Subscribe to Best Australian Online Pokies newsletter
Sign up for exclusive casino bonuses, offers, and the latest news directly in your inbox.
Table of Contents
One of the best ways to try out pokies for free and still get an opportunity to win real money is by claiming and using pokies bonuses. These promo offers are designed to reward players with extra funds, free spins, or other incentives specifically for playing pokies.
Pokies bonuses come in all shapes and forms, including deposit bonuses, free spins, and no-deposit offers. As a daily player, you can benefit from these deals in more than one way.
To stay up-to-date with the latest news about pokies bonuses, don’t forget to check our pokies blog regularly. Of course, you can also expect helpful information on this topic here. So, are you ready to learn more? Let’s begin!
Most online casinos in Australia offer various types of bonuses for pokies players. Their goal is to make themselves visible to new players, given the popularity of these offers, and to keep their existing players satisfied and happy.
From welcome bonuses and no-deposit bonuses to reload promotions and loyalty rewards, you have a chance to choose from more than one option in almost every casino. Below, we’ll discuss the most popular types of pokies bonuses you might find and help you decide which one matches your gaming style and expectations.
As a new player, you can enjoy a massive bonus from day one. Pokies welcome bonuses are usually tied to your first deposit. They match a percentage of your initial deposit (typically between 100% and 200%) up to a certain amount. You can use this amount to play almost every pokie.
These casino promos can also include free spins. That gives you an additional opportunity to play pokies for free even though they’re tied to specific titles.
These pokies bonuses have no strings attached. In other words, you don’t have to make a deposit to claim them. On the other hand, they usually have stricter wagering requirements and a lower overall value compared to deposit bonuses.
No-deposit bonus offers require a simple action, such as completing the registration process or following the casino’s social media account, to be awarded. Like welcome bonuses, they can come in the form of free spins and/or bonus funds.
Existing players can take advantage of reload bonuses. You can release the funds/free spins of this bonus once you make a new deposit. As expected, there’s a minimum deposit amount for its activation.
In many cases, these deals are available on specific days, such as Mondays or Fridays, or during the weekends. That’s why they’re often marketed as daily promos. The good news is that you can use them once a day, and they often have simpler terms, such as lower wagering requirements, compared to welcome bonuses.
If you use online casinos regularly, you can expect loyalty rewards in return. These pokies bonuses are usually part of loyalty or VIP programmes. They have a simple system that awards points for wagering money on pokies and other games. So, the more you play, the more points you can expect.
These points determine your VIP/loyalty status. Each tier unlocks additional perks, including exclusive bonuses, access to invite-only tournaments, a personal VIP manager, free spins, cashback deals, and more.
While it’s true that pokies bonuses can’t guarantee wins, it’s also true that there are a few things you can do to maximise their effects. The following is a list of tips that can help you achieve this goal.
First things first. We’d like to note that RTP resets don’t exist. There are no daily or hourly cycles when the RTP is higher. The Return to Player percentage is a fixed theoretical value. In other words, you shouldn’t look for “the best time” to claim pokies bonuses, at least not when it comes to non-existent RTP resets.
As noted, players can find multiple casino promotions available at the same time. Moreover, they can claim various promotions from the same casino simultaneously. This way, users can boost the value from a single deposit or session.
For example, a 50% reload bonus can be paired with free spins. You use a single deposit to claim both deals. Using this strategy can help you extend play, increase spins, and boost ROI in the long run.
If you want to get the most from a pokies bonus, consider which games to use it on. The decision affects your efforts to meet the wagering requirements. This is where pokie volatility comes into play.
Select low-to-medium volatility titles to expedite this process. In theory, these pokies provide frequent wins. So, even though their values are relatively low, it’s still better than landing relatively big wins less frequently, which is something you can expect from high-volatility pokies.
Every Australian player can join an unlimited number of online casinos. Using multiple casinos will open up more opportunities for claiming pokies bonuses. It’s wise to sign up to 5 to 10 reputable, regulated casinos and rotate by depositing at one for a week.
