Our experts explore what you need to know about the terms and conditions for slots bonuses in Ontario as well as the main T&Cs for bonuses across the rest of Canada.
Say you visit a new online casino and see an incredible deposit bonus or free spins promo to greet you. On paper, this bonus may look lucrative, but you will want to know if this offer is too good to be true or whether it is the real deal. That’s where reading the bonus terms and conditions can help, giving you a complete understanding so you can effectively compare slot bonuses. Therefore, if you wish to fully understand T&Cs and take full control over claiming casino bonuses, you’ve come to the right place.
Ontario Bonus Rules
In many areas in Canada, players can access offshore online casinos that cater to Canadian players. These casinos provide C$ deposits and withdrawals, exclusive promotions to Canadian players, French and English localized sites, and local payment methods. However, while these casinos’ terms and conditions are covered by their international licenses, there are different rules when it comes to finding casino bonuses at the best Ontario slots.
On April 4, 2022, Ontario became Canada’s first province to launch its own regulated online gambling market. Online casinos in Ontario must operate under a gambling license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), with terms and conditions supervised by iGaming Ontario (iGO).
Online casino operators must adhere to the following guidelines set by the AGCO:
Entity Level: Only online casinos with reputable and trustworthy parent companies can operate legally in Ontario.
Responsible Gambling: As a key AGCO priority, sites must provide gambling services to minimize potential harm and promote a safe and responsible gaming environment.
Prohibiting Access to Designated Groups and Player Account Management: Gamblers must be present in Ontario and above the minimum legal gambling age (19) to legally access their Ontario online casino accounts.
Ensuring Game Integrity and Player Awareness: Gambling sites must operate with honesty and integrity, providing players with the right and accurate information to make informed decisions before gambling.
Information Security and Protection of Assets: Only online casinos that utilize the latest security practices, such as SSL encryption to protect your funds and data, can operate in Ontario.
Minimizing Unlawful Activity Related to Gaming: To launch successfully in Ontario, operators must implement policies and controls to identify and prevent any unlawful activities, such as money laundering or fraud.
Marketing Restrictions
AGCO set out a particular set of terms and conditions surrounding casino promotions, where only casino operators can promote bonuses through direct advertising and marketing. That means you won’t be able to find specific bonus figures on this page. But you can still compare the best Ontario online casinos here on SlotSource and have all the bonus information for the site you’ve chosen just a click away.
Bonus Opt In
According to AGCO terms and conditions, only the online gambling operators can advertise and market casino bonuses and promotions to Ontario bettors. And players must opt in to access bonuses. You can easily do it by ticking a box while registering or later in your casino account options. Similarly, you can easily opt out of these notifications at any time. Or change your preferred method of contact (email, text, mobile app notification, etc.).
Since Ontario casino players must opt in to access bonuses, we cannot compare and display Ontario promotions on our site. Still, we provide detailed information on common promo types at Ontario online casinos.
While we cannot display casino bonuses for Ontario players, it is even more vital that you have a strong understanding of the typical restrictions and limitations of offers, which we cover extensively in this guide. That way, you can assess these promotions and their generosity for yourself at our recommended casinos before claiming your exclusive offer. Yet, this doesn’t mean you can’t still claim incredible bonuses.
Since SlotSource is a trustworthy, legal, and reputable site, you will only find the best and most secure Ontario online casinos here. We only recommend gambling sites with valid licensing that adhere to the strictest security standards. Rather than focusing on bonuses, we have chosen to highlight casinos that offer the best online gambling experience to Ontario slots players. We assess game quality and variety, software providers, payment options, customer support and a range of other criteria to find the best slot sites in Ontario.
Must be 19+. ON only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards are issued as non-withdrawable site credit, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Terms. Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor, free of charge.
While the online casino realm is home to a diverse selection of bonus types, the most frequent is the deposit match and free spins promo. Before getting into the bonus terms and conditions, it is essential to fully understand the typical promotions available at casino sites.
Percentage Match Deposit Bonus
Whether you are registering for a new online casino or claiming a promo for existing players on your favourite gambling site, a deposit match is the most common bonus. Not only are deposit bonus offers the most lucrative available at online casinos, but they are also the simplest to understand. As the name suggests, the casino operator will match a deposit you make by a specific percentage.
