Gamblizard’s Jamie Wall on What Modern Casinos Offer to Players

Jamie Wall used to be a game developer at NetEnt and he currently works as Gamblizard’s casino analyst. We got in touch with him to analyse and understand how and why casino bonuses work.

What types of bonuses and promotions are most popular with players right now?  

For example, among all types of online casino promotions at Gamblizard, players’ favourite offers are almost always the welcome bonuses. These offers often stand out as the most generous, featuring substantial match bonuses, free spins, and occasionally even extra rewards.

Another popular type of promo is free spins. Players tend to claim them quite often, and casinos like giving them away. They come in many forms: with deposit or reload bonuses, as birthday gifts, or even as no deposit bonuses.

Needless to say, the latter are always incredibly well-liked, too, in all their forms. The reasons are quite obvious: users can claim an offer that gives them the chance for real-money prizes without having to spend a single penny. Who wouldn’t like that, right? Even if it’s just a small amount, like $5 or 10 free spins, such offers are always trending, though quite hard to find.

If no deposit bonuses are great for those with a tight budget, high-rollers tend to enjoy cashback bonuses the most, as they are a terrific way to minimize one’s losses. If your bets didn’t turn out how you hoped they would, you earn back at least a certain amount of what seemed completely gone.

So, I would say that these are the most popular bonus types at online casinos nowadays: welcome bonuses, free spins, no deposit bonuses, and cashback offers.

How do casinos create and promote their bonuses and promotions to stay competitive?

The ultimate goal is to attract new players. Hence, all respectable casinos offer welcome bonuses. The bigger, the better: lucrative amounts, high percentages and even packages that include multiple offers. However, platforms aim to profit even from those deals. So, we always recommend our readers pay special attention to the wagering requirements to understand if the offer is as good as it looks.

However, casinos need to keep their existing clients as well as retain the newly registered ones. Hence, they offer loyalty programs, reload bonuses, and all kinds of promotions as often as possible.

Online gambling sites also promote their new products, such as a freshly released slot, for example, with tournaments, free spins, or other kinds of special promotions on that given game. This is another good way to attract players and keep them entertained with novelties.

How do the T&C for bonuses work, including the wagering? What should new players pay attention to?

First of all, new players should always read the bonus terms and conditions. It’s a part they often skip, but it’s of utmost importance. No exaggeration here. Bonus terms regulate how a bonus can be used. So, you cannot fully comprehend the advantages of a good offer unless you carefully analyse its exact expectations and you’re aware of the disadvantages as well.

Players must check the wagering requirements first. It’s possibly the most important aspect, as this rule dictates how many times a player needs to wager the bonus or the deposit plus the bonus amount. Before completing these requirements, players will not be able to withdraw their funds.
Bonuses also have an expiration date. For real, at a certain point, they just expire, like your milk in the fridge. If you fail to fulfil the WR within the given time, you lose your entire bonus. Now that’s a bummer! So, check the eligible games and their contribution percentage as well. Also, pay attention to the max bet limit too, since it can have a huge impact towards satisfying all conditions. These would be the trickiest terms for casino bonuses.

What types of tournaments are currently popular in online casinos?

The top hit would definitely be slot tournaments. They can come daily, weekly or monthly, and players will participate either way. One of the reasons for their success is the double chance of profit: you can win playing the slot, and you can also win if you're amongst the top players in the tournament’s leaderboard.
The mechanism is pretty simple. You earn points with every spin you make. There is a scoreboard and a deadline. Whoever finishes first wins the top prize. It’s not a very complicated system, and probably that’s why it works so well.

Surely, all kinds of freeroll tournaments are also quite popular, as you can participate free of charge. The prize pool is usually lower, but the free entry makes up for it. In the vast majority of cases, freeroll tournaments are valid for poker or slots, but they can also be found for blackjack and even for live casino games.

How do loyalty programs differ from regular bonuses and promotions, and what privileges do they offer?

Bonuses are usually a one-time reward. Most often, you just make your deposit and get your prize, that’s it. Loyalty programs count on you in the long run. Instead of “regular” deposit bonuses and free spins, loyalty programs are more likely to offer a better version of them as well as higher cashback percentages and exclusive/hidden promotions.

In addition, loyalty programs often feature other perks. For example, many casinos allow VIP players to cash out much higher amounts than regular players, and they can seek help from professional casino managers. The most loyal players are also pampered with extra care by customer service assistants.

How does Gamblizard help players find the best bonuses and take part in profitable promotions?

Our team constantly browses the iGaming market, determined to deliver the best gambling deals to our readers every day. Our site offers various categories for players, including no-deposit bonuses, free spins, and deposit bonuses, so that everyone can compare them and pick the best ones.
We pride ourselves in providing our readers with up-to-date, factual information that they can actually take advantage of. This is made easy by the fact that we’re all players and passionate about gambling. So, it’s simple to put ourselves in our readers’ shoes and understand what they need and can be really useful to them.