New to welcome bonuses? We guide you through all you need to know.
What Is a Welcome Bonus?
A welcome bonus is a reward a betting site gives you when you join and make your first deposit. It is extra money, free spins or free bets on top of your own funds, so you have more to play with.
It is the most common bonus in online betting. In our experience, every sports betting site and online casino offers one.
In short: A welcome bonus is a one-time offer for new players. The most common type is a deposit match. You deposit, and the site adds a percentage on top. For example, a 100% match turns your deposit of 100 into 200 to bet with.
Affiliate disclosure
We are an affiliate review site: we earn a small commission if you use our links or promo codes. But it doesn't matter if you use the welcome bonus or not, so our guide here is our honest opinion.
Basics of welcome bonuses
Most welcome bonuses are deposit matches. This means the site matches your deposit. It adds bonus money into your account on top of what you put in
There are two main numbers you need to focus on:
The deposit match %
The maximum bonus amount
The deposit match
This is how much the gambling site will give you in bonus money. It is always a % of what you deposit.
Here is a simple example of deposit match %
A site offers a 130% welcome bonus.
You deposit 100.
The site adds 100×130% = 130 in bonus funds.
You now have 100+130 = 230 in your account.
Let's say another site offers a 100% welcome bonus:
You deposit 100.
The site adds 100×100% = 100 in bonus funds.
You now have 100+100 = 200 in your account.
Maximum bonus amount
The maximum bonus amount is the most bonus you can get, no matter how much you deposit.
Example of maximum bonus amount
A site offers a welcome bonus of 100% up to 1,000.
You deposit 800.
The site adds 800×100% = 800 in bonus funds.
You now have 800+800 = 1,600 in your account.
Explanation: 800 is below the max 1,000. You can have 1,600 in your account even though it's more than 1,000.
Let's say we had deposited much more:
You deposit 1,400.
The site adds the maximum bonus of 1,000
You now have 1,400+1,000 = 2,400 in your account.
Explanation: The bonus is actually 1,400×100% = 1,400, but the site will only give you 1,000. Because this is the maximum.
Bonus funds are not the same as cash right away. You always have to bet/wager them a set number of times first.
This is called a wagering requirement, and we explain it below.
Types of welcome bonuses
There are two main types of welcome bonuses: one for sports and one for casino.
In addition, you can find other welcome bonuses, such as a free bet welcome bonus and a no-deposit welcome bonus.
Can you get them all?
You can normally get only one welcome bonus per site. Even though they might offer several, you can only choose one of them.
Expand below for details on each:
⚽️ Deposit match for sports
The most common type. The site matches a percentage of your deposit with bonus funds. The most common is a 100% match, which doubles your starting balance.
You have to wager (bet) your bonus (and sometimes your bonus+deposit) X number of times before you can withdraw any bonus money.
⚽️ Free bet welcome bonus
Instead of bonus money, you get a single free bet based on a % of your deposit. If your free bet wins, you normally keep your winnings, but not the stake. Often there is no wagering requirement afterwards, which is nice and simple.
This is often a much easier-to-understand welcome bonus than the normal deposit match. The biggest drawback is that once you're done with that one free bet, you're done with your welcome bonus.
We recommend these if you want the easiest type of bonus.
🎰 Deposit match for casino
Just as for sports, you get a % of your own deposit as bonus money. You also have to wager the bonus money X times before you can withdraw any money.
It is very common to also get free spins as part of your bonus. This is like free bets, just at slots.
Casino terms have a higher wagering requirement (typically 35x) and fewer days to meet it (typically 7 days). But there aren't any minimum odds to care about. In the end, it's just as easy or hard to make money on casino bonuses as sport bonuses.
🎰 No-deposit welcome bonus
These bonuses are very rare, especially at major casinos and betting sites.
It's a small bonus you get just for signing up, with no deposit needed. This is most common for casinos, not for sports.
You often have to fill in credit card or payment details even though you don't have to make a deposit.
There are strict wagering requirements, this is not free money you can just withdraw easily.
We recommend going for a deposit bonus instead. Then you get a bigger bonus and easier terms.
🎁 Welcome packs
A welcome pack is when you get a welcome bonus on your 2nd, 3rd, and perhaps 4th deposits.
This is most common for casino, but we see it more and more for sports bonuses as well.
Look for packs that keep the % match high! Some keep it around 100%, while others drop down to 25%.
What terms come with a welcome bonus?
Every welcome bonus has rules. There are rules deciding if you get the bonus or not, and there are rules for what you can do with your bonus money (wagering terms).
If you break some terms, you'll lose your bonus money. Wagering terms can be broken; you won't lose your bonus money, but the bets that break the terms won't count toward meeting the wagering requirements.
The rules are called "terms and conditions," "terms," or "t&c".
Here are the most common terms for welcome bonuses:
Terms for getting a welcome bonus
You have to:
Log in from a certain country.
Fill in some fields in your personal profile
Activate your phone number / email
Deposit above the minimum value
Have selected the bonus you want
Be the only one in your household to register
Use your first deposit to get the welcome bonus
Make your deposit before X number of days from creating your account.
