Lets take a quick look at what is included in your bonus package at the online casinos.

1. Wagering Requirement. You can't expect to deposit $50, get another $100 free, and then cash the whole lot out. That would be theft and the online casino would go bust! No, what really happens is that you are set a challenge. As you know, you bet $5 you win you lose and then win and then lose andthen win. End result is you may still only have the same balance in your account but you have wagered $25 in the process. This then is the way your challenge is set out. Your deposit and bonus is normally added together and multiplied out by a factor (lets say 10 for this example). So, deposit $100, get $200 free. Wager $300 times 10 equals the amount of $3000 that must be wagered.
2. Game restrictions. In line with the above requirement, a few games are normally excluded from play when you use bonus funds. As you can imagine, roulette with it's even money black or red, odds or evens, and so forth is a prime candidate for exclusion. You would meet the wagering requirements without even taking a risk!
3. Deposit methods. Credit Cards have been abused by players and many casinos have been left holding the short end of a non payment (known as a charge back). The result is that the casinos want the players to use the likes of NETeller where the likelyhood of non-payment is heavily reduced. Also, these additional payment methods are often cheaper than card transactions. You can thus expect to find extra bonuses on offer if you use an "approved" means to transact with the casino.

Now, online casino bonuses can be structured differently. We list the common bonus types to assist your understanding of the casino bonuses concept.

1. Normal Bonus. Normally applies to your first deposit or to your first few deposits. You deposit a certain amount and you will have a certain percentage deposited into your account by the casino. Be aware that these bonuses usually have a maximum amount.
2. Sticky Bonus. Here, the bonus money is put into your account and can be used to generate profits. But, when the time comes to cash out, the casino bonus money is first removed from your account before you cash out.
3. Loyalty Bonus. Loyal customers generally get mailers from the casino with regular competitions and special bonuses that often apply to a specific game or specific hour or day of the week. Similar to a "happy hour" would be a fair example.
4. Mystery Bonus. Scratch card and Wheel of Fortune type methods are used to let the player have a chance at a huge bonus. The lesser bonuses are not to be sneezed at neither though.
5. Free Money, No deposit required. Some casinos will hand out free cash so that the prospective player can get a taste of what the casino has to offer. Of course, this free money usually has a cash out limit.