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A reload bonus is a bonus provided by casino or poker operators to existing players in the form of a matched deposit.
This is intentionally separate from a welcome bonus, which looks to entice and reward new players to a site. While reload bonuses might not always be quite as lucrative, they still offer great additional value to players.
What is a Reload Bonus?
A reload bonus offers extra value to casino and poker players. They usually come as a matched deposit bonus, meaning if a player makes a deposit, they'll receive the same amount matched in free bonus funds.
There may be restrictions attached to those bonus funds, such as only being able to use them on specific games, wagering requirements and an expiration date. But they offer good value, especially if a player was already going to make a deposit anyway.
Some operators also offer reload bonuses across multiple deposits. For instance, the bonus might be eligible on 'your next three deposits,' but this is rarer.
Reload bonuses are available on various different types of gambling sites, but not every operator will offer one and they're often part of ad hoc promotions. Sites that offer reload bonuses:
Example of a Reload Bonus
With reload bonuses directly relating to deposits, they're very simple to understand. Below is one example of how a reload bonus might look:
Offer: 100% Matched Deposit Bonus up to $500 on your next deposit.
Deposit: Player makes a $200 deposit.
Bonus Funds: Player receives $200 in bonus funds, on top of their initial $200, giving them $400 total to play with.
In this example, the player has earned $200 in bonus funds. The maximum they could have earned was $500. It's important to understand the maximum bonus limit. If the maximum bonus you can receive is $500, any cent deposited that's over that amount will not be matched. For instance, depositing $1,000 using a reload bonus giving you a 100% deposit match up to $500 will only give you $500 back. Therefore, the $1,000 deposit will lead to a balance of $1,500 and not $2,000.
Looking for reload and other online bonuses? Check out our bonus pages for poker and casino, and start getting more value from your play.
Restrictions and Things to Know
While reload bonuses are definitely worthwhile taking advantage of, you should be aware of the main restrictions that they come with.
| Restriction | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering Requirements | Must wager bonus funds a certain number of times before being able to withdraw | 25x |
| Expiration Date | Bonus funds must be played or withdrawn by a certain date | 7-day expiry |
| Deposit or Playing Threshold | Reload bonus only offered to players that have deposited/played | Must have $10 minimum lifetime deposits |
| Game Eligibility | Bonus funds can only be used on certain games | Big Bass Splash only |
Of the four restrictions above, wagering requirements are the most significant. You will find them with most bonuses in general, and 99% of reload bonuses will have wagering requirements attached to them. The important thing is to see how much you actually have to wager before funds become withdrawable. If it's 10-30x, that's achievable. Anything more and you'll likely have played through the bonus funds before you meet the wagering threshold. So check the specific terms to any reload bonus first, to understand any of these requirements.
Expiration dates are another common practice with reload bonuses. These are straightforward, and usually just mean the bonus funds will be removed from your account and will no longer be playable after a set period.
Deposit or playing thresholds to meet is the final requirement. These are also not that common, and can come in the form of players needing to have made a recent deposit, deposited a certain amount or actually wagered a set amount of money. It's imposed by operators to make sure inactive players aren't just capitalizing on bonuses.
Game eligibility is a less-common caveat attached to reload bonuses, but they can exist. These limit the games you can use your bonus funds on, and are sometimes imposed by operators to encourage you to try specific slots games.
Reload Bonuses vs Other Bonuses
Reload bonuses are specific bonuses that reward the loyalty of existing players, but how do they compare to other offers like welcome bonuses, and what's the difference?
Reload Bonuses vs Welcome Bonuses
The main difference between the two is that reload bonuses target existing players, while welcome bonuses are exclusively for new customers. Reload bonuses can be very valuable, but welcome bonuses typically offer the greatest value to players. For instance, no-deposit bonuses might be offered in the form of free playable funds or free spins, without needing to deposit any money.
Reload Bonuses vs Free Spins Bonuses
Free spins bonuses are often similar to reload bonuses, particularly in the US, as you must deposit first to unlock the reward. This isn't always the case though, as many UK casino sites offer free spins bonuses that don't require a deposit. However, the main difference between the two is that reload bonuses relate to a deposit and award bonus funds, whereas free spins bonuses simply award players free plays on slot games.
Reload Bonuses vs Matched Deposit Bonuses
These two types of bonuses are the most similar. Reload bonuses are almost always matched deposit bonuses. The difference is, a matched deposit bonus can be part of other offers like a welcome bonus. Whereas, reload bonuses are only ever really available to existing players.
How to Find Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses often aren't regular, recurring promotions and are instead offered during random periods (and even offered on a player-by-player basis). That makes them more difficult to find that typical welcome offers or other common bonuses.
That said, here are a few tips on how best to find a reload bonus.
- Keep Visiting PokerNews: While we don't specifically just focus on reload bonuses, we publish the very best casino bonuses available each month, as well as any special promotions run by online poker or casino sites. So don't miss out, and make sure you check our poker news and casino news sections.
- Check your Inbox: Reload bonuses are commonly offered via email or in-app notifications directly on the client. Keep an eye out for these and when they do become available, make sure you follow the instructions provided to claim them.
- Check the Promotions Tab: Whether you're playing on a casino on desktop, or battling it out at the poker tables on mobile, it's worth checking the site's promotions tab. Here, you'll sometimes find bonuses that you didn't even know were being offered.
- Sign up to Multiple Sites: No one site is known for offering reload bonuses every month. The best chance you have of scooping this type of bonus is simply by signing up to multiple sites, and waiting for a reload bonus to be offered. That said, always make sure you gamble responsibly and keep to your initial stake limit (as if you were playing on just one site).
Reload Bonus FAQs
What are reload bonuses?
Reload bonuses are deposit matches where you'll get bonus funds awarded based on the next deposit you make.
Are reload bonuses common?
Yes, reload bonuses are commonly offered across the casino and poker landscape. The challenge is finding them, though, as they aren't the same as regular, recurring promotions. Instead, they are offered intermittently by operators.
Do you need a promo code for reload bonuses?
Some sites might require a promo code for you to take advantage of their reload bonuses. Be sure to check the T&Cs of the promotion to ensure you will get your bonus when depositing.
What's the difference between casino and poker reload bonuses?
There is no difference between the two. One will be offered on a poker site, while the other will be offered from an online casino, but both will work in the same way.
How do reload bonuses work?
Reload bonuses usually work by offering players a 100% match on a deposit that they make. There will be an upper limit to this, meaning you can't expect to deposit $100k and get back $100k in bonus funds, but the limit is usually reasonable and can be in the thousands.
