions, and they help casinos keep track of issued bonuses and casino members’ activity.

In most cases, bonus codes are attached to exclusive offers and time-limited bonus offers, but this is not a rule written in stone. Suppose you want to claim as many bonuses as possible, especially rare bonuses with promo codes. In that case, it’s best to subscribe to the casino newsletter and follow the casino on social media, if any, and you’ll be among the first to know about it.

How to Compare Casino Welcome Bonuses

When deciding which welcome bonus is better, casino reviewers resort to many variables, rules, and terms and conditions. It is a difficult and meticulous process since the bonus amount is not the only reference point when determining the quality of a particular casino welcome offer.

The most important aspects of each welcome bonus are listed below, and they all work in connection with one another. Just because one bonus has a value of AU$3,000, and the other AU$1,000, it doesn’t mean the former is necessarily better, on the contrary.  The latter can be a better deal IF it is accompanied by a higher match percentage, player-friendly wagering requirements, a favourable wagering contribution system, and a longer period to resolve the rollover. And then, there are those pesky winning limitations, which bring us to the following topic.

Match Percentage and Bonus Caps

A match percentage determines your bonus value concerning your initial deposit. A welcome bonus of 100% up to AU$1,000 will give you 100% of your first deposit, up to the limit of AU$1,000, so depositing AU$1,500 will result in the following: the casino will grant you AU$1,000 bonus cash, and in case of a sticky bonus you will have AU$2,500 total on your account.

The higher the match percentage – the better!

On the other hand, if you claim a non-sticky bonus you will have a AU$1,500 real money balance, and AU$1,000 on your bonus balance. The real money will be used first, and after you deplete it you can place wagers using bonus assets. As described above, none is inherently better than the other, it all depends on how you plan to use them.

Bonus caps are enforced by a lot of casinos and they can be quite annoying for those lucky few who had the chance to score big casino wins. Simply put, casinos introduced bonus caps to secure themselves from massive losses if a player gets lucky during bonus wagering.

Some casinos have a bonus cap equal to 10 x bonus value, so if a player claims AU$ 1,000 bonus, he or she can win a maximum of AU$ 10,000 during that particular bonus wagering period. Some casinos go even further, limiting bonus wins to truly low amounts such as AU$1,500.

Welcome Bonus Wagering Requirements

Wagering, or rollover, is a gambling mechanism designed to protect casinos by preventing bonus users from zero-risk profiteering. All players must wager the bonus before making withdrawals, and the average wagering requirement is 40 times your deposit or bonus value and 40 times your free spins winnings. That means you must place bets worth 40 times your bonus before you can withdraw any money, and wager 40 times your winnings claimed via bonus free spins.

But here’s the kicker: some casinos have a bonus wagering of 30 x your bonus value AND your initial deposit. A player depositing AU$ 100 and getting another AU$ 100 bonus cash will have to wager a whopping AU$ 6,000 (30 x (100+100)) before he or she can withdraw any money.

During the wagering period, almost all casinos impose a maximum bet limit, usually AU$ 7.5 or 5 Euros per bet, while awarded bonus free spins are set to their minimum value, around AU$ 0.20 per spin. Needless to say, all casinos prevent players from using zero-risk strategies and other cheats to complete the rollover super fast and with no real risk to their bankroll.

The best example of a forbidden, near zero-risk strategy, is placing AU$ 2.5 on both red and black in a game of European Roulette. That way, if a ball lands in any roulette pocket apart from the green zero (a chance of only 2,7%), let’s say red, a player’s lost (black) and won bets (red) cancel each other and a player wins no money during that spin, but the total wagered amount is AU$ 5.

Wagering is the necessary evil casinos must deploy to comply with the anti-money-laundering laws and prevent the financing of criminals and terrorists. Even the best casino will impose wagering requirements on welcome bonuses, and if you find a casino with no wagering tied to the welcome package, you will most likely be forced to wager all your deposits one-time minimum before you can withdraw them from the casino.

Tips to Meet Wagering Requirements

First of all, you must find a game you love, enjoy, and have a relatively high RTP. This is to secure your bankroll in the long run. Afterwards, focus on wagering contribution (WC) and find a game with the highest percentage possible.

