History of Deposit Bonuses

Microgaming was behind the launch of the first online casino back in 1994. The market has exploded around the world since then, although laws in some countries are far stricter than in others.

It wasn't long before casino bonuses became a thing either. Let's see what we can find out about those.

What are casino bonuses anyway?

It's best to think of them as a marketing tool used by casinos to draw in new players. A deposit bonus is given to a player making a deposit worth a certain amount or more. The casino might match it, i.e., give the player the same amount they deposit in bonus funds, or they might give more or less than that, calculated as a percentage of the deposit.

The welcome bonus was first in line to tempt new players

Today there are many different online casinos to choose from, but years ago, there were just a handful. They still had some competition with each other, but there was plenty of business to go around.

As time went on, more online casinos sprang up. This created the need for each casino to stand out from the rest - and one way of doing that was by developing casino bonuses. What better way to begin than by coming up with a deposit bonus for newcomers?

Over time, terms and conditions changed too

Today, casino players will be familiar with all kinds of terms and conditions attached to their deposit bonuses, no matter how long they've been associated with a casino. However, it wasn't always like that. Years ago, the bonuses were simpler… but then, casino players began to find ways to get around them and create better deals. That's what led to the more complex and detailed T&Cs we get today. Of course, added regulation in the industry also played a role.

That said, deposit bonuses are still around and they're still good to claim - but with so many to choose from, checking the small print is always important to do first. We doubt these deals will be vanishing anytime soon, especially since casinos are still vying for their slice of the market.