Remember, the specifics of the deposit bonus can change, such as the percentage match on offer or the bonus limit. You should also always check the bonus terms and conditions. Most T&Cs are standard across deposit match offers (such as the wagering requirement), but there is some variance worth looking for. For example, you should pay close attention to the minimum deposit, which is the lowest deposit you can make to trigger the bonus.
Free Spins Packages
Online casino operators can make a welcome bonus even more lucrative by offering a generous number of free spins. This offer is a pure slots bonus that will appeal to avid slots players at casino sites. As one of the simplest casino promos to understand, casino operators provide bettors with free spins on popular slot games.
However, like other casino bonuses, free spins often come with various restrictions and other T&Cs. Crucial requirements attached to free spins promotions include a cap on how much you can bet per spin. A standard maximum bet for this bonus is $0.10 per spin, meaning you will be limited in how much you can potentially win. It is also worth noting that the casino will decide which slot game/s you can use your free spins on. Remember to read the bonus terms and conditions for the specifics.
Best Casinos For Free Spins In Canada (Outside Ontario)
When browsing the bonus terms and conditions for just about any promotions at an online casino, the phrase “wagering requirements” will keep cropping up. So, what are wagering requirements? The wagering requirement highlights how many times you must wager through a bonus before you can cash out your winnings.
Let’s say you claim a 100% up to $250 deposit bonus. If you make a deposit of $100 and receive $100 on top thanks to the 100% match, you will have $200 (deposit + bonus) in your casino account. It is impossible to cash out your $100 bonus until you have met the wagering requirement.
Wagering requirements are presented as a multiplier number, such as 30x, which means you must wager the bonus amount ($100) thirty times before cashing out winnings. Under these terms, you will need to wager $3000 (30 x $100) before withdrawing your bonus.
Formula: Bonus Amount x Wagering Requirement = Total To Bet
Tip: Check How Wagering Requirements are Applied
So, say you grab a new slots bonus that seems out of this world, and you see a relatively enticing wagering requirement of 30x. While this may seem like a good deal, you need to double-check the bonus terms and conditions, since many casinos apply a wagering requirement on the qualifying deposit and the bonus combined.
It may seem like a very small distinction between "30x wagering on bonus" and "30x wagering on deposit and bonus", but those two extra words make a huge difference in the total that you need to wager to fulfil your wagering requirements.
If we plug our example 30x requirement into the bonus formula, you see you must wager 30x your deposit ($100 x 30 = $3000) and 30x your bonus ($100 x 30 = $3000). That gives you a total wager commitment of $6000 before cashing out the bonus. Put it another way - for this particular example, where the deposit match is 100%, you effectively have a 60x wagering requirement on the bonus amount. Ultimately, it is essential to check how the operator applies the wagering requirement.
Formula: (Deposit + Bonus Amount) x Wagering Requirement = Total To Bet
Wagering Requirements on Free Spins
Free spins work differently to a deposit bonus because you don’t receive a cash sum, and each individual spin is usually valued from $0.10 to $0.20. The wagering requirements if applied to a free spin value would be insignificant. Instead of applying the wagering requirement multiplier to the value of the spin (the way it would be applied to the value of a bonus), the casino puts it on any winnings you make from playing that free spin on the nominated online slot.
If the casino applies wagering requirements to free spin winnings, they are effectively treating the winnings as bonus funds.
Formula: Free spin winnings x Wagering Requirement = Total To Bet
For example, if you win $20 when you are playing the free spins that the casino has given you, and 30x wagering requirements apply, you would need to wager $600 ($20 x 30 = $600) before you can cash out your free spin winnings.
Wagering Requirements: Game Weightings
When claiming a free spins slots bonus or a deposit bonus, certain games at an online casino contribute differently to the wagering requirement. What this means is that if you have $600 to play though before you can cash out your bonus winnings, each $1 you play will be deducted from that amount if you play games with 100% contribution. If you play a game with a 50% contribution, each $1 you play on that game will only deduct $0.50 from your wagering requirement.
The amount of money you wager on a game that will go to the wagering commitment depends on your chosen online casino’s bonus terms and conditions. Online slot games almost always contribute 100% to the wagering requirements. Yet, table and live casino games contribute far less, usually around 5% - 20%. However, sometimes they are excluded entirely.