Pokies: this is a no-brainer, just find a pokie you can wager your bonuses on, and make sure it has the highest RTP among other allowed games.

Table games: Blackjack and Baccarat have the highest RTP of all table games, so finding a casino with a good WC for those games is a good start. Never play American roulette, instead focus on European and, if possible, French variants, due to higher RTP.

Video poker: These games are not 100% based on chance and veteran players can exploit their mechanics, which is why video poker has relatively low WC, if any. Find a casino with the highest WC for video poker games.

Live casino games: When you find a casino that allows bonus wagering on live casino games, make sure to pick a website with your favourite games. Again, Blackjack and Baccarat are the best in terms of RTP, but sometimes casinos let players go for live game shows, where WC can reach a whopping 50%.

Instant-win games: This is also a valid choice, but only if the WC is 50% or more. Games like scratch cards, Bingo, Keno, Crash games, etc., are as good as their wagering contribution.

Wagering Contribution

This is another crucial, yet sometimes forgotten characteristic of every casino offer. In short, wagering contribution  (WC) represents the percentage of your every bet that contributes toward your wagering requirements.

Let’s say you claim the AU$ 100 bonus with a wagering of 40 x. That means you must wager AU$4,000 before making any withdrawals. Now, the casino has a 100% wagering contribution on pokies, 10% on table games, and 0% on live casino games. What is your next move?

Some players will hit pokies and exploit the maximum WC percentage (100%). For every AU$ 1 they place on pokies, they will get AU$ 1 closer to the fulfilment of rollover. However, pokies have very low RTP compared to other casino games, and they bring additional risk to players, which is why casinos are biased towards them.

Other players will wager bonuses on table games, against computers, because that way they can exploit their expertise, skills, and memory against the casino. The casino’s countermeasure is much lower WC, and every AU$ 1 bet placed on table games counts as only AU$ 0,10 (10%) towards the wagering (in this case AU$ 4,000).

Finally, in this hypothetical situation, a player has the option to play live casino games, but all bets placed on live dealer games do not count towards wagering requirements (WC 0%).

Eligible Games

Eligible games can be played using our bonus funds during the wagering period, and it is important to know what casino games contribute towards the rollover and in what amount. Not all games can be played with your bonus cash, and a casino may restrict or hinder some games depending on the risk involved.

Pokies are, by far, the most eligible type of casino game bonus-wise, because pokies are the most reliable when it comes to projected casino wins and losses, which is why casinos force players to play them. At the same time, pokie machines are the worst type of casino games for players and they offer the lowest RTP (return to player percentage).

Table games (cards, dice, wheels, etc.) are commonly accepted for wagering, but they carry very low wagering contributions, usually between 5% and 20%. Sometimes, you will be allowed to wager bonuses on table Blackjack and Roulette, but not on games of Baccarat.

Video poker games are sometimes banned from bonus wagering, and some casinos are quite generous and allow players to wager bonuses with a WC of 20%.

Live casino games are the most peculiar in this regard. Sometimes they are allowed to be played with bonus cash, but the wagering contribution is set low, from 5% to 20%, but a lot of casinos simply restrict them for bonus play and you can face live dealers exclusively with real deposited cash.

Bonus Expiry Periods

All types of online casino bonuses have expiry dates and welcome packages are no exception. When a bonus expires, and a player has not resolved the wagering requirements, his bonus cash will be abandoned and written off the player’s bankroll. Additionally, bonuses have a claiming period, measured in days, in which you must acquire the bonus or it will be deleted from the casino offer.

The rules about bonus validity are simple and intuitive: the longer – the better. If a casino allows you to wager a bonus in two weeks, it is a better option than being forced to do it in seven days or less. As a rule of thumb, casino bonuses have shorter lifespans than sports welcome bonuses, usually up to 7, 10, 14, or 30 days. Sportsbook bonuses tend to be longer, and players have from one to two months to complete the rollover.

Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions

Before investing your time and money into a casino, please read the casino’s terms and conditions, as well as bonus terms and conditions, since they often hold important information written in small print. Below are the most important rules and limitations you must pay attention to when choosing your online casino and welcome bonus.

Country-based Limitations

Not all casino welcome bonuses are available to all players worldwide, and it’s crucial to pick a casino that allows players from your country to enjoy all bonuses and benefits. Sometimes, a casino will entirely ban players from a particular country, and in other instances, it will prevent residents of certain countries from claiming particular bonuses, incentives, VIP Programs, etc.

Maximum Bonus Wagering Requirements

This is extremely important and you should always keep an eye on your wagering progress. Until you resolve them, you are unable to withdraw any money you won.  And remember, if a bonus offer is missing some vital information regarding wagering, maximum wins, etc., bonus T&Cs apply to every bonus offer, until stated otherwise.

Withdrawal Limits

Every online casino has daily, weekly, and monthly withdrawal limits, and this rule goes beyond welcome bonuses. If you happen to claim a welcome offer without a winning limit, you should pay attention to general withdrawal limits that are superior to bonus terms and conditions, unless stated otherwise.

The best welcome bonuses have no winning cap and you can claim all your winnings made during bonus wagering, provided they are not clashing with your maximum withdrawal limits as presented in the Terms and Conditions. It is hard to evaluate the average withdrawal threshold, but it is safe to say that a lot of online casinos allow monthly withdrawals up to AU$ 45,000.

Another thing to consider is joining the VIP or Loyalty program that rewards high-tier players with faster banking and bigger withdrawal limits. Players with a high VIP status can get unlimited withdrawals, while some casinos allow even regular players to withdraw AU$150,000 per month, although this is quite rare.

Restrictions on Eligible Games

As described above, some games like jackpot pokies are entirely restricted for bonus play, and some casinos go even further, limiting other games as well when a player has an active bonus. Check the TCs to see what games you can play during the wagering period, and never settle for anything but the best. Your priority is to feel good and enjoy the games you play, and there is no such thing as an unhappy winner.

Payment Methods for Claiming Bonuses

Popular Deposit Options

Not so long ago, the most popular payment methods when claiming a welcome bonus during the first deposit were credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, etc.) and bank transfers. Nowadays, cards are slowly fading away, leaving room for e-wallets, e-vouchers, and cryptocurrencies.

Bank transfers are still the most commonly accepted withdrawal method, but a lot has changed over a few decades. Ever since mobile casinos became the main gambling platform for online casinos, players have migrated to more modern payment methods, offering superior speed, privacy, and security.

Fastest Withdrawal Methods

Without any doubt, depositing and withdrawing with cryptocurrencies and e-wallets is the fastest and most discrete way of doing any online casino business. Sadly, not all casinos support cryptos, but most of them accept diverse payment methods, including e-wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter, etc.

Pros and Cons of Welcome Bonuses

Now, to conclude, let’s talk about all the benefits and drawbacks of welcome bonuses. Obviously, the benefits greatly surpass the potential drawbacks, but in the end, it is all up to the player. Remember, bonus acquisition is entirely optional and you are not forced to claim any bonuses, including a welcome package.

Benefits of Casino Welcome Bonuses

• Provides initial funds for extended casino play and boosts your bankroll right from the start
• Improves your chances of winning big prizes, and gives you more wagering maneuver
• Affects your casino loyalty and gets you closer to VIP and additional perks
• Using free spins opens the possibility of scoring different rewards and prizes

Potential Drawbacks to Watch For

• Fulfilling the wagering requirements can consume your time, cash, and nerves
• If the bonus expires before you resolve the rollover, you lose your bonus funds
• Welcome bonuses may have limitations regarding maximum wins, restricted games, etc.
• Combining bonuses is not allowed, and you can’t claim other bonuses with an active welcome bonus

How to Find the Best Casino First Deposit Bonus

Here’s a short guide on how to choose your first deposit bonus. Follow the steps and consult this text during bonus acquisition and your search for the best deposit bonus casino, and do not hesitate to contact the casino’s customer support if you need more information regarding bonuses and terms and conditions.

