The Ultimate Guide to Reload Bonuses

Every decent online casino does its best to not only capture the attention of a player but also to keep that attention — entice them to explore their games and features more. There are different tools to do this, but, actually, offering reload bonuses is one of the simplest ways.

A casino reload bonus, although coming in varying forms, is pretty simple to use and definitely worth taking advantage of if you're going to gamble on a regular basis. Such promotions can benefit your game a lot — it's just necessary to understand what they are all about. And we're here to tell you everything about reload deals. Ready? We're rolling in!

Brief Intro to Reload Bonuses

It's always best to start with the fundamentals. So, let's first get the lowdown on a reload bonus — what exactly it is and what attractive advantages you can expect if you claim one.

What Are Reloads?

This question is not a hard nut to crack. Almost as the name suggests, a reload bonus is a casino promotion created to reload your play in some way — bring more value and a bit of freshness to it.

Reload bonuses may take different forms — the casino may offer you a deposit match up to a certain amount limit, a set number of free rounds on one or a specific collection of slots, or a percentage of your net losses or deposits back. Sometimes, such promotion deals can be a part of a loyalty program or include a double benefit, e.g., bonus money and some free spins on top.

The main idea here is that reloads become available for players to claim only with the second deposit (or after getting the first, main bonus — it depends). Topping up your account again after the first time means to a casino that you’re interested in what their platform has on offer — and they’re glad to provide you with an incentive to keep your fun rolling. They may do this either every day, every week, or once per month — this depends on the operator.

Why Are Reload Offers So Important?

In fact, it’s because these offers work for each side. They are win-win solutions for both gamblers and casinos. From the perspective of online casinos — reload bonuses allow them to keep the engagement of their players alive and serve as a good reward for their loyal play, regardless of the offer type. For players in particular, they translate into plenty of great advantages, such as:

• Getting a nice addition to the existing bankroll (if it’s a match bonus)
• Recouping some of the unlucky bets to finally place the lucky one (if it's a cashback)
• Having more funds and thus time to spend on the casino favourites
• Receiving an opportunity to try out new titles with no risk to the current budget
• Getting more chances to score a great win
• Testing more betting strategies and techniques to find successful ones.

Key Features of Reload Bonuses

All those perks look exciting, don’t they? But to count on them, it’s necessary to know how the reload bonus works, whether there are any peculiarities or restrictions applied to the offer, and where to look for such things.

By the way, do you understand the difference between reloads and welcome bonuses? If you’re a newcomer, it might be a bit confusing to distinguish between the two. Therefore, let’s talk about all these crucial nuances below!

How Do Reloads Work?

When you've already deposited for the first time and enjoyed some exciting gameplay, your bankroll is a little low now. But you're not ready to call it quits. That's exactly the time for the reloads!

More Reload Bonuses   

Go to the page called “Promotions” or something like that — here you can look for any reload bonus casino offers. If there are several ones — perfect, you're very lucky! You can choose the one that best matches your gambling goals. When decided, you'll need to meet the main requirement to grab the bonus — make a deposit.

Be attentive at that stage: some reload deals may require a special code so you can receive them. If your chosen bonus does, make sure to enter that code during depositing in the designated area. Where to find the code? It's usually easily seen in the promotion description or even its banner. 

And you're done! Check your player account for the reward to be credited. It'll be added to your bonus balance. However, it almost always has wagering requirements, particular limits, and a lot of little nuances. Neglecting to learn these may ruin your experience with the bonus or, worse, you may lose it. Good news — such details are always listed in the terms and conditions, so we're going to tackle this point next.

What Are the Reload Common Terms & Conditions?

To put simply, the terms & conditions (T&Cs) are a set of rules about the particular bonus that can be your direct guide on how to use it correctly. They’re usually attached to the offer or placed at the website’s footer.

The first thing you need to pay attention to in the reload T&Cs is the deposit size. There should always be a minimum qualifying deposit amount you need to put into your account to get the bonus. More so, there's a maximum deposit sum and a limit to what you can grab from the offer — mind that.

The next two things that might seem complex but are very important are wagering requirements and offer expiration time. The first one is the multiplier, which says how many times you need to wager the bonus sum or both the bonus and deposit sums to make your bonus withdrawable. This applies to any form of reload deal, and if it's free spins — it applies to the winnings from them.

The second one simply tells you how much time you have to clear the wagering requirements. Be careful when you're done with that, as the casino may also have limits on how much you can withdraw from the bonus. And, of course, multipliers, expiry dates, and withdrawal limits hinge on the specific gambling platform.

Game eligibility is what may be accidentally overlooked and eventually leave you with questions about why the wagering completion isn't progressing. In the T&Cs, there should be mention of the game categories you can wager the reload bonus on and specific titles that won't influence the wagering process at all. Take time to read this, as it will influence your gaming strategy's success.

