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Casino Bonuses: The Latest Scam-free Welcome Offers, Free Spins and More

Lead Author: Nicholas Crouch
Last Update: 13/03/2024
The online casino market has become saturated and competition is getting fiercer. In order to attract customers, most sites use the all-popular welcome bonus offer. By offering casino bonuses, sites hope players will stay loyal to come. Weekly and monthly bonuses can be nice incentives for gamers to stay loyal. However, online casino gambling is illegal in South Africa. This information is provided in case legislation should change. It is important to look at the amount available, but it is probably more important for you to pay attention to the terms attached to each offer.

We will be looking at what makes a great welcome bonus, and comparing what is currently on offer. By taking into account not just the amount, but also the terms and conditions attached to the deals, we will see whether the offers are as good as they first appear. It is important to know exactly what you are signing up for and not just go for the big numbers that could just be a scam. Below, you can see the criteria that we use to rate a casino bonus.

Overview of the Best Online Casino Bonuses

Choosing a Casino Bonus

When picking a bonus, ensure it has fair terms and conditions, especially the wagering requirements.

Bonus Criteria

It’s very easy to get swept up in eye popping numbers when it comes to choosing your welcome bonus, but there are many other points you need to take into account to make sure that the deal is as good as it says and is not a scam. Firstly, and most importantly, is the casino itself a good casino?

You need to know that the casino you’re investing your money in is a serious and experienced provider that prides itself on having a good reputation. Here at scams.info we will make sure that all the casinos we recommend have been tested thoroughly.

Criteria for a Good Welcome Bonus

The first way to check whether the casino is honest and trustworthy is to make sure that it is licenced with the appropriate bodies. You should be looking to see that the company is licenced by the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) or equivalent, and in South Africa you should be checking to see that it is licenced by an approved regulatory body. This will ensure that the company has been vetted thoroughly, and they are answerable to these governing bodies who are there to protect you from bad casinos and scam sites. Also, the casino needs to be clear and transparent with all the terms attached to the bonus. There should be easy access to the appropriate T&Cs so you can make an informed decision before you deposit your money.

Bonus Amount – How to Find a Big Casino Bonus

When it comes to finding a suitable casino bonus for your play style, there are a few things to look for. First, you should look at the bonus amount. The first thing you should look at is the percentage match. Most casino bonuses will match 100% of your first deposit (R20 deposit will give you a R20 bonus), however, some casinos will give you a 200% match (R20 will give you a R40 bonus). Obviously a larger percentage match means that you will get the most bang for your buck, but before you blindly accept the largest number you find, you should look at the deposit and wagering requirements of your chosen bonus.

With any of the best casino bonuses, you should be able to choose the size of the bonus you want to play with. So, although a site may offer a R200 casino signup bonus, players have the option to play with a R20 or R50 offer. One may wonder why they should accept a smaller bonus. The reason is, almost all online casino bonus offers are subject to wagering requirements that require players to spend a certain amount of money. Not all players want to wager thousands of pounds, and thus may enjoy the option to wager a smaller bonus amount. Below, you’ll find one of the larger casino bonuses available in South Africa.

How to Get a Casino Bonus

If this is your first time opting for a casino bonus, don’t fret. The process is extremely easy, and typically follows the same steps no matter where you choose to play. To make things easier for you, we’ve outlined the main steps in a quick guide below. Here are the four steps of getting a casino bonus:

  • Register an Account – The first step is always to register your account. Click the “Register” or “Join” button on the casino site to be taken to the registration process.
  • Make a Deposit – Once you’ve opened an account, top up your funds using your preferred payment method. Please note that some payment methods may be excluded from your chosen bonus.
  • Meet the Wagering Requirements – Start playing games to meet the requirements of your bonus. Some games contribute differently, and others might be excluded, so consult the terms and conditions of your chosen bonus.
  • Cash Out – Once you’ve met the requisite terms of your bonus, you can cash out on the bonus funds.

Wagering Requirements

Every single casino bonus out there will come with its conditions and are bound by the rules of the casino, but these can vary exponentially. Some are fair, and they offer the player a bonus that has a pretty reasonable time limit, lots of games that can be played with the bonus along with wagering requirements that aren’t absurd. Obviously the lower the wagering requirements, the better – for example there are some no wagering bonuses. However, casinos that set smaller wagering requirements usually have smaller bonus amounts.

