What is a casino sign up bonus?

Simply put, a casino sign up bonus is a prize you can claim when you sign up with an online casino. Sign up bonuses are a terrific way to boost your bankroll and are soley reserved for new players. Every online casino offers a sign up bonus to attract new players, so the savviest Canadian bettors will shop around to find the best on the market.

How do sign up bonuses work?

Sign up bonuses work by rewarding new players with free spins or bonus cash. These promotions are advantageous for both parties: you get a sweet reward on top of your regular gameplay, and the casino gets a brand-new player who will likely make further deposits. As long as you select a bonus with fair terms, you can boost your casino odds and hopefully secure a win - they are a win-win situation for both the player and the operator.

Which online casino has the best sign up bonus?

So, you now know what a sign up bonus is, how they work, and that there are several for you to choose from. But how do you go about separating the best from the worst?

We've compiled a list of some of the best bonuses available to Canadian bettors. These bonuses not only offer great value and a substantial bankroll boost, but the casinos themselves offer an excellent all-around gambling package. You can expect to find large game selections, varied payment options, and top-tier security.

How to claim a sign up bonus

1. Browse through the bonuses highlighted on this page. Our detailed online casino reviews come from our in-house team of industry experts, who scan the small print for fair Ts and Cs and big bonus value.

2. Choose the casino bonus you want to redeem and click the link to visit the casino home page. If the casino offers an exclusive OnlineCasino.ca bonus code, the link on this page will send you straight there.

3. Check the minimum deposit amount and whether your chosen bonus requires a promo code. Most casinos apply the bonus automatically after your first deposit, but it’s better to be safe than sorry - if you don’t meet the Ts and Cs, you won’t receive the bonus.

4. Register a new account with your chosen casino. You’ll need to provide your name, address, email, phone number, and date of birth. Some Canadian casinos may also ask you to create a username and password.

5. Some casino sites may ask you to verify your account before depositing, so be ready to upload the necessary ID documents.

6. Head to the cashier and select your preferred banking method. Enter the minimum deposit amount and promo code (if applicable), or opt for the bonus via the tick box. Finalize the transaction, and voila - the promo is yours!

How to find the best sign up offers

We examine every casino bonus available to Canadian bettors and only recommend the cream of the crop. Yet, we don’t just limit our assessment to the promotions page - we also consider the game selection, loyalty scheme, registration process, casino payment options, and casino security.

That said, we know that casino bonuses aren’t a one-size-fits-all deal. Some players might want the maximum number of free spins, while others seek a broader selection of eligible slot games. Alternatively, you might want to forfeit slots completely and focus on bonuses with table games included.

Below are some of our top tips for finding the best sign up bonus:

• Look for fair wagering requirements and expiry dates. No matter how generous a bonus may look, unfair Ts and Cs can strip the promotion of any real value.

• Make sure it has a generous maximum withdrawal cap. There’s nothing worse than hitting the jackpot and finding out you can only keep a tiny fraction of it!

• Check the game contributions. Some casinos allow games like roulette and blackjack to contribute up to 50% towards the wagering requirements, though many sites exclude them altogether. Remember to check before claiming the bonus, or you may accidentally wager real money.

Sign up bonus codes and how to use

Sign up codes (or promo codes) are a unique string of letters you can enter to claim a bonus. Casinos sometimes use them to reward exclusive offers to specific player demographics, such as new users or visitors from particular websites.

If a casino doesn’t apply a sign up bonus automatically, you’ll need to enter a bonus code during your account registration. You can usually find this in the bonus description. When prompted, simply enter the sign up code, and the casino will credit the bonus to your account.

Wagering requirements

Sign up bonuses have a multitude of perks - they give your bankroll a substantial boost and extend your gameplay, provide free game stakes on your favourite slots, and even give you a chance to win real money with no deposit at all. However, a few drawbacks will be buried in the small print, including wagering requirements, maximum win caps, and game restrictions.

Wagering requirements are one of the most significant factors to consider when claiming a sign up bonus. Simply put, this is the number of times you’ll need to play through your bonus before withdrawing your winnings. Unfortunately, these requirements are part and parcel of online gambling, and virtually every betting sign up bonus will have them. Though the industry average is around 35x, they can range from as little as 1x to as high as 70x.

Maximum winnings

Maximum win caps are a way for the casino to control how much of your potential bonus winnings you can keep. A no deposit sign up bonus in Canada will typically have a much higher maximum win cap than a deposit match sign up bonus since the casino is essentially giving away free money. Like wagering requirements, the win cap can significantly impact the value of a promotion. If you can only keep $50 from your $1,000 prize, there’s not much point in claiming it!

Game restrictions

Online slot machines are the bread and butter of most online casinos, which is why most sign up bonuses are geared toward slots. It’s rare to find a bonus where table games contribute 100% towards wagering requirements. Instead, they typically contribute between 10-50% (if they are eligible at all, that is).

Say, for example, that slots are weighted at 100%, and roulette is weighted at 20%. Every $1 you wager on slots will contribute $1 towards turning over the wagering requirements. However, every $1 wagered on roulette will only contribute $0.20. It’s vital to check the Ts and Cs for game weightings so that you’re completing the wagering requirements as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Similarly, there may be some games that are restricted entirely. Jackpot slots, live casino games, and, more often than not, table games are typically excluded from bonuses. Check the Ts and Cs for restricted games, or you may end up wagering real money instead of the bonus funds.

Types of payment methods

Most online casinos in Canada let you claim a sign up bonus using various popular payment methods. You will always find a debit or credit card option alongside a range of e-wallet and mobile casino payment methods like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Trustly.

It’s worth noting that some e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are often ineligible for bonuses. Be sure to check the Ts and Cs before depositing. On the other hand, Canadian bettors can often take advantage of Interac and Interac e-Transfer.

Other types of bonuses

Bonuses come in all shapes and sizes, and we’ve got plenty of information to help you get to grips with them. The term “sign up bonus” encompasses a range of new player offers, including welcome, low deposit, and no deposit bonuses.

Beginner bettors who want to test the waters before making a financial commitment should check out our no deposit bonus page. These bonuses are fee-free; simply register a new account, and you’ll receive a handful of free spins or bonus credit to wager in the casino. While no deposit sign up bonus offers are ideal for newbies, they can also be enjoyed by players of all budgets. After all, even high rollers love a freebie now and then!

Similarly, bettors on a budget can benefit from deposit bonuses as low as $5 and even $1. These bonuses are particularly great because they are usually of more significant value than a no deposit bonus, but they still won’t break the bank.

Players with a more flexible bankroll can earn hundreds of dollars in casino credit with a welcome bonus. These bonuses often require higher minimum deposits of around $10 or $20, though several sites offer exclusive high-roller promotions that begin at $100. Welcome bonuses can be deposit-matched bonus cash, free spins, or a combination of the two. Several of the casinos highlighted on this page offer welcome bonus packages that reward your first three or four deposits.

You can find other popular casino bonuses below:

• $1 deposit bonus
• $5 deposit bonus
• $10 deposit bonus
• Welcome bonus
• No deposit bonus
• Free spins bonus

The best bonus offers in Canada

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Sign up bonuses FAQ