The best casino bonuses in Australia combine generous offers and player-friendly T&Cs. They can give you the opportunity to win big, try out new games, or just squeeze out a little bit more of your playtime.
To help you get the most out of it, we’ve gathered all the crucial information about online casino bonuses you should know.
Guide to Casino Bonus Types – Which Is Right for You?
While exploring casino sites, you’re bound to come across online casino bonuses of all sorts: welcome offers, free spins, reload bonuses, cashback, crypto, and, sometimes, no deposit bonuses.
Online casinos tailor these promotions to all kinds of players, and the dazzle and glitz of the bonus roster can sometimes seem overwhelming.
Being veteran experts, we’ve learned to recognise the best casino bonus opportunities and separate the wheat from the chaff. Here’s the rundown of all the most important casino bonus elements you should be aware of:
Casino Welcome Bonus – A Boost for New Players
- What is it? – A welcome offer (a.k.a. an online casino sign-up bonus) rewards you for depositing at a new gaming site. They normally consist of free spins (see below for more details) and a deposit match to boost your bankroll. For example, you might get a 200% up to $2,000 casino welcome bonus on your first deposit. These deals can also cover several deposits, for instance, up to $5,000 over your first four deposits. Most sites add welcome bonuses to your bankroll immediately, and you can withdraw winnings after meeting the terms.
- Who is it for? – The sign-up bonus is normally a casino’s welcome offer because they’re trying to draw you and other players to the casino. Therefore, it’s perfect for all new players, whether you’re a beginner, a casual player or a high roller.
- What to watch out for? – The best first deposit casino bonuses usually have 30x wagering requirements (a.k.a. rollover) or lower. We also like high max cashouts (e.g. 20x and above) so you can win significant amounts during a hot streak. Watch out for online casino sign-up bonuses with short expiry dates because they don’t provide much time to meet the rollover. We like offers with 30-day expiry dates or longer, as opposed to 14 days or less. Also, check which games are eligible to meet the rollover requirements.
Pros:
- Often worth $1,000 or more
- High deposit match percentages
- Wagering requirements usually low or moderate
- Most offers boost your bankroll immediately
- The extra funds provide hours of entertainment
Cons:
- May have short expiry dates
- Restricted games list can be long
- Cashout limits may be under 10x
Did you know? – Welcome bonuses often expire within 7 to 30 days, so use them before they vanish.
Online Pokies Free Spins – Try New Games
- What is it? – This pokies bonus gives you a set number of free spins worth a certain value. For example, you might get 100 free spins worth $0.25 apiece after depositing. Some outstanding offers let you play multiple online pokies with free spins, while others limit you to one game.
- Who is it for? – A free spins casino bonus often pushes a new pokie at a gaming site, making it perfect for when you want to sink your teeth into the latest games, or if you enjoy pokies in general.
- What to watch out for? – We commonly see 35x–40x wagering requirements attached to free spins casino bonuses. Therefore, we consider any offer with a 30x rollover or lower worth your time. Note that here, rollover refers to wins acquired using free spins. You should also pay attention to the value of the spins. Playing online pokies with free spins worth $0.50–$1 is preferable to $0.10–$0.25. Also, be aware that some of these deals have low win limits (e.g. $100).
Pros:
- Simple bonus that’s good for beginners
- Try new games with a bonus
- Enhances the pokie experience
- Some bonuses offer $1 in free spins
- Often associated with new popular games
Cons:
- Can have small cashout limits
- Certain bonuses provide low-value spins
Did you know? – Some casinos offer daily free spins as part of ongoing promotions, keeping players coming back every day. Daily spins might also be available through a casino’s VIP program.
Reload Bonus – Boost Your Balance
- What is it? – Online casinos mostly provide reload bonuses to keep you around after you’ve used a welcome bonus. These deposit bonuses are similar to welcome offers in makeup and terms and conditions. For example, you might see a 100% up to $300 reload bonus at a casino every Friday.
