First Deposit Bonus Uk
Deposit between £10-£19.99 and you will get 100 Bonus Spins. Deposit £20-£49.99 and you will get 200 Bonus Spins. Bonus Spins 300 Deposit Spins 500 claim 800 spins 18+ T&C Apply 18+, new UK players only, be GambleAware. Max bonus bet £5, Min deposit £20, 1st deposit: get 100 bonus spins, 2nd Deposit: get 75 bonus spins, 3rd deposit: get 125 bonus spins, 4th deposit: get 50 bonus spins, 5th deposit: get 150 bonus spins. Usually, the first deposit bonus is the best bonus that casinos offer so you want to get the maximum benefit from it. If you are for example planning to deposit £50, choose a casino that offers the bonus up to £50 in order to get the maximum bonus. Upon signing up on PlayUK and making your first deposit, you will be welcomed by a 200% casino bonus UK that can increase up to £100 plus 25 Free Spins! But wait there’s more because you can still get another 50% casino bonus up to £250 plus 100 Free Spins by playing Wolf Gold Spins Slot on your 2nd deposit.
Ad DisclosureBojoko helps you discover the best casino bonuses. Casino bonuses let you explore games with more money to bet. There are many different types of bonuses available with different terms and conditions, so choose carefully.
On this page, we explain all the perks and benefits, and the terms and conditions as well for players old and new.
Best online casino bonuses in the UK
When compiling and updating the list below, our casino experts pay attention to many factors: wagering requirements, bonus percentage, bonus value and the fine print of the T&Cs. The result is a list of the best UK online casino bonuses found on Bojoko.
Not every player has the same taste in bonuses. Try the handy quick filters for different bonus types to find exactly what you're looking for. Find the best UK casino bonuses listed on Bojoko!
On this page
There's a vast number of online casinos operating in the UK and most of them offer bonuses. At first glance, many of these may seem appealing. However, scratching the surface often reveals terms that are less than friendly to the player.
On Bojoko, we ask the casinos to provide tons of details about their bonuses. Our casino listings display all of this info in a clear format. Use our selection tool to filter and sort casinos based on their bonus details.
In addition, you can read reviews and ratings from genuine players and experienced casino testers. As a member, you can rate casinos and write reviews as well.
Not a member yet? Join Bojoko for free!On this page, you can learn everything there is to know about casino bonuses.
What are casino bonuses?
Casino bonuses are a way for online casinos to attract new players, reward loyal customers and reactivate existing clientele. When you take a bonus, you can play longer and get a better idea of what the casino has to offer.
Bonuses come in many forms. The most common are:
- Free spins - free rounds in pre-selected slots
- Bonus funds - casino money that needs to be used in the games
- Cash - money that has no strings attached and can be withdrawn
It's also important to understand the difference between deposit and no deposit bonuses:
- No deposit bonus lets you try the casino without making a deposit and risking any of your own money.
- Deposit bonus gives you bonus money and/or free spins, but you need to make a deposit to claim it.
We cover these in more detail below.
Different bonus types
This section gives you an overview of the most common bonus types. Check out the links to find more detailed information on dedicated pages.
No deposit bonuses
Many casinos hand out no deposit casino bonuses to new players when they first create an account. You don't need to make a deposit to claim this bonus - just register and verify your account details.
No deposit bonuses usually include one or more of the following:
- Free spins
- Bonus money or free chips
- Bingo tickets
- A spin of the casino wheel with random rewards
How to claim a no deposit bonus?
- Choose a casino offering a no deposit bonus
- Create and verify your account
- Claim the new player sign-up bonus
- Bonuses usually come in bonus funds, tied to wagering requirements
- Complete the wagering by playing the games
- When the wagering is done, the remaining bonus funds are added to your real money balance
- Before you can withdraw, you'll need to confirm a banking method by making a deposit
Check out our comprehensive info package about different No deposit bonuses.
Free spins
Free spins are free slot rounds to try out a specific game and the casino. Although they're a popular no deposit bonus type, some spin packages can only be unlocked with a deposit.
Pay attention to bet sizes, minimum deposits and the wagering requirements to determine how good the free spin deal is.
