Best online casino bonus right now

The reality of online casino bonuses is that they’re all fairly similar. While they come in a few different variations, the end result is often the same. As a result, small differences can make a really big impact, literally. One casino’s bonus might be perfect for new players, while others may be catered to the high rollers. Use this guide to find the best online casino bonus that fits you and your style of play.

Top online casino bonus: DraftKings

DraftKings earns its name! We give it the crown, thanks to its welcome bonus worth up to $1,155 in casino credits and more. To start, new players will snag 500 bonus spins on a featured game, which rotates. Plus, you’ll get your net losses back after 24 hours, up to $1,000.

The free spins are a nice addition to the bonus package. They’re valued at $0.20 per spin, though, so your chance of a big payday with them is low.

While the deadline to play through your credits is seven days (that’s pretty quick), the 1x playthrough requirement makes it relatively easy.

Pros:

• High value for low upfront investment
• Playthrough requirement is only 1x
• 100% of net losses back after 24 hours

Cons:

• Seven days to meet the requirements is a quick turnaround
• Free spins are only worth $0.20 apiece

Fastest-paying online casino bonus: BetRivers

If you want the shortest possible journey between signing up, earning your bonus, clearing it, and cashing out, BetRivers is for you.

The BetRivers Casino bonus varies by state. In Pennsylvania, the offer is a 100% deposit match up to $250. In New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia, the bonus is a 100%, 24-hour lossback bonus up to $500. In both cases, the playthrough requirement is only 1x.

All of this together means you can clear your bonus quickly at BetRivers, which is a perk in and of itself. Once you do, there’s yet another benefit. The casino’s RushPay system can approve withdrawals faster than any other site, so you could get your money in minutes (if you’re lucky enough to win, of course).

Pros:

• Great bonuses with 1x playthrough, no matter which state’s offer you get
• RushPay makes payments incredibly fast
• BetRivers doesn’t list any game restrictions

Cons:

• High rollers may wish the bonus amounts were higher
• Only net losses are given as credit in the NJ, MI, and WV bonus

Top online casino bonus for novice players: BetMGM

BetMGM is an ideal choice for new players for a variety of reasons. Chief among them? It is one of the only casinos to offer a true no-deposit bonus without rigid terms attached. In fact, most casinos require a deposit or a minimum wager to get similar credits. BetMGM keeps it simple. Sign up and you’ll receive a $25 no-deposit bonus, perfect for the novice player to try out a few games and meet the easy 1x playthrough requirement.

BetMGM also offers a 100% first deposit match up to $1,000. It requires a minimum deposit of $10 and has a 15x playthrough requirement. Game contribution rates vary, with slots at the lowest playthrough rate. While this element of the bonus isn’t exactly ideal for new players, you can still make it work for you.

Pros:

• $25 no deposit bonus is easy to claim and great for new players
• 100% first deposit match adds value to the bonus
• Ongoing offers are plentiful for existing players at BetMGM

Cons:

• 15x playthrough requirement plus game contribution rates make the deposit match hard to claim
• Quick turnaround of 7 days to meet playthrough requirements

Easiest casino sign-up bonus to clear: FanDuel

Want an online casino welcome bonus you can clear quickly and without any major roadblocks? Look no further than FanDuel Casino. It’s a simple bonus: sign up and deposit $10 or more to get $40 in casino credit and 500 bonus spins (granted in 50 spin increments over 10 days). It comes with a 1x playthrough requirement.

Clearing it is, therefore, pretty simple. If you deposit $10 or more right off the bat, you’ll get the $40 in credit and be ready to play through the bonus quickly. Use your credit to play slots, table games, or live dealer titles. Once you’ve used it all up, any winnings you have remaining are yours to withdraw. In theory, you could clear the bonus in just a few minutes if you wanted.