- Who is it for? – Reload bonuses are primarily issued for players who have already spent their welcome offer. However, most of the time, it’s up for grabs for all players, as long as they make a qualifying deposit.
- What to watch out for? – Don’t expect a reload bonus to measure up to a welcome offer. These bonuses are typically smaller in terms of match percentage and size (e.g. 50% up to $200). Ideally, an operator will adjust reload bonus terms to compensate for the smaller amount. If they attach 30x wagering requirements to the welcome bonus, for example, hopefully, their reload rollover is 25x or lower.
Pros:
- Extra bonuses at your favourite casino
- Wagering requirements can be lower
- Available daily/weekly at most casinos
- VIP program may have more reload bonuses
- Can accommodate low and high rollers
Cons:
- Smaller matches ranging from 25%–100%
- Most max out at less than $500
- Some offers limited to a specific day
Cashback Bonus – Get Money Back
- What is it? – This online casino bonus returns a percentage of your losses from the previous day, week, or month. For instance, you might see a 10% up to $200 weekly cashback bonus at a casino. You may or may not have to meet wagering requirements on the cashback, depending on the casino.
- Who is it for? – Cashback issued by a casino is like a small amount of insurance on bad sessions. It will benefit you, regardless of your spending habits.
- What to watch out for? – The best cashback bonuses have no strings attached, meaning you can immediately withdraw the amount if you want to. We also suggest looking for deals with large cashback limits (e.g. 10% up to $500).
Pros:
- Provides some insurance when you lose
- Especially rewarding to high rollers
- Second chance at winning after losing everything
- Cashback bonus can be straight cash
- Could be part of a welcome package
Cons:
- You must lose to benefit
- May come with wagering requirements
- Some deals have low cashback limits
Crypto and Bitcoin Bonus
- What is it? – It works pretty much the same as other casino bonuses, with a small exception: a crypto casino bonus is only available when you deposit with Bitcoin or another qualifying cryptocurrency. It can be measured in either crypto (e.g. 100% up to 1 BTC) or fiat.
- Who is it for? – Anybody who likes using cryptocurrencies for deposits over fiat methods like credit/debit cards, e-wallets, etc. Mind you, these are some of the best online casino bonuses possible in terms of size. Most gaming sites offer a slightly better deal on crypto bonuses than fiat offers.
- What to watch out for? – A Bitcoin bonus has plenty of upside, including a large max amount and potentially better terms. Regarding the latter, some casinos allow larger max cashouts on crypto bonus winnings. You can also withdraw winnings faster due to the speed of cryptocurrencies. The main drawback to these offers is that crypto volatility can hurt your bankroll. Also, some crypto bonuses require casino bonus codes to be activated.
Pros:
- Usually larger than fiat bonuses
- May have lower wagering requirements
- Low blockchain fees
- Withdraw winnings faster
- Crypto bonuses offer more anonymity
Cons:
- Crypto leads to more bankroll volatility
- Not all players understand crypto banking
Low Wagering and No Wagering Casino Bonuses
- What is it? – A casino bonus that has lower than 20x wagering requirements. For example, an online casino in Australia with low wagering requirements on bonuses might only make you meet a 10x rollover. Commonly associated with free spins, no wagering casino bonuses have zero rollover and let you cash out winnings immediately.
- Who is it for? – Alongside crypto offers, these are some of the best casino bonuses out there and are highly valuable when you’re a casual player who wants a stronger chance at withdrawing winnings. They’re also good if you make small deposits and don’t care about a lower win cap.
- What to watch out for? – An online casino with low wagering requirements on bonuses typically limits winnings to $50–$100. You should probably avoid these deals if you’re a high roller looking to maximise bonus wins.
Pros:
- Straightforward offer
- Nice for casual play
- Wager little to nothing before withdrawing
- Gives casual players a better chance
- Higher overall odds of bonus success
Cons:
- Not available at most Australian casinos
- Often has $50–$100 win limits
- Can require a larger minimum deposit
No Deposit Casino Bonus – Claim It Without Payments
- What is it? – In a nutshell, you get a bonus without needing to spend money. The two most common no deposit bonus types include free spins and a free chip. An online casino may offer a no deposit bonus for new and existing players. In the latter case, look for the offer in your email or an onsite casino inbox.