If you are trying to play through your wagering requirement so you can cash out your winnings, it is important to know which games will contribute the highest percentage so each bet counts as much as possible. Think about it this way - if you have a $600 wagering requirement, but the game you are playing only contributes 50%, then you effectively have to play through double the amount ($1200) to clear the wagering requirement.
Withdrawing Your Bonus
Since the multiplier wagering requirement differs from casino to casino and from bonus to bonus, it is always important to check the bonus terms and conditions. Wagering requirements can range from 1x to 80x or more, so you need to know how hard it will be to meet the multiplier before committing to a bonus.
If you do not meet the wager requirements for a bonus, you will be unable to withdraw any winnings associated with the promo. All casino slots bonus offers also come with a time limit, which is the amount of time you have to claim the promotion. If you do not fulfil the wagering requirement within this timeframe, the bonus amount is forfeit.
Withdrawal Caps
Even if you meet the wagering requirements, you may not be able to withdraw all of your winnings from the bonus if they exceed the bonus withdrawal cap. Many online casinos attach a maximum cap to promotions, which essentially stops customers from winning huge sums on what is basically free money. Let’s look at an example to better understand how this works.
If you claim a 100% deposit match on a $10 deposit with a wagering requirement of 30x, you need to wager $300 to cash out the $10 bonus. Now, let’s say the casino has a $50 withdrawal cap on the bonus. Next, you manage to build up a healthy $500 in winnings on new online slots during your quest to meet the wagering commitment. Under the bonus terms, you may only cash out $50 (the withdrawal cap) of the total ($500) you won after you have cleared the initial wagering requirement.
Therefore, it is essential to always check the bonus terms and conditions to see if there is a cap applied.
Qualifying Deposit Terms to Note
Participating in most online slots bonuses involves making a qualifying bonus. Whether it is free spins or a deposit bonus you are claiming, a deposit is necessary to claim the promo. When reading the bonus terms and conditions, there are two vital things to note regarding the qualifying deposit: minimum deposit requirements and payment method restrictions.
Min Deposit and Max Bonus
Most online casinos offer a low minimum deposit to benefit bettors on a budget. For example, slots sites in Canada often have a minimum deposit of $10. However, when looking at bonuses, deposit minimums are a little more complex. Sometimes the minimum deposit to participate in a promotion is higher than the casino’s regular deposit minimum.
For example, a welcome bonus may require you to make a minimum deposit of $20, even if the site usually accepts deposits of $10. You can still deposit $10 if you want; it just won’t trigger the bonus. Because the welcome bonus usually applies to the first deposit, you may inadvertently forfeit the bonus if you don't meet the minimum deposit requirements to qualify for the bonus.
So, even if the casino does offer a low deposit, you may have to fund your account with more than this to claim the welcome bonus. Remember, welcome packages are often for a single deposit, so this minimum deposit amount will only be for your first deposit. If the promotion is spread over multiple deposits, the bonus terms and conditions will detail this.
On the other hand, if you are planning to make a hefty deposit, it is worth noting the max bonus amount. Let's say the casino offers a 100% match bonus up to $100. If you deposit $20, you will get a $20 bonus. However, if you deposit $200, you can only get a bonus of $100 (the max bonus).
Payment Method Exclusions
Some casinos exclude specific payment methods from certain promotions. While this doesn’t apply to all online casinos, some sites do not accept deposits from Skrill and Neteller for bonuses. Paysafecard and cryptocurrencies are also often not eligible for bonus payments. Still, you can use these banking methods for non-bonus deposits if your casino operator supports them.
Any excluded payments should be clearly stated in the bonus terms and conditions. Always read the small print of a bonus to ensure you don’t encounter any nasty surprises.
Welcome Bonuses that Differ to Deposit Match Bonuses
We have discussed the deposit bonus in all our examples throughout this guide. This approach makes sense because deposit matches are the most common casino bonus for new customers and existing players. However, many other bonus options are available at online casinos, including no wagering requirement and no deposit deals.
While sharing similar characteristics with a deposit match, the bonus terms and conditions for these alternatives will differ.