You can find more info on our Free spins page.
Deposit bonuses
Deposit match bonuses give you a certain percentage of your deposit sum as bonus money. If you win with your original deposit, you won't need the casino bonus. If your deposit runs out, the bonus is there as a safety net.
Deposit bonuses differ in the following ways:
- Bonus sums
- Bonus percentages
- Free spins and other goodies thrown on top
- Wagering requirements
- Other terms and conditions
The best online casino welcome bonus packages feature decent size bonuses with fair terms. On our Deposit bonuses page, we explain this in more detail. You can also return to our bonus list and apply the Best deposit bonuses quick filter.
How does a deposit bonus work?
- Choose a casino with a deposit bonus
- Create and verify your account
- Choose your bonus and make a qualifying deposit
- The bonus funds are credited to your account, separate from your deposit
- You first play with your real money balance. The bonus is there as a second chance if your deposit runs out
- Play the games with bonus funds to complete the wagering requirements.
- After the wagering is done, the remaining bonus funds become real money which you can withdraw
Best casino bonus criteria
'The best casino bonus' doesn't mean the same thing for every player. That's why it's hard to name a single bonus that's the top choice for everyone in every situation.
However, there are some factors that make one bonus more appealing than the other. The best online casino bonus is a combination of:
- Decent no deposit bonus to test the casino
- Deposit match bonus up to hundreds of pounds
- High bonus percentage
- Low wagering requirements or no wagering at all
- Low minimum deposit that qualifies for the bonus
Use our bonus tool to find the top casino bonuses in each category.
Top 5 casino bonuses
Here's a hand-picked bonus list compiled by Bojoko's experts. All of these casinos offer a top online casino bonus that ticks most boxes listed above:
Click on the links to see detailed info about the bonus. You can also read reviews from our community members and casino testers.
Best bonuses for beginners
If you're only taking your first steps in the world of online gambling, different kinds of bonuses may seem confusing. Pick the wrong bonus and you risk running foul of the terms and conditions.
That's why beginners should do two things:
- Choose bonuses that are easy to understand
- Manage your expectations
No deposit bonuses and free spins offer a soft landing. They're perfect for trying out the casino without risking your own money. However, think of these bonuses purely as entertainment. Although you have a theoretical chance to win real money, don't expect to break the bank with freebies.
When you're good and comfortable with the casino, you can move onto deposit bonuses. There, your preferences should be:
Clicking the links will take you to dedicated pages that explain these bonus types in detail.
Bonuses that are unlocked with a small deposit are made for beginners. You can test the casino with real money and the terms are much easier than in no deposit bonuses.
Wagering requirements should also be your priority. The lower the rollover, the less you have to bet to turn the bonus funds into cash.
Best bonuses for experienced players and high rollers
Bonus preferences vary between players. With experience, you'll learn what's important to you and you can factor more information into your decision making.
You may already have your favourite casino to play in. That casino wants to keep you as a customer and that's why the best ones offer continuous perks to their existing players:
- Reload bonuses. The deposit match bonuses given after you've used your new player welcome offer
- Daily, weekly and monthly deals. Check out the casino's ongoing promotions and grab some free spins or bonus money on your next deposit
- Cashback. A percentage of your net losses may not offer a huge bonus, but it usually comes with no strings attached
- Casino competitions. Climb the leaderboards and win your share of the reward pool
- Loyalty points. Get points by playing the games and use them to buy bonuses and perks
- VIP programs. Become a VIP you unlock exclusive deals and benefits
- Highroller bonuses. When you're ready to put down some serious money, you can expect better bonus terms too
In our bonus selection tool, you'll find quick filters for most of these bonus types. Here are other pages you may want to check out:
- Casino offers page. Use filters to find cashbacks, competitions and daily deals
- Loyalty & VIP guide. Learn how to become a VIP and pick the loyalty programs with the best value
- Deposit bonuses page. Find the best deals for new depositing players
How to find the best casino bonuses
1. Find the best bonuses from our casino list
We have a massive list of the best casino bonuses here on Bojoko. You can use ready-made filters or add your own to find the perfect casino for you.
