Updated Oct 24, 2024
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First deposit bonuses are used to attract new players to casinos. Loyalty programs aim to retain them. Bonuses include free spins, cashback, and deposit bonuses. They can be offered for accruing points or they might be offered during promotional periods to existing players. Taking advantage of loyalty program bonuses offers a viable means of optimizing casino profits, but, first, you need to know the types of bonuses, when they are offered, and how to really optimize the benefits.
Casinos spend a lot of money on marketing and advertising. This helps bring in new players. The quality of their service and range of games help ensure that players stick around, but loyalty programs not only help encourage players to stick around but to potentially spend more, too. Many leading online casinos to play today offer loyalty rewards, and while their primary aim is to increase spend at the casino, they can benefit players too. Gambling expert Vlad Grindu highlights the higher limits and monthly bonuses that some of these sites have to offer.
As well as higher limits, players can expect to see any of a number of different loyalty rewards.
Cashback - Cashback means that the player receives a portion of their lost stakes back. There will usually be limits and requirements to meet, but cashback might, for example, mean that a player receives $1 back for every $10 stakes in a given timeframe.
Free Spins - Free spins offer free games at online slots. These are sometimes offered to mark the launch of a new slot game, but they can also be given to loyal players who stake a certain amount or who meet other requirements. Some loyalty programs might offer free spins that can be used on any slot machine, while some provide free spins on specific games.
Deposit Bonuses - Deposit bonuses are common bonuses for new players. The casino matches all, part, or even multiples of a player’s deposit. These represent some of the best bonuses available but players should look out for wagering requirements designed to prevent them from simply withdrawing the bonus straight away.
Exclusives - Some loyalty programs and VIP reward programs offer exclusive deals or other exclusive bonuses. These can include anything from faster withdrawals to access to high-roller tournaments. Some casinos also offer cosmetic and social rewards, like badges. These don’t help maximize winnings and can largely be ignored.
There are ways to use most loyalty program rewards to maximize your earnings on the site.
Look at the bonus scheme offered by a casino and find the different bonuses on offer. Loyalty programs might reward players for depositing a certain amount during a month. Some might offer rewards for the money spent on specific games. You might even find some bonuses if you deposit cryptocurrency rather than traditional currency. You will need a crypto wallet, but you could enjoy generous bonuses for the privilege. Check the terms of any bonuses to ensure that you know how to meet the requirements.
If you get loyalty points for playing certain games, or for depositing at certain times, play to maximize those points. The terms of the program will highlight whether you need to meet any specific wagering requirements or game specifics, but it can be annoying to find that you’ve been playing the wrong slot machine or you haven’t been wagering enough per spin of the roulette wheel to gather your bonus.
If you’re looking to really make the most of bonuses, especially deposit match bonuses, use the bonus money on high RTP games. The Return To Player rate is the ratio of total stakes returned to players as winning. A 95% RTP means that for every $100 wagered, $95 is returned to players in winnings. Playing high RTP games enables you to meet wagering requirements whole hopefully keeping hold of your winnings. It also means that your bank balance will last longer while trying to meet the requirements of the loyalty program.
Some loyalty programs offer points, which can be redeemed for your choice of bonus. Ignore those that do not offer any real method of maximizing your profits, such as skins or badges. Choose that are relevant to the games you play and how you like to bet. If you’re an avid online slot player, choose free spins, if it’s a good reward. If you regularly deposit money, take advantage of cash-back offers. If you have cryptocurrency, choose to deposit and withdraw via cryptocurrency and take advantage of any rewards that brings.
Loyalty programs are generally available to all players. VIP programs are a step above this and are generally reserved for those players who bet big or bet often. Check the requirements for the VIP program to see if you qualify. You can enjoy even more bonuses and might potentially get more cash back or extra free spins.
Sign up to receive news from the casino, and agree to have details of the latest loyalty programs and bonuses delivered to your email. Casinos can and do change their bonus offers regularly. And they might make exclusive offers at certain times or during promotional periods. By signing up to receive emails or even push notifications, you will always know of the latest offers and how to get them.
Casinos use loyalty schemes and VIP programs to encourage players to spend and retain existing clients. They use loss aversion to help prevent player churn. Players can use them to help increase their betting bank or maximize their winnings at the casino. The key to benefiting from these programs is to research them, learn the terms and requirements, and then strategically bet to meet those requirements. Players should also ensure they use the most appropriate bonuses on offer to get the most from the rewards.