When asked about what they like about online casinos, most players will mention welcome bonuses. They are one of the reasons why online casinos became much more popular compared to their land-based counterparts.
So, it’s no surprise that almost every South African online casino includes an offer for newly-registered users. With their help, every player can increase their starting balance and get more chances of winning at their favorite games.
Gambling sites follow various approaches when it comes to these promos. Still, in most cases, it’s all about encouraging new users to place their first deposit. These so-called deposit match variants of the welcome bonus cover the whole or part of your first deposit. So, they promise to match 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, or even more percentages of the amount you top up your account with.
Now that you know the basics, let’s discuss the details of this popular type of casino bonus.
One of the best ways to understand the mechanics behind casino welcome bonuses is by analyzing an example. As noted before, most of these deals are associated with one specific action – the player’s topping up their account for the first time.
So, let’s say that there’s a 100% deposit match bonus for new players, and you have deposited 2,000 rands. This means that you’ll get 2,000 rands in bonus money. So, your starting balance will be 4,000 rands. Of course, you will not be able to withdraw the bonus money immediately.
Players should never analyze the value of a welcome bonus simply by looking at the promised matching percentage. Sometimes, a 50% welcome bonus can be better than a 100% one. You should also look at the maximum amount you can get. The offers usually include something like this – 100% deposit match bonus of up to 8,000 rands. Additionally, we will analyze other terms and conditions in detail in this guide.
Besides bonus money, new players can get other incentives like free spins. Sometimes, these spins are part of a package (bonus money + free spins) or are given as the only welcome bonus to players.
The best online casinos, like the ones we review and recommend on this site, have done their best to simplify the process of claiming welcome bonuses. Simply put, players in South Africa should expect to get the promised reward simply by placing their first deposit (in most cases). The money will be added to a separate bonus balance, and that’s it.
Remember that sometimes gambling sites require typing a bonus code in a specific field to claim the bonus. The code is given during registration, via email, through an affiliate site, etc.
Wagering requirements (also playthrough requirements) indicate the number of times you have to wager the money you received before you can make them cashable. So, if you get 2,000 rands in bonus money and the wagering requirement is 35x, you will have to wager 70,000 rands before withdrawing the winnings.
When discussing wagering requirements, remember to check game contributions too.
There are a few ways in which we can divide welcome bonuses, and one of them involves sticky and non-sticky bonuses. The former means the deposit and bonus money are merged, and the wagering requirements are applied to the total amount. On the other hand, the non-sticky variant separates the two making it easier to meet the criteria (if everything else remains the same).
By developing a strategy, you can maximize the results of the welcome bonus deal you made. Ensure you include online slots, which usually contribute 100% to the requirements. Our advice is to use relatively high bets (not minimum) per spin so you can also meet the deadline because every welcome bonus has a deadline.
Additionally, look for online slots with low volatility because they pay more frequently, at least theoretically.
Whenever players join an online casino, using the welcome bonus is usually one of their first actions. Even though this is a straightforward process, you may still be wondering how to start out if you are new to the world of online casino welcome bonuses. By checking our step-by-step guide below, you can learn how to claim such an offer in the simplest way.
Please read our detailed casino reviews and identify a site that matches your requirements. We include the key features of all casinos before rating them.
We can’t stress enough the importance of checking the terms and conditions related to the bonuses. They are found on the homepage of every trustworthy casino. They include information about the wagering requirements, time limits, deposit/withdrawal limits, game contributions, etc.
If you have found the best casino with reasonable T&C, it’s time to claim the welcome bonus. In most cases, the reward is claimed automatically by accepting it during the registration/depositing. In others, you may need to use a bonus code in the designated area.
