Copy and paste a code, and get a discount or a freebie. How many times have you done this before? Have you done it at an online casino? In 2022, we’re finding that bonus codes aren’t quite as popular as they once were – and while they still exist, it may be for a limited time only.
Bonus codes in the wider internet
If you’re a bargain hunter – like many of us are – you will be practiced in the art of finding bonus codes for any online store or purchase. Creating a new email and using your WELCOME20 code for 20% off may well be as natural to you as vacuuming your house. Sites like show bonus codes all over the internet, or savvy shoppers check out businesses’ most recent posts on social to see if there are any new deals to be had.
The same goes with online casinos – you can find bonus codes to play at sites online that may give you a better deal. There’s no denying the fact that no deposit bonus is an incentive to play online but are the attached codes really necessary? We’d like to explore this, and if so, why.
What freebies can you get at online casinos?
There are plenty of offers to scoop up when you’re playing at the online casinos, depending on what part of the world you come from and where you’re allowed to play. These include:
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses are where you get a free bonus for signing up and playing, even without putting down any real money.
Free Spins
This may be triggered when you deposit a certain amount, or it may be a form of no deposit bonus.
Match Bonus
This is when the online casino matches the amount of money you deposit – or a certain percentage of it. Every time you deposit funds, this may trigger – or change – so read the fine print!
Referral Bonus
A referral bonus can come in the form of extra credits, free spins, or some other type of bonus. This is when you refer a new player to the casino.
Rewards Program
Like land-based casinos, some online gaming houses also offer rewards clubs – for instance, logging in on a certain day for a special event or playing new games the casino offers. The rewards can come in different forms – free credits, special unlocks, or real-world rewards.
When is a bonus not a bonus?
Unfortunately, when you take a detailed look at some of the bonuses and freebies on offer at the various gaming houses, you’ll find that it’s almost impossible to collect on any winnings. This is often due to ridiculous playthrough terms, for instance, needing to play through 100 times your free bonus (e.g., $500) on one game just to be able to claim it – that’d be a minimum of $50000; playthrough! This is why it’s always necessary to take a look at the fine print before you get started at any online casino where bonuses are looking too good to be true.
Are bonus codes really necessary? Sometimes a click-through is just enough.
When it comes to online casinos, often, just a click-through from an affiliate site – one that is advertising or reviewing a particular casino – is enough to trigger a bigger bonus. The days of copying and pasting a bonus code are (in most cases) behind us. Instead, the ‘code’ is embedded in the URL when clicking through. This means no need to copy and paste. It’s already done for you by the magic of the internet and hyperlinks. These are called and are used widely in marketing. When this happens, it’s like the referring site submits the code for you to the online casino.
Some bonus codes might be necessary to claim extra rewards, though. For instance, you’ll usually find that if you refer a friend, they’ll need to paste your referral code in – if they aren’t provided with a link, that is.
Should you use a bonus code?
If there is a bonus code available, there is no harm in entering it into the online casino you’re playing at. Each online gaming house is different, so some may still use codes, while others may do everything through codes embedded in hyperlinks. There is no right or wrong way to get a freebie – that’s up to the site itself to determine. So go forth, hunt those freebies by all means necessary, and get yourself a nice little bonus to sit and play a little longer at your favorite online sites.