Welcome bonus deals are perhaps the best part of gambling online. Most UK-facing sites provide some kind of special offer for their newest customers, so players have a huge number of chances to increase their bankrolls over and over again.
Bonus deals come in many forms, but tend to link to the value of the initial deposit. The casino may award a bonus equal to the size of the first payment, or sometimes they even hand out over 100% in bonus funds.
New players can often benefit from other rewards alongside the welcome bonus, with a whole package of treats making the experience as exciting and profitable as possible.
As we previously mentioned. Welcome bonus deals are normally linked to the amount paid in as a first deposit. An example would be where an online casino features a 100% boost to the first payment made by a new customer. If the player opens their account with £10, they qualify for £10 in bonus funds and now have £20 to play with. The balance can be used across most games, although there can often be certain restrictions, but it won’t be available to withdraw right away.
The bonus terms and conditions vary across different online casinos for UK players. Some sites may offer bonus credits of only half the initial payment, but others may have 200% offers, turning the £10 example into an opening balance of £30. We will look at the various terms later on in this guide.
Many sites also reward new players with free spins on selected slot machines. Customers could get the bonus award, but also qualify for a number of free spins on a popular game or series of slots. Whatever is won from these free games gets applied to the bonus balance, although there may be a maximum value to free spin winnings.
Most online casinos make it very easy to claim their new player welcome bonuses. Generally, the bonus is applied to the new account once a first payment is made, which is a system that suits the majority of players. But bonuses are not compulsory, and if you want to start playing for real money, be sure to opt out of the offer right away, usually via the customer support tab.
New players may also have to enter a bonus code, especially if they have come through from a third-party site. These often feature enhanced bonuses and will need to be input when prompted during the sign-up process, when making the initial payment, or when it’s time to claim the actual bonus offer. These special codes inform the casino that you have come from a third-party site and qualify for the special offer.
Once collected, welcome bonus funds are generally available for immediate use and can be used alongside the real money deposit. But there are some important points to note, as terms and conditions usually apply to the bonus money. UK online casino players should be aware of the main terms that apply to bonuses, as seen below:
Almost all online casinos bonuses come with ‘wagering requirements’ and that applies to new player offers as well as reload deals. These refer to the number of times a player will need to wager the value of the bonus before they can withdraw any winnings.
An example would be a £100 welcome bonus with wagering requirements of 35x. Players will need to stake a total of £3,500 on qualifying games before they can take any winnings back out. If they withdraw before this, any bonus funds and winnings will be removed from their account by the casino.
Game contributions
Not all games contribute to wagering requirements equally. For example, you may find that playing a slot machine with £1 contributes a full £1 to the requirements, but £1 wagered on Roulette only contributes £0.10, or perhaps nothing at all. Be sure to read and understand these differences so you don’t waste time playing games that don’t count.
Restricted games
Restricted games are those that you can’t play using bonus funds. These will often include table games such as Blackjack or Roulette, slots with exceptionally high average returns, or those with progressive jackpot. Make sure you know which games are restricted before you play.
You may find that UK online casinos automatically block restricted games, so there’s no danger of playing them and only finding out later that the bonus money wasn’t used. But that’s not always how casinos work, which is why you should be extra careful and be certain that you only play the right games. Heck with the customer support team if you are not sure.
Maximum bet
Generally, the terms will include a maximum bet level that can be used when playing through a welcome bonus deal. It’s the maximum possible bet on a card hand, spin of a Roulette wheel, or slot machine spin, and usually comes in at around £5.00, but can be less. The terms and conditions section of the casino will make this clear.
The reason for this maximum bet is to prevent players abusing the system by manipulating the game to their advantage. It isn’t there as punishment for others but is a necessary feature anyway. You may be able to have this restriction removed if you talk to the customer service department and plead your case, but this isn’t guaranteed to work at all times and you may just have to live with maximum staking restrictions.
When looking at online casino welcome bonuses for UK players, there are generally two main types that you should know about. These are sticky and non-sticky bonuses and while new players may not see much of a difference in the two types, there are some important variations. The non-sticky types are far more friendly towards players.
As the name suggests, a sticky bonus becomes active as soon as you make a first payment and claim the offer. The bonus is added to your casino account balance, and you will need to meet the wagering turnover requirements before you can make any withdrawals at all. That even applies to wins made with your own funds, i.e. won without any contribution from the bonus amount in your balance.
