How Do Slot Bonuses Work?
Slot bonuses are digital fairy dust for your bankroll. You make a deposit (or not – you’ll see), win a sweepstakes, or cash in points, and the casino sprinkles your balance with delightful extras, so you can fly away and play.
We’re something of a cash fairy ourselves, and we know all there is to know about how slot bonuses work.
Follow us as we glide through this guide, using our wand to point out every golden detail you need to know.
What Is a Slot Bonus?
A slot bonus is extra funds that an online casino gives you to use on slots. You receive casino slot bonuses for all sorts of reasons, including making a deposit, earning reward points, or opening the SlotsLV Casino Telegram channel at the exact moment were giving away $100!
There’s a wide, wonderful world of slot bonuses out there and practically endless slot bonus types, which we’ll go over next.
(B-t-dubs, if you’re still reeling from the mention of $100 for doing literally nothing, that wasn’t a joke. Join our Telegram channel. We have giveaways all the time.)
Main Types of Slot Bonuses
How do slot bonuses work? Do you just lob cash at the casino and hope they boomerang some back? That would be a very haphazard bonus fairy, indeed. We think we’ll call her Mimi Moneyfling.
There are multiple slot bonus types, each served with different requirements.
| Bonus Type | What It Is | Best For… |
| Deposit Bonus (Match Bonus) | Matches your deposit by a percentage, usually only your first deposit | Maximizing value out of the gate and starting strong |
| No-Deposit Bonus | A free bonus that doesn’t require a deposit, usually through a special bonus code, sweepstakes, or surprise promotion | Trying a casino risk-free or playing just for fun. Basically, everyone loves a no-deposit bonus. |
| Reload Bonus | For returning players making another deposit | Stretching your bankroll on repeat visits |
| Cashback Bonus | A rewards program that gives you money back over time | Long-term players earning steady perks |
Deposit Bonus (Match Bonus)
Before playing at any casino, you must first deposit cash to play with. At most casinos—most worth their Sugar Plum salt, anyway—you receive a match to boost your deposit. For example, at SlotsLV Casino, you receive up to a 200% match on your first deposit, and we’ll keep handin’ it over until you reach $3,000.
With this slot bonus type, the more you put in, the more you get back to play with. Front-loading your bankroll lets you squeeze the most out of a strong opening deal.
No-Deposit Bonus
On the other hand, what if you don’t have a deposit, and you just want a freebie? Is that too much to ask? Nope—you’re not being a Gigi Gimme-Gimme. She works in accounting. No-deposit bonuses are very much a thing.
This type of casino slot bonus usually shows up as a time-limited promotion. You might catch a promo in your email or on-site inbox. Or maybe you spot a giveaway on Instagram, Discord, or other social channels.
If you snag it in time, you’ll receive a special bonus code to enter at the cashier, and you don’t have to deposit anything, rub any lamps, or utter bibbidi-bobbidi-boo. Although…if you did, a Nellie Nosywing might flutter over and see what you’re up to.
Reload Bonus
New players don’t get to snag all the fun. Established players have special bonuses just for them. If it’s your second deposit, or fifth, tenth, or ten-millionth, many casinos offer a reload bonus on regular deposits.
For instance, at SlotsLV Casino, deposit just $30 or more, and play a scratch-card game for three days to win more bonus cash. That’s less than one DoorDash delivery fee. (Sorry, DoorDash. Love ya.)
Cashback Bonus
Cashback bonuses are another type of casino slot bonus. This refers to a reward system. When you’re enrolled, playing slots earns you points, and you can redeem those points for—you guessed it—cash. Yoohoo, Polly Pay-You-Back, over here, please!
At SlotsLV Casino, we automatically enroll you in our SlotsLV Rewards program. As you play, you earn points and climb through eight reward tiers, each unlocking more cash and other progressively grander perks to upgrade your wand.
How Wagering Requirements Work
While slot bonuses are the ultimate gift, they do come with guidelines.
When you accept a bonus, it usually comes with a “wagering requirement,” which is just a fancy way of saying you need to play through a certain amount before you can cash out your wins.
This is the casino’s way of making sure you stay for the party and play at their casino, rather than taking your gift and running off into the sunset to buy the new sage green KitchenAid mixer you’ve had your eye on. But once you’ve cleared the requirements and hit the big win, then it’s snickerdoodles for all at your place.
Slot Bonus Rules To Watch Out For
Every casino will be a little different, mentioning this, that, and the other thing when it comes to rules—a real T&C Tinkerbell. To cut through the noise, focus on the points below, as they’re the most crucial.