2. Read the user and expert reviews
After choosing a casino with the best bonus, you can read what our experts and other users have said about it. Their first-hand experience will give you a clear idea of what it is like to play there.
3. Go to the casino
Every review page has a green ‘PLAY HERE' button that will take you straight to the casino. It will also activate any special bonus offers we might have for that particular casino.
4. Register and claim your bonus
When you get to the casino, register an account by filling out the required details. Deposit and claim your bonus. Remember to check if the bonus requires a bonus code.
Bonus terms and conditions
All casino bonuses come with some strings attached. The idea is to guide players to use the bonus on casino games and limit the risk to the casinos.
Every casino and every bonus type has its own specific terms. Some terms are very strict, while others are basically irrelevant to most players. It is always good to read the terms, so you know what you are agreeing to and how you should be playing.
Here's a quick overview of the terms and conditions you may encounter:
- Wagering requirements: How much you need to be before you can withdraw your bonus
- Minimum deposit: The smallest deposit sum that qualifies for a bonus
- Time limits: The time you have to claim the bonus and complete the wagering
- Max. bet: The largest bet per round allowed when wagering your bonus
- Restricted games: Not every game helps you complete the wagering
- Winning caps: The maximum amount you can withdraw even if you won more
- Minimum withdrawals: Casinos can put limits on how little you can withdraw
- Excluded banking methods: Deposits made with certain payment methods don't qualify for the bonus.
- Forbidden strategies and irregular play: If you abuse game mechanics, your bonus will be removed
This may sound confusing and intimidating. However, we want you to be a well-informed player who's ready for everything. Below you can find all of the common terms and restrictions broken down and explained thoroughly.
Wagering requirement
Wagering requirements are the most common condition you see. It simply means the amount of money you need to bet before the bonus funds can be withdrawn. It is normally shown as a multiplier that is based on either your deposit, bonus or both.
EXAMPLE: If a bonus has a wagering requirement of 45x (D+B):
- 45 = number of times you have to bet
- (D+B) = the sum of your deposit and bonus money you got
Wagering requirements can refer to either the bonus amount only, the deposit amount only, or both the deposit and bonus amount together. Bojoko uses the following format to help you easily compare bonus wagering requirements in our casino reviews and sorting tools:
- 45x (B) = bet your bonus amount 45 times
- 45x (D) = bet your deposit amount 45 times
- 45x (D+B) = bet the total sum of your deposit and bonus 45 times
Wagering requirements usually range from 20 to 50 times the original bonus amount, but this figure varies from one casino to the other and can also depend on the bonus type or percentage. Anything above 35x (B) is considered high.
The wagering for Free Spins is usually checked from the amount you win from said spins.
We explore this topic more closely and list relevant casinos on the Low wagering bonuses and No wagering bonuses page.
Minimum deposit
Minimum deposit is pretty self-explanitory. It just means the smallest deposit you can make to get the bonus.
Usually you can get the basic match bonus with a deposit of 20 pounds. The casino might have a minimum deposit of £10, but that alone won't be enough to get the deposit bonus.
Minimum deposit is something that plays a major role in high-roller bonuses. These deposit bonuses are often 300%, 400% or even 500% and can go as high as thousands of pounds. The catch is that you need to deposit a large sum to get them. A high-roller bonus with a minimum deposit of £500 is nothing odd.
Time limits
Time limit is one of the least important terms simply because you are always given enough time. This term just means that you have a set amount of time to complete your wagering or the bonus will be removed.
A common time limit for a deposit bonus is 7 or 14 days. This is plenty of time for even the largest bonus.
One thing to note is that some free spin offers have very short time limits. For example, if a casino gives you 10 free spins a day, then you will have 24 hours to play those spins.
Time limit is basically there just so people don't forget about their bonuses. Casinos don't want players coming back a year later and asking about their unspent bonus funds.
Max Bet
Max bet simply means the maximum wager you can place with a single round while using bonus funds. Most common bet limit is £5.
This limit does include every single boost and extra feature you could add on to your bet. If the game you play has any of these alternate ways to spend money, just make sure none of it is worth more than the maximum bet limit.