Pros:

• Simple and easy bonus to claim and clear
• Requires very little upfront investment; great for new players
• Use your $40 credit on any game you’d like

Cons:

• Low overall dollar value
• Bonus spins are in low bet increments

Best online casino bonus for playing games: Caesars

The Caesars Palace Online Casino welcome bonus offers you $10 on sign-up + 100% deposit match up to $1,000. It’s attached to your first deposit, though, so you’ll need to shell out a hefty sum to claim the full bonus or close to it. Plus, Caesars imposes a 15x to 75x playthrough, depending on the games you play.

The silver lining of the playthrough requirement? It gives you an excuse to play tons of great games, and Caesars Palace Online Casino is chock-full of them, including slots with jackpots, table games, live dealer, and plenty of exclusives. There’s a reason Caesars is a household name in the casino world and now online as well.

Caesars also offers 2,500 Reward Credits when you bet $25 or more, which is an amazing start to your journey as a Caesars Rewards member

Pros:

• High value bonus of up to $1,000
• Get 2,500 Reward Credits when you bet $25 or more
• One of the best loyalty programs: Caesars Rewards

Cons:

• High playthrough, up to 75x on certain games
• Craps, roulette, and other table games are excluded from playthrough
• You have only seven days to meet the high playthrough

Best online casino bonuses for new and existing players: Golden Nugget

Golden Nugget Online Casino kicks things off with an excellent bonus for new players. Snag a 100% deposit match up to $1,000 plus 200 free spins on sign-up. The spins can only be used on selected slot games and are doled out in 20-spin per day increments and $0.10 value.

The deposit match bonus at Golden Nugget has a playthrough requirement of 10x.

Golden Nugget keeps the good stuff coming with plenty of offers for existing players. There are weekly cashback bonuses, slot tournaments, and “game of the week” features.

Pros:

• Deposit match bonus offers up to $1,000
• The 10x playthrough requirement is reasonable
• Many promotions for existing players

Cons:

• Free spin value is low, and you can only use them on selected games
• Certain games contribute limited amounts to the playthrough requirement
• 7-day expiration on the bonus funds is a quick turnaround.

From welcome offers to daily promotions, online casinos offer a full range of bonuses and rewards for new and existing players. Discover the most popular offers and how to find the best bonus for your playing style.

Welcome bonus

A welcome bonus is just what it sounds like: an offer to welcome you to the casino. They can take many forms, from lossback to deposit matches to bonus spins. Some casinos even combine multiple offers into a single welcome package. The bottom line? You’ll be rewarded for creating an account, making a first deposit, and playing at the online casino.

No deposit bonus

No deposit bonuses are simple but rare. They grant you some free casino credits as a thank-you for signing up. BetMGM is best known for offering $25 casino credit on the house, making it one of the best no deposit bonuses in any legal market.

Free spins

Free spins (sometimes called bonus spins) tend to come in tandem with other bonuses. In most cases, the spins are relegated to a single specific game or a set of approved games. The spins expire if unused, and they usually give you the lowest possible spin value (aka a minimum bet). Even so, you keep any winnings you get from the spins.

VIP programs

The scope and rules of VIP programs vary widely, but the concept is the same. You earn rewards for playing at the online casino. Those rewards — in the form of playfully named points (like DraftKings’ “Crowns”) — can be redeemed for online and sometimes in-person perks. If you find a casino you like, sticking with it can pay dividends in the form of Reward status.

Reload bonuses

Some online casinos will occasionally reward you for reloading your account by making a deposit. For example, you might see a 10% deposit match up to $50 max. In that case, depositing $100 would get you a $10 credit, boosting your balance. These deals usually have minimum deposits and limited deadlines, so read the fine print.

Cashback offers

Cashback or lossback offers give you the chance to recover some of your losses. They almost always have a timeline attached, such as 24 hours or 7 days. During that time, any net losses you incur will be fully or partially refunded in the form of casino credits. This is also a popular welcome bonus format.