Oh, about bets. That's another crucial moment. Before you start wagering, learn about the limit the casino sets on bet sizes for the chosen reload deal and make sure you don't exceed it. If you try to do so, in the worst case, the bonus will be cancelled automatically. Furthermore, in the T&Cs, you can find out which balance — bonus or real — your bets are deducted from first.

Keep in mind: the bonus T&Cs may change from time to time; this applies to any type of casino offer. That's why it'd be useful to check regularly if any updates have been done on the reload deal you want to grab

Reloads vs. Welcome Bonuses

You may rightfully ask if there is actually any difference between reloads and welcome bonuses. The same types of rewards can be included, similarities in the T&C specifics… But yes, they're different.

First of all, welcome bonuses are one-offs. They're designed for newly arrived players and can be claimed only once. They may also be in the form of packages and spread out over, e.g., three or four deposits with different benefits for each one. On top of that, they usually are loaded with more benefits for the player in total; yet welcome offers may have tricky and complex T&Cs. For example, if it’s a tiered welcome pack, there may be different wagering requirements set on each of deposit match bonuses. 

On the contrary, reloads are a regular thing at online casinos. But these promotions aren’t tiered and give smaller rewards, so you can just get a little bit more from your continued balance top-ups. Moreover, compared to welcome promos, reload ones may be more relaxed in terms of limitations, e.g., having lower wagering requirements, especially for cashback.

Comparing these two bonuses is easier if you take a look at our scheme:

Finding the Best Reload Bonuses in Canada

With so many offers out there, how do you see the ones that truly pack quite a punch? You shouldn't seek just a deal promising a great reward. This process involves a lot more. You need to pay attention to and choose those that best fit your playstyle, risk appetite, and budget limits. This is possible by comparing several options.

However, most importantly, you should be certain that the online casino offering the reload bonus is safe to gamble at. But no worries about this — this is in the bag, as we've already selected the top five trustworthy platforms with casino reload bonus offers worth looking at.

TOP 5 Sites with the Best Reloads

The Gambilion team has reviewed many casino sites based on diverse criteria, and promotional deals are no exception. So, it was easy for us to curate this list with the five wonderful gambling platforms with the best reload bonuses. Check them out — maybe one of them is your hidden new favourite!

• At Casinia, reloads are given all week long. From Monday to Thursday, players can count on 50 FS with min. dep, of C$30; on weekends, the offer is much more exciting — a 50% match up to C$1,050 + 50 FS with min. dep. of C$75. Regular cashbacks on live tables and casino games are also included. To find out more about the benefits Casinia offers to their regulars, you can read our detailed review of that casino.
• Gamblegate is also packed with excitement every week. With the Tuesday Draw, there's a regular chance to win a share of a C$7,500 prize pool. On Wednesdays, players can expect up to a C$1,125 bonus (min. dep. — C$30). More so, weekends are loaded with a bonus of up to C2,250 + 150 FS, and there's a weekly cashback with a rate that grows as you move up the VIP program! Yet, the Gamblegate platform has more exciting offers to explore, and you can check out the details here.
• You won't have a dull moment upon becoming a regular user at SpinsBro. On Wednesdays, they offer 200 FS for C$36 top-ups. For weekends, they've prepared a C$300 + 50 FS promo with a required deposit of C$44. Plus, SpinsBro gives weekly cashback of up to C$440 on C$70 deposits and bigger (% depends on VIP level). We’ve fully reviewed this casino; there are a few other great promos here, especially for highrollers — definitely worth considering!
• With Justbit, regulars can spice up their gambling sessions on Tuesdays by claiming a 75% bonus of up to €300 with a min. dep. of only €20. After depositing from €25 to €70 every Thursday, they can grab from 50 to 100 FS on the week's top game. Also, there's a daily cashback bonus on losses up to 20%. For the currency equivalents, visit the casino's site. Wanna know what’s more on offer? Read our comprehensive review of Justbit to find out.
• Wazamba presents a weekly reload offer that includes 50 FS, requiring a C$30 deposit. Yet, on weekends, they have a much more appealing offer — up to a C$1,050 bonus with 50 FS for top-ups from C$30. Furthermore, Wazamba's weekly cashback of up to C$4,500 (hinges on VIP status) and 100 Sunday Spins promotion enhance the overall experience with this casino. You can find more information on this casino and its offerings in our review.

Haven't found the right fit? No problem. You may find a safe online gambling place on your own. Just remember to check whether it has a valid license from an authority body, a good reputation, and strong security in place.

Tips for Comparing Reload Deals

At first glance, all of the reloads bring to the table nice benefits. But settling for the first one you stumble upon is definitely not a good idea. It's all in the little details — exploring these matters the most for finding the perfect deal. Here are a couple of such details you should compare when deciding on an offer:

Match Rate vs. Max. Bonus

A high match percentage might look tempting, but keep the maximum bonus sum in mind too. You’ll get the idea if you look at these examples: a 50% match up to C$500 can give you a maximum of C$250 extra money, while with a 100% match capped at C$100, you get only a C$100 bonus and not a cent more. Without a doubt, the first option is better, so be attentive to that.