Basically, a wagering requirement designates the amount of the bonus funds you’ll have to wager before you can withdraw your money. In practice this means that R10 bonus with a wagering requirement of 20x means that you’ll need to wager R200 before you can withdraw the R10 bonus. As you can see, it is more favourable for the player when the wagering requirement is lower. In the chart below, you’ll see a small sample of the many wagering requirements out there. The five sites below, all offer their players competitive bonus requirements.

Time Limit

Bonuses have a life expectancy, so when you pick a casino bonus, make sure you see how long you have to claim it. Certain bonuses actually expire within an hour of sign up, so you need to make sure you pick one that suits your time frame. If you are more of an occasional player, then you would be best suited to a bonus that lasts a little longer. Some can last for days, some for weeks and there are a few that never expire.

This always leaves you with the option of going back should you have a change of heart after depositing. Basically, the longer you have to claim it, the better and fairer it is. Be aware that deposit bonuses and free spin bonuses will usually have different lengths of validity, although they are part of the same casino welcome bonus. The typical site will give you seven days to use your free spin bonuses. Pay close attention to the terms of the offer you are accepting. Especially if it has free spins.

Game Contribution

When you have redeemed your online bet and you’re looking at starting on working off those wagering requirements, you need to pay close attention to what games count towards them, and exactly how much they count. This is one case where not every game is created equally. Should you be a slot player, you will feel the benefit, as generally, these conditions are definitely in your favour. 100% of the money played on online slots generally goes towards your wagering requirement. This means that if your wagering requirement is 40 times, then it really is 40 times. However, the same cannot be said for table games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Usually, between 0% to 25% of what you wager will count towards your wagering requirement, so it will take a lot more time and money to be able to withdraw your funds.

Should you choose a game that pays 20% towards your wagering requirement, then effectively what started off as a 40 times wagering requirement has turned into a 200 times wagering requirement (5 x 40). If you are signing up with a preference for table games, this is something you must take into account. Another factor to take into account is the kind of bets that count, as not all do. For example, if you are playing on a roulette table with 20% wagering requirement, and you place a bet that covers more than 50% of the table, this may not count. Furthermore, combination bets (combi) and certain cash-out options don’t count. Every reputable online casino should clearly state all the conditions attached to the bonus in their General Terms and Conditions, so check those out.

Payment Methods and Requirements

If the casino bonus option that you would like to claim is a deposit match bonus, you will need to make a transfer to your casino wallet in order to trigger the bonus funds. There will be a minimum deposit that you will need to meet, however it is also very important to notice that not all payment methods can be used to trigger bonuses. In particular, some eWallets are excluded from activating bonuses.

Minimum Deposit

We stated previously, that if a casino lets you choose the size of the bonus you can accept, this is usually a good indicator that an operator is trustworthy. The reason being, many casino bonuses have wagering requirements that require the average spend more than they are comfortable with. If everyone had to take a R100 offer with a 40x bonus, many of us would be out of money in no time. So if you are a casual player, look for a casino that allows for minimum deposit amounts that are suitable to you. If a site says its bonus is up to R600, it is most likely still possible to deposit R20 and accept a smaller bonus amount. No deposit bonuses are a great option for players who don’t want to spend a lot of money.

Withdrawal Options

Any monies you have paid to claim the bonus, along with any winnings from the bonus can only be paid if all of the terms and conditions are met in full. Before these conditions are met, it is blocked credit, which means you can play it, but you cannot physically withdraw it. Fortunately, the process of this turnover and the amount you have played towards your wagering requirement can always be seen in the relevant cash register area.

You need to be careful when attempting to withdraw the money because many online casinos have the ruling that if you make any attempt to withdraw the bonus money before all the conditions are met, the money will be forfeited and completely lost to you. So, when you make your deposit and claim that bonus, be sure you know of all the stipulations. You must be prepared to work at those wagering requirements to get to the money, or you could watch it vanish. Typically you can only withdraw funds in the same method that you made a deposit. If you deposited funds with PayPal, chances are you will only be able to withdraw using PayPal. This usually isn’t a problem, considering PayPal remains one of the fastest and hassle-free payment methods available to South African players.

Use a Licenced Operator

Above all, the most important criteria of a good bonus, is that it comes from a safe operator. To tell if a casino site is reputable, all you need to do is looks for a valid gambling licence.

Some of these include, reasonable bonus requirements and transparent terms. Typically, a site’s licencing info can be found on the footer of the casino page. If you don’t see the logos of a regulatory body and other responsible gambling institutions, you should leave the site immediately. An easy way to find a verified casino, is to jump to our best South Africa online casinos page. At scams.info, we only write about approved operators.

