Top UK Casino Bonus Offers

The online casino industry is growing ever more competitive, with new online casinos popping up all the time. In a bid to stand out against the competition, household gambling brands and new names alike are using bonus offers to attract new players and keep existing players coming back for more. Virtually every online casino offers a welcome bonus to new customers, though many give out bonuses through regular promotions and some even have VIP programmes and loyalty schemes that reward players for repeated play. The TopRatedCasinos.co.uk team has unpicked everything you need to know about bonuses in this online casino bonus guides, from the types of bonuses on offer to what you need to look out for, to make understanding casino bonuses just that little bit easier.

Types of online casino bonus

It’s not just a matter of claiming a casino welcome bonus or a VIP reward- there’s a number of different variations on offer. Let’s take a look at the different bonuses you could get your hands on at the UK’s top casino sites to help you choose the best casino bonus for you.

Free Spins

Free spins are one of the most common casino rewards, giving players the chance to play real money slot games without placing real money stakes. Some sites offer 20 free spins as part of a bigger welcome packages, while others go all out, rewarding players with 100 free spins (and more!) Whether you want to test out the latest slots before putting your own money on the line, or simply play slots for fun, free spins casino bonuses are ideal. While some casinos let players use free spins on a wide range of slots, others use them to promote new slot games, or slots developed by a specific software provider. Free spins for Starburst slots is one of the most widely available title-specific free spins bonuses, and free spins for NetEnt slots is a popular software-specific offer.

Matched deposit

A deposit match bonus welcome bonus sees casinos promise to ‘match’ your first deposit with additional bonus cash. These bonuses are popular because the funds can be used across a wide variety of casino games, rather than just slots. Matched deposit bonuses are displayed using a percentage to show how much bonus cash you could earn, and this percentage can vary from 25% up to 200% deposit match at some online casinos. There’s often a limit of how much you can earn, so you might see these advertised as ‘200% matched deposit up to £200’. In this case, the most you can earn is £200.

So, let’s say you deposit £50 with this deal. The casino will give you £100 in bonus cash, giving you a total of £150 to play with. Deposit £100 and you’ll have £300 to play with. Of course, you can deposit more than £100, but you won’t receive any more than the maximum bonus amount.

Some sites take matched deposit bonuses one step further, offering free spins as part of the same package. This means that, not only will players have free cash to play with, but they’ll also be able to spin the reels on slots for free.

Free Cash

Some online casinos set a fixed amount of free bonus cash when you make a qualifying deposit, rather than an amount that’s relative to your first deposit. You might see this advertised as ‘£20 free with your first deposit’. You’ll often be able to use free cash casino bonuses across the games library, though each site will state its restrictions in the bonus terms and conditions.

No deposit rewards

No deposit bonuses are often deemed the holy grail of online casino rewards, giving players the chance to play real money casino games without dipping into their own pockets. In most cases, all you need to do is create an account to claim these rewards- the no deposit free spins or no deposit free cash will be credited to your account when you sign up. These no deposit rewards tend to be a little more modest than their deposit counterparts, often limited to up to 50 free spins, or £5 free cash.

Reload bonuses

These are similar to matched deposit bonuses, except they’re designed to keep existing customers coming back to the casino. Reload bonuses usually reward players for topping up their casino account, but this bonus will come in different forms depending on the casino site you’re playing at. While some sites give out bonus cash as a reload reward, other online casinos give players a handful of free spins.

Rebate bonuses

Given that virtually all casino games come down to chance, no one is ever excluded from the possibility of losing money. Rebate bonuses, or cash back bonuses, give players a percentage of their losses back over a certain period of time. The exact percentage and specified period of time will vary between casino sites, but this bonus can help soften the blow if you’ve been on a losing streak.

VIP rewards

VIP programmes and loyalty schemes see casino sites reward players with bonuses when they play with higher stakes over a certain time period. While some casino VIP programmes roll out the red carpet and reward players with bonus spins and free cash, others give them access to perks such as birthday rewards, premium personalised support and other exclusive prizes.

A heads up on casino bonuses

Unfortunately it’s not as simple as claiming the bonus with the biggest numbers. Each will have its own requirements and restrictions, so it’s important to find  the bonus that best suits you. There are a few factors you should look out for in the terms and conditions when you’re comparing online casino bonus offers.

Wagering requirements

Virtually every online casino bonus comes with wagering requirements that dictate how many times players must wager their bonus funds before they can withdraw winnings as cash. Most casino wagering requirements sit between 30x and 50x, but some set extremely high requirements of over 60x when it comes to no deposit bonuses.

Imagine you claim a no deposit free spins bonus with 60x wagering requirements, and you win £20 from these free spins. You’ll need to wager £1200 before you can withdraw your winnings from your casino account, which just isn’t feasible for most online casino players. In cases like this, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons. You might be better of playing without claiming the bonus offer.

Not all casino bonuses have wagering requirements attached to them, though. In an effort to stand out from the competition, some casinos boast no wagering bonuses, or bonuses with low wagering requirements (under 25x). This means players can enjoy some bonus gameplay without having to worry about completing high wagering requirements.

Game weighting restrictions

Completing bonus wagering requirements isn’t as straightforward as playing your favourite casino games a handful of times, as there are usually restrictions on which games contribute to wagering requirements. At many casino sites, wagers on most slot games contribute 100%, whilst bets on table games can count as little as 10%. Some online casinos exclude certain games altogether from the wagering, so this is definitely something to read up on in the small print.

Time limits

Not only will you need to complete wagering requirements, but you’ll also need to do this within a specified time frame. Failure to complete requirements within this period means that bonus funds will expire, often along with any associated winnings. Some sites are generous and allow in excess of 30 days to complete the playthrough requirements for casino offers, but others give players just a handful of days.

Games restrictions

Restrictions don’t simply apply to game weighting- some casinos also set rules as to which games players can use their bonus funds on. Obviously, free spins are restricted to slot games, but you might find that progressive jackpot games aren’t included in the offer. Likewise, you may only be able to use your free cash on certain versions of table games. Of course, you can still play other games, but you won’t be able to do so with your bonus funds.

Maximum winnings caps

You shouldn’t just think of casino bonuses as a free pass to hitting the jackpot- there are usually maximum winning caps that specify how much cash you can actually win using your bonus finds. This means that, even if you were to win big on the jackpot, you would only get to keep a portion of the winnings.

Payment method restrictions

Keep an eye out- deposits by certain payment methods may not be eligible to claim a casino bonus. It goes without saying that you’ll need to meet the minimum deposit requirements to claim, but how you deposit could also have a bearing on your eligibility. It’s often e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill that are excluded from casino bonuses, but some sites have bonuses exclusive to PayPal or debit card deposits. As with all other bonus restrictions, these details will be covered in the terms and conditions.

Ready to Play?

Now you understand the ins and outs of casino bonuses, you’re probably ready to claim your own bankroll boost. Check out our handpicked list of the best UK casinos with no deposit deals to compare the latest casino bonuses and pick out your favourite. The best part? Every casino on our list holds a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence, so you’re guaranteed a safe and fair experience, no matter which gambling site you choose.