Top US casino bonuses and promotions 2023

Lorella Fava Last updated on October 1, 2023

Online casino bonuses are central to great casino offers. Even after sign-up, good promos will keep us coming back.

We’ll introduce you to the best casino bonuses, and then dive into the details. We’ll cover bonus types, how they work, wagering requirements, and more. So let’s kick off with the best online casino bonuses in the US.

In brief: The top 10 US casino bonuses for Oct 2023

🥇 BetMGM — Bonus: 100% up to $1,000 + $25 FREEPLAY
🥈 Borgata — Bonus: $20 Free Bonus + 100% up to $1,000
🥉 Gambino Slots — Bonus: 200 free spins + 25,000 free credits
Caesars — Bonus: 100% up to $2,000
BetRivers — Bonus: 24 hours of casino losses back, up to $250
Mohegan Sun — Bonus: 100% up to $1,000
Resorts — Bonus: 100% up to $1,000
Unibet — Bonus: 100% up to $500 + $10 Free Cash
SugarHouse — Bonus: $200 free play on 1st $50 deposit
Tropicana — Bonus: $100 Cash Back

The top three casino bonuses – expert picks explained

There are hundreds of casino promos out there, so it can be tricky to pick between them. Our experts have curated the top three casinos with the best bonuses, and listed them for you below.

Bonuses can get complicated, so we’ve gone over the the different wagering requirements, terms and conditions, and of course sizes of the bonuses. This should help you understand the bonus quickly so you can jump right in.

🥇#1 Best overall: BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the largest, most established casinos in the iGaming market, sporting will over 1000+ games.

This size translates to the number of ongoing promos available. BetMGM is constantly rewarding established players with ongoing promos, with 10+ bonuses in its casino alone.

The welcome bonus is a winner as well, rewarding the player with both a deposit match of 100% up to $1,000 and a $25 free play. The wagering requirements are reasonable, with 1x for $25 and 15x for $1,000. All games are eligible except some select jackpots, so you should be able to cash out pretty quickly.

To BetMGM casino

🥈#2 Best for live games: Borgata

Borgata is another well established casino, and offers excellent 24/7 customer support across it’s 800+ games, including the 14 live dealer games available.

What makes it great for live games though is that they count for the wagering requirements.All table and live dealer games count 20% to the wagering requirement for the welcome bonus, with everything else count 100% towards it. This helps get your well earned cash in your pocket faster.

The welcome bonus itself is a combo of two promos, a deposit match of 100% up to $1,000 along with $20 free play.

To Borgata casino

🥉#3 Best sweepstakes casino: Gambino Slots

Not everyone is in a state that has legalized real money casinos. If you’re one of those people, than you can instead look for sweepstakes casinos like Gambino Slots.

Gambino slots already boasts an excellent welcome bonus, with 200 free spins and 25,000 free coins. However if that’s not enough, you will also get a deluge of other promos, including daily gifts from the sweeps casino and daily free spins on the G-Wheelz.

To Gambino Slots casino

The top casino bonuses 2023 by bonus type

We’re always on the hunt for the latest and best casino bonus out there. We keep an eye out for new online casinos too. But what about the different bonus types? How the best casino bonuses work, who can claim them, and when you can do so is perhaps the most important part of your experience.

The no deposit bonus, free spins, and welcome bonuses are the most popular online casino bonuses you’ll come across online. Want to find out more? Read on.

No deposit welcome bonus

A no deposit bonus is where you get something without using your own money. In most instances, this is offered upon sign-up and you only need to register an account to receive a no deposit welcome bonus. No deposit casino bonuses are usually around $10 to $20.

Some online casinos will require you to use a bonus code to claim, but most will credit the bonus money automatically. Naturally, no deposit promos come with wagering requirements, which are usually set at 1x-5x depending on the type of game you wish to play.