Just because you got the welcome bonus, doesn’t mean you can cash out the amount right away. The final step before withdrawing the winnings is to meet the wagering requirements and other conditions associated with the promotion.
| Casinos | Bonus | Min. Deposit | WR | Payment Methods | Claim Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sun Palace Casino | $7,000 SLOTS200 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | $20 | 50x (Bonus & Deposit) | 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | |
 SlotsPlus Casino | $7,000 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | $20 | 50x (Bonus & Deposit) | 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | |
 Las Vegas USA Casino | $3,000 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | $20 | 40x (Bonus & Deposit) | 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | |
 Vegas Casino Online | $3,000 IDBVEGAS 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | $20 | 40x (Bonus & Deposit) | 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | |
 Stake Casino | $2,000 18+ Only, T&C Apply. | $100 | 40x (Bonus & Deposit) | 18+ Only, T&C Apply. |
Welcome Bonus is an umbrella term that includes a wide range of promotions designed for new players at online casinos. Recently, more gambling sites have included packages with at least two types of bonuses to bring more incentives to users. The following is a list of the most popular bonus types on casino sites:
No Deposit Bonuses With no deposit bonuses, you get bonus money or free spins without placing a deposit. You should usually complete the sign-up process or take another action to claim this offer.
Cashback Bonuses Cashback bonuses give players a specific percentage of their losses while playing casino games. Typically, casinos offer weekly or monthly cashback deals.
Deposit Match Bonus Due to their frequency, deposit match bonuses have become a synonym for welcome bonuses. The gambling site matches a percentage of the player’s first deposit.
Free Spins These bonuses are designed for online slots. Simply put, you get a specific number of free spins that you can use on predetermined slot title/s.
NWR Bonuses NWR stands for no wagering requirements. Remember that NWR bonuses are uncommon today and usually consist of one free bet. If you’re a winner, you can withdraw the winnings immediately.
Wagering requirements are also known as playthrough requirements. WR are part of the terms and conditions for a no deposit bonus. Wagering requirements are multiplier rules associated with the promotion. It indicates precisely how many times Players must rollover the bonus before they can withdraw any funds.
A $20 no deposit bonus subject to a 30X wagering requirement means that players must wager their bonus amount a total of 30 X ($600 in bets) before cashing out any payouts. Any attempt to withdraw without meeting the playthrough requirement will invalidate the bonus + payouts in the account.
The portion of the offer that is subjected to wagering requirements is usually indicated in the bonus terms and conditions. Wagering requirements can be applied to both deposit match bonuses and free spins bonuses, and in some cases, wagering requirements may also be applied to your deposit amount.
Picking the best casino welcome bonus and ensuring that you have joined the best casino for your needs can be tricky because there are so many bonuses and casinos. To stay safe and get the most from your online gambling activity, we will share a few tips that can help you.
Welcome Bonus vs Regular Bonus Side-By-Side Comparison – Welcome bonuses can make any new player’s gambling experience better and more exciting. Still, you should ensure that your experience remains pleasant even when you use this initial bonus. This is where reload bonuses, free spins, and other incentives for regular players come into play. Here are a few facts that will help you compare welcome bonuses with regular bonuses.
| Welcome Bonus | Regular Bonus |
|---|---|
| Available to new players | Offered to existing casino users |
| It lowers gambling risk | It helps you play longer |
| Protects your money | Provides different types of bonuses |
How Our Experts Rate Online Casinos and Gambling Sites: Reviewing casinos is what we do best, and we always make sure that we cover the vital information and essential factors. When considering which online casino to choose, we’ll provide you with the most up to date information on a casino’s security measures, payouts, player feedback about the casino, and much more. Take a look at the graph below for more info.
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The best casino deals for South African players are featured in our detailed guide. Our experts checked the bonus terms and conditions to ensure our recommendations are correct.
Most SA casino websites provide welcome bonuses for newly-registered players. Still, there are exceptions. For the best deals of this kind, follow our list of recommended online casinos.
The number of gambling sites offering free spins as a welcome bonus is increasing. They are sometimes given as independent incentives to new users. Still, they are awarded on top of the money bonus in most cases.
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