Two minimums, not one
Every pokies site has two minimum deposits, and most pages about “minimum deposit” quote only the first.
- The cashier minimum is the smallest amount the site will accept at all.
- The bonus-qualifying minimum is the smallest deposit that triggers the welcome bonus. It is set in the promotion terms and is often two to four times the cashier minimum.
If you deposit between the two, the money arrives but the bonus does not, and most sites will not add it afterwards. The list at the top of this page is sorted by the bonus-qualifying minimum, because that is the number that catches people out. Each card shows it next to the turnover multiple, with the date we last read the terms.
Why PayID suits a small first deposit
PayID has no fee at the bank end and no fixed minimum of its own, and the payment lands within seconds at any hour. That makes it practical to send a small amount, see it arrive, and start playing without waiting for banking hours. 9 of the 18 sites also take PayID; the rest are on the Osko and bank transfer page.
Two details matter more with small amounts than large ones.
- Send the exact figure shown. Some cashiers add cents to identify your payment. Rounding A$20.37 to A$20 can leave the deposit unmatched.
- Use the PayID shown in the cashier today. Operators rotate them. One copied from an old chat message may no longer belong to the site. The PayID page covers the safety checks.
What a small deposit is actually worth with a bonus
A bonus stretches a small deposit, and turnover decides how far. Take a A$20 deposit with a 40% bonus at 3x turnover on deposit plus bonus: the balance is A$28 and the requirement is A$84 in bets. At 10x the same balance would need A$280 in bets. On a game returning 96%, the expected cost of A$84 of play is about A$3; of A$280, about A$11, which is more than the A$8 bonus was worth. The multiple matters more than the percentage. How each operator applies the multiple varies, so read whether it covers the bonus alone or the deposit as well; the welcome bonus page compares them.
Watch two other clauses at low stakes:
- Maximum bet with a bonus. A stated cap per spin is common, and breaching it is a usual reason for voided winnings.
- Minimum withdrawal. If it is higher than your deposit, a modest win cannot be cashed out until the balance passes it.
Using a first deposit as a test
The most useful thing a small deposit buys is information. A sensible first session looks like this:
- Register in your legal name, with the bank account you will withdraw to.
- Deposit the bonus-qualifying minimum by PayID, or the cashier minimum with no bonus if you want to be able to withdraw at any time.
- Play a game whose RTP you have checked in the info screen; the RTP guide shows where to find it.
- If the balance passes the minimum withdrawal, request one, even a small one. How the site handles it tells you more than any review, including ours. PayID withdrawals explains what to expect.
Only after a withdrawal has arrived is it reasonable to deposit more.
The list on this page
The cards above are the sites whose cashier lists PayID, ordered by the smallest deposit that qualifies for the welcome bonus. Where two sites share a figure, the published ranking rule breaks the tie. Sites that share ownership with AusRoo carry a label saying so.
Gambling Help Online is free and confidential on 1800 858 858, and our responsible gambling page lists the deposit-limit tools at each site we track.
