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Best Australian casino bonuses

Casino bonuses are a great way to begin gambling with double the funds you were ready to spend. There is no harm in taking the money given for free – after all, some pokie strategies do involve costs that may go beyond your budget. By taking advantage of modern bonus casino offers, you are accepting free spins or/and cash as a token of early appreciation. Surely, these usually come with strings attached, but you are not losing anything if you choose to take advantage.

In this article, we aim to tell you all there is to know about top online casino bonuses at the finest casinos out there. You deserve nothing less than abundant promo offers resulting in regular cash and free spin bonuses to use on your favorite games. At SmartPokies, we bring you the best real money bonuses from top Australian online casinos, carefully reviewed by our team.

Best online pokies bonus

Dolly Casino Logo
Dolly Casino
Hot Offer
Editor's Rating

10.0/10

Deposit Requirements
Deposit required
Wagering Requirements
35x

You will have to wager bonus 35x times the bonus value to clear the bonus!

Minimum Deposit
30 AUD
Free spins
-
Has bonus worked for you?
User Feedback
Yes
5
No
4
Hell Spin Casino Logo
Hell Spin Casino
Hot Offer
Editor's Rating

9.5/10

Deposit Requirements
Deposit required
Wagering Requirements
40x

You will have to wager bonus 40x times the bonus value to clear the bonus!

Minimum Deposit
$20
Free spins
100
Has bonus worked for you?
User Feedback
Yes
11
No
4
DISCLAIMER: 18+ only
There are many risks involved when it comes to gambling. We advise our players to gamble responsibly and ONLY use the funds that you can afford to lose. Please remember that gambling is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as a way to solve your financial issues.
Page contents

Types of casino bonuses and promotions

The variety of bonus offers from Australian online casinos is incredible. And it certainly helps to understand what those essentially are to pick a great gambling venue with the most perks. See below which common types of bonuses and promotions are available to Aussie customers.

Welcome bonuses

What’s the first pokies bonus you get? The welcome bonus, of course! Modern casinos make sure they give a resounding welcome to new customers by offering an outrageously generous bonus on your first and sometimes even second deposit. What makes this bonus special is the fact it’s customarily 100% of your deposit amount (as opposed to the usual 50% for reload bonuses). It’s worth noting that all welcome bonuses, with very rare exceptions, come with wagering requirements.

No deposit bonuses

Among the top casino bonuses you can claim are no deposit bonuses. They are not as common as they used to be, but if you dig around, you will be sure to find some. You’d rarely get free cash to play for though, as in most cases, these will be free spins. Some casinos may even limit the choice of pokies to use those free spins on.

Free spins

Free spins are among the best online casino bonuses. They may come with no strings attached (as a no deposit bonus) or as part of a welcome package, on top of the cash amount. The good thing about free spins is that their number usually does not depend on the amount of your deposit – you usually get a fixed count.

Free play credits

Free play credits are intended for use on specific casino games or pokies. It’s just like money, only pokie money. Claim those as a welcome bonus, or as a surprise promo from your casino, and enjoy the game!

Reload bonuses

Reload bonuses are the logical next step after you have used up the casino’s welcome package offer. Reload bonuses are renewed weekly, which means you can claim them (usually by depositing a certain amount on a given day) every single week. Of course, one thing to be aware of is that you do need to wager any previously claimed ones completely to keep them from evaporating.

Cashback bonuses

Cashback bonuses can commonly be found among online casino promotions. These involve a percentage of the money you lost (or spent playing pokies, regardless of winning or losing) returned to your account as bonus funds. Some casinos offer cashback with a minor wagering requirement, while others just let you have it without any obligations to wager.

Tournament rewards

Many casinos these days run tournament-style events for pokie and live dealer game fans. Being active during those may result in you claiming a healthy chunk of cash plus free spins if those apply. These may or may not need to be wagered – make sure to check the terms in advance.

VIP (loyalty) rewards

Depending on what a certain casino calls it, you may be in for special loyalty or VIP rewards as a result of your gambling activity. These come as free spins, cash, and special privileges, which may include a dedicated manager, higher withdrawal limits, and exclusive offers.

Choosing the best casino bonus

Is picking an online casino by the largest bonus alone worth it?

