We’ve all heard the terms high roller, whale and VIP players in reference to players who play big at land based casinos, but did you know that there are also many high roller casinos online? While these casinos don’t offer things like free rooms and dinners, they do cater specifically to the needs of players who wish to make substantial bets on online casino games with higher than normal limits.

Not only do high roller online casinos offer players the opportunity to play higher limit games, but they generally also offer specially tailored VIP plans offering a host of benefits and services for high rollers including exclusive offers (some of which include real world prizes and perks), generous gifts and special promotions on a regular basis, making them an attractive choice for those who want to enjoy the convenience of playing online from the comfort of their own homes with the perks of high roller treatment.

Taking Advantage of High Roller Casino Bonuses and perks

In addition to their standard Welcome Bonus offerings, reputable properties like Europa Casino offer additional high roller bonuses for those who wish to take advantage of high stakes betting. Europa’s high roller welcome bonus affords you with $/£/€500 on your first deposit of $/£/€1,000 on top of which you will be instantly considered for VIP membership which means that the bonuses and offers only get bigger from there!

In addition to welcome bonuses, many high roller casinos will offer players additional bonuses as they play. Always be sure to review the terms and conditions of these to ensure that the common bonus restrictions that they may contain are something you are comfortable with before accepting them.

Additional benefits may also include celebratory bonuses on special occasions such as your birthday, free entry into a host of high stakes tournaments, additional comps points which can be redeemed for casino cash and increased gaming limits, all of which will make you feel pampered and extra special from the moment you logon to play.

Some online casinos also offer their VIP’s their very own casino host who will get in touch with you via chat, e-mail or telephone according to your preference with special offers and incentives on a regular basis. Depending on where you choose to play, you may also be offered faster withdrawal times or be invited to attend real world events such as casino cruises and the likes.

So if you’re a fan of the finer things in life you don’t have to only play at land based casinos, online casinos offer some pretty great high roller perks of their own for you to take advantage of.

Betfair is a name synonymous with betting, but in addition to offering one of the largest online betting exchanges, they also offer a state of the art online casino which is attracting players from across the globe.

Betfair Casino offers an unrivalled casino games portfolio with popular titles from a variety of software providers including Playtech, Ash Gaming, WMS Gaming, OpenBet and International Game Technology which means that you’ll have access to the best games on the web under one roof.

Even more impressive though, are Betfair’s bonus offerings. Talk about being spoilt for choice…new players are offered a choice of three welcome bonuses entitled games, slots and live casinos. These break down as follows:

Option 1: Games – 200% up to £300

When selecting this bonus you will receive a 200% match bonus up to £300 to use when you play a huge variety of casino games. This bonus is definitely great for both slots and table games players alike, as a number of qualifying games of each genre are included, although, as is the case with most other online casinos, each category of games contribution to the overall wagering requirement is weighted differently. Slots, scratch cards and Fixed Odds Games still carry the most weight with table games carrying less weight in your overall contributions.

To qualify for this bonus all you have to do is “buy-in” by making a minimum deposit of £10 or more. Before you can withdraw any winnings you will be required to wager the sum of the multiplier of the bonus 37 times.

So, for example if you make a deposit of £100 you will receive a £200 bonus (200% of your deposit) and you will then have to wager £200 x 37 times = £7400.

Option 2: Slots – Match Bonus up to £2000

With Betfair’s Slots bonus you will receive a match deposit bonus up to £2000 to play on any of Betfair’s exciting slots. The £2000 bonus can be claimed over 3 deposits as follows:

• 1st match-up – 125% match up to £500 (minimum buy-in: £10)
• 2nd match-up – 175% match up to £700 (minimum buy-in: £50)
• 3rd match-up – 200% match up to £800 (minimum buy-in: £100)

Once you have made your first deposit you will receive your bonus and once the wagering requirements are met you will be eligible to receive the next bonus in line.

Wagering requirements on this bonus are 40 times the sum of the multiplier of the bonus. For example, on bonus one, when depositing an amount of £100 you will receive a £125 bonus and will then need to wager £125 x 40 = £5000 in total before you may cash out.

Option 3: Live Casino – 100% Match up to £200

If you’re a Live Dealer Casino Games fan then this bonus if for you. Deposit £20 or more and you will receive a welcome match bonus of 100% which you can use to play Live Blackjack or Live Roulette.