Searching for Online Casinos

• Find a licensed, regulated, and safe online casino with positive customer reviews
• Big, famous companies like Dama N.V. are known for lucrative bonuses, try finding online casinos with a long and rewarding business policy
• New online casinos often have exclusive promotions and big bonuses to attract new customers, check them out
• Crypto casinos also have incredible welcome bonuses, sometimes going up to 5 Bitcoin
• Go for casinos with diverse gaming libraries and little to no restrictions game-wise
• Fast live chat support is always a plus
• Opt for a casino that supports your frequently used payment methods

Comparing Casino Welcome Offers

• Bigger bonus value is not the only criterion, sometimes a casino sign up bonus with lower values have better terms and conditions
• Low wagering is an incredibly important asset, do not claim welcome bonuses with extremely steep wagering
• Pick a bonus with an acceptable wagering contribution for the types of games you are interested in
• Find a bonus you can use on your favourite casino games
• Make a fair estimate of how much time you need to resolve the wagering, and go for bonuses with extended longevity
• Try to claim bonuses without winning limitations, and do the same with free spins bonuses

Reviewing Bonus Terms & Conditions

• Only play in casinos that fully support your country, payment methods, and currencies
• Check if players from your country can claim all bonus offers
• Claim a casino deposit bonus with a maximum bet that fits your gaming plans
• If you plan to stay at a casino for a long time, find one with a rewarding VIP or Loyalty club
• If you are a high roller, find a casino with big withdrawal limits, or join the VIP
• T&Cs are sometimes more important than the bonus cash – only play at casinos that are not limiting your gambling experience

Conclusion: What is the Best Casino Welcome Bonus?

The best casino bonuses offer high cash value (AU$ 3,000+), low wagering requirements (40 x bonus or lower), a good wagering contribution system (pokies 100%, live casino 25%+, table games and live game shows 50%, video poker 20%+, instant-win games 50% up to 100%), an acceptable minimum bet (AU$ 7,5+), plenty of time to resolve the rollover (14 days+), and no winning limitations whatsoever.

In addition, the casino should be licensed, regulated, and safe to play, paired with fast 24/7 live chat support and diverse banking. Accepting fiat and cryptocurrencies, and deposits and withdrawals via credit cards and e-wallets, is also a huge benefit. As for sticky and non-sticky bonuses, they are entirely left to players’ discretion, but as a rule of thumb sticky bonuses are better for high rollers and non-sticky for casual players.

It may sound complicated, but finding the best, big welcome bonus is not difficult at all once you know what to look after. For starters, you can check some of our best welcome bonuses and find the one that best suits your gambling style. If that doesn’t help, use this article step by step and calculate what welcome bonuses would most significantly improve your odds of winning.

FAQ

• What are casino welcome bonuses?

  A welcome bonus offer is an incentive given to new casino players, usually when they make an initial deposit. The welcome package consists of a match bonus value and online casino free spins, depending on the casino, and you can claim a welcome bonus only once when you open your casino account.

• Are welcome bonuses only for new players?

  Yes, casino welcome bonuses are intended to attract new customers and first-time depositors. Once your online casino sign up bonus is resolved, and players meet the wagering requirements, they can’t use the bonus anymore.

• Can welcome bonuses be used for live games?

  Yes and no, it entirely depends on the online casino in question and top online casinos allow casino signup bonuses to be used in live casino games. However, even the best online casino welcome bonus will still have a wagering contribution limit applied to live dealer games, usually set at 5% to 20% of every bet.

• What is the minimum deposit for a welcome bonus?

  Sign-up deposit bonuses have different minimum deposits, depending on the online casino sites, and they usually range from AU$ 15 to AU$ 30. Some exclusive welcome bonuses are intended for high rollers and to claim the welcome bonus players must make a minimum deposit of anywhere from AU$ 100 to AU$ 500 or more.

• Do welcome bonuses have expiry dates?

  Yes, every online casino bonus has an expiry date, and so do casino sign-up bonuses. Read the bonus T&Cs to see how much time you have to claim a casino deposit bonus, and how many days you have to resolve the wagering requirements and convert your bonus cash into real money you can withdraw.