Navigating the complexities of online Casino Bonuses can be difficult. I've explained the general aspects of Online Casino Bonuses below, but be sure to read the Terms and Conditions of the Casino that you decide to play at for the specifics of their Bonus.

1) Amount of the Bonus:
When you download, install, register, and then make a deposit at an online Casino, the Casino will usually give you a Bonus on top of your first deposit. The Bonus amount is expressed as a percentage of your first deposit, up to some maximum amount. For example, as of this writing, Bet365 Casino offers a 100% first deposit Bonus, up to a maximum of £100.

2) Playthrough requirements:
First deposit Bonuses come with a playthrough requirement (also called a wagering requirement). What this means is that you are required to place wagers equaling the playthrough requirement before you can make a withdrawal. The playthrough requirement can be expressed in any number of ways, but is generally expressed as a multiple of your initial deposit. At Casino Grand Bay, the playthrough requirement is currently set at 30X your initial deposit. Therefore, if you make a £100 deposit, you would get a £100 Bonus subjected to a £3000 playthrough requirement.

3) Game restrictions:
Not all wagers placed at all games count equally toward meeting your playthrough requirement. In general, wagers placed at Fruit Machines count 100% toward meeting the wagering requirement, with wagers placed at Roulette, Blackjack, Poker and Video Poker counting much less toward meeting your playthrough requirement. As of this writing, the percentages at Casino Grand Bay are as follows:

(a) Fruit Machines, American Roulette and Parlor Games count 100%
(b) Table Poker, all Roulettes excluding American Roulette count 5%
(c) Video Poker, all Blackjacks except Classic Blackjack, Craps and Baccarat count 5%
(d) Classic Blackjack counts 2%

Some Online Casinos actually bar you from playing certain games until you have met your playthrough requirement. Other Casinos declare your deposit null and void if you play a restricted game, so be sure that you understand which games (if any) are barred before you start playing.

4) Withdrawal restrictions:
Once you have met your playthrough requirement, you may or may not be able to withdraw all of the money in your account. Some Casinos have a minimum amount that you must have in your account before you can make a withdrawal; some Casinos place a limit on the amount that you can withdraw. Both are usually expressed as a multiple of your initial deposit. For example, the minimum amount may be 2X your initial deposit, and the maximum amount may be 10X your initial deposit.

Recommendation:
Find a Casino that offers the games that you want to play at the lowest playthrough requirement and without any withdrawal restrictions. The Best Online Casinos are those that run Microgaming software. Here is a search engine that you can use to find the sites that you'd like; you will need to read the Terms and Conditions at each one to get the details of their initial deposit Bonus.