Casinos have to constantly come up with new ideas that can boost their visibility in the eyes of their potential customers. That is why they create different market strategies and test them to see what will work best.
One of the strategies used by almost every casino on the market is the use of bonus codes, also known as promo codes or coupon codes. Though the concept of a code is not necessarily new, it proved to be a tempting way through which to ignite the interest of players to redeem a bonus with a casino coupon code.
This article will provide details on these codes, including what they represent, how they’re created, and the differences between codes and how to use them.
What are bonus codes
A bonus code is a series of letters, numbers or symbols that can describe a characteristic of the promotion, the number of spins it offers, the name of the slot that the gambler has to play, a sequence of random characters or other instances. Most of the time, they are in capital letters. Some common examples are:
- FREE100;
- 200BURNING;
- 50NEW;
- 123SGH.
A player can use bonus codes like these to activate a specific promotion that they can’t activate otherwise. There are codes for many types of offers, including free bets, free spins, match bonuses, cashbacks and many more. Also, the codes can activate promotions for the casino and sports sections on the platform or in any other available category.
How they’re generated and validated
The casino generates a specific code for each promotion and shares it either directly on its platform or through its newsletter, social channels or affiliate sites. The code is found in a database, along with other information on the promotion that will come in handy in the process.
The player uses the promo code in the designated section, and the system verifies whether the promotion is still active, whether the code is entered correctly, and whether the limit on the number of people who can use this code has been reached.
The system can also verify data about the user, whether it’s a new or existing player, the VIP status, the country, if they accessed the platform through a third party (an affiliate site) or other details.
If the user passes all the necessary information and the system concludes that they are eligible for the bonus offered through the coupon codes, then they will find the benefits on their profile.
The difference between codes
As mentioned in the beginning, these codes are referred to as bonus codes, promo codes or coupon codes interchangeably. The truth is that there is a slight difference between them that many don’t know about, exactly because of how the industry uses them. The following section will present exactly the differences, for better understanding:
- bonus codes: used to claim bonuses for new players, like no deposit bonus, free spins, match bonuses, with an example like WELCOME123;
- promo codes: for diverse types of promotions, including deposit bonuses, free bets, but also VIP offers, cashbacks, or even offers for specific events (e.g., EURO24);
- coupon codes: even though they are more commonly used in retail, in the iGaming industry, they have the same meaning as the ones before, but on some occasions, they might offer a discount, like reduced wagering or a boost (e.g., BOOST10).
How to apply them correctly
Although it might seem easy to use a bonus code and think that there is nothing that can go wrong, there are actually a few factors that players must take into consideration:
- writing them correctly: as specified, promo codes use letters, numbers and some use even symbols. Moreover, most of them use capital letters, so this is another aspect not to forget. Gamblers must make sure they enter the code exactly as they see it to get the bonus they want; otherwise, even a small mistake can invalidate it. A tip is to simply copy and paste the code; some casinos offer a special button designed for this;
- terms and conditions: an important step in the process of claiming any bonus is to read the T&Cs. These will mention the availability of the bonus codes and other limitations that might have an impact on the bonus.
There are usually three sections where a gambler may use the coupon codes:
1. In the registration form: while filling in the form, at some point, there will be a field where the casino asks the player to use the bonus code, if they have one.
2. When making a deposit: the user can enter a bonus code while depositing for the preferred offer;
3. In the cashier section: a dedicated field to redeem promotions, where a gamer can also use promo codes.
How to know if a code activates successfully
The system will scan to see whether the bonus code is still available and if the player is eligible for the offer. Most of the time, if everything goes right, the bonus becomes available for activation on the gambler’s account. This is the simplest situation and the most favorable.
But there might be circumstances where the user enters the bonus code, and nothing happens. This might be because of an error from the casino’s platform. In cases in which the code doesn’t work, the best solution is to contact the customer support team.
Summary
Bonus codes are a really efficient way for gamers to redeem a large variety of promotions that can offer all kinds of benefits. But it’s important not to forget that players shouldn’t overuse the codes to make money from the offers. As with any other bonus, the focus needs to be on having a fun time playing at the casino.