Refer-a-friend

Send a friend your exclusive referral code or link. If they create a new account and deposit/play a minimum dollar amount, you’ll both be rewarded. The structures vary by casino, but most will offer at least $50 in credit or some Reward points to you and your referred friend.

Game-specific bonuses

This category is a catch-all for bonuses that apply to a specific game. For example, BetMGM frequently offers “bet and get” bonuses that apply to a singular game, such as “Bet $50+ on 88 Fortunes and get $5 in credit to keep playing.”

Of course, many other bonus formats are possible, but that one is fairly common.

Mobile casino offers

Most casinos offer the same bonuses on mobile as they do on desktop. However, you might occasionally see mobile-exclusive promotions at an online casino.

Daily, weekly, and monthly promotional offers

Many casinos offer certain promotions on a rolling basis. For example, FanDuel has its Reward Machine. Every day, players get three spins on the Machine to collect symbols. Over the course of the week, using spins every day can land you more symbols. Match enough to get a prize. Bally Bet and Caesars offer similar bonuses.

High-roller promos

If you play or spend enough at an online casino, you might get access to exclusive promotions. These are offered to VIPs only, and they will typically involve rewards for making hefty deposits. These offers will only appear to you if you spend enough to catch the casino’s notice as a possible VIP.

Sweepstakes bonuses

Sweepstakes casino bonuses allow you to earn entries into drawings for big prizes. The most prominent is the Caesars “Experience the Empire” series, which runs regularly and offers a chance at huge vacations, hotel stays, and betting credits. You earn entries by playing a certain amount, and you can often earn multiple entries for better chances of winning.

While the crux of enjoying an online casino bonus is claiming it and playing the games you enjoy, there are a few things you can do to maximize your offer.

• Know the requirements: Understanding the playthrough requirement can help you choose games that may give you a better chance of winning with your bonus.
• Set reminders for deadlines. You often have between one and two weeks to meet the bonus requirements. Set alarms or reminders to ensure you make the most of your time.
• Always check the promotions page first thing. Maybe even bookmark it. This way, you’ll always know what the latest deals are, and they can supplement your welcome bonus.
• Ask for help if you need it. Customer support can provide more details about your bonus and how to clear it.
• Deposit within your limits. You’ll need to play through your bonus, so don’t deposit more than you can reasonably afford to lose.

Most of all, though, remember to have fun and find games that bring you joy. Bonuses are a nice perk, but online casinos are meant to be fun.

We recommend two specific online casino bonuses if you’re trying to play on a budget (specifically under $10).

First, FanDuel’s welcome bonus is excellent for budget-savvy players. Depositing $10 will get you $40 in credit with only 1x playthrough, plus 50 spins per day for 10 days. It’s a high-value bonus with player-friendly terms and conditions.

Second, BetMGM’s bonus is great for little to no investment. Well, part of BetMGM’s bonus, anyway. Simply signing up will earn you $25 in credit on the house, which you can play with and keep any winnings. The deposit match is also available, and if you deposit $10, you’ll get $10 more in credit. However, that credit is subject to a 15x minimum playthrough requirement.

Real money online casinos are available in only a few markets in the US, while sweepstakes casinos are more widely offered. They function differently, but both have welcome bonuses. Here are some key differences between them.

Sweepstakes casino sites are very popular right now, especially as alternatives to real money casinos in states that don’t allow the latter.

Signing up, plugging in a bonus or promo code, and claiming your online casino welcome offer is easy. Most casinos have similar sign-up processes, though the order of the steps may vary slightly. The same goes for the language. One online casino may say “Sign Up,” while another says “Join” or “Register.” No matter what, the process is largely the same, following this general pattern.

