Casino Welcome Bonus Offers for 2023

1. ✅ What Is a Welcome Bonus?
2. ✅ The Types of Welcome Bonuses at Online Casinos
3. ✅ Cashable vs Non-Cashable Welcome Bonuses
4. ✅ How Do Welcome Bonuses Work?
5. ✅ How to Choose the Best Welcome Bonus for You
6. ✅ Welcome Bonus Wagering Requirements
7. ✅ Pros and Cons of Using a Welcome Bonus
8. ✅ Welcome Bonuses FAQs

What is a Welcome Bonus?

A casino welcome bonus is a promotion that an online casino exclusively offers to its new players. Sites usually reward new sign ups with bonus cash that they can use to place wagers online. Alternatively, some welcome bonuses come in the form of free spins or cashback bonuses. 

Almost every casino site in Canada hands out a sign up bonus. They are a crucial part of the industry, as operators rely on these offers to help lure new players in. For this reason, casino sign up bonuses are often highly lucrative as every online casino tries to create bigger and better welcome bonuses to stay ahead of the competition. 

Casino welcome bonuses are just as important for players as they are for operators. They give you a chance to boost your bankroll, try games for free and make the most out of your gambling budget. And with so many online casinos in Canada, there is a never-ending list of betting sites with welcome bonuses that you can capitalize on. 

The Types of Welcome Bonuses at Online Casinos

Casino welcome bonuses come in all different shapes and sizes. And unless you understand the different categories, it can be confusing to know which one to choose. To help you find the best casino welcome bonus for you, we have put together a guide to the different types on offer.

Deposit Bonus

A deposit bonus – sometimes called a deposit match bonus or first deposit bonus – is the most common casino welcome bonus that Canadian casinos run. As the name suggests, you have to make an initial deposit after registering for an account to receive the bonus offer. 

There is always a minimum deposit amount that you must hit to be eligible for the welcome bonus. Once you have deposited this amount, the promotion will become available.

Precisely what you get with your deposit varies between sites. Some online casinos offer a deposit match welcome bonus, meaning the site will credit you bonus funds equal to the value of your first deposit. The more you deposit initially, the more bonus money you receive. Others will offer more of a welcome package. These typically consist of a matched deposit bonus and free bonus spins.

These bonuses are one of the most popular as they are highly lucrative. Although you do need to deposit to claim the casino welcome bonus, you can easily double the money you have in your account. As soon as you clear the wagering requirements, you can withdraw this as cash.

Casino Sign Up Bonus

A casino sign up bonus is a special type of welcome bonus available at some online casinos. Traditional welcome bonuses require you to make an initial deposit to claim the bonus offer. However, sign up bonuses are what they say on the tin – you simply need to register for an account to claim the promotion, and no deposit is required. 

As no deposit is needed, this type of offer is also known as a no deposit bonus or free welcome bonus. It is popular among players as you don’t need to make any financial investment to claim the offer. In fact, it is one of the best online casino bonuses for players. However, it is typically much smaller in value than a traditional casino welcome bonus. Operators can’t hand out lots of free money, or they risk making a loss.

Free Spins

Many online casinos award free spins as part of a welcome package along with a deposit match bonus. Alternatively, sites can hand them out as a stand-alone welcome bonus. When given as a stand-alone offer, they are often a free welcome bonus as typically no deposit is required. The best slot sites will often have the best free spins offers, ut this isn't always the case.

Another thing to consider is that free bonus spins often come with limitations attached. For instance, you cannot use these spins on any slot game you like. The operator will always identify the specific games on which you can redeem your spins. However, they are usually a casino’s top games or latest additions. 

Players love this type of casino welcome bonus as it gives them a chance to try the casino for free. And, if luck is on your side, you might even walk away with some winnings.

Match Bonus

A match bonus – short for deposit match bonus – is a type of deposit bonus. With this casino welcome bonus, the site will match the value of your first deposit by a certain amount. These are one of the best online casino bonuses, as the more you put in, the more you get back out.

The most common percentage match is 100%, meaning you can double the money you have in your account instantly. However, matches can be more or less. Some welcome bonus offers match as little as 20%, whereas others can provide 200% of your deposit as bonus money. Match bonuses are also always capped, impacting how beneficial the online casino welcome bonus is. 

