Match / Welcome / and Initial Bonuses: What they are and how they work
When it comes to online casinos there are many ways that they use to bring in new customers and players. These are useful and meaningful ways to increase the enjoyment of player experience as well as to try and keep the player in a highly populated market niche. The match, sometimes called a welcome or initial, bonus comes in wide variety. These types of bonuses can be anything from a simple match of any amount of money initially deposited into a game account or it could allow for a variety of other bonuses based on matching the original deposit amount. Each casino has its own combination of match bonuses.
How it works: Welcome Bonus
A typical match bonus will be along the lines of offering a “dollar for dollar” or “pound for pound” match for the first amount of money deposited. The high value of the deposit bonus will only be offered for the initial deposit.
This means that if someone deposits fifty dollars or equivalent just to see how well the casino works they would only gain the match for that deposit. This remains the truth even if they then deposit another amount only a few minutes later. Generally speaking a player will still receive a bonus but not as high, and is known as a redeposit bonus.
Sometimes a given casino will work with a customer and allow the bonus anyway if they ask, but generally that sort of things is allowed with High Rollers or VIP players, but this is a case by case basis and the casino does not have to allow for it if it was clearly stated in the bonus policy.
Other Bonus Types
Other types of online casino bonuses may include free spins, free play bonuses, a number of raffle tickets equal to the amount of money deposited, or bonus points toward some type of award system or casino loyalty program. These are all valid types of welcome bonus though the most common will be the match bonus for initial deposits. This is why they are often referred to as initial bonuses as well.
Free money?
The usefulness of such a bonus cannot be stressed enough. This is free money the individual is given. Generally they are not allowed to withdraw their money and the bonus without first playing for a while and winning or losing more. This keeps an unscrupulous player from simply depositing money then quickly withdrawing it all. The bonus is meant to be used for playing. An honest player will take advantage of this free money and they may very well walk away owning the online casino if they are skilled and lucky enough.
No matter what type of match, welcome, or initial bonus an online casino offers the end result is that the players and casino both benefit. The player has more money to bet with and the casino has more betting players.