One of the most attractive aspects of any online casino in Canada – new or established – are the casino bonuses and promotions. Whether it’s a welcome bonus for new players or a bonus that keeps existing players happy, there are various options out there, although not all of them are great.
In this guide to online casino bonuses in Canada, we give you the specifics about the various types of promos, how they work, how we rate them and which ones are worth it.
19+. New players only. Canada only (excluding Ontario). T&Cs apply
Best by category
There are plenty of different bonus types out there on offer by Canadian casinos. You get a welcome bonus at almost any casino, as well as deposit and no deposit bonuses, free spins, and reload bonuses as well. In the table below you can find the best bonus offers per category so you can make an easy pick if you fancy that particular promotion.
The first thing you need to do in regard to these bonuses is check the terms. But, our team has done a great job at finding the best possible bonus offers, so the terms are clear and better than the rest.
Types of casino bonuses
There are plenty of casino bonuses you can find in the best online casinos in Canada. It’s not just the match welcome deposit bonus offers. There are also free spins to look forward to and no deposit bonuses.
With so many bonuses on offer, it can be hard to find all the best offers. But, that’s what we’re here to uncover, giving you the absolute best bonuses and promotions you can find at online casinos in Canada. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to checking out bonuses in full. Take a look at the benchmarking process below to see what we believe are the most important criteria.
Wagering requirements check: the wagering requirements can make or break a good casino bonus. We only list casino bonuses with lower wagering requirements (30x bonus up to 50x bonus) which we believe is acceptable.
Maximum bet limit: the maximum bet limit for the top bonuses should be at least C$7.5. If it’s anything under, those bonuses are branded poor.
Expiration period: there should be plenty of time for players to complete the wagering requirements. Say, 30 days – anything less is not good enough.
Maximum cashout limit, deposit-to-bonus ratio rules: we also check other important bonus terms such as cashout limit (which should be as high as possible), and if the casino has set any deposit-to-bonus ratio rules.
Overall comparison with other bonuses: the final step involves comparison with other similar bonuses. This gives you a clear overview of how one bonus is compared to another.
Pros and cons of casino bonuses
There are more pros than cons of online casino bonuses that go beyond the obvious – checking out casino sites without breaking the bank. A good casino bonus will raise the odds to win by allowing you to play more. You have more funds to play with, so it’s almost like playing for free, but you can still win real money.
Positive
More funds to play with
Increase odds to win by playing more
Explore more casino games
Play for free and still win real money
Negatives
Wagering requirements
Limited access to some games
On the negative side, it’s all about the terms when it comes to casino bonus offers. For example, the wagering requirements-which we’ll go into detail below-can be too high for the bonus to make a decent impact. There’s no point in wagering a C$1,000 bonus 60 times just to win C$200 – that’s too much money for almost nothing.
Casinos make you work for those bonus winnings with other terms such as limited time to wagering completion, low maximum bet limits and a cap on winnings. In translation, don’t expect to win millions with your casino bonus, and don’t expect to claim any winnings easily.
Bonus terms
Each casino bonus is wrangled with important terms and conditions you must stick to. The first ones up are the wagering requirements. They state the number of times you have to play the bonus or deposit (usually both) over before you can withdraw what you’ve won.
Wagering requirement
Wagering requirements are a type of term that allows the online casino to prevent bonus abuse. But, it’s also used in the worst way possible, especially when the number is too high. If it’s a reasonable bonus amount with low wagering requirements, we guess it’s OK if you don’t have a win cap. But, anything over the recommended WR can be a hellish way of getting those wins out.
Description
Detail
Lowest WR detected
35x bonus
Highest WR detected
200x bonus
Average WR in Canada
55x bonus
Median WR in Canada
30x deposit + bonus
Recommended WR
40x bonus
If the bonus has the wagering requirements set at 100x, it doesn’t matter what amount it offers. It’s too much to wager in a short time just to get your winnings out, which can be like C$50 or so. In short, if the wagering requirements are over the recommended WR, the bonus offer isn’t worth it.
Minimum qualifying deposit
You can’t just claim a bonus with any deposit. That’s one of the first conditions you’ll come across. For example, new players can only claim a welcome bonus if they deposit C$10 or C$20, or any other offer. Unless you deposit that much or more, you won’t be eligible for the deposit.
Description
Amount
Lowest minimum qualifying deposit
C$5
Highest minimum qualifying deposit
C$20
High roller qualifying deposit
C$1,000+
On average, a good casino bonus has a low minimum qualifying deposit – something in the range of C$5 or C$10. The highest we’ve seen is around C$40. If you’re a high roller applying for those special bonuses, get ready to cash in C$1,000 first.
Maximum bet limit
If you think you can just bet the whole bonus amount and be done with it, you’re wrong. Casinos have set a maximum bet limit for all bonuses and you must stick to it. On average, it’s around C$5 for most bonus offers, although the best offers have the highest maximum bet limit of C$10 which is acceptable.