If you follow this advice, remember to consider your budget and gamble responsibly.
Using bonuses designed for pokie players can be exciting and beneficial, but it can also be confusing and challenging. Failing to understand the rules and benefits of these offers could result in missing out on free perks and even disrupting your budget.
To avoid scenarios like this, we’re sharing a list of common bonus traps.
The bonus value you see on the promo banners is just one thing revealing their actual value. Another essential aspect is the wagering requirements associated with the specific promotion. Our advice is to steer clear of bonuses with high wagering requirements, such as those exceeding 50x the bonus amount.
Also, remember to check whether they apply only to the bonus or to your deposit as well.
Online casinos set max cashout caps on their pokie bonus offers to prevent massive payouts from free spins or “free” money and balance player appeal. When evaluating these casino promos, take some time to analyse the cashout limits.
Generally, caps of 3 to 10 times the bonus amount are considered reasonable. The exact multiplier is often tied to the bonus size, meaning smaller bonuses come with higher caps (and vice versa).
Even if a game is available at the casino, playing it may not contribute to your wagering requirements. Reading the bonus terms should help you identify restricted games that are excluded from the promotion.
Typically, pokies contribute 100%, but there are exceptions. Some online casinos exclude progressive jackpot pokies or titles with extremely high RTPs and/or low volatility.
Just because you can see the promo banner, that doesn’t mean you can claim the bonus. It’s not rare for casino platforms to limit their deals to a specific region or country.
So, Australian players should review the bonus terms to confirm if the deal is available before signing up/logging in, making a deposit, and attempting to claim pokies bonuses.
As a daily player, you’re probably wondering how using these bonuses can help you extend your play. We’ve developed a daily strategy that includes all the tips and answers you need.
With so many online casinos and bonuses, it’s easy to lose track of the daily options you have. A daily bonus calendar can help you claim free spins, reload bonuses, welcome bonuses, and other types of pokies promotions on time.
To create this calendar, sign up for newsletters and alerts from several trusted Australian casinos. Write down or enter these deals in your calendar, then plan out how and when to use them.
Are you a morning person, or do you save your spins for nighttime? The answer to this question should be implemented in your bonus strategy. If you prefer mornings, claiming bonuses between 6 and 9 am is a good idea. This is the period when most people feel fresh and focused, two things you need to get the most out of the bonuses.
On the other hand, claiming bonuses after 6 pm suits players who want to unwind and relax after a long day at work. As for the bonuses, they usually reset after midnight.
When it comes to Return to Player (RTP), there are no good or bad pokies. Still, if you’re planning to extend your play time, mixing low-RTP titles with high-RTP pokies might be a good idea.
Begin with a low-RTP progressive jackpot pokie for a chance to hit substantial multipliers. Keep in mind that landing a 500x bonus round early can help you cover 50% of your rollover in a single spin. After that, you can focus on high-RTP options, which should help keep your balance safe while also meeting your wagering requirements.
Reaching higher VIP tiers helps you access exclusive bonuses, faster withdrawals, and other perks. Online casinos award points on total wagers, so reinvesting small wins back into low-stakes spins (for instance, $0.2 per spin) on medium-volatility pokies is a good idea.
It’s also wise to reinvest no more than half of wins to create a safety net. By unlocking new perks, you get additional opportunities to play more and claim even better bonuses.
Pokies bonuses, including welcome, no-deposit, and reload bonuses, as well as loyalty rewards, help players extend their gameplay by providing extra funds and spins for free. They also promise better return on investment.
By following a daily strategy that involves a daily bonus calendar, timing strategies, mixing low- and high-RTP pokies, and reinvesting winnings, players can expect to achieve all the aforementioned goals and more. Optimising pokies bonuses isn’t just a good idea, it’s a game-changer for your wallet and fun factor. So, avoid the common traps, like high wagering requirements or restricted games, and unlock the perks of these deals.