When it comes to wagering requirements, each game is weighted differently with Live Roulette contributing 100% and Live Blackjack 50%. You are required to wager your bonus amount 60 times within 7 days of receiving the bonus before you can withdraw your winnings.

In addition to the above welcome bonuses, Betfair also offers new players the following:

10 Free Spins on Live Roulette

When you sign up at Betfair, you will receive 10 Free Spins (valued at £10) on Live Roulette absolutely free with no deposit required. You are required to wager the bonus amount 30 times within 3 days to be eligible to withdraw your winnings.

If you’re a Blackjack fan, then don’t miss out on Betfair’s Live Blackjack Exclusive Table and you could win one of their two daily Red Card £10 bonuses. Each day the Betfair dealers shuffle 2 unique Red Cards into each shoe. If you are dealt one of these cards you will win a £10 bonus. This bonus is subject to wagering requirements of 5 times the bonus amount within 7 days. It’s that simple.

One of the major attractions to gambling online instead of at a land based venue is that all online casinos offer new players “free money” in the form of sign up or welcome bonuses. In fact, it seems that the more you look around online the bigger these bonuses seem to get and they appear in many shapes and forms from no deposit to match deposit bonuses, with the latter being more common and often spread across up to three or four of your initial deposits at the casino.

As exciting as the potential to receive free money to play with is, there is more to consider when deciding on whether or not to take advantage of these offers than you may realise. Here we take a look at the pros and cons of online casino welcome bonuses so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you really want to accept these.

Pros

You can get free money

The most obvious reason for signing up and depositing at a casino is to receive their advertised welcome bonus which is a form of “free money” that casinos give to you from the start. You are able to play with this money and provided you meet the wagering requirements stated in the bonus terms and conditions, any money earned from playing is yours to keep.

You’ll be playing casino games anyway

If you make the decision to play at an online casino, you’ll be making a deposit and playing casino games anyway, so why not claim the match deposit bonus and enjoy the extra game play potential. If you manage your bankroll well you’ll be able to fulfil the wagering requirements of the bonus and enjoy the free money benefits without risking all of your own money.

You are able to play higher stakes than usual

When you receive a deposit bonus you are effectively playing with the online casinos money, this means that you can play at higher stakes and take bigger chances than you would with your own money. Bigger risks have the potential for greater rewards and even if you lose, you are not effectively losing any of your own casino bankroll. This can make game play very exciting and potentially financially rewarding too.

Cons

Bonuses are subject to Wagering Requirements

While bonus money is termed “free money” it is not altogether free, it is subject to wagering requirements, also known as play through requirements which are stipulated in the accompanying terms and conditions. These requirements can vary vastly from one casino to another and may be subject to anything from a 10x the bonus to 50x the bonus plus your deposit. It is therefore important to read the associated terms and conditions and to find a casino that offers reasonable terms. Obviously, the lower the wagering requirement the better.

Most online casinos require you to bet 20x the deposit plus bonus, i.e. 40times, so if you deposit $100 and receive a 100% match deposit bonus then you will be required to wager $4000 in total which is not a small amount.

Only certain casino games count towards wagering

When it comes to meeting the wagering requirements of a welcome bonus, casinos weight their games differently and not all games count towards the playthrough requirement. Generally games like slots count 100% towards wagering due to their larger house edge, while certain skill games like Blackjack and Video Poker only count 10%. You need to check on whether or not your favourite games are included in the bonus wagering requirements and if they aren’t then you need to decide whether or not you’ll be happy accepting the bonus.

Welcome Bonuses expire

Casino bonuses are subject to time limits so you do have to make use of them within the designated period after making a deposit or they will be removed from your account. The bonus term varies from one casino to another and can be anything from 1 to 3 months. You then have to make the decision as to whether or not you will play enough casino games in a designated period to fulfil the requirements.

As you can see from the above there are a number of pros and cons to online casino bonuses and it is really a matter of whether or not you believe there is value in accepting the bonus or not. It really is a personal decision and only one you can make when you have all of the information which you now do.

If you’re a veteran online casino player you may have noticed (to your dismay) that very few online casinos offer no deposit bonuses these days. You may too have wondered why this has happened, after all, these bonuses were very prolific for a number of years and really went a long way in helping you to test out a new casino or casino software platform and even enjoy a few free rounds on your favourite casino game.