Description
Amount
Lowest maximum bet limit
C$2.5
Highest maximum bet limit
C$10
Median max bet limit
C$7
Average max bet limit
C$5
By limiting your maximum bet amount, casinos are pushing you to play more. You’ll be stretching your bets all over the place, and worst of all, if you go over the maximum limit, it won’t just not count toward the wagering – the casino can strip away your bonus funds.
Game contributions to the Wagering Requirement
Not all games contribute the same to the wagering requirements. It’s always a positive thing to see a casino bonus that you can wager on all games in different contribution percentages rather than just slots. That’s also very rare. Overall, most bonuses stick to the 100% slots wagering contribution rule, with other games chipping in less.
Game
Best case
Worst case
Usually
Slots
100%
50%
100%
Progressive slots
100%
0%
0%
Blackjack
100%
0%
10%
Roulette
100%
0%
10%
Baccarat
50%
0%
10%
Video poker
50%
0%
0%
Live blackjack
100%
0%
5%
Live roulette
100%
0%
5%
Live baccarat
50%
0%
0%
Texas Hold’em Poker
50%
0%
0%
Unfair bonus offers keep the wagering on all games under 100%. That’s not objectively realistic and is an unfair disadvantage we don’t want to see in casino bonuses.
Time to complete the wagering requirement
You only have a limited time to complete the wagering requirement. Overall, most casinos stick to 30 days, which is enough if the wagering isn’t sky-high. But, some keep it at a minimum of seven days, which makes wagering the bonus on time simply impossible.
Description
Period
Shortest time to complete WR
A couple of days
Longest time to complete WR
60 days
Median time to complete WR
30 days
Average time to complete WR
30 days
If you see a casino bonus that has the wagering high and gives you just a couple of days, it’s best to refuse the offer.
Other bonus terms
Besides the most important casino bonus terms we mentioned above, there are a few others you ought to know about. While their impact is not as big as the wagering, you should be aware that they can make or break the bonus experience.
Deposit to bonus ratio of 50% or more
This unique term doesn’t let players that have less than 50% of deposits in comparison to claimed bonuses, to receive a bonus. In order to claim a bonus with this specific requirement, the deposit-to-bonus ratio must be 50% or higher.
Maximum cashout limit
This term implies the maximum cash amount you can win with a bonus. For example, if you get 20 no deposit spins with a cashout limit of C$20, it means you won’t be able to win over that amount.
Skrill and Neteller deposits do not qualify
More often than not, Skrill and Neteller deposits are excluded from bonus eligibility. In that case, you won’t be able to cover the minimum deposit requirements with these e-wallets, but only with another type of payment method. The reason for this is simple. In the past, Skrill and Neteller were both used for bonus abuse, with players signing up with several accounts under different emails to claim a bonus several times, which is against any casino’s rules.
How to distinguish good casino bonuses from poor ones?
Good bonuses
Reasonable amount -C$1,000+
Low wagering requirements – 35x bonus up to 50x bonus
Enough time to complete WR – 14 to 30 days
High maximum bet limit – C$8 or more
No cashout cap
Poor bonuses
Sky-high amounts with high wagering
Only a couple of days to complete WR
Slots only contribute to WR completion
Conclusion
Casino bonuses are a great way to check out a new casino and see if you like it. Each casino site has its own unique welcome bonus that tries to appeal to the crowd. Some succeed, others fail, and that’s mostly determined by the terms and conditions. You can see how to distinguish good casino bonuses from poor ones above and read our guide to learn more about the top offers and how to get the most out of them.
FAQs
Can I win real money playing with casino bonuses?
Absolutely. But, in order to keep what you win, you will need to wager the bonus a certain number of times. This means making a deposit after the bonus funds run out so you can complete the wagering requirements.
Are all casino bonuses the same?
No, they aren’t. There are many different types of bonus offers, each one with different terms, so don’t skip on the fine print because it’s too long or boring.
Should I claim a welcome bonus at new casino sites in Canada?
If it’s a good offer, then yes, there’s no reason not to claim it. But, beware of new player offers as there are tricky terms in the terms that get you to sign up before you can spot them.
What’s the best online casino bonus?
That depends entirely on you. Each player has their own preferences, and the appetite of casual players and high rollers isn’t the same. It’s best to check the terms for yourself and see which bonus suits your play style the most.
Can I somehow bypass the wagering requirements?
No, you can’t, and you shouldn’t try. Any attempt to cheat the casino while using the bonus fund result in a forfeited bonus and winnings or worse – a ban.
Can I withdraw the bonus at any time?
No, you can’t. That’s against the rules, and if you try to withdraw an active bonus or any winnings before completing the wagering requirements you forfeit the funds.
