Best Casino Bonuses in the UK
18+. £20 minimum deposits for offers. New players only. 1st deposit: 50% up to max £50+ 40 extra spins. 2nd deposit: 40 extra spins. 3rd deposit: 40 extra spins. 4th deposit: 50% bonus up to max £50 + 30 extra spins. Max bet limitations per spin apply. 35x wagering requirements apply (i.e the bonus x35). Higher wagering requirements may be applied depending on the games played. Full T&Cs apply. Please play responsibly. Begambleaware.org #AD
18+. Welcome bonus: new players only. Min deposit: £10. Max bonus: £77. Spins are issued on a specific game. Spins and bonus wagering requirement: 35x, spins expire after 24 hours. Gambling can be addictive. Play responsibly, www.begambleaware.org. T&C’s apply. #AD
*18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% bonus match up to £300 plus 50 Bonus spins on Starburst your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. #AD
18+. New players only. Min deposit £10. 22 Bonus Spins valid on Starburst. Bonus funds are 100% up to £100. Bonus funds + spin winnings are separate to cash funds and subject to 35x wagering requirement. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. £5 bonus max bet. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 10 days. Affordability checks apply. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org #AD
*18+. New members only, must opt in. Min £10 deposit & wager. 30 day expiry from deposit. Free Spins: on Secrets of the Phoenix Megaways. Spins value: 20p each. Game availability & restrictions apply. Please gamble responsibly. Begambleaware.org #AD
18+. New Players Only. Bonus valid 30 Days from receipt.35X wagering the bonus. Max conversion: £500. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. Begambleaware.org #AD
18+. New players only. Min deposit £20. 40x wagering applies to match up bonus. Offer valid for 24 hours. 25 Spins on Starburst – 40x wagering applies to Spins. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply. #AD
Find the Top Casino Offers
To begin with, a bonus is only as good as the casino site that offers it. What good are free chips for boring games anyway? So we start by looking at casinos with exciting games. We also keep an eye out for special promotions for popular games among UK players, or for the latest releases. A bonus’ terms can also affect its true value drastically, so our experts goes through the fine print of each deal to see what you can really expect from it. Needless to say, we also check that the casino is fully licenced and is a trustworthy place to play!
What Makes a Good Casino Bonus?
Generally speaking, there are the 3 defining features of a good casino bonus:
- Percentage of match
A 100% bonus will match your deposit in free chips, effectively giving you double the amount to play with. A higher percentage will get you more chips per penny. Usually it’s limited to a specific amount.
- Wagering requirements
This is listed in the terms of the promotion and it’s the amount of bets you have to make before you can withdraw wins you had while playing with bonus money. Wagering requirements can be a bit complicated and we have a more detailed explanation further down.
- Games to play on
It’s quite common to find offers designed for a specific game. For example, some might be for slots from a particular game maker, while others were designed for live dealer action.
What Types of casino Bonuses Can I Find?
Casino offers come in different shapes and sizes, so you can choose the one that fits your gaming style. Here is a guide to the most common casino bonuses you’ll see:
Deposit Bonus: This is probably the most common sort of casino welcome bonus out there and, depending on the T&Cs that come with it, can give you some good value. The way it works is that when you make your first deposit, the casino will match it, usually 100%, which doubles your bankroll from the off. You might also get some free spins thrown in on top. With some intro deals at a new casino UK players get match bonuses on the next few deposits as well.
You need to make sure you check the wagering requirements and the maximum conversion amount that comes with an introductory offer, as well as how long you have before the bonus runs out. If you get free spins as part of the deal, you need to know whether you can only use them on certain slots, or if there is a limit on how much you can win.
No Deposit Bonus: Typically for players new to a casino. The no deposit gives you free chips to play with, before you’ve even made a deposit. You’ll get to play their real money games without risking a penny, however, these offers tend to be very small and won’t get you very far.
Free Play: Free play lets you play real money games at a casino for a limited time (say 24 hours). Keeping your winnings will definitely come with strings attached. Can also more generally refer to the extra play you get with any bonus.
Free Spins: Literally, spin the reels for free, courtesy of the house. Typically for specific slot games, and obviously one of the most popular promos for slot players.
High Roller: High Roller promotions tend to have a slightly lower matching rate, but have a much less restrictive cap on the amount it goes up to. This gets you a lot more bonus money overall.
Re-load: After you’ve played through the Welcome, the re-load gives you another top up with your deposit although the matching rate tends to be a bit lower than the Welcome. Can be as found weekly or monthly offers.
Freerolls: Freerolls are basically free entry to poker games and tournaments, but sometimes can also mean free entry into casino races.
