How to Find Gambling Bonuses in 2024
Gamblers will find there are a lot of companies trying to gain new customers and get them to try their slot games or sportsbook markets, and there needs to be an incentive in order to stay competitive. One way to tempt new players is through generous bonuses. Let's take a look at what 2024 holds for the gambling bonus market.
Free Spins
Terms like “no deposit bonus” or “matched deposit” might be confusing for people who haven’t gambled before, and there are many other terms to get used to besides these, too.
Gambling911.com would often avoid language such as "deposit bonus" as the word "deposit" tends to have negative connotations. Instead, we'd promote sportsbooks and online casinos by noting how new customers were eligible to receive bonuses on the amount they choose to open their betting account with.
More confusing was the "up to" 20%, 30%, 40% on an initial deposit, as if folks get to actually keep that part of what they send to the gaming site.
With this in mind, the term "free spins" has become increasingly popular over the years. Who doesn't want a few free shots at winning in slots? The player is awarded when he or she wins, plain and simple.
Crypto slots tend to feature higher percentage bonuses as gambling sites try to encourage use of bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies due to the cost savings. Plus they throw in the "free spins". It's a win, win for the player and the operator. Crypto gaming also provides a layer of security due to the anonymity and transparency features.
Free spins are a common bonus with lots of types of casinos as they are likely to be a way for developers and slot machine websites to promote their games. Check the website’s promo section to potentially find free spins.
Matched Deposit
Once you get past any negative connotations associated with the word "deposit", a matching deposit is actually quite enticing to gamblers.
There are around 5,000 different gambling operators in the world according to studies, so it is no surprise that many of them offer bonuses and promotions like matched deposits which are aimed to get new users to try the games. Check before signup if a casino or gambling site has this offer.
Typically there are limitations such as "free matching $100" or "free matching $200). A "free matching $2000" might put the gaming site out of business.
Read the terms and conditions for these types of offers carefully as nearly all online gambling sites require that money is staked a number of times before being withdrawn.
Matched deposits may even see the gambling brands depositing more than the person signing up, such as a “deposit $10, get $40 to play with” promotion. These are pretty popular, especially when spelled out. In the past these would sometimes be advertised as "140% of your initial deposit", but, again, the use of percentages could prove confusing. It's easy for folks to misunderstand this as being a 40% bonus on top of money that is already yours, not to mention the average Joe probably can't comprehend what 140% of something actually is. Math is not fun for most people.
No Deposit Bonuses
Okay, math is fun where there is none.
A "No Deposit Bonus" means zero expense and no obligation on your part.
New customers may even receive a small balance to play with before deciding whether they want to sign up for an account.
These promos will remain popular throughout 2024.
Odds Promotions
This is a type of promotion that only exists in sports betting and games where there are odds offered, not in games like poker. These offers are common among a lot of betting sites for sports like football, soccer and tennis where there are odds offered before the game, so people can check if there is a boost on the odds they would ordinarily get. The term "boost" has grown especially popular with the advent of the US regulated sports market, so much so that offshore sportsbooks now heavily promote the concept at the top of their web page odds feeds.
Free Bets
Just like free spins, a lot of sportsbook brands give out free bets, which effectively means a token amount that players can stake in the normal way on an outcome they believe is going to happen (i.e. next score in a football game will be a field goal).
Loyalty Bonuses
Loyalty bonuses vary and depend on the type of gambling site. They come in so many different forms. Some experts on the industry claim that 50% of gamblers are likely to recommend brands they play at with regularity to their friends.
A number of websites even offer buddy referrals where individuals can receive a dollar amount or percentage of their friend's deposit up to a certain dollar amount.
Loyalty is often referred to as "retention" and this is something that all gaming companies should strive for.
Regulations
As online gambling becomes increasingly popular with each passing year, some regulators now require gaming operators and their affiliates to refrain from using certain language.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced in November they were ready to address the subject of bonuses and other incentives with gaming industry players. In the UK there are already restrictions on how incentives can be used to entice customers.
The term "free bets" is being studied in order to determine whether this type of offer is socially responsible being that "free bets" will sometimes lure in those who simply do not have the means to gamble for real money. Online casinos are not charities. They eventually want customers spending - and losing - money.
New York State began targeting what they deemed to be predatory operators. The irony being that if you type in "New York State sports betting bonuses explained", you'll be inundated with bonus offers that are not explained.
We saw one offer for “First Bet Offer Up to $1,000 paid back in Bonus Bets (if you don't win).”
There are restrictions to said bonus offer that New York regulators likely want spelled out in any ad campaign. 2024 is likely the year they'll get more strict as lawmakers look to allow online casino games in the state.
- B.E. Delmer, Gambling911.com