No Wagering Bonuses and No Wagering Free Spins
Removing the wagering requirement from a bonus may seem like an answer to your prayers, but nothing is truly free in the online casino realm. As the name suggests, a no wagering bonus means you don’t need to play through multiple times to claim the offer. Still, these offers may have a withdrawal cap and a minimum spend (for example, spend $20 before getting the bonus).
Still, if the withdrawal cap is not too harsh, no wagering bonuses are an excellent way to cash out a bonus easily. They be smaller than the usual welcome bonus packages, but they give you a better chance of being able to withdraw some winnings. You won’t find them too often, but when you do, we advise reading the bonus terms and conditions to see if the requirements are favourable.
Progressive Jackpot Free Spins
Progressive jackpot slots are the ultimate casino game, delivering some of the biggest gambling prizes available. They work by offering an accumulating jackpot that grows over a network of slots each time a player wagers. That enticing jackpot can become a sensational sum of money that someone may win. Due to the vast potential prizes of progressive slots, casinos do not usually offer free spins on them.
The progressive free spin offers that we have seen have steep wagering requirements on any free spins winnings unless you hit the main progressive jackpot. Generally, progressive jackpots are paid out by the network that supports them, unlike local slots winnings that are paid out by the casino. If you are playing a progressive slot, and you have some small wins without hitting the main jackpot, those wins are paid out by the casino.
If you are playing with progressive free spins, the wagering requirements are usually applied to those smaller winnings. Because the network pays out the main progressive jackpots, if you win the massive main pot, the wagering requirements will not apply. Imagine having a wagering requirement of 50x the winnings on a massive $1 million jackpot? It's completely unrealistic. However, all casinos have different terms and conditions, so please read these thoroughly to make sure you understand how the wagering requirements apply to any winnings.
No deposit bonuses are fan favourites, but the devil is in the details. On paper, these promotions are great, and you claim a bonus amount without needing to make a deposit. In reality, unless the bonus terms and conditions are perfect, no deposit deals still require you to make several compromises. For example, the bonus amount will be small (like $10 or a handful of no-deposit free spins, there will probably be a withdrawal cap, and the wagering requirements will be larger than deposit-based bonuses. And although you don't need to make a deposit to claim the bonus, you will need to make a deposit before you can withdraw your winnings. However, there is a positive side to this. Your first deposit may trigger a welcome bonus with more favourable terms, as well as allowing you to withdraw your winnings from your no-deposit sign-up bonus (provided that you have fulfilled the wagering requirements).
Time Limits
Understanding how long you have to claim a bonus should be one of the first things you check in the bonus terms and conditions. Timeframes vary from 7 days to 30 days and everything in-between. Free spins may expire after 24 hours if there are multiple days of spins available.
Stackable vs. Non-Stackable Bonuses
Not to be confused with a stackable bonus feature within a slots game, a stackable casino bonus is a bonus that you can claim while you have another bonus already credited. Some casinos will allow you to make several deposits and claim all the bonuses in a series of offers before you have played through each bonus. These are stackable bonuses. Other casinos will not allow you to claim a second bonus while your first is still in play. These are unstackable bonuses.
Sticky Bonuses
If a casino's terms and conditions mention that the pupose of a bonus is for wagering only, then the bonus is likely to be a sticky bonus. Basically, these are bonuses that you can use to play casino games and hopefully win some money, but you cannot withdraw the bonus. Rules differ depending on the casino, but the most common type is the sticky bonus that has wagering requirements attached, then once you have fulfilled these requirements and you process a withdrawal, the bonus amount is deducted from your withdrawable winnings. If you are offered a bonus that appears to be sticky, it is worth getting in touch with casino support to clarify exactly what they mean in terms of withdrawable winnings.
Game Exclusions
When you want to claim a bonus, you need to play casino games to contribute towards the wagering requirements. We have already covered game weighting and how must games cut into the wagering commitment, but what about game exclusions? There are always games that are outright excluded from casino bonuses.
Looking at free spins, the casino operator will clearly state which slots you can use the free spins on. This is usually a single slot, such as a new release or popular title. In this case, all other titles are excluded from the promotion. As for a deposit bonus, live casino games are regularly omitted, and you cannot use your bonus funds on them.