Play casino games without using your own money

No deposit bonuses at top US casinos can be on the low side

Claim BetMGM’s $25 no deposit bonus

Free spins welcome bonus

Casino free spins upon sign-up are online promos that are exclusively for slots, and can usually be used only with specific video slot titles. Thankfully, operators hand out this kind of online casino bonus offer regularly in batches of 10-100, or more. Many welcome bonuses nowadays come with free spins.

Free spins are common at sweeps cash casinos too. These kinds of casinos are popular in states that haven’t legalized real money gambling, and will allow you to gamble for virtual coins, some of which can be exchanged for cash prizes.

Use free spins no deposit bonus with popular slots

You have to use up your free spins within a limited time

Grab 25 free spins at PartyCasino

Deposit match welcome bonus

Online casino welcome bonuses come in many forms, but the most common is the deposit match casino bonus. With the best welcome bonuses, you can expect a deposit match of 100% up to $750-1000. For example, if you deposit $10 for a 100% match bonus, you’ll receive another $10 to play with.

The welcome bonus is usually subject to wagering requirements and anything between 10 and 30x the bonus amount is standard in the US before you can withdraw your bonus money.

Play without risking your own cash

Deposit match wagering requirements can be as high

Get up to $2,000 at DraftKings

Cashback welcome bonus

As a casino welcome bonus, a cashback works by essentially… giving your cash back. If you make wagers and lose, the casino will refund you up to a certain amount. It’s usually capped in 2 ways; the casino will refund up to a certain amount of money, and be valid usually within the first 24 hours of betting.

Cashbacks can either refund you in real cash, which is great, or bonus cash, which is less great. Real cash can be taken out instantly without needing any wagers, while bonus cash needs to be played through wagering requirements before you can take it home.

Reduces risk

Only benefits you when you lose

Claim Tropicana’s cashback bonus

Loyalty bonus

Why should only newcomers have all the fun? Established players deserve a few rewards as well, especially if casinos don’t want to lose them to new competitors.

Loyalty bonuses come in all shapes and sizes, such as VIP programs, progression-based bonuses, tournaments, and even the occasional free spin. Sweepstakes casinos tend to be great at these, consistently offering players with free coins, free spins and loyalty programs.

Rewards loyal players

Not every casino has loyalty bonuses

Spin Gambino Slots’ G-Wheelz

Bonus finder — how to find the best online casino bonus

How do you find the best US casino bonus out there? And what do you need to look out for when you’re on the hunt for a top deal? Before you can get the best bonus you’ll need to understand how casino bonuses work and which ones to pick to get the most out of your experience. Below are a few tips on how to make bonuses work for you.

Bonus finder tips

Magnifying glass looking at different bonus types

Check the bonus type

Don’t instantly be impressed by a big number bonus flashing in the banner of a casino’s homepage. That especially goes for players looking for a high roller casino experience. Read more into the type of bonus and learn how it works. A deposit match will give you a certain amount of bonus cash based on your first deposit, while a cashback will refund your losses up to a certain amount. The biggest difference? Cashback bonuses only benefit you if you lose your first few. A no deposit bonus is always a good idea.

Scale showing multiple casino bonuses outweighing a single one

Look for more bonuses, or bonus combos

Why opt for just a deposit match bonus, when you can have a deposit match + no-deposit bonus? Some casinos have multiple offers in their welcome bonus, so look out for them. Welcome bonuses also don’t last forever, so keep an eye out for other promos for established players, such as VIP programs. That’s a rating factor we consider in our online casino reviews.

Man betting small number of chips on bonus with low wagering requirement

Look for low wagering requirements

The best casino deposit bonus is the one with the lowest wagering requirements. Don’t get so lost in the size of the bonus that you forget to read the rules. The number of times you need to play through a bonus will determine how quickly you can cash out your winnings. These can start as low as 1x and go up to 150x.

Hand tapping on bonuses on different game types

Check which games contribute to the wagering requirements

It’s important to understand that not all casino games have the same contribution towards fulfilling the bonus wager requirements. Some of them don’t contribute at all — table games like online craps and many live casino games are often barred from wagering requirements, along with jackpots. Slots generally contribute the most (50%-100%), followed by table games like online baccarat (10%-20%).

