Best Online Casino Bonuses and Promotions

Who doesn’t love getting extra rewards for playing their favourite casino games? Casino bonuses do exactly just that! They are the perfect way to boost your bankroll to win real money with less risk. Nevertheless, there are many different types you can claim. That is where we come in to give you a helping hand. 

Our experts have defined each casino bonus to give you a real insight. What’s more, we’ve produced a handy guide on how to claim bonuses, as well as tips and tricks to benefit from them plus so much more. 

Sounds good? Let’s get started with our guide to casino bonuses for UK players. 

In online casino reviews, bonuses are often the most crucial part. The good news is that there are plenty of promotions you can claim, whether you are a new or existing player. 

To give you further insight, we have broken down the bonuses you can claim for you below. 

When you sign up for an online casino UK, chances are, you’ll be able to claim a welcome bonus. These consist of many different types of bonuses with the most common one being a casino deposit bonus. Just make the minimum deposit and the casino will match the funds. 

If you’re lucky, you may be able to claim a no-deposit bonus or even free spins. To claim the welcome package, the method varies on the online casino. With some, you must input a bonus code, and with others, you’re required to opt in. For the most convenient welcome offer, the bonus credits will be automatically applied to your account when it’s fully verified or you’ve made your first deposit. 

The most common form of promotion is the deposit bonus which you can claim when you open an account. Sometimes it may just be on your first deposit, but it is also possible to claim deposit bonuses on your second, third, fourth or even fifth deposits. 

The majority of the time it’s a 100% matched bonus up to a specified figure e.g. £100. On the other hand, it may be stated a 50% bonus of up to £500. Just remember when you claim the deposit bonus, to understand the wagering requirements and what games you can use the bonus funds on. 

At some of our recommended real money online casinos, you’re able to claim a no deposit bonus. It will be stated whether it’s a welcome promotion or a reload bonus. For the latter, you’ll be notified via email or phone. 

A no-deposit bonus is the holy grail of all bonuses because you can wager real money without the need to make a deposit. However, they can be extremely difficult to find but our experts have done all the hard work for you and recommended some on this page. 

One thing to take into account with no deposit bonuses is that they are only available on specified games and the wagering requirements are also higher than regular bonuses. Also, there may be a maximum win so make sure to understand the Ts & Cs first. 

A cashback bonus is where you can receive a stated percentage back as part of your bet. For example, you may be eligible to claim a weekly cashback bonus of 10% of any losses incurred during the week. However, be sure to check if the cashback bonus is available on the games you enjoy playing.  

One of the more unique casino promotions on offer is the refund bonus. It basically means a refund on your wager if it loses. This can range from 10% - 100% of your bet but it will also be capped at a certain amount. This is an offer for existing players which will reward you for your loyalty to the online casino. 

The free spins promotion is easily one of the most common bonuses found at online casino apps and sites. You’ll find free spins paired with a casino deposit bonus or if you’re lucky you’ll get free spins for just registering for an account and verifying it. 

What’s more, you can claim free spins on popular games such as Starburst, Big Bass Bonanza or Book of Dead. For the free spins bonus, there might not even be wagering requirements or a maximum win. This means whatever you win from the free spins is yours to keep.

On specified online casino games, you’re able to claim a bonus. This is possible on any game, it just has to be stated by the online casino. Often it’s a promotion by the game developer such as Pragmatic Play or NetEnt. The good news is that this particular casino bonus can be used on everything from online slots and parlour games to table games and even live dealer games. 

To claim the offer, you’ll be notified by email or phone. From there, head into your account and read the on-screen instructions. Most of the time, this type of promotion is a deposit bonus but keep an eye out for any no-deposit bonuses too. 

At the vast majority of online casinos UK, you’re automatically enrolled on a loyalty programme. It’s totally free and will reward you every time you play real money casino games. From there, you’ll collect points and progress through different levels. In addition, on every level, you’ll be rewarded with prizes such as free spins or free bets. 

It’s an excellent way to play your favourite games by not wagering or making a deposit. Moreover, with many online casinos, there are loyalty games within like Drop & Wins titles made by Pragmatic Play. Just collect points and climb the leaderboard and by the end of the month, you have a chance of winning a share of £2m. 

