Over the years, bingo developed into a British national pastime as the game’s popularity soared. When you come right down to it, bingo is a probability game. The lucky winner is the one who matches all the numbers on their card with the ones called out by another player or referee. Once all the numbers match, the lucky winner yells, “Bingo!”
Bingo rules differ slightly from one country to another. In the UK, we play 90-ball bingo compared to 75-ball in the United States. In other countries, the game may even have a different name, with slightly different variations of the playing rules. But in the end, it’s the luck of the draw.
Bingo halls sprung up across the country to entertain and delight players. And although neighborhood bingo halls have declined, online bingo continues to thrive.
Types of Bonuses
One of the primary reasons online bingo continues to thrive is the availability of a wide range of bonus deals at the fingertips of all players. Ten of the most popular and lucrative bonus incentives offered to players include:
- Sign-Up Bonus
- No-Deposit Bonus
- Birthday Bonus
- Cashback Bonus
- eMail Bonus
- Referral Bonus
- Repeat Deposit Bonus
- Social Media Bonus
- Spin Bonus
- Loyalty Programs
No single online bingo hall offers every one of the above bonuses. And not all bonus incentives are available all the time. So you’ll need to shop around on different sites to stay on top of who is offering the most bonus cash and prizes.
Sign-Up/Welcome Bonus
Many sites entice new players to their sites by offering a sign-up incentive to welcome them to the game. These incentives go by various names, such as “Sign-up Bonus,” “Welcome Bonus,” “Newbie Bonus,” and “Initial Deposit Bonus.”
The rules are simple, but restrictions usually apply. If you’re new to a site, they will frequently match whatever amount of money you deposit with up to 150% of their own money. But don’t take it to the bank just yet! You’ll have to meet their “spend” or “play through” rules before you can use any of it.
In short, you have to spend a certain amount before you can claim the bonus, and that restriction keeps people from abusing the site.
No-Deposit Bonus
This type of bingo bonus is to lure new players to a site to get them hooked on the fun and then convert them into paying customers when the cash runs out.
It’s mostly popular with new players who either don’t have a lot of money to play the game or people who are just learning to play and want to risk losing too much. Typical bonus awards range from £5 to £30 in cash or an equivalent amount in free cards.
Every bingo site has its own rules that regulate how much you get, how you can use it, and when you’re allowed to withdraw your winnings.
Birthday Bonus
Everyone has a birthday; therefore, everyone can qualify for this gem of a bonus. When you sign up for a bingo site, they ask you for your birthday. Then the site stores your information and springs a reward on you when your birthday rolls around.
You don’t have to do anything to earn the bonus other than play on your birthday. But if you’re a regular player, you may be eligible for a bigger bonus based on your level of play or player status. So, the more you play, the bigger the “present.”
Cashback Bonus
The cashback bonus is a bittersweet incentive because they will pay you to lose! Well, not quite—but close.
This bonus aims to soften the blow to your bank account when you’re on a losing streak by returning a percentage of your losses into your account. That’s “cashback” into your pocket.
Let’s say you’re a heavy player and finished the game £1000 in the hole. Ouch! Some sites will rebate a percentage of your loss to incentivize you to keep playing in the hope of winning some if not all of your money back. Each site offers differing amounts, but a 5% cashback is not uncommon. So, in the example above, you’d see a deposit of £50 back into your account.
The best cashback incentive doesn’t have a requirement to continue playing. The site will let you withdraw the money at once if you wish to cut your losses and call it a day.
eMail Bonus
The eMail bonus is a straightforward bonus opportunity that only requires an eMail account. When you sign up to a bingo site, they always want an eMail address. Please don’t give them a fake one! Give them a working eMail address that you check periodically, even if it isn’t your main one.
Bingo sites love sending bonus points to you through the mail. Usually, they’ll want you to click this button or follow a link, anything to get you engaged and into the game’s fun.
If you love to play, then go for it. Frequent players get the biggest and best incentives. Therefore, you don’t want to cut yourself off from this excellent source of bonus money and prizes.
Referral Bonus
Do you have a large family and lots of friends? If so, you’re in luck! Many bingo websites offer a hefty cash bonus and prizes if you convince your friends and family to join and play. Try organizing a “bingo night” at your home to connect with relatives and acquaintances you haven’t seen for a while.
Every site is different, and some may limit the number of referrals you can make or the amount of cash you can earn (although I don’t understand why they do that). Make sure you stay within the rules, and you could end up with a tidy sum dropped into your account to bankroll your next big win.
Repeat Deposit
Every business on earth encourages repeat business because repeat customers are much less expensive to keep than it is to attract new ones. Therefore, bingo websites have a powerful incentive to offer existing customers generous bonus options for making regular deposits and playing their games.
Some online bingo operators offer up to 250% more for your deposit! Imagine depositing £100 and getting an additional £250 added to your account simply for making regular weekly or monthly deposits.
But don’t get overly excited! This bonus money isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. There are a few strings attached to the funds. The most significant restriction is that the money doesn’t come in all at once. Cash is deposited into your account as you continue to reach higher and higher wagering levels. The more you play, the more matching funds are released.
Check the site rules and make sure you fully understand your obligation before committing too much of your cash.
Social Media Bonus
If you’re a social media junkie, then you can cash in on your obsession by following your favorite bingo site on your favorite social media site. Some of the most obvious social media opportunities are places like Facebook and Twitter. But more sites are aligning themselves with other social media outlets like Pinterest and Instagram to generate even more social media buzz.
Another good reason for following bingo sites on social media is because the sites often post special promotions there that they don’t make available anywhere else. It’s a good idea to regularly check their social media pages so you don’t miss any special deals.
Spin Bonus
Did you know that you can spin for pounds on many bingo sites? Check out the promotions tab on the sites you use and look for the spinning wheel. Click the wheel, and it’ll spin and ultimately stop on a prize.
Sometimes the wheel resembles a roulette table for added visual appeal and gives you the look and feel of being in a live casino. There’s nothing like being at a high-stakes roulette table and betting it all on red to score the big win, now is it?
Your winnings can be in the form of cash or free cards. The size of the prize will vary depending on the site. You’ll never win if you don’t play, and a certain number of spins are always free. Check it out!
Loyalty Programs
Okay, while technically not a “bonus,” your bingo sites’ loyal program is worth investigating. Bingo sites love repeat players, and they constantly introduce a broad range of bonus offers and other promotions to keep you coming back for more fun and games.
Chances are, your favorite site has a loyalty program of its own. They keep meticulous track of how often you play, how much you wager, and how long you stay on the site. The more engaged you are with the site, the more rewards they drop into your loyalty bucket.
Check the promotions tab on the sites you frequent and learn how you can accumulate as many loyalty rewards as possible. Those rewards can take the form of points, cash prizes, free cards, or other incentives.
Summary
Fierce competition in the online bingo industry has spawned a promotional frenzy as each site fights to win your attention and business. The breadth and depth of available promotions are often overwhelming!
It’ll take a bit of effort, but it’ll be time well spent if it results in additional cash for you to play (and win) more or simply withdraw and use for other things.
If you do your homework and thoroughly understand all the options available to you on the bingo sites you frequent, you can score a significant amount of bonus pounds for doing what you already love; playing bingo. The choice is yours so long as you follow the rules.