Best Online Casino Bonuses in Ireland ☘️ May 2023

How Does a Percentage Bonus Work?

The amount of the bonus is not always completely transparent. You will see the amount of the bonus at first sight, as this is what the casino is promoting. The percentage, however, is what makes it interesting.

For example, a bonus of €100 will vary depending on if it's 100% or 50%. If it is 100% up to €100, then it means that you can deposit up to €100 and receive that amount on your casino account as a bonus. 

If it’s 50% up to €100 then if you make a 1st deposit of €100 and you will receive €50 from the casino. That means that you have to keep an eye on not only the actual amount the casino bonus explicitly shows but also the percentage it gives. 

What is a Bonus Validity Period?

Most online casinos have a validity period for your bonus set. This means that from the day you make your 1st deposit and claim your welcome package, there will be a period in which you can use it. Usually, it runs for around 30 days but it varies so it is important that you check the individual casino.

After the period has ended you will no longer be able to use the bonus spins or other bonuses you have claimed. That's why it's important that you check this before you create an account.   

What are Bonus Wagering Requirements?

Online casinos use different methods to keep you playing and to keep the prizes within the casinos. That is also why there is something called wagering requirements. They can be anything from 1x - 60x. One means that you basically just have to play it through as you win it and 60 means that you have to play your bonus through 60 times before you can withdraw your prize from the casino.

So what does this mean? It means that if you have a bonus of €10 then you have to bet a total of €600 before you have played the money free. Usually, online casinos have a wagering requirement of around 35x. Anything higher than that is considered a high requirement. More casinos are starting to offer that you have to play through your bonus 10x. This is considered quite a good wagering requirement. 

Casino Games Bonuses and Contribution

You most likely haven't heard about game-weighting, but it is actually a thing. Some online casinos only allow you to use your bonus on certain games. This means that only these games will contribute towards playing your casino bonus. You have to make sure you are aware of which games they are. It could be only live table games or alternative games like scratch cards and online bingo variations.

Some casino bonuses will give tell you that you can only use your bonus spins at a certain slot. That will usually be stated very clearly in the welcome bonus offer on display.

Pro tip: We recommend always keeping the following in mind when you choose your new casino and casino bonus. 

Manual Casino Bonus Requests

In some cases, players will be required to tick an opt-in button during the signup process to be able to grab the bonus. Another less common scenario is when online casino bonuses can only be redeemed by directly asking the casino support staff. You can usually get this done via email or a customer service chat.

You may want to consider asking for a welcome bonus if you’re a new player or for a higher bonus rate if you have been a loyal customer for a while. We recommend online casinos that make it easy for you to claim your bonus and get started playing. Making it a tedious process to get your bonus can seem a little strange.

How to Claim a Casino Bonus

Claiming a casino bonus depends pretty much on the individual casino but on average, the process of redeeming or claiming your bonus is similar regardless of which type of bonus you earn. The steps involved are: 

1. Register a real money online casino account.
2. Go to the cashier and make your 1st deposit (not all bonuses require a deposit).
3. If appropriate, type in the bonus code.
4. Redeem your bonus - it should be available right away or within a few days.

How to Check if You’ve Got a Welcome Bonus

For some casinos, simply signing up will add a welcome bonus to your account. You’ll be able to see this easily if it is a cash bonus, as the value in your account will be instantly updated. It is a little more difficult to be certain that a free spins bonus has been credited to your account, but heading over to the relevant games and opening one should soon demonstrate whether or not these spins are now available to you. Some casinos will automatically put the bonus in your account only when you have completed a series of requirements such as making a specific deposit amount, verifying the account, or making a payment using a specific provider. 

Whatever the method is, make sure to follow it to the letter. The slightest deviation from the casino’s instructions will mean that you could lose out on claiming the bonus. This is especially important for welcome bonuses, as once you’ve created an account, the chance for that bonus is over.

Interesting Facts About Casino Bonuses

ℹ️ The majority of online casinos offer bonuses for new players as well as existing players too.

ℹ️  The first casino bonus was offered in the 1940s by a Las Vegas casino called the Dunes. They offered a 10% bonus to players who signed up for a new player's club card. 

ℹ️  Some casinos offer bonuses with extremely high wagering requirements, as much as 60x or 70x the bonus amount. This means that players must wager the bonus amount that many times before they are able to withdraw any winnings.

Common Terms and Conditions for Casino Bonuses

We know it sounds boring to be reading terms and conditions but hears us out. You don't have to read everything multiple times thoroughly, but make sure you are aware of the most important points. Such as the requirements to receive the casino bonus and withdraw your prizes. It's also a good idea to figure out exactly what the bonus means and what it entails. 

Wagering Requirements for Casino Bonuses

As mentioned above, wagering requirements are of importance to you. Many players forget about these, only to be suddenly reminded down the line when they can’t withdraw any of their winnings. These requirements aren’t in place just to thwart us as players but are safeguards for the casinos, protecting them against money laundering practices.

To put it simply, a wagering requirement is the number of times a player must play through a bonus value and/or its winnings before being able to make a withdrawal. In this manner, it prevents the more unscrupulous players from taking advantage of the system and simply signing up, taking the bonus, withdrawing, and leaving.

It’s also important to look and see how long you have to meet these requirements – some casinos offer seven days, while others give you months. Failure to adhere to these requirements will result in the bonus, and its winnings, being removed from your account -assuming that you haven’t lost it all through play already.

Minimum Deposit Requirements

Another thing to look out for is the min deposit requirements. It means that your 1st deposit has to be a certain amount in order for you to qualify for the bonus. It is important that you are aware of this amount because once your deposit has been made you cannot take it back and your first deposit has already been made. This means that you will not be able to get your welcome bonus.  

Deposit to Claim Your Welcome Bonus

There are many different deposit methods that you can avail of and being able to deposit quickly and safely is essential when playing at an online casino. We cover the different payment methods in detail here but Debit or Prepaid Cards, E-Wallets, and Bank Transfers are all good options.