Slot Bonuses

What are slot bonuses?

Slot bonuses are promotions that online casinos run to entice players to try their slot games. Anyone who enjoys playing slots should always take advantage of an opportunity to claim extra cash or free spins. You can look at them as a freebie that gives you a chance to try new things and win real money. The online casino industry is highly competitive which forces operators to get creative in their pursuit of new customers. Slot bonuses are a great way to do this. 

As you can imagine, this competitive atmosphere is highly beneficial to players. Be sure to check out our list of the best American online casinos that offer these potentially profitable deals.  

Below, this tutorial will explain to you in detail everything you need to know about slot bonus offers, how to get them, and how to use them. 

How do I get a slot bonus?

The easiest way to get a slot bonus is to first select an online casino from our list of the best American sites that offer slot bonuses. Once you have opened a new account, the slot bonus will be credited to your account within the time specified in the bonus advertisement. It might show up immediately, or it could take a few hours for the site to verify that everything is in order. 

In most cases, you will find that you are required to verify your identity before the slot bonus can be disbursed. This is a legal requirement, and it also lets the operator make sure that you haven’t previously claimed the offer. 

Once the checks have been completed, the bonus will appear in your account, and you can start playing real money slots. You may be limited to playing specific games depending on the bonus and the operator. 

How do I claim a slot machine bonus?

Which slot machines can I use a slot bonus on?

With few exceptions, slot bonuses can be used on as many slot machines as you like. However, you will find that some offers require you to play certain slots. Also, it is common for these offers to exclude jackpot slots. Still, you’ll have access to some of the most popular and high-paying games. 

How do slot wins with bonuses work?

The bonus amount credited is normally given as a “fun bonus”. While you can use the bonus credits to win real money, you won’t be able to withdraw the bonus amount itself. However, you will be allowed to withdraw any winning that result from the bonus slot play. Of course, you can expect the winnings to be subject to a wagering requirement that you satisfy before withdrawing the windfall. We will explain this a little further below. 

Types of slot bonuses

Online casinos offer two main types of slot bonuses which are no deposit bonuses and first deposit bonuses. Below, we will discover the characteristics of each type along with some helpful advice on choosing and using your bonus. 

No Deposit Slot Bonus 

No deposit slot bonus offers are easy to understand. In most instances, the player opens a new account and verifies their identity. After that, the online casino releases the bonus to the player’s account. Once it’s there, it can be used at will on the eligible slot machines. 

No deposit bonuses have the most appeal because they do not require claimants to deposit any money into their account. This is ideal for new players who just want to get a taste of the casino action without spending money. No deposit bonuses are most often offered to new customers only. However, some sites offer them to existing players as a token of appreciation for their loyalty. 

As far as no deposit bonuses are concerned, it’s important to remember that they normally come with a wagering requirement. The wagering requirement, or rollover refers to the number of times the claimant must wager the bonus amount before the bonus can be cashed out. If you claimed a $10 no deposit bonus with a wagering requirement of 20X, it means you must place $200 in wagers to convert the bonus into real money.  

Slot machine bonus on first deposit 

To claim a slot bonus for your first deposit, you must open a new account and deposit a minimum amount of money. The bonus is usually based on the amount of the deposit. For example, a 100% deposit bonus up to $100 means that the operator will 100% match your deposit amount up to $100. However, you don’t have to deposit $100. If you deposited $20, then you would receive an additional $20 in bonus funds. If you deposit $500, then you would receive the maximum $100 in bonus cash. 

It’s also worth mentioning that the wagering requirements for deposit bonuses are normally lower than they are for no deposit slot bonus offers. 

Mobile bonus 

Some American online casinos offer a special slot bonus to those who download and use the casino app. While this type of promotion is rather rare and the bonuses are often small, they are out there and they’re easy to claim. 

What is the best online slot machine bonus?

Now that we have told you about the types of slot bonus, you are likely asking yourself which type is best. 

Of course, the no deposit bonus is a godsend. All you need to do is open an account and verify your documents. You then get the bonus without having to make a deposit. On the other hand, no deposit bonuses are almost always much smaller than deposit bonuses. And, as mentioned, no deposit bonus wagering requirements are typically much higher than deposit bonus wagering requirements. It comes down to which offer appeals to you the most. They both have pros and cons and it’s up to you to weigh them. 

What is the difference between a fun bonus and a real bonus?

Let’s examine the differences between a fun bonus and a real bonus. 

• Fun Bonus: This type of bonus can be offered as a deposit bonus or a no deposit bonus. What makes it unique is that the bonus amount cannot be withdrawn. You can only use it to play games. However, you can withdraw the money you win. As you would expect, you will be required to meet the wagering requirements before you can. If you win $100 from your fun bonus, and the bonus winnings are subject to a 20X rollover, then you need to stake $2,000 in bets to withdraw the bonus winnings. 

• Real Bonus: Once you have satisfied the wagering requirement of the fun bonus, it essentially becomes a real bonus. Anything you win with the real bonus money becomes withdrawable. 

