Best Casino Bonuses for UK Players
Casino bonuses are one of the top reasons to play at iGaming destinations. From sign up offers to free spins to reload bonuses, there’s something exciting for everyone to enjoy. Here, we’ll provide you with details about the best types of casino bonuses in the industry for UK players. We’ll also discuss the top sites with the best bonuses, wagering requirement details, and bonus terms to help you find the most ideal offers and make the most of them.
Top Casinos With The Best Casino Bonuses
- Wager-free welcome offer
- Games from top providers
- Premium live casino
- Great ongoing promotions
- 24/7 customer support
- Over 800 games
- Great collection of live games
- Exclusive offers for existing players
- Fully mobile optimised website
- Straightforward T&Cs
- Big welcome bonus + free spins
- 1,000+ games
- Long-time trusted UK brand
- 24/7 live chat
- Multiple Secure payments
How Do We Rate Casino Bonuses?
When searching for the best UK casino bonuses to recommend to players, there is certain criteria we look for. The following are the factors we examine when we rate casino offers.
- Offer type – We check for all types of bonuses, including those for new players and ongoing promotions. This includes welcome bonuses, free spins, reload bonuses, free play bonuses, loyalty bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, high roller bonuses, and more.
- Size of the bonus – The size of the bonus tells you how much bonus funds you can claim with your deposit. We provide you with the details about what the bonus includes, how much you can get, and how to claim it.
- Wagering requirements – We analyse the wagering/rollover requirements linked to the casino sign up bonuses and will explain what is required to fulfil them to be able to withdraw the bonus and any associated winnings. We look for fairness, including low bonus wagering requirements, no wagering requirements, and mixed wagering.
- Maximum win – Not all wins from bonus funds or free spins are limitless. Many have win caps, which means that you can only win up to a certain amount with your free spins or bonus funds. We’ll let you know if there are maximum win limits and what they are.
- Deposit methods – In addition to letting you know which deposit methods the casino has available, we’ll inform you which methods can be used to claim the bonuses as not all are eligible. For instance, it is common for eWallet payments like Skrill, Neteller and PayPal to be excluded.
- Game restrictions – Most free spins offers are restricted to a specific game or games. Some bonus funds may also be eligible for only certain games or may not be eligible for use in the live casino. Additionally, only certain games may count toward fulfilling wagering requirements. We’ll tell all.
- T&Cs – We have a look at the terms and conditions and bonus policy of all casino bonuses and provide you with the key details so you know how to claim the bonus, how it can be used, when it expires, and what you have to do to be able to withdraw it.
- Trustworthiness – We review and test only trusted online casinos that use strict security protocols, are certified to have fair games, are committed to responsible gambling practices, and that are licenced and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
Casino Bonus Types
There are all different types of casino bonuses that an online casino could make available to new and returning players. These bonuses are an exciting way to enjoy a more gratifying experience. Although there are some differences among these offers as you will see in our descriptions below, keep in mind that every one of them are linked to terms and conditions. With that said, here are the different types of bonuses you may come across.
- Sign up bonuses – A casino sign up bonus is a an exclusive new player offer usually awarded with your very first deposit. It is typically a match deposit bonus, which means the casino matches your deposit up to a certain amount (e.g. 100% Bonus up to £200). For instance, if you deposit £20, you’ll receive a £20 Bonus for a total starting bankroll of £40.
- Cashback bonuses – A cashback bonus is commonly offered to existing loyal players or VIPs. This type of bonus refunds a percentage of your net losses over a specific period of time (e.g weekly, monthly, etc.) and may be tied to certain games (e.g.10% cashback on slots each week).
- No wagering bonuses – This bonus is not linked to wagering requirements. This means that you can withdraw any winnings that result from the bonus without first having to fulfil playthrough requirements. That said, bonus winnings may be capped up to a certain amount (e.g. £500) and often cannot be withdrawn until the bonus has been used in full.
- No-deposit bonuses – For this type of bonus, players do not need to make a deposit first before claiming the bonus funds. It is most commonly awarded to new players after registering, and the bonus is usually a small amount between £10 and £50.
- Free spins no deposit – No deposit is necessary to claim the free spins offered. You receive a certain number of free spins (e.g. 30 spins) at a select spin value (e.g. £0.10 per spin) on a select game(s). This offer is usually reserved for new players and is awarded upon registration. These spins are often wager-free.
- Free spin offers – This offer awards a certain number of free spins at a predetermined value on a game or games either with no deposit or a minimum deposit and bet. For instance, Deposit and bet £10 and get 50 Free Spins (£0.10 spin value each) on Starburst. Free spins can be given as part of a sign up offer, reload offer, loyalty rewards, or even as prizes for tournaments.
