How to Combine Casino Bonuses with Low House Edge Games for Maximum ROI

Understanding Casino Bonuses

Most Canadian casinos offer bonuses to attract and keep customers on their platforms. These promotions also help players improve their bankroll over time. 

Players will find different types of bonuses in Canada, including welcome bonuses, no deposit bonuses, free spins, and reload bonuses. For instance, Bet99 offers new users a 100% deposit match of up to $1,000. 

Bonuses come with specific terms and conditions, including wagering requirements, eligible games, validity periods, and minimum deposit amounts. For instance, a minimum deposit of $20 is needed to claim the Bet99 offer. It has a 30x wagering requirement and is only valid for 30 days. Slots contribute 100 while live casinos and table games contribute 10. Video poker has 0% contributions.

What Is the House Edge?

Playing casino games transcends luck. It requires being smart in your game choices. That's why you should play low house edge games to get the best returns on your wager.

The house edge is a percentage of your bet on a game that a casino is expected to keep over time. It's a way the casino ensures its continued profitability. For instance, if a game has a house edge of 3%, the casino gets $3 for every $100 you wager over time. 

However, a game's house edge can be high or low. For example, American roulette has a 5.26 house edge, which is considerably high. However, a blackjack with basic strategy has an approximate house edge of 0.5. Top Low House Edge Games in Canadian Online Casinos

Once you're ready to play smart, consider targeting the following low-house-edge games to help you complete a bonus wagering requirement. 

Blackjack 

The house edge of blackjack varies depending on the strategy employed. Using a basic strategy, such as chart-based probability, reduces the edge to 0.5 or less. This can increase quickly between 1.5 and 2% without a strategy or by playing based on feelings.

Additionally, blackjack contributes differently to the wagering requirements of most casino bonuses. Its contribution is usually at 10%, limiting how much you can wager to fulfil the wagering requirements. However, it also depends on the type of bonus.

Baccarat

As a low volatility game, baccarat is one of the games we recommend to maximize your payout. If you stick to Player or Banker bets, you can manage your bankroll for longer.

It is one of the casino games with the lowest house edge. A Banker bet has a 1.06 house edge while a Player bet has 1.24. We do not recommend playing a Tie bet because the edge can be as high as 14.36%.

Like blackjack, baccarat typically contributes 10% to casino bonus wagering requirements. This can vary depending on the bonus type and casino.

Craps

The best bet in a casino is on “Odds on Pass/Come” when betting on crap. It has no house edge, giving you all the advantages. Other Craps bet types have different house edges, ranging from 1.36 when you bet on Don't Pass and Don't Come to as high as 16.67 by betting on Any 7.

Craps contributes little to most casino bonuses. In most cases, casinos allow a contribution of 5 to 10. However, some platforms may not allow craps to contribute at all due to its low house edge.

Video Poker

Video poker is another game for smart bettors to maximize their ROI. Some variants have a player edge of over 100%, effectively eliminating the house's edge.

The game typically has house edges between 0.46 and 5, depending on the variant. Full Pay Jacks or Better (9/6) and Bonus Poker are a few of the low house edge video poker variants. 

Video poker rarely contributes to the wagering requirements of a welcome bonus. However, some casinos offer bonuses for video poker, contributing up to 100% of the wager.

European Roulette 

Smart bettors prefer European roulette over American roulette because of its lower house edge. While European roulette has a 2.70 house edge, American roulette has a 5.26 house edge.

However, some European tables, such as French roulette, may have lower house edges due to the La Partage and En Prison rules. In these cases, the house edge will be 1.35%.

Roulette usually contributes 10 to casino welcome bonuses. Some bonuses tailored to table games or live casinos may allow roulette to contribute 100.

How to Combine Bonuses with Low House Edge Games

Combining bonuses with low house edge games is a move that helps you manage your bankroll and, in turn, improve your ROI. Here is how to achieve your desired result.

• Choose the right bonus: Choose the right casino and bonus is the first step. We've added 3 online casinos with a wide range of bonuses in this guide. You can opt in for their welcome bonuses or promotions that are tailored specifically for low house edge games.

• Check game contribution terms: Before opting in for the bonus, ensure the terms and conditions are fair and transparent. Check if low house edge games are eligible for the bonus.  