- Who is it for? – A casino no deposit bonus lets you try a gaming site before depositing. It also allows you to win a small amount of money without risking anything. The only cost is the 1–2 minutes for registration (new player) or checking your email/casino inbox (existing player). Since you don’t have to deposit to claim them, many players consider them to be the best online casino bonuses out there.
- What to watch out for? – You may have to use no deposit bonus codes to qualify for some offers. These promos also come with stricter terms than other bonuses. For example, you might only be able to win up to $100 with no deposit free spins. The average no deposit casino bonus doesn’t offer much, with 20 free spins or a $20 chip being common.
Pros:
- Claim without making a payment
- Good for trying out Australian casinos
- Potentially win real money
- No risk involved on your part
- Easy to qualify when available
Cons:
- Bonus is normally small
- Rollover is often high
- Win limits of $100 or less
Did you know? – You may have to use casino bonus codes to qualify for certain deals. Luckily, many gaming sites list the relevant code under each bonus.
Essential Information About Online Casino Bonus Terms and Conditions
Even the best casino bonuses have key details hidden in the fine print, which you should read and understand before claiming an offer.
And like all T&Cs in any walk of life, they can sometimes be confusing. But fear not, because here we go over the key factors you should look for when comparing online casino bonus terms.
What You Need to Know About Casino Bonus Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements, also known as rollover, is the amount you must wager before withdrawing any winnings gained from wagering eligible bonus funds. You can find it either as a multiple of the bonus amount alone or a multiple of the deposit and bonus amounts combined.
Let’s look at an example of each:
Example #1: Wagering Requirements = Bonus Only
- You find a 200% bonus at a casino.
- You deposit $100 and get a $200 bonus.
- Rollover is 30x the bonus.
- 30 x 200 = $6,000 must be wagered before cashing out
Example #2: Wagering Requirements = Bonus + Deposit
- You find another 200% online casino bonus.
- You deposit $100 and get a $200 bonus.
- Rollover is 25x the bonus plus deposit.
- 25 x (100 + 200) = $7,500 must be wagered before withdrawing
Mind the Game Contribution Percentages
Let’s say you qualify for a $100 bonus with 50x rollover (bonus only), meaning you’ll have to wager $5,000 (100 x 50) before withdrawing.
But, there’s a catch: different game categories contribute differently to casino bonus wagering requirements. Casinos limit game contribution percentages to discourage players from playing the highest payout titles.
In the table below, you’ll find usual game contribution percentages alongside modified amounts you need to wager depending on your favourite game type:
| Game | Usual Contribution Percentage | Calculation | Amount You Need to Wager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokies, keno & scratchcards | 100% | 5,000 / 1.0 | $5,000 |
| Poker games (e.g. Caribbean stud, Let It Ride) | 50% | 5,000 / 0.5 | $10,000 |
| Crash games | 20% | 5,000 / 0.2 | $25,000 |
| Blackjack & video poker | 10% | 5,000 / 0.1 | $50,000 |
| Roulette | 5% | 5,000 / 0.05 | $100,000 |
| Live dealer games | 0% | N/A | N/A |
Expert tip: read the bonus T&Cs to find out how much your preferred game type counts towards the rollover, if at all.
Check the Casino Bonus Limits
Another key part of wagering requirements is limits. These can be placed on the time you have to use up the bonus (and rollover), the maximum bet you can place or the maximum win you can achieve.
The usual time limit or expiry date for a bonus ranges from 7 days up to 2 months. Needless to say, the longer you have, the better.
When it comes to bet limits, casinos often impose a limit of $5 for every bet wagered with the bonus amount. Any higher amount won’t count towards a rollover.
