How Do Online Casino Bonus Codes Work?
Online casino bonus codes represent major value added to your gameplay. Find out how they work, how to avoid scam codes, and how to raise your odds!
- What are Bonus Codes and How Do They Work?
- Why Do Canadian Online Casinos Use Bonus Codes?
- How to Use Different Types of Bonus Codes
- How to Check If a Bonus Code is Legitimate and Not a Scam
- Using Bonus Codes for Advantage Play: Is It Cheating?
- The Impact of Bonus Codes on Player Retention
- Recap What You’ve Learned
What are Bonus Codes and How Do They Work?
Bonus codes are special codes formed by capital letters and/or numbers. Their purpose is to unlock online casino bonuses.
You are usually required to enter the promo code when registering or making a payment, to signal to the online casino website which bonus you want to activate.
For instance, let’s say that you want to opt for a 200% match deposit bonus up to $400. The bonus is a first deposit offer designated to new players who make a first payment of $20.
The terms and conditions require you to use the bonus code “WELCOME400”. In this case, you must:
- Create an account and look for a section that requires you to enter the bonus code. If you find it, enter the code “WELCOME400”. If you don’t, complete the registration process.
- Once you complete the signup process, head to your player profile and look for a Promotions or My Bonuses section. If there is one, it is likely you will have to introduce the promo code there.
- If you can’t enter the bonus code in your account, check the casino’s promotions section and find your promotion. Click on it to claim it and deposit the minimum amount required. While completing the Deposit form, look for a place to enter the promo code.
Do not complete the payment without entering the bonus code if the promotions requires one! Always contact live chat to find out where you can enter the promo code if you cannot figure it out on your own.
Are casino bonus codes and promo codes one and the same?
Bonus codes and promo codes are exactly the same. Promo codes is just another name for the same concept.
In fact, “promo codes” stands for “promotional codes”.
Why Do Canadian Online Casinos Use Bonus Codes?
- To help you identify your unique promotion: Every offer has a unique code, so, when you use it, you are sure to receive the bonus you want and not confuse it with another.
- To create targeted bonus campaigns: Because they are short, unique, and stand out in a text, these codes are an effective way to promote a new bonus and attract players to the casino.
- To create better engagement with mobile players: Mobile casinos often provide special codes for offers you can access only by mobile.
- To provide exclusive access to loyalty, reload, or cashback bonuses: Reload and VIP bonuses are given based on your gameplay. To ensure they are accessed by the right account, you can only activate them with a special promo code.
How to Use Different Types of Bonus Codes
Here’s how to use codes, depending on their purpose and type:
The relationship between bonus codes and loyalty programs
Loyalty programs use codes to offer exclusive bonuses to their loyal players. They are a way of encrypting the bonus, so only players who reach a specific loyalty level can access claim them.
For instance, Free Spino Casino offers loyal players a cashback bonus that can only be accessed with a bonus code. The code is secret and you will receive it when you redeem enough loyalty points.
The use of bonus codes for specific games
Promo codes are often used to promote new games, especially slots. Sometimes, online casinos use them to market one of the less accessed game categories, like Live Roulette. In such cases, the code will be related to the name of the specific game or game category.
For instance, HotStreak Casino offers 100 no wagering spins only on Big Bass Bonanza. The bonus code for this offer is BASS20.
The role of bonus codes in seasonal promotions
Casinos use holiday-themed promotions to attract more players to their seasonal titles. Codes make it easier for players to identify such themed promotions, as their titles are often as expressive as EASTERHUNT20.
How to Check If a Bonus Code is Legitimate and Not a Scam
- Look carefully at the source of your bonus: only claim bonuses from reputable websites.
- Check if the casino offering the bonus code is licensed by a reputable authority such as AGCO, UKGC, or MGA.
- Check for eCOGRA or iTechLabs certifications for game fairness received by the casino offering the bonus.
- Read the bonus terms and conditions to ensure they are transparent and clear
- Read expert reviews of the online casino bonus of your choice.
- Don’t choose offers that seem too good to be true, as online casinos must also get something out of the deal.
The legality of using bonus codes in online gambling
Using codes is legal in Canada when the casino providing the offer is licensed and abides by Canadian regulations.
This ensures that the bonus code and its T&Cs are also transparent, fair, and legally binding.
Using Bonus Codes for Advantage Play: Is It Cheating?
Using these codes is not necessarily cheating and can provide a genuine advantage if you devise a strategy that respects their terms and conditions.
However, using codes as an unfair advantage play by combining them with other promotions, breaking the betting limits, or performing any activity marked as illegitimate by the casino would qualify as breaking the rules.
However, using codes as an unfair advantage play by combining them with other promotions, breaking the betting limits, or performing any activity marked as illegitimate by the casino would qualify as breaking the rules.
The Impact of Bonus Codes on Player Retention
Promo codes help online casinos attract and retain players considerably by fulfilling player needs such as:
- Providing a sense of value and reward;
- Showing that the platform can be profitable;
- Offering the opportunity for players to try new games and casino features.
Our experts researched and presented a few examples of successful campaigns involving codes:
Betway’s “Spin and Win” campaign: in 2021, Betway offered players the chance to win $1000 worth of free rounds, for a limited time. All players had to do was enter the code “SPIN100” when making their payment. This significantly increased the number of players on the platform.
Bet365’s “Comp Points” loyalty program: the program offered players loyalty points based on their activity. The more comp points they earned, the more exclusive promo codes they received for rewards such as spins, bonus funds, and free bets. The result was a high increase in number of users and a better reputation for the online casino.
A YouGov 2021 survey found that 60% of players in the United Kingdom would most probably make a deposit if offered a promo code. Over 50% said they would want to try a new game more if a bonus code was presented.
There is a lot of statistical data conveying that promo codes are powerful marketing tools for online casinos and will probably continue to be so due to their simplicity in fulfilling the players’ needs for immediate engagement and exclusive rewards.
Recap What You’ve Learned
- Bonus codes, or promo codes, are unique strings of numbers and letters that activate bonuses.
- Online casinos in Canada use them mainly to create and perpetuate player engagement.
- These codes promote different products, such as loyalty programs, new game titles, game providers, and seasonal campaigns.
- A legitimate bonus code is always provided by a legal and reputable online casino.
- Using promo codes is not a cheating tactic as long as you respect the bonus rules.
- Promo codes have always had an intense impact on player retention for online casinos, according to most statistical data.