How Match Bonuses Work

For example, let’s say you have CA$500 ready to deposit at an online casino. One site offers a casino welcome bonus of 100% up to CA$200; depositing the max allowance of CA$400 will give you a CA$200 bonus. However, depositing CA$500 would also give you a CA$200 bonus. Another casino is running a 50% up to CA$1,000. Despite being a lower percentage match, if you were to deposit CA$500 this welcome offer would give you a bonus amount of CA$250 and is the better option in this situation.

100% Bonus

A 100% bonus is a subset of the match bonus offer we’ve just discussed above. This casino welcome bonus matches 100% of your initial deposit on the site. It is the most common type of deposit bonus available and one of the most popular among players. It essentially doubles your deposit, which is a fantastic deal.

200% Bonus

An even more lucrative match deposit bonus is the 200% bonus. That’s right; this casino signup bonus matches your first deposit by a massive 200%. If you were to deposit CA$100 at a Canadian casino, this would equal CA$200 of bonus money. Yet, this is a rare online casino welcome bonus because the casino is giving so much money away. But if you can find one, it’s worthwhile taking advantage of it.

No Deposit Bonus

A no deposit bonus – also known as a casino sign up bonus or a free welcome bonus – is any promotion you receive simply for registering at a casino. As such you do not need to deposit money to claim the offer; just creating a new account and verifying your identity with the online casino will unlock the welcome bonus.

As no deposit is required, these welcome offers are usually much smaller in value than deposit bonuses. Sites will often award you a free spins no deposit bonus to use on specific slot games. Alternatively, a small amount of bonus money might be up for grabs. This amount is usually around C$5 to C$20; casinos cannot give heaps of free money away without any investment from players, or they could face serious losses. 

Despite their smaller value, this is one of the best welcome bonus types available. With no deposit needed, you have nothing to lose by claiming the offer. Still, casinos offering free welcome bonuses with no deposit required are hard to come by, so you may be limited on which sites you can play at.

Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is a type of offer traditionally reserved for existing players. Sites also often give this as a loyalty bonus. However, today, more and more online casinos offer a welcome package to new bettors. Instead of handing out a single casino welcome bonus, these packages consist of several promotions rolled into one. 

Usually, new sign ups can claim a deposit match welcome bonus. There are then reload bonus offers available for your subsequent few deposits. They’re highly lucrative and can mean you earn a lot of bonus money just from funding your account a few times.

No Wagering Bonus

Although rare, these welcome bonuses do exist. They allow you to get your hands on your winnings without any headaches as you can withdraw your money as cash almost immediately. 

Free spins are a common no wagering casino bonus. Alternatively, small no-wagering deposit bonuses of around C$5 to C$20 are available at some sites. They are the same as the standard versions of these sign up bonuses. However, there are no wagering requirements in sight.

Mobile Casino Bonus

Some casinos offer a dedicated bonus for mobile players, and these are always worth looking out for. If you're a fan of mobile casinos, then this is the type of bonus for you.

Cashable vs Non-Cashable Welcome Bonuses

We have already discussed the main types of welcome bonus offers available at online casinos. However, there is another way to separate bonuses: all offers will be either cashable or non-cashable (also called a “sticky” bonus). You must understand the difference between these types of promotions and how this can affect your payout. 

Cashable Welcome Bonus

Cashable bonuses are the simplest type of casino welcome bonus. Once you have met the wagering requirements, you can withdraw your initial deposit and the bonus amount as cash. In other words, your combined bankroll after claiming the bonus is the money you have available to cash out. After, of course, you have cleared the wagering (or playthrough) requirements.

Non-Cashable Welcome Bonus

Non-cashable or “sticky” bonus offers do not allow players to withdraw the bonus amount. Therefore, the amount you can cash out (having met the wagering requirements) is your combined bankroll minus the bonus amount. Similarly, this is where the phrase “sticky bonus” comes from – the welcome bonus never leaves your account and sticks with the online casino. 

Because the casino won’t lose this bonus money, non-cashable welcome bonuses tend to be larger. However, the wagering requirements are also typically more significant. 

How Do Welcome Bonuses Work?

Most casino sign up bonuses work in the same general way: you need to register for an account and meet the eligibility criteria to claim the offer. You also need to complete the playthrough requirements within a set timeframe before withdrawing any funds. 