Guide to Casino Bonuses

On this page, we have gone into great detail about the different criteria we use to rate a casino welcome bonus. These welcome offers are designed to attract new players to a gambling site. Once a player has made it to the site, operators work to ensure that the player stays. Because of this, gamblers will often come across other types of casino bonuses.

The next section of this page will delve into the various types of offers and promotions available that some players may find online. The most common types of offers are: deposit offers, free spins, reload bonuses. Friend referral offers and competitions.

Deposit Bonuses

The new-player sign-up bonus is the most common of all bonuses, and most of them are deposit bonuses. These make up nearly 100% of welcome offers, and almost all sites offer some form of a deposit bonus. As a result, seasoned players spend long-time hunting for the best casino bonuses. This requires an incredible amount of effort and knowledge on the part of the player. There are many things to consider including: wagering requirements, amount, validity etc. It’s also important to understand that you can only ever claim one welcome bonus from a gambling site, whether it is a casino bonus or one of the best betting bonuses from a sports betting site. So make sure you choose carefully when signing up!

Most deposit offers function like so: a player deposits real money funds into a casino account. Upon depositing funds, they will be asked if they want to partake in a welcome offer. If the offer is accepted, a casino will agree to match the bonus, up to a certain amount. For example, if an offer states that it is a 100% bonus of up to R200, it means that a R200 deposit will award 200 in bonus funds that then must be wagered. Unfortunately, many casinos will wager your real money funds before they start counting the bonus funds.

Mobile Casino Bonuses

Many players ask about mobile bonuses, unfortunately, these types of offers are no longer that common. Perhaps the reason is because most of today’s gamers choose to play on mobile devices, so casinos no longer feel obligated to attract mobile players. However, almost all casino bonuses that are available on a desktop website, will also be applicable to the mobile platforms. However unlikely, there are some mobile offers available for mobile players. Below you will find some of the more tantalising offers available to mobile gamers. Although these offers aren’t exclusive to mobile players, they are accessible from mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

No Deposit Casino Bonuses

Technically speaking, yes. However, as you can imagine, deposit bonuses come with even stricter stipulations attached. Casinos don’t give money away for free, so although you might not have to deposit to get it, you will certainly have to deposit your own money to get anything from it. No deposit bonuses tend to be much smaller than their deposit counterparts for obvious reasons. You will also find that a casino that offers a 35-times wagering requirement for their deposit bonuses may well require a 40-50 times wagering requirement for their no deposit bonus. You might not have to pay for them initially, but you will eventually. If you would like to learn more, you can check out our no deposit casino bonus guide.

Free Spins Bonuses

One bonus that is often attached to the casino welcome offers is the free spin bonus. These are exactly what they sound like, spins that can be used on slot games, that do not utilise your real funds. If they aren’t found attached to the welcome bonus, free spins may also be found as part of offers for loyal players. Typically, bonus spins can only be used on designated slot games. The casino will tell you what these are upon issuing the offer. For more info on free spins casinos, visit our dedicated page.

Although these spins are free, the winnings that result from the free spins are subject to wagering requirements similar to that of the casino welcome offer. So if you win, R5 from your free spins, many casinos will require that a player wager the R5 30-40x before they can withdraw the winnings. So although they sound appealing, they do come with strings attached. Although your final winnings from free spins probably won’t be gargantuan, the bonus type does offer players a useful opportunity to try out a slot game without risking any real money. Below you can find some of the best free spins offers in South Africa.

Cashback Bonuses

Cashback bonuses are another form of offer that is rather rare, though certainly rewarding. In these offers, players are given a certain percentage of losses back as cash back, which can cover some losses accrued from games. To learn more, we recommend that you read our guide to the best cashback casino bonuses.

Bonus Codes and Vouchers

You might have already come across the term “promo code” when playing online. These codes – or vouchers, as they are sometimes known – act as passwords for certain bonus offers. While few welcome bonuses require players to enter a code to access the deal, codes are far more common when it comes to limited-time-only deals and recurring offers. To learn more, take a look at our overview of casino bonus codes and online casino bonus vouchers.

Live Casino Bonuses

It’s very rare to come across bonuses that reward players for gambling in the live suite specifically, but they do crop up from time to time. Often, however, these cannot be opted into if you have already opted into the casino’s welcome offer. You can read about these deals in greater detail in our guide to the top live casinos.