If you ever make a mistake and play with a higher bet than you are allowed, immediately contact the customer support. If you are open about your mistake, they might let it slide.
Restricted games
This is a big one. When you get a bonus, its terms will have a list of games that you can't play and some games that aren't worth playing. Make sure you know them, because this is the most common reasons why people lose their bonuses.
When casinos talk about restricted games, they have a few categories. Some games fulfil your wagering requirement less than 100%, making them less desirable. Some on the other hand are simply forbidden and playing them with bonus funds is a breach of terms.
Casinos have three mechanisms to restrict the games:
- Banned - Playing these games breaches the T&Cs and voids the bonus
- Non-contributing - You can play these games, but it doesn't count as wagering
- Partially contributing - The bets placed in these games only count as part of their value
EXAMPLE: Playing live dealer blackjack contributes 10% towards wagering. Every £10 bet counts as £1 in wagering.
Restricted games are most often those which have an extremely high RTP (return to player). If the game is likely to give you back what you put in, the casino doesn't want you playing it.
Winning caps
Winning cap is not a common term, but it shows up especially when a casino has a generous free spin offer. Winning cap is the maximum amount you can withdraw from that bonus regardless of how much you won.
Winning cap is one of the least liked bonus terms among the players. It removes the possibility of you winning big.
Some rare casinos will also cut your free spins short if you have already reached the cap. For example, if you are awarded 100 spins with a £20 cap, and you win those 20 pounds on your first ten spins. Then those last 90 spins will be removed and you just get to keep the £20.
Minimum withdrawals
As with deposits, also handling withdrawals costs the casinos money. Besides, they'd rather see you playing that money instead of taking it home just yet. That's why casinos have a minimum withdrawal limit.
As a UK player, you have the right to withdraw your real money balance at any time. However, if your withdrawal is below the minimum threshold, the casino can charge additional handling fees. These can be several pounds, which makes the fees swallow up a large portion of your withdrawal.
In the past, players were able to reverse a withdrawal and to essentially play with any money they had previously decided to withdraw. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK Gambling Commission prohibited reverse withdrawals. This measure aims to prevent players from betting away their winnings after they've requested a withdrawal.
Excluded banking methods
It is very common that casinos restrict some banking methods from deposit bonuses. eWallets like Neteller and Skrill are often listed as methods that can't be used to collect bonuses. Also PaysafeCard is occasionally on the exclusion list.
There are a couple of reasons behind these restrictions. One is that eWallets offer the players a slight anonymity, which is against the KYC regulations. Your personal bank account or debit card is easier to connect to you and to know that it is really you using it.
eWallets have been often connected to bonus abuse. Players have used them to find loopholes in the terms and increase their chances of profiting from the bonuses.
Forbidden strategies and irregular play
Casinos often outline betting strategies that are explicitly forbidden in the bonus terms and conditions. Here are the most common ones, and even though not every casino bans them, you should be aware that using any of these strategies can be interpreted as foul play by casinos at their own discretion:
- Low-risk bets such as simultaneously betting on both red and black slots in roulette are forbidden with bonus money.
- You're not allowed to use your bonus balance just to progress through levels in slots like Castle Builders, Devil's Delight and Robin Hood.
- Using low-contribution games (e.g. table games) to grow your bonus balance and then switching to high contribution games to meet the wagering requirements is usually also forbidden.
With all these rules and restrictions, you might wonder if the casinos actually enforce them. Online casinos can and will fall back on the option of a strict interpretation of their T&Cs: if you break the rules even slightly, you lose your bonus money, deposit money and any winnings. It's a scenario you definitely want to avoid!
That said, casinos might overlook minor infractions clearly made in error. You might get away with a single larger bet than the specified maximum if you immediately tell the customer support about it. Also, accidentally playing a few rounds of a wrong game might not result in you losing everything. However, casinos won't let anybody gain an advantage from their kindness and will at least deduct the ill-gotten gains from your winnings.
Interview: Why do online casinos have bonuses?
