Top 8 Best Casino Welcome Offers in Canada
If you’re looking for the best welcome bonus from an online casino to claim when you register from Canada, take a look at some of our favourite welcome bonus offers below:
| Online Casino | Welcome Bonus Offer | |
|---|---|---|
| LeoVegas | $1,000 Match Bonus + 200 Free Spins | Claim Here |
| Ruby Fortune | $750 Match Bonus | Claim Here |
| JackpotCity | $1,600 Match Bonus | Claim Here |
| Lucky8 | $1,000 Match Bonus + 200 Free Spins | Claim Here |
| Ultra Casino | $3,000 Match Bonus | Claim Here |
| CasinoFest | $1,000 Match Bonus + 500 Free Spins | Claim Here |
| Spin Casino | $1,000 Match Bonus | Claim Here |
| Vulkan Vegas | $1,500 Match Bonus + 150 Free Spins | Claim Here |
What is a Welcome Bonus?
A welcome bonus is an offer that you see advertised before you even register for an online casino.
98% of casinos in Canada’s iGaming market offer them, and they typically include a percentage match on your first deposit and free spins. However, some online casinos that we review will also offer other welcome bonuses that include cashback, reload bonuses, and even no deposit bonuses!
Are Welcome Bonuses Legal in Canada?
Online casinos are fully licensed and regulated to accept players from Canada, which means that the bonuses they offer are also legal. This also applies to welcome bonuses.
Choose an online casino licensed in a reputable jurisdiction like Malta or the UK.
How Does a Welcome Bonus Work?
As the name suggests, this type of bonus is the first thing you see when you sign up for an online casino, as it’s the operator’s way of welcoming you to their site.
And what better way to feel welcomed as a new player than with some gifts?
Depending on the type of welcome bonus being offered, a player will probably have to make a deposit to activate it. Once this is done, you should be able to access your bonus cash or free spins from your account and start playing.
We’ll go into further detail below in this guide as we get into wagering requirements and what makes a welcome bonus stand out from other types of offers.
Can I Actually Win Money with a Welcome Bonus?
Players can win real money while using a welcome bonus. You can actually opt out of claiming a welcome bonus, but there is no harm in receiving it if it means having more bonus money to play with.
However, it is important to remember that claiming a welcome bonus does not guarantee a win.
Best games to play with a Welcome Bonus offer
Each welcome bonus will have a list of eligible games for you to use your bonus on. Nearly always, these games are online casino slots.
The reason you can’t use the welcome bonus on all the games in the casino library is that some titles offer better chances of winning than others. This includes online slots with a high RTP and high volatility.
In fact, if you can use your welcome bonus across a handful of slots, we recommend that you opt for the ones with the highest RTP.
Top Slots for a Welcome Bonus
It’s very common to come across a welcome bonus that includes slots as part of the T&Cs. The slot titles that are offered will have an average RTP value that usually ranges between 94 and 96%.
Here is a short list of the most popular online slots that Canadians can play with their welcome bonus:
- Book of Dead – RTP: 96%
- Big Bass Bonanza – RTP: 96.5%
- Sweet Bonanza – RTP: 96%
Why Take a Casino Welcome Bonus?
There are a few reasons why you, as a new player, should take an online casino welcome bonus.
- It’s a huge offer: The average welcome bonus in the Canadian casino market ranges from $500 – $1,000. Sometimes, you can even claim as much as $1,500 – $3,000 in bonus money spread across multiple deposits!
- Two deals in one: Some online casinos will offer two offers in their welcome bonus. For example, free spins and a match deposit bonus.
- Plenty of time to use it: Unlike other offers, welcome bonuses usually have a time limit of at least a week for the player to meet the wagering requirements, sometimes even longer.
Welcome Bonus vs Other Bonuses
| It’s a huge offer | Two deals in one | Plenty of time to use it | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free Spins | ❌ | ❌ | Depends |
| No Deposit Bonus | Depends | ❌ | ❌ |
| No Wagering Bonus | Depends | ❌ | ❌ |
How to Use a Welcome Bonus
When it comes to using a welcome bonus, it’s basically the same as claiming any other promotion, give or take a few extra steps. If this is your first time claiming a bonus, keep reading as we walk you through how to claim it plus how to withdraw your winnings.
How to Claim a Welcome Bonus
The first step to claiming a welcome bonus is finding an online casino that offers something you like.
Head to the registration page of the casino and fill in your information to register your account. While you’re registering, you’ll be asked if you want to opt-in for the welcome bonus or not. This is where you’ll opt-in and also add the bonus code if there is one.
While there are a few factors that go into claiming a welcome bonus, the most important of these will be the casino wagering requirements.
How to Withdraw Wins with a Welcome Bonus
You won’t be able to get your winnings from the welcome bonus until you meet the wagering requirements. This is the amount set by the casino you must play through, usually between 20x – 40x.
Let’s take an example.
You claim a 100% match deposit bonus up to $500 with wagering requirements set at 30x. You deposit $300, so you have $600 in total to play with ($300 deposit + $300 bonus cash).
From this, you win $100 in real money from a slot game! Now, you will need to wager $9,000 ($300 deposit x 30 wagering requirement) to claim your $100.