It's far better to get a non-sticky bonus if possible. With these, the bonus amount is treated as a separate entity and if you win anything using your own money, you can withdraw the prize without affecting the bonus balance. An example would be if you have £100 of your own funds, and £100 of bonus money in your account, and you land a big win before you dip into the bonus, you can cash out the win without the need to reach any wagering turnover requirement.
Non-sticky bonuses are much better for players as the wagering only comes into play when you start playing with bonus funds. By this point, you'd be bust if there weren't for the bonus, so it is effectively a second chance you wouldn't have had otherwise.
The most obvious advantage of a welcome bonus is the extra boost to your bankroll. If you effectively double the amount in your opening balance, you can play for longer, with less risk. It also means that you double the chance that you land a big win and can still have plenty left over once you reach the turnover requirements.
They also provide more entertainment, as you can enjoy more of the games. This is particularly true of you open an account with just a small amount, such as £10 or £20, and there’s a big difference when you then have £20 or £40 to play with. You can spin the slot reels twice as many times, play double the number of card hands, or spin a Roulette wheel for twice as long.
Wagering turnover also gives you an extra challenge, as your aim is to cash out winnings at the end. There’s a defined plan in place and hopefully a pleasing sense of achievement once you hit the requirement and still have money to withdraw from your account. It helps you manage your bankroll, as you have a clear goal and won’t push too hard, risking the balance, while providing some extra entertainment at the same time.
While there are many clear benefits to online casino welcome bonus offers, there are a couple of downsides that you should know about. The wagering requirements are the main one, as once you claim the offer you will need to stake a certain amount before you can take out any winnings made with the bonus money.
It can be frustrating if you land a sizeable win but because of wagering requirements, you can’t withdraw it. However, you can sometimes land more wins before you hit the target, so not being able to withdraw was a benefit in hindsight. But sometime, the opposite happens, and you lose all the money before the wagering turnover requirements are met. It’s all part of the risk involved in playing with a bonus.
There may also be time restrictions. While most UK online casinos are quite generous with length of time given to meet the wagering requirements, others may require you to hit the target within a few days or so. Failure means that the bonus and any winnings are forfeit, which is an unwelcome pressure that many players don’t want.
Once the bonus money is in your account, there are several ways to make the most of the extra credits. You can’t really go wrong here, as there is nothing to lose and everything to gain as you play with the casinos’ money and not your own. You may need a little luck to get through the wagering requirements, but there are some strategies that boost your chances of getting through with some winnings at the end.
You’ll need a decent win from the bonus money. Without this, it’s less likely that you will turnover the bonus funds thirty to forty times, which is what many casinos require before you can take out any money. There’s no need to avoid risk when you play with a bonus.
It's a good strategy to play with higher stakes than you usually would. That way, if you land a winning combination, the payout can be correspondingly high. Additionally, it can pay to spin the reels of a high volatility game, as the chances of a big win are greater than with games that have a lower level of variance. Of course, wins can be less frequent in high volatility games.
| Casinos | Bonus | Min. Deposit | WR | Payment Methods | Claim Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 TonyBet Casino | £300 New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org | £10 | 35x (Bonus & Deposit) | New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org | |
 10bet Casino | £250 CASINO10 New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New bettors; Use code CASINO10; Wager bonus 50x to release bonus winnings; Valid 30 days; Stake contribution and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ Full T&C apply | £15 | 50x (Bonus & Deposit) | New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New bettors; Use code CASINO10; Wager bonus 50x to release bonus winnings; Valid 30 days; Stake contribution and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ Full T&C apply | |
 Royal House Casino | £200 New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New Players Only. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50x wagering the bonus. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. the wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. bonus valid 30 Days from receipt. Max conversion: 3 times the bonus amount. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply. Full T&C apply | £20 | 50x (Bonus & Deposit) | New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New Players Only. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50x wagering the bonus. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. the wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. bonus valid 30 Days from receipt. Max conversion: 3 times the bonus amount. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply. Full T&C apply | |
 Sin Spins Casino | £200 New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New Players Only. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50X wagering the bonus. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. The wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 Days from receipt. Max conversion: 3 times the bonus amount. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full T&C apply | £10 | 50x (Bonus & Deposit) | New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New Players Only. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50X wagering the bonus. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. The wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 Days from receipt. Max conversion: 3 times the bonus amount. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full T&C apply | |
 Videoslots Casino | £200 New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New players only. 18+ only. Deposit the minimum amount of £10 to receive bonus. Max bonus is £200. The bonus must be wagered x 35. Full T&C apply | £10 | 35x (Bonus & Deposit) | New players only, T&C apply, 18+, Begambleaware.org New players only. 18+ only. Deposit the minimum amount of £10 to receive bonus. Max bonus is £200. The bonus must be wagered x 35. Full T&C apply |
Casino welcome bonuses come in different shapes and sizes. Depending on the type of a player you are and what you’re looking for, some offers might be better suited for you than the others. These are some of the most common types of bonuses and offers you’ll come across out there.
