Best Online Casino Bonus and Promotions in South Africa
Gambling with an online casino bonus is a great way to improve your chances of earning large payouts. There are many different promotions and bonuses available at South African online casinos, so understanding the differences between them will help maximise your winning potential.
When you claim an online casino bonus, it’s best to do everything right from the start. This guide takes you through the entire process. We explain the different types of bonuses and promotions and discuss how to analyse terms and conditions so that you can make the most of them.
In this article, you’ll also find out which casinos in South Africa offer the best bonuses with the fairest wagering requirements. Everything you need to know is below, so let’s get started.
Leading South African Online Casino Bonus and Promotions October 2023
What is an Online Casino Bonus?
An online casino bonus usually refers to money that the casino adds to your casino balance. However, the casino bonus can also come as free spins for slots. The bonus is usually a promotional offer to advertise a new game. Sometimes it is simply the casino’s way of thanking players for loyalty.
There are many different types of online casino bonuses. The well-known are deposit, no deposit bonuses, and free spins. However, it’s not that clear-cut. Each of these bonus types exists in a wide variety of forms. For example, free spins come as part of a reload bonus, welcome bonus, deposit or no deposit bonus.
Bonuses are a great way of gaining new customers, which is why the best online casinos in South Africa usually put a lot of effort into their online casino bonus offers.
How to Redeem a Casino Bonus
Types of Online Casino Bonus
The casino industry is very competitive. Casino operators offer different bonuses to attract new players and keep existing customers.
Some online casinos require a bonus code to activate the reward. SA casinos use codes to identify which type of bonus you are claiming, so be sure to copy the correct bonus code if there is one. Many game providers have done away with the bonus code system. At these casinos, you click on the bonus of your choice to activate it. Click on any of the bonus offers on this page to try it out.
The best bonuses are those that offer good value with player-friendly terms. However, it can be hard to find the best casino offers, even for experienced gamblers! Therefore, it’s worth learning about each offer to know which one you should use. Let’s look at the most common types of online casino bonuses in South Africa in more detail.
Welcome Bonus
Being new to the world of online casinos is a good thing since it means that you have a plethora of welcome bonuses at your disposal. A welcome bonus is an offer that an online casino adds to your balance when you sign up at the casino. You can’t claim a welcome bonus twice at the same casino.
Welcome online casino bonuses can be deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses, or a combination. Deposit bonuses are the most popular type.
No Deposit Bonus
A no deposit bonus is bonus credits or free spins that an online casino adds to your account without asking you to deposit any of your own money. It’s completely free. Deposit online casino rewards aren’t reserved for new players. The best online casinos for South African players regularly offer no deposit bonuses to existing customers, especially loyal players who visit the casino regularly.
You can use a deposit-free bonus to play most games at an online casino. Yet, no deposit free spins are usually for play on a specific online slot machine.
No Deposit Bonus Codes
Sometimes the best online casino bonuses are only available through bonus codes. Casino bonus codes are simply tools that online casinos use to identify which bonus players are claiming. Some online casinos use the ‘click’ method instead. Here’s the difference between them:
- No deposit bonus codes: enter the code into the space provided to claim your bonus.
- Click for a no deposit bonus: click on the offer on the website to claim the reward.
Free Spins Bonus
A free spins bonus allows you to play on slot machines without spending your own money. Free spins bonuses are usually added to a specific online slot, so most of the time you won’t be able to choose the slot game. However, it’s becoming more common for online casinos to give you a few slot options and let you decide. You'll usually find 50 free or even 100 free spins bonuses.
No Wagering
No wagering bonuses are the crème de la crème of online casino bonuses. Don’t get too excited, though – these bonuses are hard to find. Why? Because you don’t have to play no wagering bonuses through the casino before you can withdraw them. It’s like somebody handing you free cash.
Since no wagering bonuses can be cashed out immediately, online casinos that offer these types of bonuses need to take extra precautions to protect themselves from bonus abuse. For the most part, players have to deposit to claim no wagering casino benefits.
Pros & Cons: Online Casino Bonuses
It's no secret that we spend loads of time finding the best casino bonus offers - and thoroughly enjoying them. If you're new to bonuses, there are a few positives and negatives to consider, which we've listed below.Pros
- Casino bonuses increase your bankroll and allow you place bigger bets
- Bonuses can extend your playing time at the casino
- Free spins introduce you to new and exciting slots
- No deposit bonuses are 100% risk-free
Cons
- Most bonuses have wagering requirements
- Bonuses must be played within a specified time
- No deposit bonuses usually have low maximum withdrawal limits
- Not all games contribute 100% towards bonus wagering requirements
Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements Explained
If you want to use casino rewards, then it’s vital to understand how wagering requirements work. Most bonuses come with wagering requirements which are also known as playthrough requirements.