Reload Bonuses

A reload bonus can be thought of as a type of insurance for players. Similar to a deposit bonus, a percentage of your balance is matched by the casino. However, unlike deposit bonuses, the operator matches the real money that you lost, not the amount of money that you put in. Unfortunately, you probably won’t find a 100% reload bonus since this would be the same as giving money away. What players typically will find is a 10% cashback bonus. Although they won’t win back all of their money, it is better to have the bonus than not to. You can learn more about cashback bonuses here.

Referral Bonuses

A referral bonus is exactly what it sounds like. If you can convince a friend to join a casino, at which you play, some sites will give you a bonus code. Once the casino voucher is entered, you will be awarded some sort of bonus, usually in the form of cash. Typical friend referral amounts that we have come across are in the range of R50-R100. It goes without saying, that you should avoid creating fake accounts to try and scam the casino. The thorough ID verification process will surely unmask anyone trying to cheat the system. As an added bonus, your friend will typically also receive the bonus.

The Latest Casino Bonuses for 2024: We Will Keep You Updated

Here at scams.info, we keep up with the new developments of the online casino industry. One can find hundreds of casinos on the internet, and there are new ones emerging every day. Although some of the new sites don’t have the established brand names of some of the South Africa’s bigger players, new casinos are very interesting options for players. Because new casinos haven’t cemented themselves among the industry greats, they often need to find creative ways to attract prospective gamers. They do this through unique and creative casino bonuses. Some come in the form of a casino signup bonus, free spins or a mixture of both. Often, the new bonus offers have low wagering requirements compared to those of the big names. Below, you can see some of the freshest faces on the scene as well as the bonus they offer to new players.

Ongoing Casino Promotions

One way that online casinos attempt to keep their players coming back for more is with ongoing casino promotions. These come in many different shapes and sizes and are updated regularly to keep things fresh for players. Common promotions do things like highlight a specific game (e.g. blackjack flash promotion) by offering a limited time bonus.

Some casinos will have lady’s night promotions, flash slot races and more. Promotions typically are available to all players whether they be new or old. Most of the time, they are distinguished from welcome bonuses by the use of casino bonus codes.

For the most loyal players, casinos have implemented a wide array of loyalty rewards. These come in the form of bonuses, invitations to exclusive events, a private account manager and private games. Some casinos like Casumo have taken a more lighthearted approach to its loyalty rewards, by gamifying them. Whatever your play style, there is a casino out there for you.

Conclusion: Do Your Research and Make the Most of Your Money

So, there are definitely many points to take into account when looking for that top casino bonus in South Africa. Make sure you look carefully at all the offers around and don’t get swept away by the most impressive looking offer. Check out the terms attached. Make sure it doesn’t disappear with an hour of registering. Find out what games you can use it on, and does that suit your preferences. Obviously, be sure to establish the wagering requirements and be prepared to fulfil those before you see any return.

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Most importantly be sure that the South Africa online casino that you choose is safe, secured, licenced and has a good reputation. You don’t want to get scammed. But to reassure you, there are lots of great bonuses out there. Check out our top offers to see some of them.

Any Other Bonus-Related Questions You May Have

People, who browse scams.info, tend to be on the more sceptical side when it comes to online casinos. This is understandable because the stakes are always higher when real money is involved. Because of this, we are used to answering many of the questions that new players have regarding the legitimacy and safety of online gambling. Although we hope to answer all questions within our texts, some info does slip through the cracks. Below are the main questions we receive from players regarding online casino bonus offers.

🤑 What is the best online casino bonus offer In South Africa?

It is illegal for South African residents to play on an online casino. However, should the law change or if you travel abroad where online casinos are legal you will find a list of top international bonuses, which will give you a rundown of the best deals on the market.

🤑 I found a no deposit bonus, is it legitimate?

As online casino gambling is illegal in South Africa this bonus will be illegitimate. However, no deposit bonuses do exist in other countries, and they are real. However, almost none of these bonuses come without strings attached. As long as you make sure you are playing at a certified casino before accepting a bonus, then you can feel confident that the bonus is legitimate.

🤑 How does a casino signup bonus work?

As online gambling at any casino is illegal for South Africa residents then this is a moot point. Should the law change then signing up at a casino is a 100% free process. You should never play at a site that asks for money upon registration. For sign-up offers in other jurisdictions please see our information on casino welcome bonuses.

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