It may sound counterproductive for casinos to offer bonuses that increase the players' chance of winning. So, why do they do it? We asked James Booth, the Acquisition Operations Manager of Lindar Media, the company behind MrQ Bingo & Slots.
Why do casinos offer bonuses?
JB: 'The casino landscape is an incredibly competitive industry and welcome bonuses are used to give customers the opportunity to trial a casino with less risk and more funds (usually) to try the site before they commit to it.
Once the player is a registered customer of a casino, further bonuses are then used to promote new games, competitions and general activity on the site, again to reduce the risk of the player but also to help the casino differentiate itself from its competitors.'
Is it expensive for casinos to offer bonuses?
JB: 'With the increase in taxation in regulated markets, particularly the UK, the cost of giving bonuses is a huge liability for a casino. The UK's 'Point of Consumption' (POC) tax means that the casino must pay tax on all wagers even if they are free for the customer, so a 100% bonus can effectively double the tax the casino must pay.
So the casino must weigh up the benefits and liabilities and tread a very fine line to remain profitable. All of that is on the assumption that the player loses: if they win of course the cost to the casino is greater still!'
What kind of results do you expect when creating an exclusive offer for an affiliate like Bojoko?
JB: 'Exclusive offers allow our affiliates to differentiate from their competitors so we often see different results whether that be positive or negative based on the offer itself. Giving a range of offers has the impact of broadening our appeal as a player may see an offer they prefer on one site over another. Overall we get more volume but the ROI will vary significantly.'
How do you define bonus abuse?
JB: 'Bonus abuse for us is a spectrum and not something we can define in a few words. All bonuses are designed to give genuine players an improved chance to test the site and ultimately win, however, we always look for individuals or groups of players who are attempting to take advantage of the site or our genuine players in whichever way, shape or form that may take.
As a UK GC regulated company, we have a responsibility to protect our customers, whether that be in terms of responsible gaming or abuse from third parties.'
How do you plan campaigns that aren't easy to abuse?
JB: 'This comes with experience. Every bonus is open to abuse no matter how thought through it is, so we continuously monitor current bonuses and use learnings from previous bonuses to help guide this process.'
How big a percentage of players manages to complete the wagering on the 1st deposit bonus? What about the no deposit bonus?
JB: 'The wonderful thing about MrQ is that 100% of our players meet our wagering requirements and they all get their winnings in cash! The same applies for our no-deposit bonus, whereby customers get spins for verifying their mobile number. Everything won by a player at MrQ.com is paid as cash and free to withdraw.'
Read what James Booth says about free spins.
Are bonuses worth taking?
Yes and no.
Bonuses are a paradox. If you play at the casino for the socially accepted reason (i.e. having fun), then all bonuses do the trick. They let you play for longer and enjoy the games.
As a smart player, you want to get some kind of monetary benefit from the bonuses, not just use them for fun. In that case, you have to choose your bonuses carefully.
However, gambling is a hobby where you should expect to lose money instead of winning more. That's why you shouldn't be at the casino to make money. Everything you put on the table usually ends up in the casino's pocket.
The bottom line is this: some bonuses offer you a better chance to win compared to not taking a bonus at all. However, it still doesn't make gambling a hobby with a positive expected value. Manage your expectations and focus on having fun.
FAQ
You want to convert your casino bonus balance into withdrawable cash. This happens by meeting the wagering requirements. Here's how wagering requirements work:
- The wagering requirement may apply to the bonus sum (B), your original deposit (D) or both (D+B).
- Bonus sum x wagering requirement multiplier = total amount to wager.
- Wagering starts when your deposit amount runs out.
- Only bets made with bonus money count as wagering.
- Completing the wagering turns your remaining bonus balance into withdrawable cash.
- Wagering requirements over 35x (B) can be hard to meet.
In addition, we have listed all low wagering bonuses and no wagering bonuses.
Many UK-licensed online casinos use bonus codes to unlock casino bonuses to players. The rewards earned vary from one site to another, but the best online casino bonus codes unlock:
Not all sites require you to enter a casino promotional code to get your bonus. When a new UK casino reviewed on Bojoko features a first deposit or no deposit bonus code, this info is displayed on the listing page. In addition, you can see the bonus codes on our curated casino lists.