The main reason why few online casinos offer no deposit bonuses can largely be attributed to the sheer number of bonus abuse and fraud cases that they had to contend with over the years and the countless man hours that were invested in resolving these.

Another reason that we have seen a decline in no deposit bonuses can also be attributed to the fact that the industry is maturing and many players have realised that no deposit bonuses often carry complex wagering requirements, with many ultimately requiring a deposit to withdraw funds over a certain amount. This makes genuine deposit offers with more favourable wagering requirements a far better option for serious players. The new generation multi-deposit bonus offers are even more attractive as casinos move towards rewarding repeat and loyal casino players.

As the industry has matured, online casino offerings have also evolved with “Free Spins” and “Free Credits” offers now being the most common replacement for no deposit bonuses. Essentially they are very similar but many do require a deposit to cashout or transfer winnings to a real player account so essentially they are not free.

While we may have seen a decline in the completely no strings attached no deposit bonuses, some casinos do still offer them, but for the most part it is better in the long term to make a small deposit when trying out a new online casinos, especially for testing purposes and if you win you’ll be assured of cashout once the wagering requirements are met, with no need for additional funds to be deposited.

Another great way to try out a new online casino is to make use of the “Free Play” function. While you may not win anything, you also won’t lose anything, and if your motives are purely “testing” out the software, this can be very effective and highly enjoyable – for the short term anyway.

Microgaming powered Casino Splendido is part of the Roxy Palace Group which has really started to pay attention to player bonus and promotional offerings of late. Due to these new and improved offerings, Casino Splendido is currently offering what it calls the Super Bonus Online which is perfectly structured to match the percentage and value of the bonus offered to match your wagering needs.

Your wagering needs are determined by your VIP status due to the fact that players who wager large amounts usually have a higher VIP status. This promotion also takes into account the fact that you and other players generally enjoy playing more on week-ends and so there is are two bonus scheme offerings – one for midweek and the other for week-ends.

The Midweek Super Bonus offer is comprised of 4 VIP levels namely members, silver, gold and platinum and each receives bonuses accordingly. Members receive a bonus of 15% of the amount deposited (up to 20 credits), Silver level VIP’s receive a 25% deposit bonus (up to 100 credits), Gold earn 30% of the deposit made (up to 200 credits) and finally Platinum VIP’s are offered 30% up to 500 credits.

The week-end Super Bonus is structured much the same as the midweek bonus except for the fact that bonus amounts increase as follows: Members 15% of the deposit up to 25 credits, Silver VIP’s 25% up to 125 credits, Gold members receive 30% up to 300 credits and Platinum members 30% up to 500 credits.

As always terms and conditions apply and should be reviewed before you accept this or any other promotional offer at Casino Splendido. Different casino games also have differently weighted contributions towards the online casino’s wagering requirements with games like online Keno and Slots contributing 100%, poker games 50%, blackjack counts 2% and American Roulette counts 10% with other table games like Craps and Baccarat as well as the majority of Video poker games contributing 10%.

All things considered, Casino Splendido’s new bonus offering is one that is sure to help you maximise your game play and enjoyment.

Online eWallet payment solutions giant Neteller is currently hosting some of its own online casino related promotions that are not only exciting but will be of great benefit to casino players around the world.

First in the line-up is a limited time joint promotion with Roxy Palace Online Casino where Neteller is offering new players signing up to the casino and making their first deposit via Neteller a very special welcome bonus of $10 free. This free money can be used to try out any of Roxy Palace’s over 400 Microgaming powered online casino games and is offered in addition to Roxy Palace’s current bonus offering of a whopping $/€/£1,250 FREE. To be eligible, players must sign up at Roxy Palace before the end of May 2012.

Neteller’s second promotion is a chance to win €2,000 in a prize draw. This is being offered in partnership with Ukash, a method with which players can safely and easily fund their Neteller accounts. The offer is valid from the 15th of May until the 15th of August 2012 and to qualify all you have to do is use Ukash to deposit a minimum of €50 (or the equivalent amount when using other currencies) into your Neteller account. You will then be automatically entered into the prize draws. There will be three prize draws, each with a prize of €2,000!

So if you’re not yet a player at Roxy Palace Online Casino sign up now to claim your additional bonus compliments of Neteller and if you’re an existing player, simply fund your Neteller account via Ukash and you could be the lucky winner of €2K!