Also, some sites accept crypto for welcome bonuses, others don't.
Terms for using a welcome bonus
These terms are only for the welcome bonus. You can place bets that don't meet these terms, but they just won't count toward the wagering requirements.
For both sports and casino:
Time limit / bonus validity: How many days you have to meet the wagering requirements.
Wagering requirement (rollover): how many times you must bet the bonus before you can withdraw. A bonus of 100 with 5x wagering means you must place 500 in bets first. Lower is better.
Maximum stake: There's often a maximum allowed bet size for meeting the wagering requirement.
Only sports:
Minimum odds: the lowest odds a bet can have to count toward wagering. Lower is better.
Accepted markets: Often, you can't bet on markets such as "totals" or "handicap". (Totals (also called over/under): a bet on whether the combined score will be over or under a set number, like total goals over/under 2.5. Handicap: a bet where one team gets a virtual head start or deficit to even out the odds. For example, a -1 handicap means your team must win by 2 or more.)
Only accumulator bets: Some betting sites only allow accumulator (combo/parlay).
Only casino:
Games contribution: Different games count differently towards the wagering requirement. E.g. blackjack counts extremely low, since this can be played for a long time without losing too much money. Slots normally count 100%.
Terms for withdrawing a welcome bonus
Max bonus winnings: Often, you can only keep up to a maximum of your initial bonus amount. Even if you win big while wagering your bonus, you'll lose all the extra winnings when the bonus money is transferred to your main account.
KYC - Know Your Customer: All licensed gambling sites are required to check the identity of their customers to prevent money laundering. This means you'll have to send in a photo of yourself holding your ID.
Deposit and withdraw to the same payment method: Often, you have to make withdrawals to the same payment method as you used to make your deposit. If this is not possible (for instance, with eVouchers), you might have to use the payment method specified by the gambling site. (eVouchers: a prepaid code you buy and enter to add funds, no card needed)
Can you use crypto for a welcome bonus?
Crypto means digital money like Bitcoin or USDT. Every major betting site we have checked in these markets accepts crypto.
But accepting crypto for deposits is not the same as allowing it for bonuses. Sites fall into three groups:
Some let you claim every bonus with crypto.
Some allow crypto for only selected bonuses.
Some do not allow crypto for any bonus.
So if you plan to deposit with crypto, check the bonus terms first to make sure your bonus still counts.
Pros and cons of welcome bonuses
You get extra money, a free bet or free spins to start with.
More money lets you place more bets, try new sports or casino games.
A great way to test a new site with less of your own money.
If you meet the terms, you can withdraw your bonus money.
You must meet wagering requirements before you can withdraw bonus winnings.
If you just want to place a few bets, it might not be worth understanding the terms.
How to claim a welcome bonus
Claiming a welcome bonus is quick, but can be confusing the first time you do it. Here is how it works at most sites.
Are welcome bonuses worth it?
We'll focus on three main answers.
Worth it: Bonus hunters
Worth it: Play for fun
Not worth it: Don't want the hassle
Expand below to read each:
Worth it: Bonus hunters
If you believe you can meet the wagering requirements without losing all your bonus funds, you'll earn money.
The terms are strict enough that most people won't earn much, most of the time. But it is possible.
Worth it: Play for fun
You accept that you won't win all of the time. But the bonus money gives you a lot more to gamble with, so it's worth it.
And every now and then, you will actually earn some of that bonus money.
Not worth it: Don't want the hassle
You don't have to use the welcome bonus.
It's not worth it if you spend a lot of frustrating time understanding terms when all you want is to place some bets or play some casino games.
Adam RahmanEditor
Quick tip: Before you deposit, do the math.
Multiply the bonus by the wagering requirement to see how much you must bet/gamble.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a promo code to claim a welcome bonus?
Sometimes. Many sites apply the bonus automatically. Others ask you to enter a code during sign-up.
A promo code often adds to your maximum bonus or to your bonus deposit match.
Can I withdraw a welcome bonus right away?
No, never. You have to meet the wagering requirements first. After that, you can withdraw what remains of your bonus.
Can I use crypto to claim a welcome bonus?
Sometimes. Every major site we've checked accepts crypto, but not all of them allow it for bonuses.
Some allow it only for selected bonuses. Check the bonus terms before you deposit. We always cover this in our promo code articles.
Can I claim more than one welcome bonus at the same site?
No, you get one welcome bonus per person and account.
If you want another welcome bonus, you must register on a different site.
What happens if I do not meet the wagering in time?
You lose your bonus money. Your own deposit and real-money winnings stay with you.
Conclusion
Welcome bonuses give you more money and more fun, as long as you're prepared to read and understand the terms and conditions. If not, just sign up and place bets as normal.
Ready to claim one? Browse our promo code offers for:
Hi, I’m Adam. I’ve spent the last 10+ years writing for websites, and know the sports betting world inside out. I’m a sports betting geek with a sharp eye for details. I do the deep research on bonuses, odds, and operators — so you don't have to.
Adam Rahman Editor