Magnifying glass looking at bonus terms and conditions

Check for further terms and conditions

There are a couple of areas that can really trip up players when it comes to bonus terms. If a bonus has a minimum deposit limit of $30, and you deposit $20, you won’t get the bonus. Cashout limits can also be a tripping point, and it would suck to win a large amount only to realize it has a $1,000 cash-out limit. The other thing to watch out for is time limits and expiry on bonus cash. Most places give you 30 days to gamble through the wagering requirements, but if that clause is hiding in the T&C’s, losing $500 in bonus cash because of that would also suck.

Online casino promotions vs bonuses — quick guide

What’s the difference between online casino promotions and bonuses? Strictly speaking, they both refer to casino offers that can reward players with bigger wins or better success rates. However, bonuses normally refer to offers that get players to sign up to the casino — welcome bonuses, free spins, etc. The word ‘promotions’ is generally saved for casino offers that are open to existing players.

Online casino promotions can also take the form of one-off or regular events. Christmas and Halloween promotions with special bonuses on themed slots are something we’ve seen quite often. In the US, we’ve seen promotions games from certain studios too, including NetEnt, IGT, and High 5 Games. These are often synchronized across different casinos.

Next, check out the table; it’ll highlight some of our favorite regular US casino promotions.

Casino	Available promotion
BetMGM casino	Lion’s Share community jackpots
BetRivers casino	‘Bonus Store’ points program
Borgata casino	Borgata Bucks community jackpots
Unibet casino	25% weekly deposit reload
Party casino	Party Pots community jackpots

Can you win real money with online casino bonuses?

In short, absolutely! However, there are some factors to consider, such as the wagering requirements you need to fulfill before you can cash out your winnings. All of the best online casino deals, whether free spins or a deposit match, are there to give you a boost so you can win real money as long as you stick to the terms and conditions. The only time you can’t win actual money when playing at US real money online casinos is when you play demo games as opposed to real money games. And if you do win real cash, you’ll probably want to head over to the instant withdrawal casinos to cash it out quick.

How do casino bonuses work?

It’s not at all that difficult to find the best casino bonuses online — but first, you need to know what you’re signing up for. Generally speaking, the biggest online casino bonus isn’t always the best — it all comes down to which one has the most favorable terms and conditions. This section gives you the ins and outs of what to look for when sizing up the bonus rules, whether at desktop or mobile casinos.

Understanding casino bonus terms and conditions

You’ll want to check the T&Cs before you accept an online casino bonus. We’ll never recommend a bonus that doesn’t come with trustworthy terms, but that doesn’t mean you should skip reading through them. On the contrary, reading the bonus rules will help you better understand how they work and highlight everything you need to know.

Bonuses with deposit limits
Deposit limits are the amount of money you need to deposit to be eligible for a casino bonus. The minimum is not set very high and usually starts at $10 or $20, while some online gambling sites may require $100 or more to claim a high-roller deposit casino bonus. The minimum deposit amount is an important factor to consider so that you don’t exceed your bankroll.
Payment methods
To be eligible for the bonus offer you’ll typically need to put down a deposit using one of the methods that are accepted by your chosen casino. Most online casinos offer real money Paypal deposits, card options, e-wallets, and ACH. Certain casino payment methods may be excluded — and it’s a given that if a casino is a Bitcoin casino (or offers any kind of crypto bonus) then it’s offshore and should be avoided.
Cap on winnings
Some casinos place a cap on the amount you can win from any wagers placed with bonus cash. They don’t want to lose millions of dollars to a player who’s just showed up for 3 minutes to blow through a no deposit bonus. That being said, caps aren’t ultra common in the US casino market — they do tend to be found a little more often on a free sign up bonus at online casinos, but even then, no big names immediately spring to mind.
Bonuses with cash-out limits
The withdrawal limits vary in the US, which is why it’s so important to pick only the best online casinos and bonuses. While you cannot cash out your bonus directly, you will be able to withdraw any winnings once the wager rules are completed. Online casinos usually allow players to cash out as little as $1, with maximum cash-out limits set at around $1,000-$5,000 per week — the best ones have no limits at all. Checking the cash-out limits will help you decide which bonus works for you.
Bonus codes
Most online casino bonus promos are credited automatically, while some will require you to enter a code. Using casino bonus codes is similar to using a coupon code at online retail stores and is redeemed by navigating to the cashier section. You will need to enter the bonus code before making a deposit and play. If you don’t, you may risk not receiving your internet casino bonus. The same goes for no deposit bonus codes.
Other bonus restrictions
There may be time limits to clear the bonus wager rules, usually around 30-60 days. Checking the ts & cs will ensure you don’t miss the expiration date. Reload bonuses, particularly those available over weekends, typically end at midnight on Sunday. Bonuses may also differ from state to state. For example, not all the NJ online bonuses available at New Jersey online casinos may also be valid for those who are playing at one of the Delaware online casinos. You’ll also want to look out for time limits. Bonus cash usually expires within 7-30 days of it being credited.

