Welcome bonus Casinos

If we had to conduct a survey with our readers, the first thing that we would ask is what attracts a punter to an online casino website. Many will talk about their passion for online casino games, the joy of trying out new casino games, spinning new slot games or even delving into the world of bingo games.

You will find a good portion of gamblers within the online casino industry who will also tell you about bonus credits, deposit bonus offers, and free spins bonuses, but ultimately, the relationship between online gambling enthusiasts and the best online casinos always starts off with a welcome bonus.

So, what is a welcome bonus? A welcome online casino offer is a first-time bonus that an online casino offers free to players who join a new casino site. Such offers would either entail players making their first deposit or just signing up to the online gambling site.

Casino offers come in all shapes and forms, some top up your casino account with free bonus money, others grant you cashback, and free spins can be found in most regular no deposit bonus offers. Let us tell you all about online gambling free signup bonus, deposit casino bonus sign-up offers and more.

By Adiela de Bruyn - Last modified 2024/04/23 - Estimated reading time: 17 minutes.

Table of contents

Welcome bonus Casinos

Choose casino

SA Casinos with welcome bonus

  1. 1
    10Bet Casino
    10Bet Casino Since 2003
    Games
    InfoAmount of games offered
    900
    Jackpot Pokies
    InfoAmount of slots with jackpot option
    25
  2. 2
    SpringBok casino
    SpringBok casino Since 2012
    Games
    InfoAmount of games offered
    400
    Jackpot Pokies
    InfoAmount of slots with jackpot option
    22
  3. 3
    Yebo Casino
    Yebo Casino Since 2014
    Games
    InfoAmount of games offered
    225
    Jackpot Pokies
    InfoAmount of slots with jackpot option
    17
  4. 4
    20Bet Casino
    20Bet Casino Since 2020
    Games
    InfoAmount of games offered
    5000
    Jackpot Pokies
    InfoAmount of slots with jackpot option
    22
  5. 5
    Europa Casino
    Europa Casino Since 2003
    Games
    InfoAmount of games offered
    425
    Jackpot Pokies
    InfoAmount of slots with jackpot option
    34
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Type of Welcome Online Casino Bonus Offers

A casino online welcome bonus can land your way in many different forms, but the main welcome offers would fall under one of the following categories:

Free No Deposit Bonus Money

A free no-deposit bonus is a bonus that a player lands when he or she registers for the first time as a new casino player. This bonus is different from deposit bonuses offered by online casinos and does not require you to make a real money deposit. To land the free no deposit bonus offered by the casino with a free sign-up bonus, you would need to complete your player registration and become a full member of the gambling site. This entails you clicking on the Signup/ Registration and inputting your full name, address, and Date of Birth, choosing the currency you be depositing with, and also agreeing to the casino's terms and conditions. Once this is complete, your free no-deposit bonus will be credited to your casino account or player real money account, depending on the bonus that will be landing your way.

A free no deposit bonus is either rewarded as a free spin no deposit bonus, or even free money which you can use on your favorite online casino games. In both instances, you would need to abide by the no deposit bonus conditions, which sometimes include hefty wagering requirements, that are higher than most casino deposit bonuses and offers. Other terms including you verifying your player account, meaning sending in KYC documentation in the form of a driver's license or personal ID plus a recent utility bill showing your address.

In most no-deposit bonus offers, you would need to make at least a casino minimum deposit to be able to claim any winnings deriving from your online gambling free signup bonus offer.

Deposit Casino Matches and Free Spins

Another type of online casino bonus offer available to players is the deposit casinos offer granted to you when you make your first money deposit at the gambling site. In this case, when you make your first deposit at the site, you walk away with a casino bonus that matches the amount of your deposit with 100% along with a set amount of deposit-free spins. Players are encouraged to use deposit casino bonuses to test a new gambling site and use the bonus money as a way to master their gameplay.

With regards to the deposit bonuses granted as a signup bonus, terms and conditions also apply. In this case, the bonus cash and the free spins are subject to wagering requirements with a specific timescale to reach these terms. Winnings from your free online slots spins are also subject to wagering requirements, with the casino also advising you on which online slots you can redeem your deposit-free spins. Normally, the spins would expire after 30 days from receipt, but best to read the promo's terms and conditions to make sure you get the best online casino bonuses and gambling experience.

