Simple Guide to Casino Bonuses
We need to preface this by saying that the bonuses offered by casinos will vary widely and not all may be listed here. We did our best to explain the most common casino bonuses both in online gaming and brick-and-mortar casinos, so you could get the most information possible, but we may have missed a bonus or two.
Free spins, free play, and comps are the most common casino bonuses you can gain by playing at the same casino month after month. Read on to discover all the details of the most common casino bonuses.
1. Free Play
The most common casino bonus, both when gambling online or in person, is free-play. Free play is when a casino offers you free money to play at their casino. This typically looks like free money when you sign up for an online casino (typically in the amount of $10 or less) or a reimbursement for your first losses when you play in a casino (and these reimbursements usually start around $200-$500).
In general, if you win with this free money online, you will need to deposit before you can withdraw anything—and it’s unlikely you’ll hit it big with the small amount offered to you anyway—but just in case. When gaming in a casino, you are only reimbursed for your losses, so if you win big, spending your first $200, you will not be eligible for the reimbursement.
Free play is common across all casinos, gaming websites, and is often found in sportsbooks and on poker sites. Just ensure you read the fine print before you get too excited, as this bonus usually requires a deposit, or for you to front money to play—it is not truly an offer of free money.
**Sometimes free play can be given as a deposit match (where the casino matches your deposit on their site) or as a reload bonus. In either case, you do have to spend money in order to receive these free play bonuses.
2. Free Spins (No-Deposit Bonuses)
Free spins are just what they sound like—free pulls (or button pushes) on a slot machine. While these are more common in online gambling, they can sometimes be found on casino floors in lieu of a welcome free-play bonus.
Free spins are generally straightforward, and one thing we like about them is that you aren’t usually required to put any money in the machines to use your free spins, but there are some exceptions.
3. Comps
Comps is short for “complimentary” and these bonuses are typically physical bonuses a casino gives you for playing. They can be things like free rooms, free food, and occasionally free show tickets. Comps are typically only found when you game physically at a casino, BUT there are a few famous casinos with online casinos that do let you transfer your online play into physical comps.
Unlike the two previous benefits, these are ones that tend to only come once you’ve played for a long time, so don’t be surprised when you don’t get these right after joining a site.
4. Free Gifts
Free gifts are disappearing in the majority of the casinos, but there are still a few places, both online and in-person, where you can receive free gifts for your play.
Free gifts are unique in that, unlike comps, you will have no say in the gift you receive. They are typically handed out at pre-appointed times, and the gift given changes every week. While online casinos may ship them to your home as a thanks for your repeated business, typically, you have to pick up your gifts from a brick-and-mortar casino, in person.
Some examples of gifts we’ve received over the years include dishware, scarves, figurines, and more. Typically, these gifts are branded with the casino brand, though this isn’t always the case. Like with comps, you have to be a regular player at a casino (and hold a player card of a certain status) in order to be eligible for the gifts.
5. Free Tournament Entry
This is one of the least common bonuses we see, but we do see them. Free tournament entry is more common in brick-and-mortar casinos, but can be seen in the occasional online casino.
To receive these bonuses, you’ll have to spend time playing one of the games the casino offers tournaments of. The most common games are slots and poker. After several hours of play, the casino may approach you and offer you free entry to one of their tournaments.
Generally, you’ll get to play for free and keep anything you win. With a free slot tournament entry, this is usually a good deal. Free poker tournament entry can also be a good deal, but we’ve found that this casino bonus varies widely. A free buy-in at an in-person casino can take you a long way; however, in an online environment, you may still be required to use your own money for a tournament, and the “free-tournament” just means the website waives the entry fee.
Either way, if you are offered one, don’t turn it down, but also don’t accept until you read the small print.
Should You Accept Casino Bonuses?
Overall, casino bonuses are one of the best parts of gambling. While it isn’t quite as fun as winning, it is something you can look forward to when you game regularly, and we do recommend accepting most casino bonuses.
Just remember, casino bonuses are usually only given to paying players and returning players at physical casinos. They also often have small print that you should read before you get too excited. Ensure you understand what you are accepting, and what you need to do to enjoy the bonus you’ve been given.
While many bonuses do require a deposit to utilize, ensure that you never pay to receive a bonus, as these are typically not legitimate. Never buy benefits from another player as bonuses like those mentioned in this article do not transfer. And, as always, if it sounds too good to be true—it is.