1. Head to your chosen online casino (you can use our links).
2. Click ‘Sign Up,” “Register,” or similar.
3. If necessary, select your state from a dropdown menu.
4. When prompted, plug in your promo code, if applicable. This step may appear later in the process at some casinos.
5. Enter the required personal info: name, email, date of birth, phone number, address, etc.
6. Provide identifying documents such as a photo ID and all or part of your SSN. You may also need to submit a selfie to confirm your identity.
7. Check any required boxes to accept the terms, conditions, and privacy policy.
8. If required, verify your phone number and/or email with a link or code sent to you.
9. Opt in for your welcome bonus if necessary, then make a deposit.
10. Start playing!

While this may seem like a lot of steps, most are condensed into a single page during sign-up. Most online casinos streamline sign-ups, so they only take a few minutes at most to complete.

Truth be told, one payment method isn’t inherently better than the other. Choosing the best one for you comes down to personal preference and what you’d like to do with the payment method, just like an online casino bonus. If you want to deposit and withdraw to the same account, online banking or PayPal will work best. If you want a quick and easy method, debit/credit might be your top choice. They all get you to the same point, though, which is making a deposit and claiming your bonus.

Some popular payment methods at online casinos include:

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Credit/Debit
• ACH eCheck
• Online Banking
• PayNearMe
• Cash at a partnered casino

Choose the one that you like most and that best fits your needs.

All players should know four key elements of online casino bonus terms before choosing and using their specific offer.

1. Minimum deposit: You must make a minimum deposit to qualify for the promotion. The minimum is usually $10 or so.
2. Playthrough requirement: This is how much you need to play before your bonus becomes withdrawable. 1x means you need to play the value of your bonus one time. 15x means you play it 15 times. The lower, the easier.
3. Game Contributions: Some games contribute more to playthrough requirements than others. For example, slots might contribute 100% while video poker contributes 20%. These rates vary by casino.
4. Deadline: The amount of time you must play through your bonus and meet any terms.

Know the terms going in so you don’t end up losing your bonus due to a technicality.

To cash out your online casino sign-up bonus, you need to meet the playthrough requirement within the casino’s deadline. This often means playing a lot within your first seven days with an account. Once you’ve met the playthrough requirement, any winnings in your account are yours to withdraw.

Chances are you’ve heard or seen many claims about online casino bonuses and promotions. We’re here to separate the truth from the falsehoods.

It’s impossible to win real money using casino bonus codes

Verdict: Fiction

While playthrough requirements can make it less likely that you’ll have withdrawable winnings from your bonus, you can absolutely win with bonus credits. To maximize your chances, pick a bonus with low playthrough and find games with high RTP percentages.

Casino sign-up bonuses are rigged to get you into the app

Verdict: Mostly Fiction

We don’t like the word “rigged” because that implies nefarious activity. Sure, welcome bonuses are made to bring players to a casino app, but they are also fair in that every player has the same opportunities to claim them and win. So, no, they aren’t “rigged,” but their purpose is certainly to encourage sign-ups.

Casinos pick the games for their offers because the players will never win them

Verdict: Fiction

Real talk. If a casino were found to be offering a game that players simply can’t win, they would be subject to all sorts of legal repercussions, fines, or even loss of operating license. All casino games are games of chance, and they all give the house (the casino) an advantage. Every player has the same chance to win or lose based on a casino game’s RTP percentage and internal mathematical model.

If you win using an online casino bonus and meet the requirements, you can stop playing

Verdict: Fact

Let’s say you claim FanDuel’s bonus. You deposit $10 and get $40 in credits (let’s ignore the free spins for this scenario, though they work in this exercise too). You play with that $50 ($10 of your own money and $40 in credits) and hit a bonus on your favorite slot. You win $38 by the time your credits run out. You’ve played through your bonus once and are free to withdraw the $38.

In other words, once you meet the requirement, the money you have from winnings is yours to keep, play, or withdraw.

High rollers get better offers and promotions than casual players

Verdict: Fact

While all players have access to a casino’s promotions page, most online casinos have separate VIP programs. This allows casino operators to offer bigger rewards to big spenders and high rollers. The dollar amount of those offers is significantly higher, but they will still require a huge investment from players who have shown they’re willing to make big deposits. While the offers are “better” in terms of amount, in practice, they usually require the same proportional spend.