This weekend Playtech powered Casino Tropez will be livening up players’ lives with an all new unlimited 30% bonus on ALL deposits made until the 19th of June 2011. The invitation reads “Use this extra money to play our exciting, interactive Live Games and experience the atmosphere of gambling in a land-based casino right from the comfort of your own home” and we’re sure it’s an offer that won’t be refused. There is also the added bonus of up to 15% should you use any of the preferred deposit methods like Moneybookers, Click2Pay, Neteller or Ukash.

Wagering requirements on the bonus is determined by your VIP status, with Club members and VIP Bronze members required to wager their bonus plus deposit 25 times, while those in the higher VIP membership status ranks are required to wager 15 times the bonus plus deposit total. UK based players may be subject to higher wagering requirements so please check on this before accepting and playing.

Casino Tropez’s Live Dealer games have recently undergone a revamp from new atmospheric lighting to improved camera work and luxurious décor, not to mention that they now also feature a new team of easy on the eyes, handpicked professional dealers that provide excellent, friendly service as they interact with you every time you play. You can choose from Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat on the live dealer platforms at present and the new bonus will ensure that you aren’t strapped for cash on this mid-month week-end. So get over to Casino Tropez now!

Europa Casino recently announced a new casino promotion that will make new players’ summer a treat!

From the 21st of June 2011 until the end of August Europa Casino will be celebrating summer with its new Summer Surprise casino promotion whereby new players who download the casino software and make their first deposit will receive a sweet summer treat of up to €20 free!  This is in addition to the casino’s existing €2,400 welcome bonus which includes a 100% match up to €100 Euros on first deposit.

Every new player or player that has not yet made their first deposit at the casino will receive a special summer treat in the login message of the Europa Casino lobby.  The “treats” appear in the form of summer themed symbols such as ice-creams, sandcastles, sunshine and sunglasses and bonus amounts associate with these range from €5 to €20 in free money bonuses.  Once you’ve received your treat you just have to contact Europa Casino’s friendly customer support team to claim your bonus and play any game of your choice including some summer themed slots such as Beach Life, Vacation Station or Thai Paradise.

So if you’re not yet into the swing of summer, why not visit Europa Casino and give yourself a special summer treat that will be sure to have you in a sunny mood in no time at all!

If you’re even slightly familiar with the world of online casinos you’ll know that there are numerous different types of casino bonuses out there.  The most commonly found type is the deposit bonus which has been designed to get the casino player to make a deposit at the casino.  Usually these types of bonuses include a “match” feature where the casino offers to match the deposited amount to a certain percentage for example, 100% of the deposit.  This means that should the player deposit $100 then he/ she will receive a bonus to the value of $100 from the casino.

Though it may seem that the player gains $100, in this example the real advantage is not 100% due to the fact that wagering requirements come into play.  These are integral factors in bonus offerings that people rarely look at in the “terms and conditions” section of the offering and while they may be stated in different ways, they always have the same objective.  Most commonly you’ll find that the wagering requirement is that the deposit and bonus must be wagered a specific number of times before the cashout is allowed.  If you take the example of 100% on a $100 deposit, the wagering requirement could be 25 times the deposit plus the bonus, that is $200 (bonus plus deposit amounts) multiplied by 25, which give you $5000 which needs to be wagered before you can “take advantage” of the bonus by cashing out.

So if you have a total of $5000 that needs to be wagered less $200 in the account (bonus plus deposit) then the $4800 needs to be made up before you can cash out.  This balance may come from two sources, firstly, any winnings you accrue during your game play and secondly through the deposit of further funds by the player.  Obviously the amount from winning is up to chance but is the more preferable option because in fact the player would really have to deposit $4900 to make use of the $100 given to him/her by the casino.  This effectively means that the bonus is a 2% one instead of 100% one.  If winnings do come into play in the equation then the bonus percentage may be higher but as any seasoned gambler knows, you don’t always win.

There are other bonuses where should a player wager a specified amount during a promotional period, then a bonus will be awarded.  In these types of bonuses, no wagering requirements exist as the requirements are already covered in the specified wagering amount to qualify for the bonus.  In a recent promotion, one casino offered a $100 bonus for wagering $3500.  This means that the player gets a 3% bonus.

So next time there is a “huge” bonus on offer at the casino, take a closer look at the wagering requirements and work out the actual percentage that you’ll benefit from instead of taking the offer at face value.