How to turn your bonus into cash faster

We have explained how you must meet the wagering requirements to turn the bonus cash into real cash. What a lot of people don’t know is that not all games contribute equally to the wagering requirements. So, what games contribute the most? Slot machines! They usually contribute 100% of each bet toward the rollover. Compare that to games like blackjack and baccarat which often contribute 10% of each bet to the wagering requirement. 

This means that you will reach the rollover a lot faster by playing slots. Furthermore, slots give you a better chance at hitting a large payout than table games do. Needless to say, you also need a little help from Lady Luck.  

Slot machine bonus games

Let’s talk about different types of bonuses. Namely, the ones that are built into slot games. Bonus rounds, bonus games, bonus stages. Call them what you like. The important thing is that they give you access to bigger winnings. 

Many slot machines have lucrative bonus phases that can be triggered in many ways such as landing a certain number of scatters or wilds. There are two main categories of bonus play which are: 

• Bonus round: This is like a game within the game which sometimes plays like a video game in which the winnings are based on performance. 
• Free spin round: Some games award you with a bunch of free spins which automatically play out. You win whatever money comes from the free spins. 

It should be noted that some of the bonus games or mini-games are quite exciting and they are where the biggest cash prizes can be won. Triggering a bonus round is a win-win situation. 

Bonus round: real video games

One of the great things about bonus rounds is that they are very exciting, and you can win big. Some bonus rounds are a lot like traditional video games while others don’t require much skill or dexterity at all. Some require players to shoot helicopters and cars or engage in combat with an enemy. Some just require players to hit a button. These mini-games have many themes including romance, adventure, horror, and even comedy. 

The game developers have a lot of fun creating these games. They are getting increasingly high-tech and realistic while offering more intriguing storylines and intense graphics. In fact, a lot of people become attached to the characters and plots in these games. 

Free spins – free spins that can continue indefinitely

While they aren’t as creative as bonus games, it doesn’t mean that free spin rounds are any less exciting. There are numerous interesting aspects regarding free spin rounds. 

• They can often be triggered during the main game 
• They can offer multiple free spins 
• They usually allow you to win even more free spins during their run 
• In some cases, they are unlimited provided certain conditions are met 
• The value of the free spins, and therefore the prizes depends on the bet size 

Anything can happen when a free spin round starts. The free game could last a long time which increases your chances of a big win. Moreover, the spins are free and the winnings are based on the net of the bet. 

Slots with bonus games

Now, let’s take a look at some of the most popular slot games with bonus rounds. These are just a few titles. Listing them all would not be possible. 

To find these games and try them for free, make sure to visit our page dedicated to free slots which can be found by clicking the “Free Slots” link at the top of this page. 

Book of Ra Deluxe 

This slot game needs no introduction as it is one of the most popular slot games in the United States and elsewhere. The reason for this is that the game is very fascinating, and it offers huge prizes.  

You can play Book of Ra Deluxe for free without having to register. To play right now, just look at our free slots section and select it from the list. We also feature several other Novomatic slots including Pharaoh’s Gold Deluxe, Sizzling Hot Deluxe, Dolphins Pearl Deluxe, River Queen, Lord of the Ocean, Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe, and many others. 

Jack and the Beanstalk 

This trendy slot game is based on the classic story from Joseph Jacobs in which Jack plants a bean seed that grows all the way up to the sky where a rich giant lives. This game is wildly exciting because it features both a bonus game and free spins.  

The Jack and the Beanstalk slot game was produced by NetEnt, and you can play it for free right here. The bonus game can last for several minutes. 

Lara Croft Temple and Tombs 

This famous and charming adventuress became exceedingly popular in the 2000s with a feature film and a series of video games. Movie star Angelina Jolie is the protagonist of this slot machine. The bonus rounds feature a theme of finding hidden treasures much like Indiana Jones does in the Indiana Jones slot game. 

The game was created by Microgaming and you can enjoy the adventure for free right here. 

Sphinx 

Many slot enthusiasts know this game as it is among the most popular slot titles along with the Gallina slot and a few others. The game is set in ancient Egypt and it takes players through the maze of pyramids in search of golden chambers that contain precious objects. Sphinx was created by IGT and you can try it out for fun by visiting our free slots page. 

Tome of Madness 

This game is a great example of how an introductory video and its background sounds can create an unusual atmosphere and arouse curiosity. Inside an abandoned church, a terrifying voiceover recites a line from Lovecraft. The protagonist immediately appears on the right and prepares to face the bonus slot round in which unknown worlds will be revealed. 

This exciting game was produced by Play’n Go which we at SlotJava believe to be one of the most exciting and promising providers around. 

How to access bonus games on slots 

There are a few ways to access bonus rounds on slot games. The most common method involves landing three or more scatter symbols on a single spin. The great thing about this method is that the scatters don’t necessarily need to line up. They just have to be visible. 

Then there are the slot bonus rounds that can be activated by unique bonus symbols that are different from the scatter symbol. To enter the bonus game, you need to land one or more of them depending on the specific game. Finally, some slots grant access to the bonus round in a completely random way. The bonus game in “Pink Panther” is a prime example.