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Why Does an Online Casino Offer a Welcome Bonus?

We all love a free offer. This could be a buy 1 get the 2nd free at a local grocery store, or it could just be a casino bonus offered to players the first time they register or deposit at an online gambling site. Casino players look forward to landing online casino bonuses, but what is the reason behind a casino welcome deposit bonus and a free no-deposit bonus? What will the casino with a free sign-up bonus get when you claim the welcome package?

Imagine casino promotions turning into a win real money moment. That is also offered to South African players joining an online casino with a free signup bonus of real money. The 100% deposit bonus amount could be used on games such as online slots, alternatively, you could use the bonus free cash to match your game strategy at table games such as European slot poker, Pai gow poker, or Baccarat. Using the bonus money to master your game plan could be very beneficial in the world of online casinos, strategy is everything in the gambling world, use the funds wisely.

The second part of your sign-up casino offer is a set number of free spins. Some gambling sites offer 20 some offer 100, comparing welcome packages is wise advise we offer. The free spins are granted for you to test the gaming site, test new online slots, and get a feel of the overall vibe the deposit casino offers. The free spins also have wagering requirements attached, with the online slots free spins usually expiring after 7 days of receipt, and the casino advises on which online slot games you can redeem the free spins. Think of the free spins as a way for the casino to thank you for joining and for you to test the site to see if your online casino's journey continues.

Casino welcome bonus

Casino welcome bonus as shown at ZAR casino.

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How to Sign Up and Claim a Casino Welcome Bonus Offer

Claiming your first online gambling free signup bonus money and free spins is not a hard task to master. There are 2 main ways to claim the bonus, which we explain in detail below.

Via Bonus Code

You can claim both deposit casino bonuses and free no-deposit bonus offers via bonus codes. When claiming a no-deposit bonus you will be asked to input the bonus code when completing your online casino registration. You can view the available signup bonus codes in the casino logo highlighting the signup bonus offer. If you are using bonus codes with your deposit bonus, you would need to input the bonus code when making your first deposit at the online casino's cashier section. You can only claim the bonus via the deposit bonus codes hence it is imperative that this step is not missed when crediting your player account via a real money deposit.

Bonus Credits Automatically

With both free no deposit bonus and welcome deposit bonus packages, sometimes your online casino bonus is credited automatically. This means if the free sign-up bonus offers, your free spins with no deposit will be credited to your player account when your player registration is complete. South African players would simply need to head over to the designated games and play slots for free with the bonus spins.

With regards to online casino welcome deposit bonus offers, you would find the 100% deposit bonus crediting your player account with your deposit, and the free bonus spins also crediting your account when heading over to the designated slot games offering the free spins bonus. In both instances, you would need to be logged into your casino account to claim the offers.

Contacting the Customer Support Team

You will also find a number of online gambling free signup bonus sites that will allow you to speak to customer support to claim your free cash or to claim your free bonus spins. The contact of the team to claim your casino bonus entails opening the live chat function and having your username handy. The support team might ask you some verification questions prior to relating the deposit bonus coupons, hence it would be wise to log into your player account to avoid any delays or prolonged waiting to get your hands on your bonus cash or free spins.

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Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions

Every bonus offer that the best no-deposit casinos offer also has terms and conditions attached. Look at these conditions as the last small hurdle for you to reach, to get hold of any potential bonus winnings that derive from the deposit bonuses and no deposit promotion. Below we take a look at some of the most common terms and conditions attached to casino online welcome bonus offers, whilst breaking down your aims to meet this requirement

Wagering Requirements

In the world of gambling, there is no such thing as walking away with a free no-deposit bonus with no strings attached. Whilst free no deposit, free spins and casino deposit bonuses sound and look appealing to the eye, wagering requirements play a big role in you walking away with any potential winnings deriving from your bonus. The terms mean that you would need to play through (wager) the amount of the bonus for a specific amount of times before you can go ahead and withdraw winnings generated from the online casino bonus.

You will also find that different online casinos with free signup bonus real money sites will impose higher wagering requirements, with the higher the amount of the wagering requirements making it more difficult for the player to meet the terms.

