Being an internet user, the words “MAKE MONEY FROM HOME” have probably twinkled on your screen. “How do they know what I was thinking?” is the question that follows, but the truth is, everybody has fantasized about earning a living from the comfort of their couch. The ironic bit? In the event you are reading this in 2020, the chances are that, at some point in this past year, you have been working from home.
With many venues being closed, there is one type in particular that incorporates those glistening promises AND the incorporeal factor that’s so useful during the lockdowns: online casinos.
What Happens in Vegas, Stays in… Your Laptop
If in the old days casinos would lure players with bright lights, inebriating music, and beautiful people, now, with the advent of the Internet, the strategies were adapted to suit this new medium.
One way online casinos found to entice you into gambling is by offering players bonuses. This strategy revealed itself to be particularly successful because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t like bonuses?
It has been proven time and time again that promotions like “Buy two, take one free!” do work. How many of us have bought something that seemed like a great investment, but upon closer inspection realized absolutely no one needs TWO Christmas trees at home?
The word “bonus” makes us tingle with excitement… and there’s nothing we can do about it.
Online casinos’ bonuses are a way of enhancing your gambling experience by giving added impetus to the value of a deposit, or allowing you to explore the casino without apparent risk.
There are several different incentives and each comes with their own specifications. For you and your wallet’s sake, we’ll leave you with the two most feasible types of bonuses you can find online:
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Welcome/Sign-up
The casinos’ alluring welcome mat. Offered upon registration, these bonuses jumpstart your initial deposit, getting you a more secure bankroll.
You will probably come across something like: “150% bonus up to $2500”. This means that whatever your initial deposit is, you multiply it by the percentage with the result being the value of your bonus. Take it you invest $1000. With a 250% bonus, you would end up earning $1500 in addition to your investment. Not bad for starters, right?
The imperious thing to keep in mind is that casinos’ business is not “free money”. More often than not, these initial offers come with wagering requirements – an uglier sounding bit than “$1500”.
A wagering requirement is the number of times a person has to gamble the bonus money before they can make any cash withdrawal. If you don’t meet the requirements, your bonus funds will never be converted into real money. These conditions vary amongst casinos so it’s best to do some research before putting your money where your username is.
Casino Guru could be a great helper whilst deciding where to invest to get to that new car faster.
But what if we told you you don’t always have to make a deposit to receive a bonus?
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No-deposit
That’s right: some casinos don’t demand initial investment. Most times you will find these types of bonuses in the welcoming basket, usually in the form of free chips or spins. This is the safest way to experiment with different casinos until you find the one that’s right for you.
These types of bonuses can be compared to supermarket coupons: instead of using your own money, you give the cashier the code and walk away with an intact wallet and a bag of groceries.
However, do watch out for the sneaky wagering requirements, although the great thing about no-deposit bonuses is that you can usually keep them. Websites like LCB (online since 2006) offer you listings of the best no-deposit deals you can find.
When you venture into this universe you’ll notice several other types of incentives like promotional, cashback, high-roller, reload, free spins, and free play bonuses. All of these are branches of the categories we presented above.
When questing for those prizes you will come across several filters to narrow down your research, so here are some navigational tips:
- Use the location filters to find the bonuses you are eligible for, since some of them may only apply to a few countries in particular.
- Apply bonus value (%) to get to the higher percentages. Look for 200%-300% bonuses.
- Employ bonus amount ($) to discover high roller casino bonuses above 500$ for your hefty investment to meet its match.
- Sort by year so you’ll find the newest casinos, which are often very generous in their welcome baskets.
- Filter by wagering requirements to identify casinos with the lowest ones, making your withdrawals easier.
Our advice is to always check the credibility of a casino by reading its reviews and conditions; when it comes to gambling, it’s best if you don’t automatically tick the T&C box without skimming through it.
Every single question that might pop up in your mind has probably already been answered; there is an immensity of online forums such as gamblingsites.com.
If in the past you had to go down to New Orleans to find gamblin’ men, nowadays you simply go online.
In Conclusion
Online casinos are indeed a valid way for you to make money or, in case you have a handsome fortune lying around, a valid way of entertainment. You can even consider online gambling as a new, technological, statistics game, in which luck comes hand-in-hand with extensive research.
However, statistics show that in 2020, the online gambling market had an estimated value of 66.7 billion dollars. From that number alone, one can gather that the free money might come with a cost after all. You just need to keep informed, keep watering your plants, and most importantly: keep safe! Thank you for reading!