No Deposit Bonus Free cash is probably the most common type of the welcome bonus. Like the name suggests, it’s an amount of free or extra money you’ll get on top of your deposit. You can use this cash to play your favorite games with and win real money although some restrictions usually apply.
Cashback Bonus If you’d rather have some money back if you happen to have a bad day, look out for casinos offering cashbacks as part of their welcome packages. With these, you’ll get a percentage of your initial losses back. For example, if you deposit $200 and proceed to lose it all, the casino will give you back $20 (10%) or $40 (20%).
Deposit Match Bonus Like the name suggests, match deposit bonuses are casino offers geared towards new players to make them feel welcome. By giving you some extra cash while matching your deposit up to a certain about, the goal is to boost your bankroll, the casino provides you with more opportunities to explore the site and see how you like it but also boosts your odds of winning.
Free Spins If you don’t feel like depositing your money without first trying out the site, you’ll be happy to know that some casinos do offer no deposit-free spins. As the name suggests, you can get these without making a deposit. Simply open a new account, confirm your email address, and you’ll get the spins. The money you win from these is usually treated as bonus cash and will have wagering requirements attached to it.
NWR Bonus Very occasionally, online casinos offer no wagering requirement bonuses. These give players the opportunity to collect the bonus, make a single bet, then withdraw any winnings right away. This one bet will usually be for the full amount of the bonus and subject to low withdrawal values.
Wagering requirements are also known as playthrough requirements. WR are part of the terms and conditions for a no deposit bonus. Wagering requirements are multiplier rules associated with the promotion. It indicates precisely how many times Players must rollover the bonus before they can withdraw any funds.
A $20 no deposit bonus subject to a 30X wagering requirement means that players must wager their bonus amount a total of 30 X ($600 in bets) before cashing out any payouts. Any attempt to withdraw without meeting the playthrough requirement will invalidate the bonus + payouts in the account.
The portion of the offer that is subjected to wagering requirements is usually indicated in the bonus terms and conditions. Wagering requirements can be applied to both deposit match bonuses and free spins bonuses, and in some cases, wagering requirements may also be applied to your deposit amount.
Welcome Bonus vs Ongoing Bonus Comparison – The benefits of new player welcome bonuses at online casinos are well understood. However, it’s also useful to know what ongoing offers are available. Our recommended sites have a series of special promotions, reload bonuses, and freebies that reward their loyal players for as long as they remain customers. Here’s a comparison of new player versus continuing offers.
| Welcome Bonus | Ongoing Bonus |
|---|---|
| Only for New Customers | Extends Gameplay Time |
| Lower Risk to Bankroll | Multiple Types of Bonus Available |
| Limits any Losses | Rewards Customer Loyalty |
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Welcome Bonus
There are hundreds of online casinos out there, almost all of them offering a welcome bonus of some kind. What’s best for you doesn’t necessarily have to be best for the next player. You need to figure out what it that you want from a bonus and look for offers that fit those criteria.
Modern online casinos don’t discriminate between players. You’ll have no problems claiming the welcome offer from your phone or tablet. In fact, some places will even give you an extra bonus for playing from your phone.
There are several different things to look out for. The amount of extra cash you can get is definitely important but you should also make sure the wagering requirements are realistic and that other bonus terms and conditions won’t affect your gaming experience in a bad way.
Of course, if that’s what you’re looking for. Many welcome bonuses come with a nice number of free spins, either for some popular slots or for some fresh releases. Shop around until you find an offer that you’re really happy with.
This really depends on your expectations and the kind of player you are. Welcome bonuses will give you more play time and a chance to try more games. On the other hand, they will restrict you in some ways so some players prefer to do without them.
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