- An online casino bonus code is a case-sensitive combination of letters and numbers.
- Use the casino bonus code to redeem a special offer when prompted on the casino website.
- You'll normally be requested to input the code when you create an account or make your first deposit.
- In some casinos, you may need to contact customer support to redeem your code, although this has now become rare.
On Bojoko, you can find the bonus code in the casino reviews.
Many casinos want to save their most generous bonus offers to trusted partners like Bojoko. With a special bonus code or a unique link, you'll get exclusive casino bonus offers that can't be found anywhere else.
Take a look at our bonus list, apply the Exclusive bonuses quick filter and bag some secret goodies.
Cashback bonuses give you back a percentage of your net losses.
EXAMPLE: A casino offers a 5% cashback bonus. You play through your initial deposit of £100 without winning anything. The casino gives you £5 (5% of £100) as a cashback bonus.
Cashback bonus T&Cs may include time limits, wagering requirements and maximum bonus caps. However, cashbacks are usually given as wager-free cash.
You can find cashback bonuses on our Casino offers page.
Casino VIP programs often celebrate their players' membership anniversaries and birthdays. If your big day is coming up, you may be entitled to some free spins or other rewards.
You'll find such casinos in our guide to casino VIP and loyalty programs.
Some established casinos actively promote their sites on different social media platforms. By following your favourite casinos' social media accounts, you might be able to grab some extra goodies.
Did you find this page helpful?
Ratings: 19 - Average: 4.4/5From this casino deposit bonus guide, you can pick out the best first deposit bonus casino for you. We'll explain what makes the best casino bonus to help you take your pick, while also adding the latest casino bonuses in UK so you don't miss out. NOTE: UK players need a verified account to play with a casino bonus.
Best casino deposit bonus February 2021
Paddy Power Games offers the best casino bonus in UK for February 2021. On registration and for a first deposit.
- Registration - 100 FS - No wager
- First Deposit Bonus - 100 FS - No wager
Casino Prof recommends
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Casino Professor is an affiliate website. All casinos listed are our partners from whom we earn a commission. Find more information and please gamble responsibly.
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Casino bonus of the month
Casino Planet
Although you can view all our casino bonuses on this page, we handpick a specific casino bonus of the month too. This helps players get started with our best first deposit bonus at the moment. We also have plenty more casinos that we recommend for the month, as well as the entire list of sites that you can go through. Pretty much all of them have a deposit bonus included for first time players. If you want to know more about a casino bonus and how to pick the best one for you, all is explained below.
Casino bonuses – Find the best casino deposit bonus
Casino deposit bonus – What is that?
A casino deposit bonus is a bonus that the player gets when they make a deposit at a casino. It is often given immediately after you make a deposit, with X amount of bonus money being added to your account to play with on top of your own money. This increases your bankroll and allows you to place more bets which gives you more chances to win. However, this bonus money isn’t yet actual money so it cannot be withdrawn until certain requirements are met. Otherwise, casinos would not be making any money.
You will almost certainly be given a casino deposit bonus when signing up at new online casinos. This is because all casinos want you to play at their site and there’s no better way to tempt us in than offering extra funds through a first deposit bonus to play with. However, the best casino deposit bonus sites have more of these offers for existing players to keep them happy. This means they’re very common so you need to know what they look like.
Example. The casino offers a 100% casino bonus up to £100 with a wagering requirement of 25 times the bonus money when you make a deposit. You want to claim the maximum bonus so you decide to deposit £100 which the casino then matches. You now have £200 in your account (£100 of money you deposited plus £100 bonus money offered by the casino). Before you are eligible to make a withdrawal you need to bet at least £2500 on slots before your withdrawal request can be accepted (25 x £100).
Take notice! There are usually other terms and conditions that apply too. These can be for example:
- Time limit – You need to wager the bonus money in a certain time period (eg. 7 days)
- Eligible games – Slots usually wager 100% (except certain jackpot slots and other special slots) but table games and live games usually don’t wager that much. Sometimes not at all.
