casino accepted my bonus code but promo page still says not activated

Used a bonus code during sign-up, got the confirmation pop-up and even received an email that the offer was accepted. But when I look at my promos tab, it still says the deal isn't activated. I’ve played a few spins just to check, and nothing changed with my balance either, so it’s not just a delayed credit thing.

Is this one of those deals where the bonus gets credited after you make a deposit, even if the code gets accepted upfront? I know some sites do that, but the terms weren’t clear. I’m not planning to make a deposit until I know for sure the offer will actually go through. In the past, I’ve had sites just absorb my code and then customer support plays the “glitch” card for days.

I’m trying to keep control of my deposits and bonuses and not just gamble hoping for the best. Anyone else run into this limbo or am I missing a weird step? Feels like these promo pages just bait you half the time.