We all know that it hardly gets better than having free money to gamble with in an online casino. When first starting out, one of the surest ways to get free money to gamble with is via a free cash bonus. However, it's important to keep in mind that bonuses are not entirely free. They are conditionally free, meaning that in order for you to be able to get your hands on the money via a withdrawal, certain wager requirements will need to be met first. This always includes wagering the bonus amount several times over, which may or may not be limited to certain games with the highest House Edges. Sometimes, bonuses can end up biting you back in the long run. This is why some players prefer to stay away from using bonuses, and choose their online casinos based on the payouts, customer service, and gaming options, rather than the bonus offerings. Always think twice about using a bonus. If you need the extra money to beef up your bankroll to get through longer playing sessions, then by all means take the bonus. If, however, you have acquired a sizable nest of winnings from your past gambling exploits, you might want to consider abstaining from signing up for a bonus. Whatever you do, don't pick an online casino to play at simply because of their bonus offering. There is much more that goes into picking a good gaming host.