- Max bets – You are often only allowed to bet a maximum of £5 per spin when completing the wagering.
Because it is common that there are other requirements besides the wagering requirements, we always recommend reading the terms and conditions first. If something looks too good on the first sight, it usually is.
Best casino bonus – How to choose?
There are several things that you need to take into consideration before choosing the best casino bonus. Bigger doesn’t always mean automatically better. Here’s a casino bonus guide that we recommend to evaluate before making that first deposit:
Amount to deposit
How much are you planning to deposit? Usually, the first deposit bonus is the best bonus that casinos offer so you want to get the maximum benefit from it. If you are for example planning to deposit £50, choose a casino that offers the bonus up to £50 in order to get the maximum bonus.
Deposit Bonus Casino
Does the casino with the deposit bonus have a valid license and a good reputation? There are many to choose from so select a good one. Also, make sure that:
- Games the casino offers are good
- Your language is supported
- Payment methods are suitable
- The platform works well on your device
Wagering requirements
Keep an eye on this and especially look whether it is bonus money or bonus money plus your own money that you have to wager. A high bonus isn’t great if the wagering requirement is unreasonable. Also, make sure that you can wager money on the games you are about to play. Sometimes slots from a certain provider aren’t allowed in the wagering, for example. There are a few casinos that offer a no wager bonus.
We often include wagering requirements within the quick terms and conditions popup in our casino bonuses list.
Touch or hover over the symbol for each casino bonus’s significant terms
Just make sure to double-check the wagering once you choose your casino sites. We aim to keep all the information up to date but casinos are known to change terms at short notice. Please let us know if you spot anything incorrect.
To figure out exactly what you’ll need to wager, you can use this casino bonus calculator:
Other terms
These vary from casino to casino and there might be something in the small print that makes the bonus practically useless. Things like a too-tight time limit to wager or maximum amount that you can win.
50% casino deposit bonus (wagering 20 times)
This is perhaps the smallest bonus you’ll see but casinos generally offer more. You’ll see this marked something like 50% up to £50. However, this is the structure for all casino deposit bonuses no matter the size. Let us explain.
The percentage (50% in this case) explains how much the casino is willing to match whatever you deposit. However, they include a maximum cap of “up to £50” in this case. This prevents players from depositing massive amounts in exchange for a huge amount of bonus money.
Let’s use 50% up to £50 as an example and apply some deposits to it:
- Deposit £100 = £50 bonus money
- Deposit £50 = £25 bonus money
- Deposit £150 = £50 bonus money (because this offer has an “up to £50” maximum on bonus money).
Also, you often need to complete wagering requirements before you can withdraw any bonus money. Let’s say that you got the full £50 bonus money with 20 times wagering. You would then need to use the £50 bonus money to bet £1000 (20 x £50) on eligible slots or casino games before you would be eligible for a withdrawal. Pay special attention to the terms and conditions here as some casinos require you to wager the bonus + deposit amount. If that was the case and you deposited £100 then it would change to £3000 instead (20 x £150).
100% casino deposit bonus (wagering 20 times)
This is the most typical casino bonus on offer and is commonly referred to as a match bonus. You’ll see this marked like 100% up to £100 which would mean that a casino will outright match whatever you deposit up to a maximum of £100.
Let’s take this example and assume you deposit £100. The casino will then match your deposit with £100 bonus money. Any higher deposits will be capped at this amount. When using your £100 bonus money, the wagering is set at 20 times which means you would have to play £2000 (20 x £100) on slots before you would be eligible for a withdrawal.
200% casino deposit bonus (wagering 20 times)
Not as common but there are still a few casinos that offer this bonus. You’ll see a 200 casino bonus marked like 200% up to £200 which would mean that a casino pays twice the amount you deposit in bonus money up to a maximum of £200. Usually, casinos that offer this bonus have a bonus for the second deposit too.
Let’s assume you deposit the same £100 for this example. You will then get £200 from the casino as bonus money. Any higher deposits will be capped at this amount. With the wagering being 20 times you would have to use the £200 bonus money to play £4000 (20 x £200) on slots before you would be eligible for a withdrawal.