Below is how we recommend you go about finding and claiming a bonus offer:

1. Find an Online Casino: Check out our recommended online casinos here at CasinoSource and compare the welcome bonus for each. Choose a site with the best online casino bonuses based on your unique requirements.
2. Register for an Account: Click on the link in our review articles to head to the online casino site. Once there, click the “Register” or “Signup” button and fill in the registration form. You will need to provide personal information and set up a username and password.
3. Make a Deposit: Most welcome bonuses require you to make a deposit. Therefore, head to the deposit section and choose your preferred payment method. For example, if you're playing at top PayPal casinos, choose that as your payment method. Enter the deposit amount and click “Confirm”, ensuring you’ve hit the minimum deposit requirement.
4. Claim Your Welcome Bonus: The online casino welcome bonus should appear in your account after your first deposit. Use this to play casino games and win real money. The games available to you depend on the type of bonus offer.
5. Fulfil the Wagering Requirements: Almost all casino sign up bonus offers have wagering requirements. Sites always outline this figure in the T&Cs. Fulfil these requirements within the allotted timeframe so you can withdraw your winnings.

How to Choose the Best Welcome Bonus for You

We understand that choosing a casino welcome bonus can be challenging. All welcome bonuses are different, so they are not easily comparable. With different bonus amounts, wagering requirements, and percentage matches, there is a lot to consider. How can you determine which is the best?

Thankfully, our expert CasinoSource team is here to help! Here are all our tips on spotting the best welcome bonus offers available at online casino sites: 

• Type of Bonus: No-deposit bonuses are among the best casino welcome bonuses as they require no upfront investment. Welcome packages are also great as you continuously get rewarded, while free spins might be your preferred bonus type if you’re an online slots fan.
• Reading Casino Reviews: If you have further questions about a casino, you can always click on our expert review alongside the offer. Alternatively, head to our casino reviews page. This will give you the lowdown on exactly how to sign up and claim your welcome bonus, as well as an appraisal of the casino's other features.
• Comparing Welcome Bonuses: Once you have a good idea of the type of bonus suits you best, it’s time to compare offers. Check out the latest casino welcome bonuses on this page and see who is offering the best terms. Which have the largest bonus amounts? Which have the smallest wagering requirements? Everything you need is right here.
  Terms & Conditions: Always read through the T&Cs of any casino welcome bonus you’re interested in claiming. What initially appears as a lucrative welcome offer can have unfavourable terms and vice versa.
• Wagering Requirements: The best welcome bonus offers have low wagering requirements. The industry average is between 30-40x, so we recommend aiming for these requirements or lower.
• Restricted Games: Some casino sign up bonuses only allow you to play certain games while clearing the bonus. Others let you play whatever, but the games contribute different amounts. Check that you can play the titles you enjoy when clearing the welcome bonus.
• Availability in Your Location: Some casino welcome bonuses are only available in certain countries or jurisdictions. Sites always detail this in the terms and conditions, so check it is available in your location to avoid disappointment.
• Time Limits & Expirations: Most casino bonus offers have an expiry date. Similarly, wagering requirements also come with time limits. The longer you have to clear the welcome bonus, the easier it is to do so.
• Excluded Payment Methods: Some welcome bonuses restrict what payment methods you can use when funding your account. Watch out for this, and if your preferred payment method isn’t available, you might be better off signing up for a different online casino.

Welcome Bonus Wagering Requirements

We have mentioned the term “wagering requirements” several times in this guide. This refers to the number of times you must wager your bonus credit before it is available for withdrawal. 

For example, if a bonus comes with a 25x wagering requirement attached to a C$100 welcome bonus, you must wager the bonus 25 times – the equivalent of C$2,500 – before you can make a cash withdrawal.

Almost every casino welcome bonus comes with wagering requirements. They protect the online casino by preventing players from claiming a promo and withdrawing it immediately as cash. However, some harsh wagering requirements can make a great offer entirely useless. 

Most welcome bonuses have wagering requirements that range between 20-50x, but any higher than this and the bonus funds become tricky to clear. Also, note that different games contribute differently to meeting the wagering requirements. For example, slots usually contribute 100%, but table games and games at live casinos titles could contribute as little as 10%. 

Pros and Cons of Using a Welcome Bonus

Although welcome bonuses are one of the most attractive bonus types that casinos offer, they do come with some limitations. This table therefore summarizes the main pros and cons of these promotions.

Please see below the most common questions related to casino welcome bonuses.