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How no wagering bonuses are redefining the online casino experience

| Staff Report |

Online casinos have become a common part of our entertainment. Many people enjoy a few hands of poker or blackjack during their commute or play some slots to relax after a long day at work. Even people who don’t play are still familiar with these platforms, thanks to how widespread their advertising is.

The popularity of online casinos has grown so quickly for several reasons. For everyone outside of people living in Las Vegas, Miami or Atlantic City, they’re the most convenient way to get access to top-tier casino games. They’re more accessible, too. Online casinos also offer great perks to attract and retain players.

One of the emerging trends in these perks is no wagering bonuses. These new bonuses are redefining the online casino experience. Continue reading for a full explanation on how online casino bonuses work, what no-wagering bonuses are, and why they’re having such a major impact on the experience of playing at online casinos.

Why do online casinos offer welcome bonuses?

Nearly every online casino offers a welcome bonus for new players who create an account and make a deposit. These bonuses are usually the best bonuses available – though some have VIP programs with impressive bonuses for the most loyal players and high rollers. Sometimes, these bonuses are spread across the first two or three deposits.

Online casinos offer welcome bonuses because they attract new players who might be on the fence about signing up. Since welcome bonuses include some form of free credit for players who make a deposit, it makes it easier to sign up. There’s less of a financial commitment but you can still get the full online casino experience.

What new players typically don’t understand is that bonuses have wagering requirements – this is the amount you have to bet to be able to withdraw any winnings from bonus credit. There is usually a time limit as well. So, online casinos can give away a lot of free money without actually losing anything, since many inexperienced players will miss the wagering requirement deadline.

What are no wagering bonuses?

No wagering bonuses don’t have that wagering requirement. This means that a player can withdraw their bonus credit winnings as soon as they’ve won it, not after betting at least 30x or 40x the bonus amount. This is a huge perk for players, especially new players who aren’t sure if they’ll enjoy playing at an online casino.

No wagering bonuses tend to be smaller than regular welcome bonuses. There is also likely to be a cap on the amount you can win from the bonus credit, as well as a shorter time period in which the bonus credit can be used. Some will also have limits on which games are eligible. This is common for all types of bonuses.

How no wagering bonuses are shaking things up

Even though no wagering bonuses have a lot of restrictions, they’re still great for players. Most players don’t consider how high a wagering requirement actually is – for a $10 deposit match credit with a 30x wagering requirement, you’d have to bet $300 in order to claim it. Many wagering requirements are higher than 30x, with some as high as 70x.

High wagering requirements used to be seen as the industry norm. Players didn’t have any alternatives. No wagering bonuses have shown that there is another way that bonuses can work. This has made players even more frustrated with and resentful of traditional online casinos and their bonuses that end up being impossible to claim. 

The biggest change is that players have shifted their focus from finding the biggest bonus to finding a bonus they can realistically claim. That has pushed casinos to start being more competitive. They have to either lower their wagering requirements, make their bonuses so big they can’t be ignored, or start offering no wagering bonuses.

Online casinos will make money no matter what. However, this change in bonuses is shifting an important part of their business model. This will likely have a wider impact as players realize that other parts of the ways online casinos work could also be improved.

Looking at the list of online casinos without wagering requirements on AskGamblers shows how this bonus type has grown in popularity. The casinos offering no wagering bonuses now include small sites trying to build a brand and some of the biggest names in online gambling.

Below are some of the reputable sites that are currently offering this intriguing new bonus type:

Bet365

Bet365 is a widely recognized online casino and sportsbook. Bet365 was launched in 2001 and holds multiple licenses. Their no wagering bonus is 100 free spins for new players who deposit at least $10.

PlayOJO

PlayOJO is a very popular casino brand with a good international reputation. It holds multiple licenses and has high security standards. Their no wagering bonus is 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza for new players who deposit at least $10.

VBet UK Casino

VBet UK is a brand new online casino that is already getting a lot of positive buzz. It is a UK casino but may expand internationally soon. Their no wagering bonus is 50 free spins with a $10 deposit for new players.

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