The best UK casino sites offer bonuses of all shapes and sizes. At the end of the day, all bonuses let you explore casino games with the extra funds you get. On this page, you will learn more about these casino perks.
Generally, casino bonuses fall into two categories depending on whether or not you need to make a deposit to be eligible. While the former is very popular, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the latter. With that said, do not let the promise of riches dazzle you, choose a bonus offer your bankroll can afford.
These are the most common bonuses and they are meant for new players. Usually, it’s a package of a match bonus and free spins. Of these, the match deposit option seems to be the most popular. The match deposit bonus may vary from 50% to 400%. In addition, some online casinos tend to split the welcome bonus by spreading it across several deposits.
Often, each deposit attracts a different bonus percentage. Others offer only one welcome bonus depending on how much you deposit. Ultimately, casinos place a cap on how much you can get from a match welcome bonus.
Free spins can be included in the welcome bonus, weekly promotions, reload bonuses, or any other way. Basically, with free spins, you can have a go at a slot machine, and it will treat the spin no different from a real money bet. That also means you can keep the winnings you get from free spins.
The downside is that free spins may have game limitations, and the winnings more often than not are encumbered by the wagering requirement. So, it is always better to read the terms and conditions to know which slots you can play with free spins, especially your favourite slot.
A deposit bonus guarantees new players a specific bonus whenever they make a deposit above a certain sum. For example, as a new player, you may get a £100 bonus whenever you deposit a minimum of £20.
Understanding how you can trigger this bonus is important to avoid risking too much of your own funds. Using the above example, if you wish to spend £100, can trigger five £100 bonuses by spreading your funds across different offers instead of making one deposit in just one account.
Most gamblers are always looking for this exciting bonus, but it’s extremely hard to come by. With a no deposit bonus, you get to play for real money without depositing any funds. The only thing you need is to sign up to access this casino bonus.
After registering, the casino will automatically add the bonus to your account. In some cases, you may have to provide a bonus code to claim the no deposit bonus. Also, this bonus, like most other casino bonuses, has a catch in the form of wagering requirements.
These bonuses are fantastic if you play live online casino games. However, most online casinos are reluctant to offer live casino bonuses. And when they do, online casinos tend to set wagering contribution to approximately 10% for games such as roulette and blackjack. Some of the live games contribute 0% which essentially excludes them from the bonus.
Why is there such a difference? Either online casinos acknowledge a live casino bonus can easily be redeemed through strategic gameplay, or that’s because most live games are provided by external partners and thus have a smaller profit margin for the casino.
Cashback is another popular casino bonus. What this bonus offers is a cash reward equivalent to a set percentage of your losses. The casino keeps track of all your wins and losses, and if the offer is active, you will get a certain percentage of your lost funds back.
Sometimes a casino may have no wagering requirements for these bonuses. It is common to find cashback payments that vary between 5% and 20% of your net deposit losses. Better still, some casinos offer regular cashback promotions such as a weekly cashback program.
Most casinos have loyalty programs in place. These bonuses benefit not just VIPs or high rollers but also every player in the casino. Most casinos offer a loyalty bonus for free once you start placing real money bets. Loyalty programs usually come in tiers, starting from the lowest to the highest.
Whenever you play in the casino or make a deposit, you earn points that help move you up the tiers. Also, some online casinos have a bonus shop where you can exchange the bonus point for extra goodies or prizes.
Casino bonuses without wagering requirements are some of the hardest to come by not only in the UK but also around the world. The most common bonuses without wagering requirements are free spins. With these free spins no wagering, you get an opportunity to spin the reels and win real money for free.
If you find one, you can play, win and, most importantly, cash out your winnings from the no wagering bonus. The caveat with no wagering bonuses is that they come with other terms like having a very short period to claim them. So, always read the fine print before claiming a no wagering bonus.
Bonuses in iGaming are essential. That’s why we assess them on various factors like bonus value, game weighting, wagering requirements, minimum deposit, max wins and bonus validity. Also, we take into account the available payment methods. Here is a quick look at how we rate casino bonuses.
Wagering requirements dictate how many times you must wager the bonus before you can withdraw it from your account. You should pay attention to this requirement to establish if it applies to the bonus only or both the bonus and your deposit.
Every casino has its wagering requirements for bonuses; some are fair and others are absurd. Obviously, the lower the wagering requirement, the better it is for you as a player. Usually, it hovers around 30x. What this means is that you will have to wager the bonus at least 30 times before cashing out the bonus and its winnings.
Often casino bonuses exclude some payment methods. To establish if your preferred payment method qualifies for a deposit bonus, you must read the terms and conditions of the casino. Often, casinos offer bonuses on payment methods such as Mastercard, Visa and PayPal.
However, other payment methods such as Skrill, Neteller and Paysafecard may not be eligible for certain bonus offers in the UK. Casinos may also restrict bonuses on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The reason these payment methods have a limitation is that they require little to no verification when creating an account. So, most casinos in the UK avoid these payment methods to comply with regulations.
Casino bonuses may come with game limitations. Most bonuses will limit you to a select number of games. For example, free spins are often limited to a certain title or provider.
Another thing you should know is which games contribute to wagering requirements. Some games like roulette may not fully count towards the wagering requirements, but instead just a percentage. Also, some bets may not contribute at all. So, make sure you understand the game limitations of the bonus you opt for.
Often, casino bonuses come with time limits that you should be aware of to avoid frustrations. It can be disappointing to get a large bonus only for it to expire before you can use it fully. We recommend finding the expiry date in the bonus T&Cs and claiming the offers only if you are completely sure that you’ll meet the set deadline.
Some casinos may require you to deposit funds within a certain period to be eligible for a deposit bonus. In some cases, you may also come across bonuses that are released in batches a little at a time.
There is no denying that online casino bonuses are remarkable, especially when starting out. However, there are a few bad apples you need to watch out for.
First, avoid bonuses with absurdly high wagering requirements. Second, watch out for ‘sticky’ bonuses. You will find these as frustrating as they come. It means one bonus carries over requirements from a previous bonus. Such bonuses are rare but it is worth noting they exist. Third, avoid online casino bonuses with unfavourable maximum cashout rules.