- Reload bonuses – A reload bonus is usually in the form of a deposit bonus that is given to existing players. This promotion is used to reward loyalty or to motivate dormant players to return, deposit, and play. Reload bonuses are often accompanied by free spins offers.
- Free play bonuses – A free play bonus is like a larger version of a no deposit bonus sign up offer. Instead of a small amount of money that you can use for up to so many days, a free play bonus gives you a much larger no deposit bankroll of £500 or more that you can use for a very short period of time (e.g. 30 or 60 minutes) before it is gone.
- High roller bonuses – These are some of the highest bonuses awarded by casinos (e.g. 50% up to £1,000 Bonus). They are reserved for players who frequently deposit and play high stakes tables (high rollers) and are also usually premium VIP members. A high roller bonus can often be used on more than just slots, including table games and the live casino.
- Loyalty bonuses – This is a casino bonus that is given to loyal players – those who deposit and play frequently – regardless of whether they are high rollers. It may be part of a loyalty/VIP rewards programme or may be awarded at random.
- Game specific bonuses – This is a bonus that can be played only on certain designated games as indicated by the casino. Typically, they are linked to certain slots from a specific game provider, but sometimes may be exclusive to the live casino. Many casino bonuses – especially free spins – fall into this bonus category.
- Bonus code offers – Bonus code offers are UK casino bonuses that require a special promotion code (e.g. Bonus Code: WELCOME1) in order to claim them. Usually, special welcome offers or exclusive promos require these codes. Depending on the site and the bonus, the codes may need to be entered during registration or upon making a deposit.
Mobile Casino Bonus Offers
Many of today’s UK casino players prefer to enjoy their favourite games on mobile. Since this is the case, most casino sites have made sure to provide their players with a mobile optimised web browser experience and/or a native iOS or Android app. In addition to this, a number of these brands have also created dedicated casino bonuses specific to their mobile players.
Bonuses that are exclusive to mobile users tend to be for sign up bonus offers or free spins. On occasion there are loyalty offers as well. However, regardless of whether online casinos offer bonuses exclusive to mobile players, usually all promotions available via desktop are available and optimised for mobile as well, so you don’t need to worry about missing out on these promotions if you like to claim offers! The best casino bonuses for the UK players who enjoy playing on mobile can be found at LeoVegas, Pokerstars, and 888.
What Are Wagering Requirements?
Wagering requirements – also known as rollover requirements, turnover requirements, and playthrough requirements – are the conditions you must fulfil before you are eligible to withdraw any bonus funds and bonus-related winnings. Common wagering requirements include 20x, 30x, 35x and 40x the bonus amount. This turnover requirement is attached to the bonus funds you receive. Depending on the offer, it may also be attached to any winnings from free spins.
Here’s an example of how bonus wagering requirements work. Let’s say you claim a 100% matched bonus up to £200 with 35x bonus rollover requirements. You deposit £20, which will award you a matched £20 in bonus funds from the casino. This £20 bonus must be rolled over 35x (at least £700 must be wagered) on qualifying games before any of the bonus funds or winnings tied to this bonus can be withdrawn (£20 x 35 = £700).
Qualifying games are any casino games that count toward fulfilling wagering requirements. This may be only select games, or it may be most of the games on the site, with each category or a set of specific games covering a certain percentage of fulfilment. For instance:
- 100% – Slots
- 10% – Roulette games
- 5% – Craps, Blackjack, Video Poker
It is important to know which games apply, because wagering requirements will not be met by playing real money games that do not count toward fulfilment of these requirements.
It should also be noted that you may come across 50x or higher wagering requirements, but these are typically part of mixed wagering systems. This is a system that uses a percentage of your real money balance (the money you deposited) and a percentage of your bonus balance (the bonus funds from the casino) for the bets you make. Any winning results are then split between your real money balance and bonus balance. For any bonus offered at a reputable UKGC license casino that uses mixed wagering or traditional rollover requirement rules, your real money balance can always be withdrawn without first meeting wagering requirements. However, doing so prior to meeting wagering requirements will forfeit any bonus funds you have remaining and any associated bonus winnings.
Why do casinos have wagering requirements? Although it may seem unfair to have to wager so many times to obtain your bonus and bonus winnings, casinos have these requirements to maintain fairness and prevent bonus abuse. Also commonly known as bonus hunting, bonus abuse is a form of fraud. It occurs when an individual signs up to the same casino multiple times using fake identification for the sole purpose of claiming the welcome offer several times and then leaving.