Mobile: Sometimes you can find special offers just for trying a mobile casino. Obviously you’ll have to play on a phone or tablet.
Live Casino Promotions: Live dealers are really the new way to play table games online, and live casino promos let you play these games with free chips on the house, or with surprise prizes thrown in. For example, there might be a card for a mystery prize added to the deck in a game of Blackjack, or every time the ball lands on 7 on a Roulette wheel, everyone gets an extra cash prize. Things can get pretty creative here.
Cashback: Perhaps the more down-to-earth approach to gaming. You get back a percentage of your losses as free chips or bonus with cashback programmes.
Referral: Like where you play? Then bring a friend in and you’ll get an extra reward.
Comp Points / VIP Club: Sort of like air miles. You will collect points for every bet you make, and with enough points you can move up levels, unlock extra prizes, get exclusive invitations to tournaments as well as to real-world events like sporting championships, the theatre and so on. Practically every casino has a VIP reward programme, and depending on your level, you might even get a personal account manager who’ll craft some tailor-made offers for you.
What is a Wagering Requirement?
A wagering requirement, aka a playthrough requirement, is the amount you have to bet in real money before you can withdraw any winnings you had while playing with a bonus. It is found in the promotion’s terms and conditions and is perhaps the most important part of any bonus as they define how good the deal really is. Yet it is also one of most poorly understood concepts, so here’s a straightforward explanation with some examples.
Example 1: You deposited £100 and claimed a 50% bonus, receiving £50 in bonus money. The offer has a wagering requirement of 20x.
Multiply your bonus of £50 by 20, and you get £1,000.
£1,000 how much you need to wager in real money bets before you can withdraw your win.
Example 2: You deposited £100 and claimed a 50% bonus, receiving £50 in bonus money. The offer has a wagering requirement of 15x bonus plus deposit.
Your bonus is £50 and your deposit is £100. So what you do is (50+100) multiplied by 15.
That’s 150 x 15, which gives you £2,250
£2,250 is how much you need to wager in real money bets before you can withdraw your win.
Watch out for the “bonus plus deposit” term, because although it looks lower at first, you can see that it ends up being more expensive after you do the maths.
Guide to casino bonuses
Casino bonuses are available at our recommended online casino sites for both new and regular players.
Virtually every UK online casino will offer a Welcome Bonus for new players. This is designed to incentivise you to choose their site rather than a rival’s. These introductory offers will usually feature a deposit match, where the sum you deposit when you open an account is then matched by the casino, usually at a rate of 100% but it can in some cases be 200% or even 300% (although this is rare).
It will usually be the case that there is an upper limit as to the size of the bonus you can claim (between £100 and £300 is the norm) and there will also usually be a minimum you have to deposit to claim the bonus (most commonly £10 or £20).
Often, this sort of sign-up offer will also come with bonus spins. These will usually be available only on a particular slot and can range in number from 10 to 100.
The best UK casinos also have great promotions, bonuses and special offers for regular players. These come in all shapes and sizes, but you can expect to pick up bonus spins, deposit matches and cash prizes. The way to qualify for these sorts of bonuses will vary, but they are usually tied to your deposits and wagers.
These sorts of bonuses tend to be updated fairly frequently, so it pays to check your inbox and the Promotions page regularly to make sure you are up to date with the latest deals and offers
Casino bonus terms and conditions
Most casino Welcome Bonuses will have some conditions attached, and these will ultimately affect the value you receive.
In almost all cases, the bonus will come with a wagering requirement. This is the amount you must wager before you can withdraw any of the bonus sum you received, or winnings made when playing with bonus funds. The wagering requirement (also known as the playthrough) will be expressed as a multiple, and will be applied either to the bonus amount, or the bonus + deposit.
Sone sites will limit the type of games you can play to clear the playthrough. At most casinos, slots contribute to clearing the bonus at a rate of 1:1 (although there will be exceptions), but most other games (like table games, scratch cards, video poker, etc.) make little or no contribution. This is something that it is important to be aware of if you enjoy playing games other than slots.
Most casino Welcome Bonuses also have a maximum conversion amount, which is the maximum amount of bonus winnings that can be transferred to your real money account and cashed out. It will vary, but you can expect it be in the region of 2x – 4x the maximum bonus that can be claimed.
Casino bonus limits
Casino bonuses also come with some other limits that it’s important to be aware of.
Time limits
Most Welcome Bonuses are valid for around 30 days. In practice, this means you have 30 days after you have made your first deposit and claimed the bonus to meet the wagering requirement. Once the time is up, any unused bonus sum is removed from your account, and can no longer be played with or cashed out.
