Online casino bonuses, especially juicy welcome offers, can significantly boost your bankroll. But turning that bonus money into real winnings isn’t just about luck; it’s about choosing the right games. Different games have different odds, payout rates, and risk levels. To make the most of your bonus and maybe even cash out a profit, you should focus on games that give you the best value for your wagers. Below, we explore the top five casino games that can maximize your bonus profitability, from low-risk slot spins to skill-based table play.
Low-Volatility Slots for Steady Wagering
When clearing a bonus, consistency is key. Low-volatility slot games tend to pay out smaller wins frequently, which helps stretch your bonus funds and meet wagering requirements without busting your bankroll early. These games may not hit huge jackpots every spin, but their steady payouts let you play longer a crucial factor when you need to wager a bonus multiple times over.
Starburst – This iconic NetEnt slot is a fan favourite for bonus play. Starburst has low volatility and a solid ~96.1% RTP. In plain terms, it pays out often, albeit in modest amounts. Its bright, gem-filled reels and expanding wilds keep the gameplay engaging, and those frequent wins can keep your balance ticking upwards or at least not dropping too fast as you work through a wagering requirement. Many Norwegian online casinos even award Starburst free spins as part of a 300% casino bonus, precisely because it’s welcoming to newcomers and gentle on your funds. If you have a hefty bonus to clear, a game like Starburst lets you grind it out with minimal risk, turning over the bonus funds slowly but surely.
Blood Suckers – Seasoned bonus hunters often swear by certain high-RTP slots, and Blood Suckers is one of them. This vampire-themed slot from NetEnt boasts an exceptional 98% RTP and very low volatility. In theory, a higher RTP means more of your wagered money is returned in wins over the long run, which is ideal when trying to profit from a bonus. On Blood Suckers, small wins occur frequently, so your bonus balance lasts longer.
Low House Edge Strategy: Blackjack
Slots aren’t the only way to roll over a bonus. If the casino’s terms allow it not all do, table games like Blackjack can be an extremely effective avenue for profitable bonus use. Blackjack is a game of skill with one of the lowest house edges in the casino meaning if you play optimally, the casino’s advantage is minimal, and you keep more of your money.
Blackjack – Often dubbed the king of high-return casino games, blackjack played with basic strategy has a house edge of roughly 0.5% or even lower. In other words, the game returns about 99.5% of bets to players on average, far better odds than almost any slot. Using a bonus on blackjack can therefore give you an excellent chance to come out ahead, because very little of each wager is “lost” to the house over time.
Also, be aware that many casinos restrict bonus play on blackjack or only count a small percentage of each bet toward wagering because it is so advantageous to players. Always read the fine print: a bonus that’s great for slots might not be as easy to clear on blackjack if, say, only 10% of your bet counts or if there’s a cap on bet size. If permitted, though, blackjack gives you the best fighting chance to turn a profit from bonus funds due to its combination of skill and favorable odds. Unlike slots, you have control over the outcome with your decision-making making it immensely satisfying to beat the wagering requirement using good strategy and perhaps end up with more money than you started.
Big-Win Slots and Jackpots
Not all players want to play it safe with a bonus. Some prefer to swing for the fences, and certain games are perfect for that strategy. High-volatility slots and progressive jackpots offer the tempting possibility of a massive payout from your bonus funds, albeit with a higher risk of losing quickly. If you don’t mind volatility, these games can turn a modest bonus into a huge profit in one lucky streak.
Book of Dead – This adventure-themed slot is known for its high volatility and big win potential. It has an RTP around 96.2%, similar to Starburst, but the experience is completely different. With Book of Dead, you’ll mostly spin through many non-winning or small-winning rounds until you hit the bonus feature then boom, the payouts can be significant. The game’s free spins feature with expanding symbols can produce massive wins if luck is on your side. Because it’s high variance, Book of Dead is riskier to use with a bonus: there’s a chance you might bust your bonus balance before seeing a return. But on the flip side, a single good bonus round here could notch a win large enough to complete your wagering and leave you with a nice cashout. It’s a favorite in many casinos’ free spin promotions, showing up often precisely because players love its win potential.
Mega Moolah – If your strategy is “go big or go home,” few games epitomize that like Mega Moolah. This legendary progressive jackpot slot by Microgaming is famous for turning bonus money into life-changing prizes. Mega Moolah’s normal RTP is on the low side, meaning the house edge is higher to fund those giant jackpots. Under normal circumstances it’s not the most cost-effective game but the appeal is that any spin could trigger a jackpot wheel where multi-million prizes await. In fact, the world record for an online slot win was on Mega Moolah: one British soldier hit £13.2 million in 2015 with a single spin. Using your bonus on a game like this is high-risk, because you might burn through the funds with no return. Yet, it’s potentially high-reward you’re essentially giving yourself a free shot at a jackpot. If you decide to try a progressive slot with your bonus, do it when the jackpot is huge. Just remember, “profitably” in this context is relative it only takes one lucky spin, but the odds are long, so never chase jackpots with money you can’t afford to lose.
Gonzo’s Quest – Another popular pick for bonus play is Gonzo’s Quest, a NetEnt slot with medium-high volatility and a very unique feature set. It runs at about a 95.97% RTP, and instead of traditional spinning reels, it has an “Avalanche” mechanic: symbols fall into place and winning combos explode, allowing new symbols to drop in for consecutive wins. With each avalanche win in a round, a multiplier increases. This means Gonzo’s Quest can sometimes hit multiple wins back-to-back, taking a small win and compounding it into a bigger one. The volatility is middling you won’t win on every spin, but it’s not as feast-or-famine as Book of Dead. For bonus wagering, Gonzo’s Quest offers a nice balance: frequent enough wins to sustain play, with occasional bursts of bigger payouts when those avalanches chain together. Hitting the Free Fall round with a bonus active can be especially lucrative, thanks to the increased multipliers. In short, this game lets you taste a bit of both worlds steady play with chances at exciting spikes making it a smart choice to get good value from your bonus funds.
Conclusion
Scoring a profit from casino bonuses is all about smart game selection and strategy. The top games to use bonuses profitably include a mix of low-volatility slots for steady, low-risk wagering, high-payout slots and jackpots for a shot at big wins, and low house-edge table games like blackjack for maximizing value through skill. By balancing your play across these games, you can enjoy the entertainment of online casinos while giving yourself the best possible odds of coming out ahead. Choose games that suit your risk tolerance and the bonus terms, play responsibly, and you’ll significantly improve your chances that the bonus money turns into real, withdrawable winnings in your account.