Finally, some casinos also impose a maximum win limit. For instance, if the maximum win from the bonus amount is set to $2,000, meaning any wins above that amount will be voided and unavailable for withdrawal.
Look for Casino Bonus Codes
Before you sign up for a casino, make sure you check if the bonus requires a special bonus code to be activated. You can find them on the official website, either listed in the Bonus section, pre-entered in a special field during signup/deposit, or attached to the offer.
It’s also important to check where to enter the bonus codes for a specific casino before signing up, since you can get locked out of the offer if you don’t follow the steps properly. The usual spots where you can enter the code are sign-up, first deposit or the bonus tab on the casino’s website.
If there’s no mention of any codes, it means you don’t need them to claim a bonus.
Games You Can Play with Casino Bonuses
Most online casino bonuses let you play a variety of games, even if the contributions between them are different. Let’s discuss the main game types that qualify for the best online casino bonuses in Australia:
Did you know? – RTP (short for Return to Player) is the average rate that a game pays out to players over a long period, on average. It’s the inverse of a house edge: if the house edge is defined as 5%, the RTP is 95%. There are no guarantees here—after all, there will be winners and losers in every game—but as a rule of thumb look for games with higher RTP/lower house edge.
Pokies
Known elsewhere as slots, pokies can boast an enormous variety in multireels, creative paylines and jackpots. What’s most important, pokies qualify for more casino bonuses than any other game type. Most of these games also contribute 100% towards bonus offers.
The RTP of pokies varies wildly. They can be anything from 85% to 98%, but most modern video slots hover around 96%.
Blackjack
Despite its simple form, blackjack also comes in a wide range of forms, most notably European, Atlantic City and Progressive Blackjack. The downside is a low contribution rate ranging from 5–20%. This leaves you wagering more to unlock bonus funds.
Blackjack is well known for its high RTP, which is often above 99% when played with optimal strategy.
Baccarat
A favourite of high rollers, Baccarat’s most popular forms are Chemin de fer, Punto Banco, and European Baccarat. Similar to blackjack, baccarat often contributes little to wagering requirements. In fact, it offers zero towards rollover under some casino bonus codes.
Baccarat typically offers an RTP of around 98.9% on banker bets, slightly lower on player bets (98.76%) and much lower on tie bets (85.64%)
Poker
Casino poker games are different from standard poker—you play against the house, not other players, and there is no bluffing involved. Examples include Caribbean stud, Let It Ride, and three-card poker, which can contribute up to 50% towards wagering requirements at many AU casinos.
When it comes to the RTP of video poker, expect a range from 97% to 99.5%, depending on the variant.
Roulette
The most atmospheric casino game of all time can usually be found in three variants: American, European, and French roulette. All three carry different bet limits and payouts, depending on the software producer. Similarly to poker, gaming sites allow American roulette to contribute 50% or more.
The RTP varies by version—European roulette offers around 97.3%, while American roulette drops to about 94.7% due to the extra zero on the wheel.
Live Casino Games
The biggest appeal of live dealer games is the option to win big, have a near-identical casino experience and have fun while chatting with fellow players. However, when it comes to meeting wagering requirements, many online casino bonuses exclude live dealer games or put them in the 5%–10% contribution area. But some of the latest casino bonuses found on new casinos are reversing this trend, allowing live tables to contribute as much as 10–20%.
The RTP of live games is typically the same as their video equivalents, while live game shows are typically above 96.5%.
Best Payment Methods for Claiming Casino Bonuses
You can claim online casino bonuses in Australia using certain types of payment options. Let’s review all common payment methods at AU casinos, including which ones do and don’t qualify for bonus offers:
- Debit/Credit Cards: Credit/debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express let you deposit and claim Australian casino bonuses instantly. They can come with fees ranging from 3–15%, although some gaming sites cover these charges for you.
- E-wallets: PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and other e-wallets offer instant—or near instant—deposits. They’re also convenient withdrawal options, delivering winnings within 24 hours after casino processing. Unfortunately, many online casinos in Australia restrict e-wallet deposits from qualifying for bonuses.