What Games can you play to meet the wagering requirements

The casino logo banner explaining your bonus terms and conditions is always a tricky one. At the bottom of the deposit bonus page, you will find a small print that states: T&C apply. One of these terms is the wagering requirements that we explained above. Good to note that not all online games contribute 100% to you meeting and exceeding your wagering terms. Below we illustrate an example of a wagering requirement term highlighting each game and the contribution it generates:

Our games contribute to the Casino sign up bonus in the following way:

  • Slots - 100% (except for below)
  • Live Games – 0%
  • Table Games - 10%
  • Bingo games in the bingo lobby - 0%
  • Video Poker - 10%
  • Crash & Mine Games - 0%
  • All other games - 0%

The above means that whilst slot machines grant you 100% towards meeting your wagering requirements, you need to also check which slots are exempt from helping you achieve this. Table games which are offered at a non-live capacity grant you a 10% towards meeting wagering requirements, and so does video poker. All other casino contents including Live casino games, bingo games, Crash and Mine games and any other games give you 0% towards your wagering t&Cs. Safe to say, if you are indeed working towards meeting your online gambling free signup bonus and deposit bonus

Timescales

Timescales also play a big role when you are trying to meet both deposit bonuses and free no deposit bonus terms. For starters, a player normally has between 7 and 14 days to claim online casino bonuses following player registration. After the date, and if not claimed, you will be unable to claim the casino bonuses.

Most casinos also ask you to meet the wagering requirements for online casino offers and promos within a specific timeframe. Normally, most deposit bonus terms as you to meet the wagering terms within 30 days from receipt of the deposit bonus. To make your life easier and help you reach this, most online casinos have a ticker that shows you the % of wagering terms reached, along with the days left for you to meet the terms and conditions.

Most free spins also expire within a stipulated time. Most no-deposit bonuses free spins will expire within 3 days and some even after 7 days. The best way for you to manage timescales is to check your player profile regularly and also take note of the timescales listed in the T&Cs.

Targeted only for new players joining new gambling sites

Both free online casinos and the best no-deposit casino sites offer sign-up bonus packages only to new players. This means that with your player registration or your minimum deposit at a new gambling site, you can claim a casino signup bonus only once.

Casinos offer other bonuses and promotions after you sail through your sign-up bonus. This includes deposit bonuses, weekly cashback deposit bonus offers, free spins promos, minimum deposit campaigns, tournaments and even software developer slot challenges. A minimum deposit amount is normally required for you to claim any reload bonuses offered.

Maximum Cap

Your sign-up bonus is always a capped offer. This means your 100% offer will grant you a specific max cash bonus amount. Once you make a deposit your bonus amount winnings are also capped to a specific winning amount. Let's say you win ZAR 450, but as per the casino sign-up bonus terms, you can only take home ZAR400. This is an example, with the amount varying per casino.

No deposit bonus terms

Earlier, we talked about no deposit bonus offers which are awarded to new casino players upon successful player registration and completing KYC requirements. Casinos offer free spins no deposit offers to offer you a set number of free spins that will see you test the gambling site, to see if it is a fit for any future gameplay. One of the terms associated with free spins and no deposit bonus offers includes a minimum deposit required for you to claim any winnings deriving from the online gambling free signup bonus spins. This could include a minimum deposit amount or a specific amount outlined by the gaming site via the terms.

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How to claim a Casino Welcome bonus in 10 easy steps

Now that we have gone through all of the perks and terms associated with welcome packages, how about we tell you how to claim a welcome bonus in 10 easy steps? It is not as complicated as it might sound, and once claimed, you can test the gambling site and verify if the new playground is worth your time and real money bets.

Step 1: Compare online gambling sites

Compare casinos by doing in-depth research. Casino review sites will also help you save time, as they do the job for you by presenting facts about various casino sites, their no-deposit required bonuses, reload bonuses, games and more.

Step 2: Compare Bonuses

Compare promotions, especially sign-up packages. You can do so by heading to the casino website and clicking on the Promotions page. There click on the bonus casino logo, and also read through the terms and conditions associated with your bonus. The lower the wagering terms, the more winnings you walk away with. Online casinos offer free promos, mostly once you register, take note of sites that offer that.

Step 3: Settle on a gambling site and complete your registration.

This entails clicking on the Join Now button, completing the registration form and inputting any bonus coupon code in the designated space.

Step 4: Verifying your player account.