When you receive bonus spins as part of a sign-up deal or promotion, these will only be available for a limited period of time, usually no more than 7 days.
Game limits
At some sites there will be restrictions as to what games you can play with bonus funds. It will also be the case that some games, such as scratch cards, some table games and live dealer games, make no contribution to clearing the bonus.
In bonuses where you are awarded bonus spins, these will usually be on a nominated game and have a fixed value (likely to be around £0.10 per spin).
Win limits
Usually bonuses that include spins will have a limit as to how much you can win from them. This will in part be determined by the value of each spin, and how many are awarded.
Wager limits
With most bonuses that have a wagering requirement, there will be a maximum bet size. In most instances this will be £5 per spin on slots, but it does vary so make sure you check the T&Cs.
Pros and cons of bonuses
- A good way to explore a new site
- Opportunity to play with the casinos’s money
- Grow your bankroll
- Pick up bonus spins
- Check out new games
- Wagering requirements can be demanding
- Win limits might mean you don’t get all your bonus spins
- Maximum conversion amount can mean you don’t get the full benefit of a bonus
How we find the best bonuses
Whenever a new casino is launched, a member of our review team will be there to check it out. Our experience means that we are experts in reading the fine print of, and so can explain what a casino’s T&Cs actually mean in practice for you — the player.
On your behalf, we weigh up all the different elements of a welcome bonus — like the deposit match on offer, the bonus spins, the playthrough, the conversion amount and more — and summarise these for you so it’s quick and easy for you to assess them. We will also compare the value on offer with other similar sites so that you are able to make an informed decision as to whether a signup deal is going to be right for you or not.
The same goes for other promotions, deals and special offers. We include a whole section on these in each and every casino review we write, so you always have a good sense of what sorts of bonuses you can expect to enjoy when you sign up at any of our recommended UK casinos.
FAQS
What online casino has the highest no deposit bonus UK?
Sadly, no deposit bonuses are not offered as frequently as they once were but check out our table at the top of the page to find the highest no deposit bonus UK casinos have to offer currently.
What is a casino bonus?
In simple terms, a casino bonus is an incentive that a casino offers you, either to entice you to sign up at their site, or to incentivise you to continue playing there.
What is the best casino bonus site?
One of the best things about the online casino world is that it is fast moving and highly competitive, This means that the size and value of bonuses on offer is constantly changing, so we would recommend checking this page regularly to find which is currently the UK’s best casino bonus site.
What is a free spin?
A free spin, or bonus spin, essentially enables you to play a slot game for free. The number of spins you receive as a bonus will be limited, as will the value of each spin, but it will nevertheless usually be a good offer to take advantage of.
How do I get a free spin?
You can generally pick up free spins as part of a sign-up offer, or as part of a promotion for regular players.
Check out our table on this page to see which UK online casinos are currently offering players free spins as part of the welcome bonus.
What is a welcome bonus?
A welcome bonus is an incentive that a casino provides in order to encourage you to sign up to play at their site. it can take different forms, but this sort of bonus will usually give you a match on your first deposit (and perhaps your second and third ones as well). A welcome bonus might also give you bonus spins on selected slot games.
Can I keep the money on my bonus?
In order to be able to withdraw any of the bonus amount you are awarded, you will usually have to fulfil wagering requirements. This is a set amount that you are required to wager (usually on slots, but not exclusively) before you are able to transfer any bonus sum to your real money account. There are some exceptions to this rule where you don’t have to meet a wagering requirement, but they are fairly rare.
Is it easy to withdraw bonus winnings?
Once you have met the wagering requirements, any bonus money will usually be transferred to your real money account; from here, simply follow the site’s instructions for cashing out.
However, it is important to note that some sites have a maximum conversion amount, which is a limit on how much of your bonus account can be transferred to your real money account, effectively limiting how much of the bonus you can withdraw.
Do casinos bonuses expire?
Welcome bonuses are usually valid for around 30 days (although the tine will vary from site to site), which is the amount of time you have to meet the wagering requirements. If you haven’t managed to do so in the time required, any unplayed bonus will be forfeited, and you will not be able to cash out any of the bonus amount.
Author
Mark Angus is a professional writer and editor currently based in Adelaide and London. Mark writes on a variety of sports betting and gaming topics, most notably football and cricket (he has been a season ticket holder at Fulham for far too many years), as well as horse racing, in particular jumps racing. In addition, Mark produces website content, blogs and articles for a variety of publications, organisations and businesses, and has extensive experience in writing for all forms of online, print and broadcast media.
