Match Bonus

A match bonus is a deposit bonus where the casino matches your deposit by a certain percentage up to a maximum amount. "100% match up to $500" means if you deposit $500, you get $500 in bonus funds, for a total of $1,000 to play with. Deposit $200 and you get $200 extra.

The match percentage tells you the generosity. 50% is modest. 100% is standard for most welcome bonuses. 200% sounds amazing until you see the wagering requirement, which is often higher on larger match percentages. Some casinos offer 300% or 400% matches but pair them with 50x or 60x wagering, which makes them worse value than a 100% match with 25x wagering.

Always look at the total package: match percentage, maximum bonus amount, wagering requirement, game weighting, max bet during wagering, and time limit to complete it. The headline number means nothing without the fine print.