Casinos regularly give out generous bonus rewards for both new and existing customers to keep them coming back to their site. They can be awarded for a number of reasons, and there’s a bonus to suit everyone.If you’re unsure where to start, we’ve got you covered with all the information you need to know on the best bonuses, their wager requirements and time restrictions. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best online casino bonuses available today.
The single most important part of a casino's offering is, to many people, the bonus offer. Bonuses fall into a number of categories, each with different benefits. Let's talk through the key considerations.
These are bonuses that casinos offer to new customers playing on their site. Different casinos will offer different rewards as part of a welcome bonus, but the most common are deposit match bonuses, free spins and free no deposit money.
A deposit match bonus sees casinos promise to ‘match’ your deposits with additional playable funds.The extent to which the online casino will match your deposit is usually described using a percentage - which varies from around 25% up to 300% of their initial deposit funds. This means that, on a 25% match, a £40 deposit would result in £50 playable funds, while a 300% match the £40 deposit £160 to play with. Impressive, right? Bear in mind that these bonuses are usually capped anywhere between £100 and £2,000, so be sure to read the terms and conditions before making a heft deposit.
While VIP bonuses usually apply to customers betting larger sums of money, there are also other great VIP perks to look out for, as many casinos have relaxed their VIP programme criteria, allowing everyone to sample a taste of the VIP treatment. This treatment usually include bonus free spins and matched deposits, plus free birthday spins, premium support and more.
Free Spin bonuses allow you to play online slot games without placing real money stakes. They’re a great way of testing whether you like a game, as well as getting familiar with its controls, making them the perfect bonus for beginners. In some cases, you will be required to pay a deposit before you play your free spins, while on other online casinos you will simply need to create a free account on their site.
A no deposit bonus, also known as a free money bonus, allows the user to enjoy some free play with a chance of turning it into real cash, without needing to pay a deposit first. Usually, the free money will be credited to your account when you sign up. These bonuses are a great way to get a feel for an online casino before depositing in future. Free spins and free no deposit money are tricky to turn down, but remember they often come with significant wagering requirements before you can cash out!
Reload bonuses are designed to keep existing customers coming back to the casinos. They usually reward players for topping up their casino balance, but the form of this bonus will vary from site to site. Most often, a reload balance will be a matched deposit, but some online casinos will offer free spins instead.
Rebate bonuses are the casino giving something back to their customers. Given that casino games are mostly down to chance, no one is ever excluded from the possibility of a making a loss, and rebate bonuses are a way of you making back some of your losses. However, rebate bonuses aren’t solely based on what you lose. You can also earn money through rebate bonuses based on how much you spend over a certain amount of time.
No wager bonuses are becoming more popular because they mean the funds are instantly available for withdrawal, without players needing fulfill a set of requirements beforehand. These bonuses are particularly useful for gamblers who play less often, or have a tighter budget so can’t meet lofty wagering requirements that often come with huge bonuses.
As you compare online casino bonuses, be aware that the biggest bonus doesn’t necessarily equate to the best deal for you. Many online casinos set wager requirements on their bonuses, which dictate how soon players can withdraw winnings and how much they can withdraw if they are playing with their bonus funds. In some cases, where wagering requirements are extremely high, you may be better playing without the bonus offer.
For example, if the wagering requirement is 80x, and you use your 100 free spins to win £50, you will need to wager £4,000 before you can even make a profit.
Details of wagering requirements will vary between casinos, and can usually be found in their terms and conditions.
Many casinos will implement time restrictions on their bonus offers, and these restrictions will vary between casinos. Whereas some casinos will allow players thirty days to use bonuses and meet wagering requirements, others will only allow seven. Ensure that you are aware of these restrictions before you play.
As with all online betting, it’s important to fully understand the game, and any bonus requirements before you start playing. It’s also important to bet responsibly. The UK’s top online casinos offer support for problem gambling, as well as a number of measures to ensure that you never spend more than you can afford.
Now you understand the differences between each type of bonus you can pick out your perfect bonus and win yourself a bankroll boost. Check out the sign up offers and choose the bonus that best suits you from our list of top rated UK casinos.
Are all of your recommended online casinos fair?
Yes. All of our recommended online casinos are fully licensed and regulated by UK law. This means that they all use random number generators (RNGs) to determine the outcome of games to ensure fairness.
How do I get a free online casino bonus?
For many online casinos, you will simply need to create an account to claim your bonuses, and the bonus will be credited to your account. For others, you will need to enter a code to claim your bonus.
Can I withdraw my bonus funds without meeting the wager requirements?
Unless your bonus is a no wager bonus, you will not be able to withdraw your bonus funds until you have satisfied the wager requirement as the funds will not have been made available as part of your main account balance.
What are low wager bonuses?
These would be bonuses with wager requirements of around 20x. While the player will need to satisfy these requirements before withdrawing their winnings, this is much quicker and easier than with a high wager bonus, of 60x.
Can I claim an online casino bonus on my mobile phone?
Yes. All of our recommended casinos have mobile-friendly versions of their sites, which means you can claim your bonus from whichever device you like.