Types of bonus
Betting bonuses aren't a single category — each type serves a different function in the player funnel:
| Type | When it's offered | Typical rollover | Main function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome | On a new account's first deposit | Higher, usually 10x to 30x | Acquisition — lower the barrier to a first deposit |
| Reload | On subsequent deposits, in targeted campaigns | Medium | Retain and reactivate already-registered players |
| No-deposit | At registration, without requiring a prior deposit | Very high, or a low bonus amount | Controlled-risk acquisition, letting players try the platform |
The welcome bonus usually carries the highest headline value because it's the offer that decides whether a visitor becomes a player. The no-deposit bonus, since it doesn't require the player's own money, is structured to cap the operator's financial exposure — low amount, high rollover, or both.
Bonus balance vs. real balance
A well-structured operation splits the player's balance into two ledgers: real balance, matching money the player actually deposited, and bonus balance, matching the value of any bonus credited. Bonus balance can be used to place bets, but it cannot be withdrawn directly — it only converts into withdrawable balance once the player clears the offer's wagering requirement. Meanwhile, withdrawals from the real balance continue to work normally, independent of the bonus. This split prevents the most commonly abused pattern: depositing, claiming the promotional credit, and withdrawing everything immediately, without generating any real betting activity for the operator.
Wagering requirements and per-game contribution
A bonus only unlocks for withdrawal once the wagering requirement — the rollover set by the offer — is cleared. The rules for how much each game category (slots, live tables, sports bets) contributes toward that requirement, and how the calculation works, are covered in the rollover entry; the point that matters here is that a bonus without a properly configured rollover is, in practice, free money handed out with no return — which is why no promotional offer at a mature operation ships without that rule clearly defined.
Is a bonus an expense or an acquisition investment?
It depends on how it's measured. On the books, the bonus amount granted is a direct deduction in the NGR calculation — the formula is GGR minus bonuses, affiliate commissions, payment fees, and revenue share. That means every unit spent on bonuses reduces net revenue for the period it's granted in, even if it generates betting activity. The question that actually decides whether the spend paid off is different: does the player who came in because of the bonus keep depositing after the promotional credit runs out? If so, the bonus functioned as an acquisition cost, comparable to what the operator would pay in paid media to bring in the same player. If the player disappears the moment the minimum rollover is cleared and withdraws whatever is left, the bonus was pure cost with no long-term return — and that pattern is exactly what mature operations track by campaign cohort, not just by total bonus volume granted in a month.