• Opt for low house edge games that qualify: Make the minimum deposit to activate the bonus, and the casino will credit your bonus account. Now, go to the eligible low house edge games and use the bonus to play. Let's say you got a bonus of $100 from NorthStar Bets, and blackjack contributes 10% to the offer. If the wagering requirements are 20x, you need to wager a total of $20,000 on blackjack instead of $2,000. 

• Manage bankroll smartly: Set bet sizes for each wager. You can wager on units of $20 instead of playing the entire $100 at once. 

• Track your play: Use a spreadsheet to monitor your bets. Each time you wager, input the amounts and returns in the sheet. Don't forget to withdraw your winnings periodically. If you follow the right strategy, you can get between 5 and 15 ROI over time.  

Mistakes to Avoid

Claiming casino bonuses can sometimes be complicated due to terms and conditions, and may lead to common mistakes. Here is how to avoid them. 

• Ignoring wagering requirements: Before claiming a bonus, please carefully read the terms and conditions. Take note of the wagering requirements to determine if they are achievable. Don't waste your time on unrealistic requirements.

• Playing excluded games: When reviewing the terms and conditions, check the eligible games to avoid playing ineligible ones. Claim the bonus only if low-house-edge games qualify.

• Mismanaging bankroll: You only need to make the minimum deposit to activate the bonus. Additionally, set bet sizes so you don't exhaust the bonus too early.

• Chasing losses: Losses are part of the game. You cannot win it all. Therefore, avoid chasing after your losses to prevent further losses.

• Misunderstanding bonus expiry: Pay attention to bonus expiry dates to avoid forfeiture. We recommend fulfilling the wandering requirements within the stipulated time.

Best Practices for Maximizing ROI

The first step to maximizing your ROI is to guarantee you can receive your payouts seamlessly. That's why you should only sign up with licensed online casinos. Target platforms with a license from iGaming Ontario and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission to ascertain your safety and security.

Here are the other strategies for maximizing your ROI.

• Use match bonuses on high-contribution games: The higher your low house edge games contribute to the bonus, the faster you can fulfil the wagering requirements. Claim casino bonuses that allow these types of games to contribute between 10-20. You may also target bonuses, tailored specifically for low-house-edge games with 100% game contributions.

• Timing reloads: Reload bonuses tend to allow low house edge games to contribute more to their wagering requirements. We recommend opting in for these types of bonuses.

• Leveraging VIP programs: The top online casinos now offer VIP programs to give you cashback and comp points. Instead of depositing more, use your cashback to play low-house-edge games for higher returns.  VIP programs also help you increase your withdrawal limits.

Recommended Online Casinos for Canadians

A wide range of online casinos are available in Canada. Find the top 3 ones to register with below!

• Bet99

With a licence from iGaming Ontario, Bet99 offers casino games with low house edges to Ontario players. Bettors from other provinces can use the version licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. 

New users can claim a 100 casino welcome bonus of up to $1,000. The offer also has a 30x wagering requirement, with low house edge games, such as live casino and table games, contributing 10.

Additionally, Bet99 pays out fast, especially via Interac and eWallets. Their customer support channels, including live chat and email, are responsive.

• NorthStar Bets 

Like Bet99, NorthStar Bets holds a license with iGaming Ontario, targeting Ontario bettors. Players from other provinces can use the website, which is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

The casino offers a 100 first deposit match bonus of up to $1000 with a 30x wagering requirement. Low house edge games, such as roulette, contribute 25 to the wagering requirements, while blackjack and table games contribute 10%.

NorthStar Bets offers responsive customer support services. The casino also facilitates fast payouts.

• Betano

Betano is another casino with an iGaming Ontario license. You can get a 100 welcome bonus of up to $3000 + 50 free spins when you sign up. The bonus has a 15x wagering requirement. Table games and live casinos contribute 10 while baccarat contributes nothing. 

Betano has 24/7 customer support. Their representatives respond to queries within a few minutes. Withdrawals are processed fast via Interac, PayPal, and Paysafecard.

For More Information on Betting in Canada, Check Out Our Guides...

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Responsible Gambling 

Provincial licensing bodies are strict with casinos in providing responsible gambling tools. They need to first confirm the identity and age of customers by requesting their ID documents. They must also provide tools, such as deposit and time limits, to help players stay in control. 

All online casinos offer a self-exclusion program to their customers. It allows them to restrict themselves from gambling for up to 5 years. Customers who are deep into problem gambling can seek further help via Connex Ontario, CAMH, and OAMHP.