Player Eligibility
Before committing to a new casino by making a deposit to claim a bonus, you need to ensure you meet the player eligibility criteria. Some of the requirements are obvious, such as meeting the legal gambling age. Others are more specific to casinos, like not accepting two welcome bonuses on dual accounts.
Casinos will also limit bonuses to a single IP, meaning only one person in your household can claim the deal. Many casino brands own multiple gambling sites and may prevent players who claim a welcome bonus from claiming another on other operators within the casino group. This can be tricky, particularly because it's not always clear which casinos belong to the same group. The sister sites may be stated in the terms, but sometimes you need to do a little digging by researching the group itself to find out which brands it owns.
Bonus Terms and Conditions Cheat Sheet
There’s a lot of information to digest about bonus terms and conditions. Becoming familiar with the ins and outs of casino bonus requirements takes some time. To make your journey easier, we have put together the following cheat sheet to help you:
Slots Bonuses Terms and Conditions Cheat Sheet
✅ Always check the wagering requirements
💳 Ensure your preferred payment method is eligible
💰 Check if the bonus has a withdrawal cap
🎰 Note the game weighting for wagering requirement contributions
💸 Find out the minimum deposit
⏲️ Check the time limit to redeem your bonus
♣️ Look to see which games are excluded
⛔ Become familiar with player eligibility on your chosen casino site
Use the Casino’s Customer Support
While reading the bonus terms and conditions is helpful, there is admittedly a lot of small print and casino jargon. Sometimes understanding all the information can be challenging. Casino sites use live chat options and have detailed FAQs to help you understand the T&Cs for any bonus you want to claim. Live chat is especially useful, giving you direct access to a member of staff who works with the casino site.
Conclusion
Ultimately, online casino bonuses look good on paper, but often there is a lot of small print to consider. It’s not all negative, but it is crucial to understand T&Cs like the wagering requirements, payment restrictions, deposit limits, and game eligibility. With the information above, you have the knowledge to understand every aspect of a casino bonus you want to claim. Even so, we thoroughly recommend checking the bonus terms and conditions before you commit to claiming a promotion.
Slots Bonuses Terms and Conditions: FAQ
What do you need to know about your slots bonus?
Knowing the terms and conditions of your slots bonus is essential, more importantly, the wagering requirements. Other information to look out for includes deposit limits, player eligibility, game weighting, payment method exclusions, and how long you have to claim the bonus.
Why do slots bonus terms and conditions exist?
Slots bonus T&Cs exist to protect casino sites and ensure they do not lose too much money. While bonuses provide a lucrative offer to players, the terms and conditions guarantee the casino retains control and prevents bonus fraud or players gaming the system to claim multiple bonuses.
How do you convert bonus funds to real money?
You’ll need to meet the wagering requirements of a bonus before cashing out, which means fulfilling a multiplier of playthroughs against the promotion and/or deposit amount. For example, a 30x wagering commitment on a $10 deposit would mean you must wager $300 to withdraw the bonus funds.
Can you withdraw your free spins winnings?
You can withdraw winnings from free spins, but you must first complete the wagering requirement. Unlike a deposit bonus, the wagering requirement on a free spins bonus is attached to the winnings you make from the promo. The wagering commitment varies depending on the offer you want to claim.
What’s the difference between playing demo slots or playing with bonus funds?
Demo slots are free to play, but they do not allow you to win real money prizes. However, wagering real money on slots gives you the chance to win real cash. Even so, demo games are great for practising without committing your bankroll. Yet, real money games provide more excitement and the chance of lucrative payouts.
What are reasonable wagering requirements?
Anywhere from 1x to 40x the bonus amount is a reasonable wagering requirement. However, be careful to read the bonus terms and conditions to ensure the casino site does not attach the wagering commitment to the deposit and the bonus.
How do free spins wagering requirements work?
Free spins wagering requirements work by attaching the wagering requirement to your winnings instead of the deposit and/or bonus. For example, a wagering requirement of 20x on a free spins bonus would mean if you win $100, you will need to wager 20 x 100 ($2000) before you can cash out the bonus.
100% Deposit Matched up to $3000 + a $100 Casino Bonus
Must be 19+. ON only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards are issued as non-withdrawable site credit, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Terms. Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor, free of charge.
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