Over 19 million Canadians regularly gamble online — and the generous bonuses online casinos offer have a lot to do with that.
Are you new to online gambling? Watch out! Don’t take the bonuses you see sprawled all over a Canadian online casino at face value. Always take the time to read the fine print to get the most out of them.
Here’s how.
What Types of Bonuses Do Online Casinos Usually Offer Canadian Players?
The bonuses online casinos offer Canadians can sometimes seem so generous that it feels like you’ve won the jackpot before you even wager a bet. Curious what’s available? Not every online casino has the same bonuses, so try to look for casinos that offer the quality and game variety you’re after while also ticking as many bonus boxes as possible.
Important: Offshore casinos aren’t allowed to advertise to Canadians, even though they can play, so they won’t present you with their bonus packages right off the bat. You’ll have to look for them, but they’re definitely available.
#1 Welcome Bonuses
Because online casinos want to do everything they can to attract new players, welcome bonuses are almost ubiquitous. There are two types.
First-deposit bonuses are the most common, and they mean the casino matches a percentage of your first deposit up to a certain amount. For example, Bluffbet Casino and 888 Casino both offer 100% first-deposit bonuses, up to $750 and $1,000, respectively. So, if you deposit $500, the Canadian online casino will match it. Some Canada-friendly casinos, like N1 Casino and Ruby Fortune, also offer second- and third-deposit bonuses.
Then there are no-deposit bonuses—typically worth a token amount like $5, but still nice. That’s yours to gamble without doing anything for it.
#2 Free Spins
Free spins on popular slots are another common welcome offer, but they’re also part of many casinos’ regular promotions. For example, Lucky Ones currently offers 500 free spins, Winsane 150, and BetPlays 750.
#3 Reload Bonuses
These aren’t welcome bonuses, but they’ll help you evaluate whether to play at an online casino. Reload bonuses periodically give you a nice little boost when you make a deposit, but the frequency with which this happens varies greatly.
#4 Loyalty Programs
Online casino loyalty programs reward Canadians who play often, and they can include cash, credits, or prizes. In some cases, they’re framed as leaderboard incentives, which can add a competitive touch.
#5 High-Roller Bonuses
As the name suggests, high-roller bonuses are bonuses for making large deposits. They might also have lower wagering minimums or higher match bonuses.
#6 Referral Bonuses
Online casinos often give players who invite friends to join a nice kickback. It’s a win-win for you, your friends, and the casino, especially since it becomes a form of advertising for them. Offshore casinos aren’t allowed to advertise to Canadians (even though they’re usually welcome to play), so referral bonuses are an incentive to get more Canadians playing.
How to Evaluate a Good Bonus Offer
If the free spins and other bonuses make your head spin, keep a cool head. There’s always fine print, and you need to know about it — so read it, or if you’re not sure, reach out to the online casino’s live chat support.
Are you a Canadian who’s new to online casinos? Always watch out for these common drawbacks as you decide how good a bonus offer really is:
- Welcome bonuses often have limitations on how often you need to bet the bonus amount before you can withdraw your winnings. Expect restrictions on the games you can use the bonus amount for, too.
- Free spins are usually limited to certain (low-payout) slots and expire quite quickly. Check that!Reload bonuses come with wagering requirements and minimum deposits. Make sure you know what they are.High-roller bonuses incentivize you to deposit more than you were planning to, so watch out for that. They might also give you access to VIP events, which can be exciting.
You can calculate the bonus amount by dividing the bonus percentage by the amount of required wagers. For instance, if the online casino’s welcome bonus is 100% and you need to bet 20 times to withdraw the resulting winnings, the actual bonus is 5% of your deposit.
Final Tips
Don’t be dazzled by generous bonuses, and do the work to find out what the actual value of the bonuses you’ll find at Canadian and Canada-friendly online casinos is first. Look for casinos with lower wagering minimums and play games you already enjoy with high contribution rates.
Most of all, use the bonuses online casinos offer to decide where to play, but don’t let them dictate how much and how often you gamble. Be strategic about it, and get cozy with the casino’s terms and conditions to understand what you’re actually entitled to.
