Casino reload bonuses are often identical to the main welcome bonuses given to new customers, at least in terms of the basics of the offer. The big advantage of a reload bonus, however, is that it is a way for existing casino customers to gain extra value on their deposits.
Whilst some casinos lure you in with a big bonus but then have little in the way of freebies after that, all the brilliant mobile-friendly casinos we feature here have a good range of ongoing offers for loyal players, so they offer extra value once you have joined.
A reload bonus is a fine example of this and is usually based on а deposit made once you have taken advantage of the initial casino welcome bonuses.
How Reload Bonuses Work
A reload bonus is just a bonus that online and mobile casinos give to customers on deposits made after the first welcome bonus has been used. Some casinos may offer a bonus based on your first deposit (or first few) with them and this forms the principle casino welcome bonus offer. The reload bonus follows these sign-up offers and is designed to encourage you to deposit more once you have wagered through your initial bonus and to reward loyal and existing customers, based on future deposits.
These are usually, though not always, less generous than the main offer. For example, if you got 500% up to £1,000 (not unheard of!) upon joining the casino for the first time, a reload bonus would be up to 50% of the deposited amount. That’s clearly not as good as the initial offer but £50 of extra – free – casino action is not to be sniffed at and so these reload bonuses are well worth looking out for.
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A reload bonus is a percentage of the amount of funds you have deposited. Basically, it is a deposit bonus but unlike a welcome bonus, it can usually be received at random times and can be used multiple times. Additionally, it is worth mentioning, that a reload bonus may not always be a cash bonus. In fact, it is quite common for it to be in the form of free spins on a few games. Sometimes, the reload bonus may include both a cash bonus and a free spins one.
Usually, the reload bonuses available to all players have a set timing. For instance, there are bonuses available only on a certain day of the week or holiday. To use a given bonus, you need the promotional code for it, which needs to be entered upon depositing. The code and conditions for that bonus are listed in the article with the promotional offer by the casino. The promotional code and all conditions would be detailed in the promo page of the casino site. Almost always, the wagering requirements remain the same, which is around 30x – 40x, and the bonus funds expire after the set period of time has passed.
So, the way to use this bonus is usually by typing in the code granted either to all players, or the select few, when depositing. You should immediately receive your bonus after that. If the reload bonus is available only to certain players, an e-mail by the casino will be sent to them. It should contain all terms and conditions applicable as well as the promo code required to activate the offer.
Wagering Requirements for Reload Bonuses
Wagering requirements, also called rollover or playthrough, represent the number of times a bonus needs to be played through before a withdrawal can be requested. Or, to be precise, before your bonus winnings are transferred to your real-money wallet. As we mentioned just now, the wagering requirements usually remain the same, about 40x, though they can sometimes be higher or lower as well. This does not depend solely on the casino you have picked but also on the offer itself.
Everything varies from offer to offer and casino to casino but in general, the terms are quite similar to those of the main welcome bonuses. That is to say, the game restrictions, wagering requirements, and time limits are often the same, though (as with any offer) a quick scan of the terms is always recommended. These details will usually be listed either in the promotional email you get or on the site itself.
As we mentioned, there are usually more conditions applicable to reload bonuses than simply the wagering requirements. Some reload bonuses can only be used to play a small selection of games, or even just one game. Additionally, even if there are no game restrictions, there is always a different contribution to the wagering requirements by the different types of games.
For instance, slots usually contribute fully to the rollover, whereas video poker or other games contribute only partially. If you are required to wager £100 after getting a bonus, betting £100 on slots would be sufficient, while you may need to wager £200 or more if you are playing table games or video poker. Some games contribute 0% to the wagering requirements so be sure to carefully examine the list of possibilities.
Sometimes, depending on your location, the games you can use your bonus funds or spins on vary. This is because of the different laws and restrictions in almost every country.
Other Reload Bonus Conditions
Usually, the games that do not help players meet the wagering requirements are table games. Their contribution percentage is quite often very low or non-existent. Video poker games also do not contribute to the wagering requirements much if at all. Of course, there may be reload bonus promotions that are focused specifically on those types of games but these are usually the conditions for non-specific reload bonuses.
Casinos tend to use reload bonuses to attract inactive players back to the casino, or to get players who have made only one or two deposits to deposit again. Some loyalty and reward schemes also allow points to be exchanged for reload bonuses, so it is worth checking out the individual sites for that too. This is why you may not be eligible for a certain reload bonus, though usually, you can find out how you can become eligible by contacting customer support.
Something else worth noting with this type of bonus is that there is usually a maximum withdrawal limit. This means that even after you have met the wagering requirements, you will not be able to withdraw all of your bonus winnings if they exceed the withdrawal limit for this bonus. Usually, that limit is lower for bonus funds won through free spins.
Keep in mind that if the wagering requirements have not been met, all your bonus winnings and spins will be forfeited after the given time runs out. In a lot of cases, that time is 24 hours. Make sure you are entirely familiar with the conditions every time you decide to opt-in for a reload bonus.
Conclusion
Reload bonuses vary a lot – they can be available to all players, only to VIP members, or randomly selected ones. Their value can vary as well and so can the terms and conditions that apply to them.
Overall, reload bonuses are intended as rewards to the most active casino players. These bonuses give casino enthusiasts a chance to try out more games and thus, make the casino that offers them more appealing.