When you search Google for casino promo codes, you can trust all the sites listed

Verdict: Fiction

Fiction, fiction, fiction. There are tons of offshore and illegal sites offering their services in the US. While they may assure you that you’re safe, you should steer clear. They can shut down and take your money without any notice. They may charge fees (big ones) for withdrawals and offer games with low RTPs. Only play at trusted sites. We only recommend legal and licensed sites on this page and others on our site.

You can also check with your state’s gaming oversight organization (like the Michigan Gaming Control Board or New Jersey division of Gaming Enforcement) for a list of authorized providers.

Casinos use language in the bonus terms and conditions to confuse and trick you

Verdict: Fiction, with a caveat

We’ll admit straight up that the language and terms can be confusing. However, once you know what to look for, it all becomes pretty clear. Knowing the playthrough requirement, game contribution, and deadlines will go a long way to helping you understand bonuses.

Keep it simple! Avoid any site that isn’t operating with a license in your state. For starters, only a few states even allow online casinos in the US:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• West Virginia

If you see an ad for a real money online casino elsewhere, it isn’t a legal site.

Also, keep an eye out for a casino’s licensing information. If it only lists Curacao or Costa Rica as its licensing jurisdiction, it is likely an offshore casino. Remember, you can check your state’s government websites for licensed operator lists.

Finally, look for odd payment methods outside of the US norm. Sites that only accept cryptocurrency without any other options could be questionable or outright illegal.

Responsible gaming is a crucial practice for anyone playing at an online casino and using an online casino bonus. While there are plenty of robust guides to responsible play, we can offer a few quick tips here.

• Only play with what you can afford to lose.
• Check in with yourself. If you stop having fun, stop playing.
• Set deposit limits within the app and stick to them.
• Monitor your play sessions and take frequent breaks.

If you need help, seek it. There are dozens of organizations and resources to assist, such as KindBridge, the National Problem Gambling Hotline, and Gamblers Anonymous

The short answer? Yes.

The longer answer? Online casino bonuses exist for a reason: to bring players into the online casino fold. But they are also genuinely rewarding, and we mean that literally. If you’re strategic and smart about how you deposit your money in relation to a welcome offer, you stand a chance to benefit in the form of winnings. While there’s always a huge element of luck involved, bonuses are an easy “in” for new online casino gamers or veteran players seeking a fresh boost to their balance at a "new' casino.

Can I legally use a casino bonus in the US?

Yes, as long as you’re 21 or older and within a legal state. You can play even if you’re just visiting, so long as you’re within state lines when you play.

What is the best real money casino with a no deposit bonus?

BetMGM has the best no deposit bonus. When you create your account, you’ll get $25 in casino credit. IT has a 1x playthrough requirement.

Which online casino gives a welcome bonus?

Every online casino worth your time will have a welcome bonus. The formats, amounts, and terms vary, but you’ll find a welcome bonus at every online casino with very few exceptions.

What states can I use an online casino promo code?

Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia all allow online casinos. CT, DE, and RI have limited options while the other four states are bustling markets with multiple online casinos each.

What casino has a free welcome bonus with no deposit?

BetMGM has a no deposit bonus worth $25 in casino credit. You’ll get the credit just for signing up.

How do I get the best online casino bonus?

This all comes down to your preferences and play style

Is there any casino game that pays real money without deposit for free?

While you might be able to win with a no deposit bonus like at BetMGM, the reality is you’ll need to deposit something to have a decent chance of winning. The games are always fair, but casinos always have the edge.

Can I trust that online casino bonuses are legit?

Yes. As long as you stick to the bonuses we recommend, you can trust the sites offering bonuses. While there are some illegal sites that try to pass themselves off as legitimate to unassuming users, we take great care to recommend only reputable, licensed, and legal online casino sites.