Once you have completed wagering, you can withdraw your bonus by choosing a payment method and the amount you want to pull out.
Types of Welcome Bonuses in Canada
Here, you’ll find the most common types of casino welcome offers offered by online casinos in Canada:
- No Deposit Welcome Bonus
- Free Spins Welcome Bonus
- Deposit Welcome Bonus
- Live Casino Welcome Bonus
- Mobile Casino Welcome Bonus
- No Wagering Welcome Bonus
No Deposit Welcome Bonus
A casino welcome bonus with no deposit is one of the most popular bonuses players in Canada love to claim. As the name implies, you do not need to make any deposit from your personal funds to claim this bonus, which can also lead to real money wins.
These types of welcome bonuses are quite rare and will usually have a lower value when compared to other welcome offers.
Free Spins Welcome Bonus
Welcome bonuses with free spins are another popular bonus that is offered by Canadian online casinos that we review.
The amount of free spins that are rewarded will vary considerably between operators. Some will offer anywhere from 10 to 50 spins, while others can offer a couple of hundred spins that are usually spread across the first few deposits.
Most of the time, you will need to deposit to get the free spins part of the offer. Wagering requirements for both free spins and no deposit bonuses in a welcome offer tend to be on the lower side when compared to bonus money.
When you claim welcome bonus free spins, you may be required to use them on a select number of slot titles at an online casino.
Deposit Welcome Bonus
A deposit match bonus is by far the most common welcome bonus type offered by online casinos. These are the bonuses listed as “100% match bonus up to $$$”.
Basically, the casino will match your first deposit 100% up to their cap. So, if you claim a 100% deposit bonus up to $500 and deposit $500, you’ll have a total of $1,000 to wager with.
On average, wagering requirements for a deposit welcome bonus are between 30x – 50x. Eligible games are nearly always slots, but sometimes can include a few table games as well.
No Wagering Welcome Bonus
Even more rare than a no deposit bonus, a no wagering bonus comes with 0 wagering requirements.
Very few casinos offer such a promotion and you are more likely to stumble on a low wagering bonus instead.
As the name suggest this offer comes with very low wagering requirements and you can claim it in the same way you claim any other bonus.
Live Casino Welcome Bonus
Live dealer casino games have become so popular that operators have started offering welcome bonuses exclusive to the live casino!
Instead of getting a deposit match to use on slots, you’ll get to use the bonus money on a variety of live casino tables that include live roulette, live blackjack, live baccarat, and more!
The rules for wagering are the same as a deposit match welcome bonus would be.
Mobile Casino Welcome Bonus
Some operators in Canada will go as far as to offer a welcome bonus just for mobile casino players! You won’t find this offer on a desktop, as it’s exclusive to mobile devices.
Just like how you would sign up for a casino on your computer, you’ll do the same from your mobile device and claim the welcome bonus after making a deposit.
3 Important Tips to Know Before Claiming a Casino Welcome Bonus
Before you claim an casino welcome bonus, make sure to consider the following factors:
1. Read the Terms and Conditions, even the fine print
The terms and conditions of a casino welcome bonus contain the most important information for you as a player to know, including:
- Wagering Requirements: The amount you need to wager the bonus to withdraw your winnings.
- Bonus Expiry: How long you have to meet the wagering requirements until the bonus expires.
- Eligible Games: The list of games the bonus can be used on.
- Minimum Deposits: How much you need to deposit to activate the welcome bonus.
- Maximim Winnings: The maximum amount you can win from the bonus.
Make sure you’re aware of the rules of the bonus before claiming to avoid ending up with an unfair bonus.
2. Check the Wagering Requirements
As we’ve mentioned before, wagering requirements are a big factor when it comes to choosing a welcome bonus. As an example, it doesn’t make sense to wager $5,000 to simply withdraw $20 in real money winnings.
High wagering requirements can put you in a bad spot, so try to look for a casino welcome bonus with low wagering bonuses that range between 20x – 30x.
3. Don’t Forget that Real Funds are Used Before Bonus Funds
When you make a deposit to activate the welcome bonus, you will get your bonus cash right away. However, you will need to wager your real money deposit first before the bonus cash can be used.
This isn’t a bad thing, but definitely, something to be aware of when choosing how much to deposit.
Solutions for Common Issues
- I claimed the bonus but can’t see it in my account
If you claim free spins as part of the welcome bonus, then most likely, your spins are waiting for you in the offered game. If you claimed a deposit bonus and can’t see the cash, double-check the bonus section on your account. It could be the bonus cash wasn’t added instantly.
- I can’t withdraw my winnings
You will not be able to make any withdrawals until you’ve met the wagering requirements. Make sure you have wagered enough to be able to claim your winnings.
- The bonus disappeared
Unfortunately, this could be because the bonus has expired due to playthrough requirements not being met. If that is the case, you will not be able to get back your bonus. Hence, the importance of reading the terms and conditions!
Claim the Best Casino Welcome Offers
Getting started at an online casino in Canada with a good welcome bonus is definitely highly recommended. All the online casinos that we review offer a decent variety of welcome bonus offers, and we consistently update this list for you!
A welcome bonus is a great casino bonus that Canadian casino players can explore and redeem. It’s the best way to get to know the casino, try out some new games, and potentially even win some real money along the way!