One of the best casino bonuses offered at online casinos is the refer a friend promotion. How it works is simple, you’ll be given a unique code which you can easily find in your casino account section. From there, copy the code and send it to your friends and family, and if they sign up for an account you’ll be rewarded. 

The rewards range from cash to free spins, so you can build your bankroll at no additional cost. Often, when your friend signs up they are required to deposit and wager a minimum amount. Once that is done, you’ll get the refer-a-friend reward. 

High rollers or VIP players are rewarded with casino bonuses not available to regular players. A high roller is an individual who places big bets, and as such has a dedicated account manager to look after their needs. As a high roller, you’ll get free bets, free spins from the online casino and even gifts on your birthday and Christmas time. 

A common online casino bonus is called reload. It means on your second, third, fourth or even fifth deposit you’ll be eligible for a matched bonus. There is a minimum amount to qualify (around £10) and the bonus amount will be specified (normally 50 - 100%) of your deposit. 

If you’re lucky, the online casino will add free spins on top of the deal. We love reload bonuses because it shows the platform rewards existing players as well as new ones. 

As live casino games have become increasingly popular in recent years, online casinos have started to offer live casino bonuses. The good news is that you can use the credits on all games from roulette and blackjack to baccarat and game shows. Moreover, specific game providers such as Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play may offer the promotion. 

Nevertheless, most of the time, a live casino promotion is not as common as the others we have listed. Yet, you can take advantage of them. In addition, the amount you can claim is often a lot lower than that of other bonuses such as a welcome casino bonus. 

Receiving a bonus with a deposit, whether it’s the first deposit or the tenth, has become pretty standard in the online casino industry.

Generally speaking, the Welcome Package Bonus is the most significant bonus offer, often matching your first deposit with bonus money. For example, if you make a £100 deposit with a 100% bonus offer; you’ll then receive an additional £100 as your bonus.

Now you have £200 with which to bet, but you won’t be able to withdraw the money until you fulfill the wagering requirement. This will be discussed in greater detail down below.

It is essential to check out the current bonus offers to make sure you get the best possible deal. For example, sometimes there is an extra bonus for punters depositing on a specific day of the week or when playing a particular game.

Pre-Wager Bonuses

There are two types of Pre-Wager bonuses:

• No-Deposit.
• Reload.

In both cases, the money is credited to the account instantly but it will have to fulfil the wagering requirements before it can be moved over to a real money balance.

Until the wagering requirements have been met, the bonus money and any money that is won while betting with it, will be credited to a bonus account. In general, only after the correct amount of betting has been done will the funds be transferred to the real money balance and be available for real money betting or withdrawal.

If the Pre-Wager bonus came in the form of a non-redeemable bonus, only the winnings will become available while the actual bonus itself will remain in the bonus account.

After-Wager Bonuses

An after-wager bonus (also known as a post-wager bonus) avoids the punter having to worry about meeting wagering requirements because it will only be transferred into the account after the conditions have been met.

The biggest advantage here is that once the bonus is transferred into your account, it is no longer treated as bonus money and can be withdrawn, or used how you see fit.

Punters can have different types of bonuses in their account at the same time, but only one of them will be active at a time. The punter doesn’t have the option of how and when to use each bonus, instead they are activated in the order with which they were received. The post-wager bonus is the exception to this rule, and can’t be activated while there are pre-wager bonuses in play.

Casino bonus codes are sometimes used by online casino sites to offer new bonuses and promotions to their players. (Pro-tip – Make sure to opt-in to receiving promotional messages, so as not to miss out on special codes).

These codes can unlock special bonuses that range from spins, additional bonus money, no deposit bonuses, and more. These codes are only available for a limited time, and are usually built around a promotion or upcoming holiday so if you see one, make sure to claim it right away.

Cash and Cashback bonuses are a decent insurance plan for some punters. For those who qualify, the player will get a refund back for a percentage of their net losses. Check the Terms and Conditions for updated information as to when the Cashback bonus takes place, and how much a player would have to lose to qualify.

When it comes as a cash bonus, this is a straight cash bonus, with no wager requirements.

Golden Chips are treated almost like real chips (for table and card games), meaning they can be mixed and matched to increase the bet size; however, only one Golden Chip may be used per bet. Punters may use a combination of a Golden Chip and a regular chip, but any money won during that bet will be considered as a bonus win. Meaning, it won’t be redeemable until the betting requirements have been met.