In short, no. Finding a highly lucrative bonus is much easier than discovering a casino where you will be guaranteed safety and fair treatment. So, while large bonuses may be tempting to take advantage of, they should not prevail over a thorough vetting process.

If you are choosing between a trusted online casino (as any of the ones recommended by Smartpokies) and a shady one with the best online casino bonuses you’ve seen, it’s wiser to claim less in bonus funds but know you will get your hands on them in the end.

How to calculate the bonus I will get?

When calculating the amount of your bonus, there are two numbers you must know – the percentage and the “up to” amount. It would be wrong to be impressed by the 100% number alone - or by the total max of, say, 500 AUD. It could be a 100% match but capped at 100 AUD, which means even depositing 200 AUD will render the same bonus of 100.

On the other hand, a 50% bonus up to 500 AUD can offer a larger amount – but you will need to deposit more than you would for a 100% bonus. It’s also worth keeping in mind that whichever Online Casino Bonus you claim, you won’t be able to do with the way you please. It will first need to be wagered a certain number of times.

How to claim a casino bonus?

  1. Terms and Conditions

    The first thing to do is read the terms and conditions available for every bonus out there. These describe the maximum amounts you can bet while the bonus is active, the wagering requirement, the period during which you need to wager the bonus claimed, and other important details that may affect your experience. Even the best casino promotions come with terms, and knowing those in advance pays off.

  2. Wagering Requirements

    The wagering requirements your bonus comes with determine how long it will take you to clear the funds for withdrawal. If the bonus is too high for you, it doesn’t matter how enticing the bonus amount is. So, checking these requirements in advance to know if you can handle them is crucial.

  3. Claiming the actual bonus amount

    Some casinos will give you the bonus automatically upon you making a deposit of the required minimum size. In other cases, you will need to enter a special bonus code in the promo field. Pay attention to this step, as in the latter case, not entering the bonus code will result in you being unable to claim the bonus.

  4. Wagering the bonus before claiming another one

    At most if not all online casinos you cannot have more than a single active bonus at a time. That means that before you set your eyes on any other reward, you must wager the previous bonus completely. If you do not, it will be considered forfeited. So, when you get your eyes on the best online pokies bonuses, just pick one and stay on it until cleared for withdrawal, then move on to the next.

Games you can play with a welcome bonus

Pokies

While playing a pokie with a welcome bonus, not only are you enjoying your favorite game but also wagering any funds and clearing them for a further withdrawal. Playing pokies contributes 100% towards the wagering requirements, which is why players rely on this type of game to both enjoy themselves and clear the bonus quickly. 

Bingo

You can play bingo, which is one of the classics at an online casino. However, keep in mind that playing this game will contribute nothing towards your bonus wagering requirements. 

Live games

Live games are all the rage these days. You are free to use the bonus money to enjoy some roulette, blackjack, baccarat, or Hi-Low, but these will contribute nothing towards the wagering requirements. 

Table games

Table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and the like can be played at any time although contributing only 5% towards the wagering requirements. However, in the era of everything live, it's tough to find those that will offer a non-live version.

How do we select bonuses for Aussies?

Here at Smartpokies, we have an important mission – to make sure all our readers have access to the finest bonus offers. This is why you can rest assured our Recommended Casino Bonuses are the best you can get, available from trusted and thoroughly vetted gambling venues that welcome Aussie gamblers with open arms. We pick the most secure and popular casinos and then dive in to explore how good their bonuses really are, all that to guide your straight to the juiciest bonuses with fair wagering requirements or without any!

FAQ

Are there any casino bonus codes to know in advance?

In general, you will qualify for a bonus without any code – by just making a deposit. But some casinos do provide their bonus codes on the promotions page.

Can I get a no deposit bonus at any of the casinos?

Not all casinos offer a no deposit bonus, as most want you to make a deposit first. However, there is one you can get 10 free spins at without making one – ThePokies.com

Why should I trust the casinos endorsed by Smartpokies website?

smartpokies.bet applies a strict vetting process to offer its Aussie readers top gambling venues with the best casino bonuses.

What’s the highest welcome bonus I can get?

The highest welcome bonus you can count on among the online casinos reviewed by smartpokies.bet is one from Sky Crown casino – 4,000 AUD!

Which games can I wager the bonus on?

You can wager your bonus on various games, but keep in mind that only pokies will contribute 100% to the wagering requirements bonuses come with.