- Crypto: Our favourite all-around payment option for claiming the latest casino bonuses and promotions. You can make quick and easy deposits using cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin casinos also deliver the fastest payments when you win, often processing withdrawal requests in under 24 hours. Since crypto payments are so fast, you can find cryptocurrencies offered at any fast withdrawal casino.
- Bank Transfers: A bank transfer can provide instant funding or take days to reach your casino account. Everything depends on your bank and the gaming site in question. If the deposit takes a while, you’ll have to wait longer before claiming an online casino bonus.
- Mobile Payments: Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App allow you to instantly deposit and qualify for bonuses. They’re also easy to use after linking a debit/credit card to your wallet. You can complete casino deposits by simply using Touch ID, Face ID, or a passcode.
| Payment Method | Deposit Speed | Deposit Fees | Eligible for Bonus? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit/Credit Cards | Instant | 0–15% | Yes |
| E-wallets | Usually Instant | 2–3% | Not usually |
| Crypto | 1–20 minutes | Under 1% (blockchain fees) | Yes |
| Bank Transfer | 0–72 hours | $0–$25 | Yes |
| Mobile Payments | Instant | None | Yes |
How to Make the Most Out of Your Online Casino Bonus
PAs we’ve seen, you can find heaps of different Australian casino bonuses, like welcome offers, free spins, no deposit deals, and cashback.
While these promos have their differences, you can use the same general strategies to capitalise on them. A few tips include:
- Choose low rollover bonuses: Reasonable bonus rollover requirements are somewhere between 25x-40x. Anything above that can be quite hard to wager on. The lower the rollover, the better.
- Look for bonuses with high max bets: Higher max bets can help you clear wagering requirements faster. Look for $10 max bets or higher.
- Check the max cashout amount: A Higher max cashout enables you to withdraw more wins from your bonus, if you manage to complete the wagering requirements. Look for $10 cashouts or higher.
- Check which games contribute to the bonus: It would be a real shame to go through all the work of signing up, depositing, and claiming a bonus only to find out your favourite games aren’t eligible for it.
- Go for bonuses that match your playing style: Looking to cash out the bonus? If so, claim bonuses with low rollovers and low deposits. Large welcome packages, on the other hand, might be better for if you just want to extend your playtime without worrying about wagering requirements.
FAQs
Plenty of online casinos offer no deposit free spins in Australia when you sign up. Others feature a no deposit free chip (e.g. $25) as a welcome bonus. In either case, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding a no deposit bonus casino.
The best welcome bonus casino in Australia depends on what you’re looking for regarding size and terms and conditions. For example, you may prioritise a casino with a welcome offer worth thousands of dollars. Alternatively, you might want a low wagering (e.g. 10x rollover) or no wagering casino bonus to cash out faster.
Most online casino bonuses in Australia require meeting a certain minimum deposit (e.g. $25) to qualify. The only exception is no deposit bonuses, which may be available upon registration or as an existing player. After receiving a bonus, you must satisfy the terms and conditions like wagering requirements before the expiry date.
Yes, you can convert an online casino bonus into cash once you’ve met all the terms and conditions. Provided you meet the minimum withdrawal (e.g. $20), you’ll be able to withdraw the bonus funds. Key terms to consider include the max bet, max cashout, game restrictions, eligible deposit methods, and rollover.
A welcome bonus is eligible for withdrawal after you’ve met all required terms and conditions. This process is easier when an Australian casino bonus has fair terms, like limited game restrictions and low wagering requirements. As for the latter, you should concentrate on offers with 30x (deposit + bonus) rollover or less.
An instant casino bonus is one that’s credited to your balance immediately. If you deposit $150 and receive a $300 bonus, for example, you’ll play with $450 total. You can withdraw winnings from these deals after satisfying the terms. Even if you don’t win with instant casino bonuses in Australia, you’ll still get more play out of your bankroll.