Slot Machines

Online slot games are among the most popular casino games in the UK. One of the reasons for this is all the in-game bonus features that they come with.

Usually, it takes a combination of specific symbols to land on the reels on a single spin, and you can win additional spins or other cash bonuses.

Every game has a unique set of rules when it comes to the number of bonus rounds, or how that number is determined. Be sure to check out the game's paytable before playing for a complete set of rules.

For more information on the online slot game options, features, or to play for real money, visit our dedicated Slots page.

Bonus Spins

There are a variety of ways to get bonus spins. As mentioned above, you can win them during regular gameplay in many online slot games. Another way to get awarded with spins is as a part of the Welcome Package Bonuses or Reload Bonuses. These spins are typically restricted to specific games and have wagering requirements that need to be met to be redeemed.

For a complete breakdown of this great type of bonus, check out the bonus spins page.

Not all bonuses are created equal. To make sure that you claim the best bonus, pay attention to the following four main factors to help determine its quality:

• Bonus Amount.
• Game Context.
• Redeemable or Non-Redeemable.
• Wagering Requirements.

Amount

Understand the total value of the bonus and what it includes. It is important to read the Terms and Conditions, and understand the type of bonus and whether or not a deposit is required.

Game Context

Some bonuses are restricted to a specific game or games, makes sure to read the Terms and Conditions so as not to claim a bonus for a game that you won’t play.

Redeemable or Non-Redeemable

• Redeemable Bonus: Welcome Package Bonuses are usually an excellent example of a redeemable bonus. The money is added into the player’s bonus account and can be used when wagering on casino games. However, this money can only be redeemed once the wagering requirements are fulfilled. Then the money is added to the player's overall account balance.
• Non-Redeemable Bonus: When you play casino games with a non-redeemable bonus, you will only be able to withdraw money that you won playing the casino games. However, the bonus money must remain in your account.

Wagering requirements, also known as playthrough and rollover, require a punter to use the bonus money a certain amount of times before the money is available for withdrawal. As an example, if you receive a £30 Welcome Package Bonus with a 15x wagering requirement, it means that you have to make £450 worth of bets.

There are three main types of wagering requirements at most online casinos:

• Multipliers of the deposit.
• Multipliers of the bonus.
• Multipliers of the sum of the deposit and bonus.

Every bonus at your recommended casinos comes with a different set of wagering requirements, so it is of the utmost importance that you carefully read the Terms and Conditions for each bonus.

Wager Percent Contribution

The games that you play and the bets that you lay will also have a different impact on the wagering requirements. Using the example above, if you have a £450 playthrough a £1 bet on a slot game will often be valued at £1. But, a bet at the roulette table is worth much less. Additionally, if you make a high percentage roulette bet or a bet that covers most of the table, that money won’t be counted towards your wager requirements. Game wager percent contribution can be found here.

Casinos are obligated to display the rules and terms of each bonus on their websites, and it is important to read them if there are any restrictions or limitations. This way,  you can decide if to accept or not the bonus before start playing. 

Therefore, we have broken down all the technicalities into bitesize portions and have clearly explained each one for you below.

Time Limits 

Casino bonuses have time limits, that’s why is important to check the details so you don’t miss out on the bonus. Sometimes there are bonuses you’re only able to claim if the deposit is made within a certain period of time e.g. within 7 days. Depending on the online casino, you’ll be reminded to use the bonus via email or phone. However, do not rely on this, as with others you will not get a reminder. Thus, it’s beneficial to make a reminder on your smartphone or computer.

Wagering Requirements

Whenever you claim a casino bonus, the majority of the time it will be subject to wagering requirements. This means how many times you must wager the bonus credits before you can make a real money withdrawal. For example, if the wagering requirements are 35x and you deposit £10, you must make £350s worth of bets before you can cash out. Now, you can win or lose on these wagers it’s just that the 35x number must be hit first. 

Game Limits

Before you claim any casino com bonus, make sure to read the game contributions first. It will be in the terms and conditions and state which games qualify for the bonus credits. Most of the time, online slots and progressive jackpots qualify but table games and live dealer titles may only contribute 10 - 20% of the bonus funds. 