Wagering Complexity

This is about carefully reading the T&Cs to be able to finally access your wins. It's better to look for bonuses that feature low wagering requirements (e.g., x30 or less): the lower the multiplier, the easier they're to meet.

One more thing: pay attention to whether you should wager only a bonus or a bonus and deposit amounts; the first option is undeniably a simpler task. Don’t hurry and compare offers to find those that have the most friendly wagering conditions for you.

Validity Period

How much time does the casino give you to claim and use the chosen promo? The less it does, the fewer chances you have to meet the wagering requirements and grab your benefits. Obviously, if the set wager is x40 and you have just a few days to complete this, it’s hard to come to the finish with such a deal.

So, compare the reloads in terms of expiration dates (taking into account the wager's complexity as well). Give priority to those that offer you more flexibility and time (ideally at least a week) to enjoy the bonus at your comfy pace.

Strategies for Using Reload Bonuses

Now that you know all the nitty-gritty about the reload bonuses, we'll get straight to the most interesting and expected part of this guide — how to make the most of such promotions. Get ready to make some notes, as you'll find here practical recommendations for upgrading your approach to using reloads effectively!

Getting the Maximum Benefit

To get the maximum benefit from the bonus, you need to be very attentive to, guess what? Yes, again, the T&Cs. In the same way that when you compare details to choose a particular offer, you carefully read them, here you should do the same but dive deeper. There may be impactful nuances hidden that may prevent you from enjoying the bonus to the fullest.

Max. Cashout

When you’ve completed the wagering of the bonus, that’s not the end, as there may be another hurdle on your way — a limit on cashing out winnings. What’s that? It’s easy to get lost in T&C fine print, so you might not even notice this thing at first. But look for it — that’s what restricts the maximum amount you can further withdraw from winnings earned with the promo.

The maximum cashout may be expressed just as a sum or as a multiplier, e.g., С$500 or x5. Conclusion from that part? Never neglect this element, because if you try to cash out more than allowed, some casinos may even charge the rest from your account. From the outset, compare several reload bonuses and seek ones with a good maximum cashout (surprisingly, you may also find offers with no such limits attached!).

Games Contribution

We’ve briefly mentioned game eligibility when talking about the T&Cs in general. In them, you need to look for the table or the list that shows the allowed and restricted games to play with the bonus. But here is one more very important thing: contributing percentages.

Contributing percentages should be written right near the exact game or game category. Bets in different titles or entire categories may contribute differently to clearing your bonus; that’s why you need to find this info. Most of the time, many slots contribute fully, while table games may give just 5-10%

Friendly advice: choose reload bonuses that allow you to play the games you enjoy most. This will make the gaming sessions more fulfilling

RTP

No worries — no difficult abbreviations here. RTP means just “Return to Player,” telling you the theoretical percentage a game can pay back over a long period of time.

Remember: The higher the RTP, the lower the house (casino) advantage.

Good news for slot enthusiasts — slot machines come with the best RTP, with the industry average being 96%. But there are options with even higher rates, giving you better chances of coming out as a winner.

So, if you wager the bonus mostly with slots, it's best to prefer titles with a nice RTP percentage to increase your potential returns in the long run. If your playstyle differs and you prefer other games — do your research to understand the advantage on your side. If the RTP isn't listed in the game's description, a quick Google search may help you find it.

Mistakes to Be Aware of

There are also several things to steer clear of if you want to enrich your playtime with reloads, and that's the last we'll talk about. Just a few mistakes and all the enjoyment from the game may be spoiled. That's why you should try to avoid the following:

• Claiming multiple promotional deals at once (make sure whether the casino allows for using two or more promos at the same time (by going to the bonus T&Cs); if not, you may lose all your benefits)
• Overlooking restricted deposit methods (for some promotions, casinos apply restrictions on banking options to use to get the bonus, so check this in advance not to be left not eligible for the offer)
• Ignoring the details of receiving the bonus (yes, oftentimes, you just need to put the qualifying amount in the account and can grab the reward, but there are cases when you need to manually activate it further in your profile or even request through the support; learn this beforehand).

After all, if you're not sure about any aspect of the promotion, whether it's about its claiming, wagering, or anything else, simply ask — drop a note to casino support. If everything is clear, then plan your bankroll, take time to develop a perfect gaming strategy considering your bonus type, stake sizes and frequency, and so on, and confidently start your gambling adventure!

Closing Thoughts

You’re all set and know everything about reloads and their correct usage. More so, you’re equipped with useful tips, so your gambling experience is going to be ideal, and regular visits to online casinos will become delightful journeys.

However, if you’re a regular player, it’s always great to broaden your knowledge about gambling and learn something new from time to time. Whether it’s a guide to improve your strategy or just a light read on famous industry personalities, both can contribute to your growth as a player. And we already have many such things in our casino guides & news section — highly recommend visiting!