If you are claiming a free spins no deposit offer, you might need to complete the KYC process that includes submitting your ID and a recent utility bill highlighting your home address. Once this is complete, you will be able to enjoy the free spins no deposit offer and test the casino with the free no deposit bonus.

Step 5: Make a deposit

Most casino welcome packages require you to make a small money deposit to the casino to be able to claim the bonus. This is called the minimum deposit requirement and the amount is outlined also in the bonus terms.

Step 6: Claiming your welcome bonus.

This could be a set number of free spins along with the deposit match offered in the casino promo. Normally the funds and spins are credited automatically, if this does not happen, you would need to seek assistance from the customer support team via chat.

Step 7: Check the game-wagering contributions

To make the most of your welcome package and work your way through your wagering requirements, best check the game wagering contributions. Only slot machines grant a perfect 100% contribution to reaching your bonus terms, it would be ideal to spend your bonus spinning the reels of great slot games.

Step 8: Keep track of bonus terms

Tracking your wagering progress is imperative whilst playing games using your casino welcome package. This could be in the form of a % reached bar available through your player profile. In one way or another, the gambling site informs you how far away or close are you to meeting wagering terms. Play games wisely to meet and exceed the t&c's.

Step 9: Choose the games to play

Time to sit back and enjoy the new experience at a new gambling site.

Step 10: Meet the bonus T&C's and request a withdrawal of your winnings

Including bonus terms met via a specific date, it is time to view the amounts of your winnings and decide if you would like to withdraw your winnings or keep the money for the next time you visit the casino to binge on gaming. Head over to the cashier section, and hit the withdraw button if you would like to go ahead with your winnings withdrawal request.

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Online Casinos with the highest welcome bonus

CasinoMaximum first deposit welcome bonusPlay
Tusk Casino5000 ZARPlay now
Yeti casino3333 ZARPlay now
10Bet Casino3000 ZARPlay now
20Bet Casino2400 ZARPlay now
Yabby Casino2000 ZARPlay now
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Frequently asked questions about welcome bonuses

What is a welcome package offered by online casinos?

Online gambling sites offer new players a welcome package to welcome players from South Africa to a new gaming site. There are 2 types of bonus offers available at registration, this includes a deposit-required welcome package or a casino with a free sign-up bonus. These offers are awarded at different stages of your casino journey.

What is a casino with a free sign-up bonus?

Some online gambling sites want to offer players the chance to test a casino site before they make a deposit. This means that once you sign up as a new player, and you also verify your player account, the casino will offer you a no-deposit bonus that most of the time is either free play money or a set number of free spins. A casino offering a free bonus is sometimes called an online casino with a free signup bonus real money site.

Can you land real money winnings when claiming a no-deposit bonus?

Your no-deposit bonus amount can grant you real money winnings. The only catch to no deposit bonus offers is you need to make a minimum deposit to your casino account to be able to withdraw your winning funds.

What does a casino welcome deposit bonus consist of?

Casino welcome packages include a 100% deposit match which is capped to a specific amount, e.g., 100% deposit match up to ZAR 450. If you deposit ZAR 450, you get an additional ZAR 450 in play money to use on your favourite games. The second part of the bonus includes a set number of free spins, that will be credited to a slot machine mentioned in the bonus terms.

Where can I find the different welcome bonus offers a casino offers?

Clicking on the casino logo or banners on the casino landing page will display the signup bonus, seasonal events and even new game content landing at the casino. If you cannot locate the information in the lobby, you can click on the section listed as Promotions, where you can view all the current campaigns and bonuses available to new players, including welcome bonuses.

How can I find the best welcome bonuses for players from South Africa?

You will find many online casino sites in South Africa that offer lucrative welcome bonus offers. Casino review sites go the extra mile in comparing bonuses, games, support, payment methods and the overall vibe a casino offers. Casinos like Springbok Casino feature in many review sites as being a top casino with great promos and offers.

Can I claim a no-deposit bonus and then a welcome package?

A no-deposit bonus is granted at registration, whilst a welcome bonus amount is offered when a deposit is made. You can first claim the no deposit bonus online casinos offer followed by deposit bonuses thereafter including welcome offers.

Author and fact checker: Adiela de Bruyn

Adiela de Bruyn biography

Expertise: Online casino reviews, player insights, and marketing strategies.

Experience: 10+ years. Former croupier, casino enthusiast, and contributor to South Africa's online gambling regulations.

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