Deposit bonuses match a percentage of your deposit with bonus funds. A 100% match up to $1,000 means depositing $1,000 gives you $2,000 to play with. Some casinos offer 200% or 300% matches for even more value.
The best deposit bonuses have wagering requirements of 30x or lower, reasonable time limits (at least 14 days), and no maximum withdrawal caps on bonus winnings.
Many casinos offer multi-part welcome packages that spread bonuses across your first 2-4 deposits. These often include free spins as an added incentive.