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements are a mechanic that stops players from taking the casino for a ride. How do they work? Simply put, you need to wager any bonus cash a number of times before you can withdraw it. The number of times you need to wager it is calculated based on the value of the bonus cash, sometimes also including the initial deposit.

For instance, a 1x requirement means you wager your bonus money once. So, if you’ve got a $250 bonus, you need to wager $250 worth of money before you cash it out.

Based on our market-driven data, a good wagering requirement is anything under 15x the bonus amount, or 10x the (bonus+deposit) amount. A lot of casinos that hit this target usually make it into our list of the best online casinos. Most casinos ask for wagering within the 20x-30x range.

Our current top picks:

Casino	Bonus details
DraftKings	15x wagering requirement
Caesars	10x on slots, 20x on video poker, 50x on everything else
BetMGM	15x general, table games contribute at 10-20%

Game contribution

A further twist to wagering requirements is game contributions; you need to find out which games you can ‘pay’ wagering requirements off on. Usually, slots contribute without issue, at a rate of 100%. Jackpot slots, table games, and live casino titles are likely to be hobbled. Table and live games are often allowed to contribute at a reduced rate (usually 10%).

That means only 10% of each stake would go to covering your $250 requirement, so you’d need to wager $2,500. You’ll be glad to hear that the terms of the best online casino welcome bonus offers are better than that, with top US spots offering contributions of 20% and even 25% on table and live games.

Game type	Best bonus
Slots	Caesars
Live casino games	BetMGM
Blackjack	Golden Nugget
Video poker	SugarHouse
Roulette	Borgata
Craps	Tropicana
Keno	Golden Nugget

How to calculate your casino bonus

Let’s say you’ve signed up to Resorts and claimed your $20 no deposit bonus. How many times do you have to wager until you can convert your winnings into real money? With Resorts casino, you’d have to wager 5 times if you use that bonus cash on slots (but with table games and poker it’s 25 times).

Calculating how much you have to wager is simple: multiply $20 x 5 = $200. With table games and video poker that would be 20 x 25 = $500.

What about deposit match bonuses? At Resorts they offer a deposit match of 100% up to $1000. You have to wager 30 times that amount at slots to convert it into real money. It goes up to 150 times for table games and video poker.

Say you deposited $100, and got $100 as a bonus – to find out how how much you’ll have to wager you’d have to calculate 100 x 30 = $3,000. You’d have to calculate 100 x 150 = $15,000 for table games and video poker.

Check out Resorts’ casino bonus

Are casino bonuses safe for US players?

The easiest way to stay safe is to check all the fine print. The purpose of our guide to bonuses at US casinos is to help you identify what to look out for, but keeping the below checklist in mind when looking for the best online casino bonuses worth your time.

It is relatively simple to figure out which bonuses are legit and which aren’t. The safest online casino promotions are at US sites, where the terms and conditions are explained in detail without any hidden legal terms and clear instructions on how to claim. See our safe online casinos page for more.