T&Cs Of Casino Bonuses
All casino offers, including the best casino bonuses, have terms and conditions (T&Cs). These are the rules and policies that apply to a promotion. The bonus terms and condition tell you:
- What the bonus includes
- How to claim it (minimum deposit requirement)
- Any bonus wagering requirements
- When the offer expires
- What limitations/restrictions apply
In regard to limitations, this often includes:
- Country and age restrictions. UK players must be 18+
- Excluded payment methods that are not eligible for the promo (often eWallets)
- Which specific games can be played with the bonus funds or free spins
- Any win caps or maximum win amount tied to winnings from bonus funds or free spins (e.g. maximum win limit of £500, any other bonus wins beyond this amount are excluded)
- How many times the bonus can be claimed. Usually, it can be claimed only once per household (same IP address)
It is important that you read the full T&Cs prior to signing up and before claiming any casino bonuses. This helps ensure that you understand exactly what you can get, what is expected of you as a player of the casino, and how you can make the most of the offer. Reading the terms helps you to avoid unwanted surprises and prevents you from being in breach of the casino’s rules, which can lead to losing the bonus, account limitations, or even account closure.
How Can I Claim My Bonus?
Although there may be different rules to claiming a bonus, which is why you should always read the T&Cs first, the following is how most welcome bonus offers can be claimed.
- Sign up and complete the registration steps to create a new account (fill out the form that asks for personal details – name, email, address, mobile number, etc.)
- Depending on the casino, during the registration process you may be asked if you would like to claim the welcome offer of if you have a bonus code. In this case, be sure to check off the necessary box or enter in the code
- Verify your account by providing the necessary documents to prove your identity and address
- Head to the cashier and make your first deposit (be sure to deposit at least the minimum amount required to claim the bonus and any bonus code if applicable)
- Claim the offer. It should be awarded instantly once you’ve met all the eligibility requirements
Bonus Terms
The following are some common terms you may come across when searching for UK casino bonuses.
- Maximum win – Also called a win cap or win limit, it is the maximum amount that you can win and withdraw from bonus winnings or free spins winnings (e.g. £500). Any wins from the bonus that exceed this limit cannot be withdrawn.
- Minimum deposit – This refers to the minimum deposit you must make in order to be eligible to claim the bonus. Most minimum deposits that qualify for a bonus are £10 and £20.
- Game restrictions – Only certain games can be played with the bonus funds you receive. These games may include only select slots, only select live casino games, etc. Restrictions vary among casino offers.
- Betting limit – The minimum or maximum amount that can be bet on a single game. A player must bet the minimum amount to qualify but must also not bet beyond the maximum limit stated by the casino.
- Payout % – Payout percentage, also known as RTP (Return to Player) percentage, is the theoretical expected percentage of wagers that a specific slot or casino game will return to the player over the long term. RTP percentages vary from game to game and usually range from 75% – 98%.
- Cashable bonus / Non-Sticky Bonus – A bonus that can be withdrawn with your winnings and counts towards playthrough requirements. It either has no wagering requirements or low wagering requirements that are placed only on the bonus amount. The deposit and bonus are kept separate and do not “stick” together.
- Non-cashable bonus / Sticky Bonus – This is a bonus that the player cannot withdraw from the casino, hence the term “sticky bonus”. It is often higher than a cashable bonus and is used only to increase a player’s bankroll. Playthrough requirements to withdraw winnings are usually attached to both the deposit and bonus amounts and are often higher.
Conclusion
Casino bonuses are an excellent way to enhance your iGaming experience. They provide an extra thrill by giving your bankroll a boost or by providing you with free spins that you can enjoy on exciting slots for the chance to win real money. Just remember, whether the casino offers you choose to claim is a new player bonus, ongoing promotions, or loyalty perks, always remember to read the full T&Cs to learn how they work. For the best UK casino sign up bonuses, we recommend checking out Paddy Power, MrQ, and Ladbrokes.
FAQ
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Can I Sign Up, Take My Welcome Bonus And Leave?
Technically, yes. As long as you have fulfilled the wagering requirements, you can withdraw your funds and leave. However, repeatedly doing this – signing up at different online casinos (or creating multiple fake accounts at the same casino) – for the purpose of only claiming the welcome offer and leaving (choosing not to play at the casino again) is bonus abuse. This is in breach of casinos’ bonus policies and agreements. Moreover, in the case of creating multiple fake accounts, this is an act of fraud. You should avoid signing up at a casino if you are doing so with the intention to only claim the welcome bonus and leave.
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What Is The Most Popular Casino Bonus Type?
The most popular type of casino bonus is a cashable deposit bonus. Particularly, a welcome deposit bonus for new players is the most preferred as it tends to provide players with the best deal. Other popular bonuses are the no deposit bonus, reload bonus, and high roller bonus.
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What Type Of Casino Bonuses Is The Best For New Players?
The best type of casino bonus for new players are welcome offers that can be claimed with your first deposit. These offers are usually a match deposit bonus offer, a free spins offer, or both. The absolute best casino bonuses for UK players are non-sticky bonuses that require no deposit and/or that have no wagering requirements and/or no win caps.