When you claim online bonuses, you will have two separate casino account balances on your casino account: a real money balance and a bonus balance. Wagering requirements apply to bonus credits, not real credits. Most SA casinos will allow you to withdraw your real money balance anytime. Yet, before withdrawing your bonus balance, you need to meet the wagering requirements.
Here’s an example of how wagering requirements work:
- A player claims a 50% match bonus with a wagering requirement of 50x the bonus.
- This player deposits R100.
- The real cash casino balance is R100.
- The bonus balance is R50 (because 50% of R100 is R50).
- This player’s total casino balance is R150 (R100 + R50 = R150).
This player can withdraw the real balance (R100) at any time. However, this player cannot withdraw the bonus balance at any time. The wagering requirement of 50x the bonus must be met first. This means the player needs to place bets to the value of R2500 (50 x R50) using the bonus balance before any winnings can be withdrawn. Once the player meets the wagering requirements on the bonus, the balance is transferred to the cash balance and becomes real cash.
Wagering requirements on bonuses are extremely common. However, if you don’t like the sound of them, you can find no wagering casinos here.
Online Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions
Every casino bonus comes with specific terms and conditions. Before you claim a bonus, you need to check that the terms are fair. Once you’ve claimed the bonus, it is your responsibility to fulfil any additional requirements so that you can withdraw your winnings without any hassle.
Here are the most crucial bonus terms to be aware of.
Payment Methods
Some casinos exclude certain payment methods from bonus offers. Make sure that your favourite transaction methods are eligible for the bonus.
Minimum Deposit
Many operators stipulate that you must deposit a minimum value to receive a bonus.
Maximum Bonus
Some bonuses are capped at a specific value. For example, if you claim a 100% match bonus up to R500, then the maximum compensation you can get is R500. Whether you deposit R500 or R700, you will still receive a bonus of R500.
Game Restrictions
Some casino games may be off-limits when using bonus money. Make sure that your favourite games aren’t on the list of restricted games.
Window Period
The window period usually applies to welcome bonuses. Online casinos typically give players a certain number of days, weeks, or months to claim the welcome bonus after they create an account. If you register at a casino to take advantage of a welcome bonus, be sure not to miss the deadline.
Time Restrictions
Most online bonuses will expire if they aren’t used within the specified timeframe. Make sure you check how long the bonus will be valid after you’ve claimed it.
Maximum Withdrawal
Bonus rewards almost always have maximum withdrawal restrictions. For example, if the maximum withdrawal is around R500, you won’t be able to cash out more than this even if you win R20,000 while playing with the bonus.
Game Contributions
Online games may contribute differently to the wagering requirements. If you’re playing with a bonus and you want to meet the wagering requirement as soon as possible, it makes sense to play the games that have higher wagering contributions. Slots usually count for 100% of the playthrough requirements, whereas table games may not count at all.
Maximum Bet Size
When you’re playing with a bonus, you shouldn’t exceed a specific bet size value per game round. The maximum bet size is usually relatively high, but you still need to know what it is. It only takes one big bet to have your bonus become void.
FAQs: Online Casino Bonuses
What are online casino bonuses?
Online casino bonuses are bonus credits or free spins that online casinos add to your casino account. When you use a casino bonus or free spins to play, your real money balance is not affected. You can use your bonus or free spins even if you don’t have real money in your casino balance.
What casino games can I play with a bonus?
Most online casinos will let you play any game with a bonus. You can play slots, card games, table games, live casino games, bingo, and scratch cards using online casino bonuses. Some online casinos restrict bonus usage to specific games but will clarify this in the bonus terms and conditions. Keep in mind that casino games contribute differently to the wagering requirements. If you’re trying to convert your bonus into cash, choose games with higher contributions.
Is it possible to withdraw a casino bonus?
It is possible to withdraw a casino a bonus once you have met the wagering requirements. The majority of online casino bonuses have wagering requirements attached. Once you meet the requirements, the bonus becomes real cash and can be withdrawn. The wagering requirement is the number of times you have to play a bonus through the casino before it converts into real money. If a bonus of R100 has a 25x wagering requirement, you need to place bets to the value of R2500 using the bonus before you can withdraw it.
Are casino bonuses for new players only?
No. The only casino bonuses that are reserved for new players at a casino are welcome bonuses. Existing players can claim all other online casino bonuses. When we say that welcome bonuses are only for new players, we don’t mean players that are new to online gambling.
How do I find the best bonuses?
We have rounded up the best online bonuses for players in South Africa on this page and recommend that you start with these. Read through the ‘Online Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions’ section on this page. Once you are familiar with the different restrictions and limitations of online casino bonuses, you’ll know what to look out for when you choose a bonus.
Do I have to deposit money to get a bonus?
No, not all types of casino bonuses require you to deposit real money. You can claim a no deposit bonus without depositing any money. The online casino will add the bonus to your casino balance for free.