Max Bet Rules
At most casinos, when you’re playing with a bonus, you can’t place bets above a set limit. Sometimes it’s a simple cap, like “no more than $5 per spin.” Other times, it’s a percentage of your bonus or deposited amount, which can flutter up and down as you play. Occasionally, both rules apply, and the stricter one wins.
Game Contribution
Out of all the casino games out there, slots are the most fun, obvi, and that’s why they contribute the most to wagering requirements. That’s the case at SlotsLV Casino, and at most other casinos, too.
Even if it’s not slots, every casino has a different lineup of games and their contribution to your wagering requirements. For example, if slots contribute 100%, every $1 you wager knocks $1 off your playthrough. If video poker contributes 10%, that same $20 wager only chips away $2 from your requirement.
Time Limits
In Peter Pan, the pixie dust eventually wears off, and you come drifting back down to Earth. Casino slot bonuses work similarly, and the bankroll fairy dust doesn’t last forever.
In the T&C, you’ll discover what the time limit of your slot bonus is, so make sure you snatch it up while the magic is still working.
At SlotsLV Casino, you have six months to get busy on slots with your bonus cash, so don’t spend too much time arranging a playlist or picking a show to play in the background. Get in there and grab it!
Max Cashout Caps
When it’s your turn to cash out with winnings earned from your bonus funds, you may run into a max cashout cap. Don’t worry, no one is turning you into a pumpkin like Cinderella, but it means there’s a limit on how much bonus-related winnings you can take home.
For instance, if a bonus has a maximum cashout of $500, even if your bonus play exceeds that amount, you can only withdraw up to $500 once all wagering requirements are met.
Clear the rules and cash out within that limit, and you’re golden. Ignore it, and things can get… awkward. Just ask Prince Charming.
Restricted Games
When a bonus is up and running, certain games may not count toward wagering. This usually includes specific table games, specialty games, or titles with very low house edges. These games are often omitted because they make it easy to turn bonus cash into withdrawable money with little actual play, which defeats the purpose of a bonus in the first place.
If you’re not sure which games are included in your casino slot bonus, be a darling Didi Double-Check and swoop through the fine print before you jump in. And in case our fairy metaphors are hitting home, many magic slots are eligible at SlotsLV Casino!
How to Use Slot Bonuses Without Wasting Them
Knowing that a slot bonus has time limits and wagering requirements, how can you ensure your magical slot bonus is worth it, and the fairy dust keeps fairy-ing?
Follow these tips to ensure your magical slot bonus is worth it.
- Pick games that contribute 100% to your wagering requirement
- Only play games that aren’t on the “restricted” list
- Keep your bets within the max limit
- Check the time limit before you start spinning
- Focus on small wagers on low-volatility games, as you can play them for longer
If you follow all of these tips, you’ll give yourself the best shot at turning bonus play into real, withdrawable winnings.
Can You Use Slot Bonuses on Progressive Jackpots?
Sometimes you can, and sometimes the bonus fairies shake their heads ‘no.’
Progressive jackpot slots often play by stricter rules when a bonus is active, because those sky-high prize pools come with extra precautions. In some cases, bonus funds either can’t be used on progressives at all, or the spins won’t count toward your wagering requirement. You might still be able to spin, but the magic may not carry through to withdrawal.
That’s why, again, reviewing the bonus terms and conditions is so essential. At SlotsLV Casino, the T&Cs are linked in the description of your bonus in your profile.
FAQs About Slot Bonuses
Consider this the help desk, where we cast a clarity spell over your most common questions.
Are slot bonuses worth it?
They can be if you know how to use them. Slot bonuses give you extra playtime and more chances to win, but they come with rules like wagering requirements, time limits, and max bets. If you stick to games that count fully toward wagering, play within the limits, and keep an eye on the clock, a bonus can stretch your bankroll nicely.
Do I need to make a deposit to claim a slot bonus?
Not necessarily! For deposit/match slot bonuses, yes, you must make a deposit. At SlotsLV Casino, $20 is all you need.
However, with no-deposit bonuses, such as special promos and sweepstakes, you can simply plug the bonus code into the cashier and receive the bonus upfront and deposit free.
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements, also called playthrough, are the amount you need to bet using your bonus funds before any winnings become withdrawable. You’ll need to play through a set multiple of the bonus (or bonus plus deposit) before you can cash out your winnings.
Ready to Get Your Slot Bonuses?
We have officially given you your wings. Look at that, they fit! You now know how slot bonuses work, how to spot the rules, and how to make the magic last.
When you’re ready to put those wings to use, head to the ‘Promotions’ tab at SlotsLV Casino and leap off the mountaintop with bonus cash guiding your wings.