Keep in mind that online casino gambling isn’t legal in all states just yet. You can find the full list of states where casino gambling is legal on our online gambling main page. Any casinos outside of these states will be illegal, so stay away at all costs.

Only use bonuses from legal and licensed casinos
Check that the terms are transparent
Avoid casinos with hidden fine print
Look for casinos with positive reviews
Beware of high wagering requirements
Read the bonus rules before claiming
Avoid blacklisted online casinos

How to claim online casino bonuses

Staking your claim on your casino bonus isn’t rocket-science, by any stretch of the imagination. That said, as a joining player or someone just starting out in the online gambling world — it’s always best practice to research before-hand and know what you’re getting into.

To show you just how easy it actually is, we’re going to walk you through the entire process. It’s short, don’t worry, and the best thing is, that it stays practically the same whether you’re in New Jersey or you’re trying to claim a PA online casino bonus.

Check out our step-by-step breakdown next:

Open Giftbox With Positive And Negative Tick

Pick a casino bonus

First, you need to look at the latest casino bonuses and then select the one you want. Make sure that you only pick casino bonuses from legal operators. You’ll want to read through the bonus rules and make sure that everything is above board.

Create an account

Next, you need to register an account at your preferred site — which shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes. You’ll need to provide your personal information and complete the registration form to activate your account. If you run into any trouble, reach out to customer support.

Hand making a deposit for a casino bonus

Make a deposit

Now navigate to the cashier section where you need to claim your bonus, select your preferred payment method, and make a deposit. Need a bonus code? Remember to enter yours before funding your account. The same goes for when you are using a no deposit bonus.

Hand playing card games with casino symbols in background

Play casino games

Once you’ve claimed your casino bonus, you can start playing immediately. You’ll need to satisfy the wagering requirements before you can convert your bonus to real money. Remember to check if there are any time limits and restricted games.

FAQs

Which is the best online casino welcome bonus?

We think deposit matches are the best all-rounders. Why? They usually give you the most cash and the fairest wagering requirements, which combine for the best chance of cashing something out. However, that’s a matter of opinion, see what works for you. You can check out the top-rated welcome bonuses to see which ones you prefer.

Which online casino has the best bonus?

While all bonuses are different, we score these through data, so there are some concrete highlights we can pick up on and recommend as the best casino bonuses:

Wow Vegas – Best for most people. Being a sweeps bonus means it’s available in nearly all states, as opposed to traditional casino bonuses.
BetMGM – Best combination of deposit + no deposit bonus
DraftKings – Highest potential cash value
Caesars – The one that can comfortably compete with DraftKings

Chek them all out on our list of best bonuses.

How do I choose an online casino bonus?

While there are plenty of online casinos with bonuses, we recommend that you only use bonuses from legal operators. Why? It’s all about staying safe when betting online. You can learn about how we pick bonuses and then check out some of the best casinos and bonuses we recommend for you. Each one is rated by a thorough scouring of the fine print. See our bonus finder to learn how to do your own research.

Should I take an online casino bonus?

Online casino offers are there to attract new players, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from them, too. In fact, bonuses can help you win real money. The trick is to pick the right one. Once you’ve found one you like, follow our how-to-claim guide to make sure you don’t miss out on free cash.

How do no deposit bonuses work?

You can collect no deposit cash or no deposit spins simply by registering an account. Sometimes you’ll need a code, but not often. You won’t need to part with any of your own money to start playing and winning. However, you can’t cash out a no deposit bonus without playing. If you play through the requirements and win, you keep your winnings. If you lose, you come out even. Check out the casino bonus types section to learn more.

Which casino bonus is best for new players?

For a new player, our casino bonus recommendation would be a no-deposit bonus. Why? You can try games for free, and maybe win some real money without risking any of your own cash. Unibet, Borgata and BetMGM casino are all no-deposit casinos you can check out. FanDuel casino (also on the list) will also give you $25 of site credit a week for your first 4 weeks, but you’ll need to make a real money bet to activate that first.