A well-designed First Time Deposit (FTD) bonus is one of the most effective acquisition and retention tools in iGaming. However, incorrect bonus configuration can lead to player confusion, abuse, financial losses, or compliance issues.
This checklist provides a comprehensive framework for setting up and validating welcome bonus campaigns. It helps Product Managers, CRM Teams, Bonus Managers, QA Engineers, and Operations Teams ensure that every aspect of the bonus–from eligibility and wagering requirements to Free Spins distribution and balance logic–is configured correctly before launch.
The checklist covers:
Welcome bonus configuration
Player eligibility requirements
Time-limited bonus boosters
Deposit bonus percentages
Free Spins rewards and distribution
Bonus limits
Wagering requirements
Maximum cashout rules
Betting limits
Bonus validity periods
Free Spins wagering rules
Bonus progression logic
Balance deduction priority
Eligible and restricted games
Bonus tracking in the player profile
Sticky vs. Free bonus configuration
Whether you're launching a new welcome offer, optimizing an existing promotion, or validating bonus mechanics before release, this checklist helps ensure bonuses are transparent, engaging, technically accurate, and aligned with business objectives.
Designed for Product Managers, CRM Managers, Bonus Managers, QA Engineers, Retention Teams, Operations Specialists, and iGaming operators responsible for creating, testing, and managing promotional campaigns.
# | Checkpoint | Description |
1 | Define the Offer | Welcome bonus for new players. |
2 | Bonus Eligibility | The player must register and make their first deposit. |
3 | Time-Limited Bonus (Booster) | If the deposit is made within 1 hour of registration, the player receives a 120% bonus. After 1 hour, the bonus is 100%. |
4 | Additional Bonus (Free Spins) | Players who deposit from X $ receive an additional 250 Free Spins. |
5 | Free Spins Distribution | Free Spins are credited in stages: 50 FS immediately, then 40 FS per day for the next 5 days. |
6 | Bonus Limits | • Maximum bonus amount – X $.• The bonus can only be claimed once. |
7 | Deposit Bonus Wagering Rules | • Wagering requirement – 35x.• Wagering period – 72 hours.• Maximum cashout – 5x the bonus amount.• Maximum bet – X $.• Minimum bet – X $. |
8 | Free Spins Wagering Rules | • Wagering requirement for FS winnings – 40x.• Free Spins validity – 48 hours.• Wagering period for FS winnings – 24 hours. |
9 | Deposit Bonus Example | A player deposits $100 and receives a 100% bonus ($100). To withdraw winnings, the player must wager $3,500. |
10 | Free Spins Example | A player receives 50 Free Spins and wins $200. To withdraw the winnings, the player must wager $8,000 within 24 hours. |
11 | Bonus Order | Bonuses are completed sequentially. To activate the next bonus, the player may cancel the current one (if cancellation is allowed). |
12 | Balance Deduction Logic | Bets are placed using the real-money balance first. If the real balance drops below $1, the bonus balance is used. |
13 | Game Restrictions | Wagering is allowed only on eligible slot games, excluding games specified in the restricted games list. |
14 | Bonus Tracking | Players can monitor bonus progress in their profile under the Bonuses section. |
15 | Eligible Games List | Use the game aggregator's default blacklist and extend it with low-volatility and in-house games when necessary. |
16 | Bonus Type | Sticky Bonus (cannot be canceled) or Free Bonus (can be canceled at any time). |
