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How Do Bonuses Affect the Way Players Interact with Online Casinos?
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Bonuses are one of the special features of online casino gaming that keep many players coming back. They reward players with free credit, free spins, or other perks that boost the value of a deposit or ease the pain of a big loss.
We typically think of casino bonuses as a passive factor in the iGaming experience, just something that comes with standard online casino play. The reality is a bit more complex. We're only starting to discover how big of an impact bonuses can have on the player experience.
This article will explain how bonuses affect the way players interact with online casinos. Some of the effects might surprise you!
Casino bonus types
Before we discuss how bonuses affect casino play, we should discuss the types of bonuses that players are enjoying. This will be a brief introduction to bonus types. A guide to online casino bonuses that provides more detail is a useful way to learn about the various available bonuses.
Free spins are the most basic casino bonus and are usually offered as part of any bonus package. Deposit matching is the leading welcome bonus because it boosts a player's initial deposit so they can start strong.
Other common types of bonuses are reloads and cashback. Reload bonuses reward players with some deposit-matching credit when they make a qualifying deposit, while cashback bonuses return a percentage of their losses. Cashback bonuses usually cover a set period, like a week or a month.
One of the newest types of bonuses is the no-wagering bonus. Generally, players need to wager bonus credit a set amount of bonus credit before claiming any winnings made from bonus credit. No-wagering bonuses do not have wagering requirements, which means players can withdraw their funds at any time. Understandably, these are hugely popular with players.
Casino bonuses are offered in several ways. The first bonus players will encounter is the welcome bonus. This bonus is only available for new players. Daily log-in or daily lucky wheel bonuses have become increasingly common. Bonuses are also offered as seasonal promotions, in association with a game studio, or every week.
Casino selection
The first way that bonuses affect how players interact with online casinos is how they choose them. Welcome bonuses are the first thing that players encounter at online casinos. Many online casinos use them for advertising, and you'll find them mentioned in all casino reviews. Players often consider welcome bonuses when they choose online casinos.
Welcome bonuses also influence how players choose casinos by encouraging them to create accounts with multiple online casinos. Welcome bonuses are usually the most valuable bonuses that a casino offers. Most players want to take advantage of as many of these offers as they can, so they create accounts with each online casino that offers a great welcome bonus.
This may be an unintended consequence of offering large welcome bonuses – casinos typically don't want to encourage competition. It would be better for each online casino if its players only made deposits on their site.
Game choice
Free spins are typically only available on a few slots. These force players to play those slots before moving on to other games. This can shape a player's taste in games. For example, if a player has a lot of success on a fishing slot, they will likely look for other fishing slots to enjoy.
In many cases, bonus requirements can only be met by playing slots. Table games might contribute a very small percentage of a wagering requirement, but it is unusual. This encourages players to play slots instead of any other type of game.
Timing and size of deposits
Typically, online casinos offer cashback or reload bonuses on a specific day of the week or for deposits of a certain size. For example, many online casinos have weekend reload bonuses for players who deposit at least $20-$30.
Bonuses shape player behavior: if a player wants the extra perks that a bonus offers, they need to make a certain number of deposits, on specific days, to claim those. This can result in players making more, smaller deposits to take advantage of multiple bonuses across multiple casino sites. On the other hand, players may also be encouraged to deposit more often than they're comfortable with to get access to the best bonuses.
Final thoughts
Bonuses are a key part of the online casino experience. Claiming bonuses can affect the way that players interact with online casinos. Sometimes these effects are positive, but sometimes not. When online casinos offer responsible gambling tools and valuable bonuses, it's the best possible combination for players who want to have a safe, enjoyable time while maintaining a gambling hobby.
