Best Australian casino bonuses

The variety of bonus offers from Australian online casinos is incredible. And it certainly helps to understand what those essentially are to pick a great gambling venue with the most perks. See below which common types of bonuses and promotions are available to Aussie customers.

Welcome bonuses

What’s the first pokies bonus you get? The welcome bonus, of course! Modern casinos make sure they give a resounding welcome to new customers by offering an outrageously generous bonus on your first and sometimes even second deposit. What makes this bonus special is the fact it’s customarily 100% of your deposit amount (as opposed to the usual 50% for reload bonuses). It’s worth noting that all welcome bonuses, with very rare exceptions, come with wagering requirements.

No deposit bonuses

Among the top casino bonuses you can claim are no deposit bonuses. They are not as common as they used to be, but if you dig around, you will be sure to find some. You’d rarely get free cash to play for though, as in most cases, these will be free spins. Some casinos may even limit the choice of pokies to use those free spins on.

Free spins

Free spins are among the best online casino bonuses. They may come with no strings attached (as a no deposit bonus) or as part of a welcome package, on top of the cash amount. The good thing about free spins is that their number usually does not depend on the amount of your deposit – you usually get a fixed count.

Free play credits

Free play credits are intended for use on specific casino games or pokies. It’s just like money, only pokie money. Claim those as a welcome bonus, or as a surprise promo from your casino, and enjoy the game!

Reload bonuses

Reload bonuses are the logical next step after you have used up the casino’s welcome package offer. Reload bonuses are renewed weekly, which means you can claim them (usually by depositing a certain amount on a given day) every single week. Of course, one thing to be aware of is that you do need to wager any previously claimed ones completely to keep them from evaporating.

Cashback bonuses

Cashback bonuses can commonly be found among online casino promotions. These involve a percentage of the money you lost (or spent playing pokies, regardless of winning or losing) returned to your account as bonus funds. Some casinos offer cashback with a minor wagering requirement, while others just let you have it without any obligations to wager.

Tournament rewards

Many casinos these days run tournament-style events for pokie and live dealer game fans. Being active during those may result in you claiming a healthy chunk of cash plus free spins if those apply. These may or may not need to be wagered – make sure to check the terms in advance.

VIP (loyalty) rewards

Depending on what a certain casino calls it, you may be in for special loyalty or VIP rewards as a result of your gambling activity. These come as free spins, cash, and special privileges, which may include a dedicated manager, higher withdrawal limits, and exclusive offers.

Is picking an online casino by the largest bonus alone worth it?

In short, no. Finding a highly lucrative bonus is much easier than discovering a casino where you will be guaranteed safety and fair treatment. So, while large bonuses may be tempting to take advantage of, they should not prevail over a thorough vetting process.

If you are choosing between a trusted online casino (as any of the ones recommended by Smartpokies) and a shady one with the best online casino bonuses you’ve seen, it’s wiser to claim less in bonus funds but know you will get your hands on them in the end.

How to calculate the bonus I will get?

When calculating the amount of your bonus, there are two numbers you must know – the percentage and the “up to” amount. It would be wrong to be impressed by the 100% number alone - or by the total max of, say, 500 AUD. It could be a 100% match but capped at 100 AUD, which means even depositing 200 AUD will render the same bonus of 100.

On the other hand, a 50% bonus up to 500 AUD can offer a larger amount – but you will need to deposit more than you would for a 100% bonus. It’s also worth keeping in mind that whichever Online Casino Bonus you claim, you won’t be able to do with the way you please. It will first need to be wagered a certain number of times.

Pokies

While playing a pokie with a welcome bonus, not only are you enjoying your favorite game but also wagering any funds and clearing them for a further withdrawal. Playing pokies contributes 100% towards the wagering requirements, which is why players rely on this type of game to both enjoy themselves and clear the bonus quickly. 

Bingo

You can play bingo, which is one of the classics at an online casino. However, keep in mind that playing this game will contribute nothing towards your bonus wagering requirements. 

Live games

Live games are all the rage these days. You are free to use the bonus money to enjoy some roulette, blackjack, baccarat, or Hi-Low, but these will contribute nothing towards the wagering requirements. 

Table games

Table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and the like can be played at any time although contributing only 5% towards the wagering requirements. However, in the era of everything live, it's tough to find those that will offer a non-live version.

Here at Smartpokies, we have an important mission – to make sure all our readers have access to the finest bonus offers. This is why you can rest assured our Recommended Casino Bonuses are the best you can get, available from trusted and thoroughly vetted gambling venues that welcome Aussie gamblers with open arms. We pick the most secure and popular casinos and then dive in to explore how good their bonuses really are, all that to guide your straight to the juiciest bonuses with fair wagering requirements or without any!