2019 Casino Bonuses Guide

By Sam Tinky

The 2019 Casino Bonuses Guide explains every type of available bonus, popular deposit methods, lists the top 10 current bonuses, the top 5 current no deposit bonuses, and reviews 38 casinos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wes Young
• Release date: May 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393321392

Sam Tinky

Sam Tinky has over 30 years experience in the gambling undustry and has written over 3,000,000 words about casinos and casino games.

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Types of Casino Bonuses

Sticky Bonus

A sticky bonus is a deposit bonus that’s only intended for betting purposes. You can use these deals to generate winnings, which can be cashed out upon meeting terms and conditions (T&Cs).

The actual bonus itself can’t be withdrawn. This aspect is where the adjective sticky comes from, because the funds are stuck in your account.

Here’s an example of a sticky bonus:

A casino offers a 300% match bonus worth up to $600.

You deposit $200, thus qualifying for a $600 bonus.

200 + 600 = $800 total bankroll

You have $900 after meeting T&Cs.

900 – 600 = 300

You get to cash out $300 total.

Phantom vs. Expiring Sticky Bonuses

Sticky bonuses fall into two main classes:

1)  Phantom

2)  Expiring

A phantom bonus is one that disappears after you cash out. The example explained before illustrates how a phantom offer works.

An expiring bonus remains in your account when you make a withdrawal. The remaining portion can be used to continue generating winnings.

The expiring deal is the more attractive of the two bonuses. After all, you get to keep the bonus funds and continue trying to earn extra money.

However, phantom sticky bonuses are the more common of the two. They’re often found at Microgaming, Playtech, and Realtime Gaming (RTG) casinos.

How to Clear a Sticky Bonus

Like any online casino bonus, sticky bonuses feature a number of T&Cs that must be met. But the key requirement that you want to pay attention to involves the wagering requirements (a.k.a. playthrough).

You must satisfy playthrough before withdrawing bonus money. Wagering requirements can differ between casinos, but a common figure is 40x the bonus.

Here’s an example on clearing a phantom bonus:

A casino offers a 200% match bonus up to $500.

You deposit $250, thus qualifying for a $500 bonus.

250 + 500 = $750 total bankroll

Playthrough is 40x the bonus.

500 x 40 = $20,000

You have $800 after meeting wagering requirements.

800 – 500 = 300

You can withdraw $300.

Pros and Cons of Sticky Bonuses

One advantage of a sticky bonus is that it immediately adds funds to your bankroll. These extra funds give you a stronger chance to win money without losing your original deposit.

Another benefit is that most of these offers feature big match percentages, ranging from 200% to 500%. You’re therefore getting a large bankroll boost relative to your deposit.

The main downside is that you’re only playing for winnings here. New online gamblers are often disappointed to find that they don’t get to cash out the actual bonus.

One more drawback is that casinos put a number of T&Cs on these bonuses to make it harder to win. For example, you’re normally only allowed to bet so much (e.g. $10 per wager), which exposes you more to the house edge.

Overall, sticky bonuses are solid deals in the long run. You just need to be aware that the bonus funds themselves can’t be withdrawn.

Cashable Bonus

Many online casinos offer welcome bonuses based on your first deposit. These deals give you an opportunity to win extra money when signing up and depositing at a new casino.

A cashable bonus is one of the most-common