Furthermore, if you claim a free spins promotion, you can only use these on specified online slot games. This will also be in the terms and conditions or clearly stated in the featured image when you claim the offer. Once again, free spins may only be used on specified game developers such as NetEnt or Red Tiger Gaming. 

Win Limits  

Besides time and game limits, something else you need to take into account is the win limits. The majority of the time, on any free spins where you do not need to make a deposit, will be subject to a maximum win. 

However, on other casino bonuses such as no deposit or even welcome bonuses, there might be a max win from the bonus credits. Therefore, it’s imperative that you read the terms and conditions before claiming any deal so you understand the maximum win and the wagering requirements.

The primary reason to claim a welcome bonus is to boost your bankroll or win real money without making a deposit. Nevertheless, as we have previously mentioned, casino bonuses have many strings attached. 

Thus, it’s crucial that you read the terms and conditions of any online casino bonus before you claim. You must understand the wagering requirements and the games you can use the bonus funds on. 

It’s fair to say if you prefer playing online slots, more bonuses are available to you. This is because with most majority of bonuses, you’ll be able to use the funds on slot games and you’ll even get free spins to be used on specified titles. 

Nonetheless, it depends on which game you enjoy playing. For example, if you love roulette, make sure to claim any welcome bonuses where you can use the bonus credits on your favourite titles. In addition, keep an eye out for the ongoing promotions the casino offers as some will focus on specific games. 

Moreover, read our online casino reviews on this page to see the gaming contributions and the quality of the promotions available to UK players. 

A welcome bonus is a great reason to open an online casino account. It can be either a no-deposit bonus, but most of the time it’s a matched bonus where you’re required to make a deposit and the casino will match it. What’s more, you can also get free spins in addition to the bonus or just just as a welcome offer. 

To give you an idea of how to claim a welcome bonus, our experts have made a handy step-by-step guide for you. 

• Step 1: Choose your preferred online casino on our page.
• Step 2: Read about the welcome bonus 
• Step 3: Read the terms and conditions of the offer
• Step 4: Understand how to claim the offer e.g. a bonus code, automatically applied 
• Step 5: Open an account and the bonus of your choice 

How to claim other bonuses 

When you claim a bonus casino offer, there are many ways on how it will be applied. The most common way is that it’s automatically applied when you sign up for an account and make a deposit. However, you may be required to opt-in for the bonus when you go to make a deposit or while you’re registering for an account. In addition, with some bonuses, you must input a bonus code when you go to claim the offer. 

Casino welcome bonus V no deposit bonus

As we have touched upon, there are plenty of bonuses you can claim when you open an account, However, we are going to briefly cover the main two types; matched deposit offers and no deposit bonuses. 

Without a doubt, one of the best casino welcome offers is the no-deposit bonus. This is because you are not required to spend any money and you have a chance to win something out of nothing. 

This can either be a free bet or free spins on selected slots. Nevertheless, the downside to these offers is that there are plenty of terms and conditions to the deal. For no deposit bonuses expect the wagering requirements to be much higher and the maximum amount you can win to be capped. 

On the other hand, the more common casino welcome bonus is the matched bonus. Simply make the minimum deposit and the funds will be matched by the online casino. With a matched bonus the wagering requirements will be standard and sometimes there will not be a maximum amount you can win. 

What’s more, you will also be able to use the bonus credits on a wide range of games. Nevertheless, the game contributions for table games and live dealer titles will be much lower than online slots or parlour games.

New customer bonuses vs. existing customers 

We’ve touched upon the casino bonuses brand-new players can claim, but what is on offer for existing players? The good news is that there is plenty. First, you can claim reload bonuses, which are the same as the welcome offer but applicable on your second, third, fourth and even fifth deposits. 

Furthermore, existing players can take advantage of the rewards programme, where you can claim free bets and free spins all year round. In addition, always check your email for any ongoing promotions, as you can take advantage of cashback and a live casino bonus. 

Lastly, with some online casinos, you can refer your friends and you’ll get rewards such as cash or free spins. All you need to do is send your unique code to your friends and if they sign up and wager a certain amount you’ll be rewarded. 

There are also times when specified payment methods are preferred or disqualified for a casino bonus. For example, Pay by Phone casinos could give you an exclusive bonus. On the other hand, with many welcome bonuses, e-wallets are disqualified from the deal.