300% casino deposit bonus (wagering 20 times)
Quite rare and at the moment there aren’t really any casinos that offer this type of bonus. However, when they do you’ll see this marked like 300% up to £300 which would see you get three times the amount that you deposit up to a maximum of £300.
You deposit the same £100. You would then get £300 from the casino. Any higher deposits will be capped at this amount. With the wagering being 20 times for the bonus money you would have to use it to play £6000 (20 x £300) on slots before you would be eligible for a withdrawal.
400% casino deposit bonus (wagering 20 times)
This is more commonly seen than the previous 300% bonus for some reason. It’s marked like 400% up to £400 which would mean the casino pays four times the amount that you deposit up to £400. Remember though that this would be a lot of bonus money which mean quite a lot of wagering to do. Also, keep an eye on the other terms. Benefitting from a bonus this big isn’t usually easy to do. Read the small print.
Let’s assume you deposit £100 again. You would then get £400 from the casino. Any higher deposits will be capped at this amount. With the wagering being 20 times for the bonus money you would have to use it to play £8000 (20 x £400) on slots before you would be eligible for a withdrawal.
500% casino deposit bonus (wagering 20 times)
These offers are extremely rare but it’s still worth knowing how they work just in case. It’s marked like 500% up to £500 which would mean the casino pays five times the amount that you deposit up to £500.
Let’s assume you deposit £100 for this example. You would then get £500 from the casino. Any higher deposits will be capped at this amount. With the wagering being 20 times for the bonus money you would have to use it to play £10,000 (20 x £500) on slots before you would be eligible for a withdrawal.
In all honesty, this kind of bonus would be best for trying something out rather than converting into real money. That’s because 20 times wagering is considered low and many casinos often double this to 40 times or even higher. It would virtually be impossible for you to wager it in full so you need to consider whether to use it.
Casino Bonus – How to calculate
Once the percentages start to rise it can be tricky to keep up. However, if you want to know how much to deposit in order to get the maximum bonus then there’s a simple formula. You take the maximum bonus that’s possible and divide it by the percentage which is split into decimal places after the first number. It’s best explained in an example
The Best UK Casino First Deposit Bonuses - January 2021
100% up to £100 – How to max the bonus
- Maximum casino bonus available = £100
- The first digit of the percentage is 1 (no decimal places are necessary as the other numbers are 0)
- Divide £100 by 1 for your answer (£100 / 1 = £100)
- So £100 is what you need to deposit to get the full bonus in this case
Let’s now try a 200 casino bonus example that’s a little trickier.
125% up to £200 – How to max the bonus
- Maximum casino bonus = £200
- In this case, you would split the percentage to reach two decimal points – 125% =1.25
- £200 / 1.25 = £160
- £160 is what you need to deposit to get the full £200 casino bonus
NOTE: For percentages lower than 100, you place the numbers after the decimal points – e.g. 50% would be 0.5.
The best thing is you can use this formula every time to quickly find out how to get the biggest casino bonus from each offer. Just load up your device’s calculator and try it out.
Is casino bonus worth using?
It depends. If you are just planning on playing a quick session it might not be necessary since the wagering always takes a while. However, you always get more playing time when you have bonus money in play. The more money you have to play with the better chance you have of winning as well, so a casino bonus can help there too. And if there isn’t any urgent time limit on the wagering, you can always return and continue your session.
When playing at a casino that is licensed by either the MGA or UKGC, the following rules are in place:
Exclusive casino bonus
One of the ways we help to make an offer more enticing is by getting an exclusive casino bonus. This is an upgrade to the usual deal that a casino offers, with either extra bonus money or something else added in.
We make sure to highlight all our exclusive casino bonuses in several places. Such as above, where we will make a casino with “Exclusive”, “EXCL” or similar. Out of all the options, probably our most popular exclusive casino bonus is from MrQ. To get it, you can either visit their link above or from the MrQ Casino review.
Casino deposit bonus – Should I reject?
Nowadays most casinos give the deposit bonus automatically after the deposit. In order to decline the casino deposit bonus, you need to contact support before starting to play so that they can inform you how to reject it. If you start playing you cannot reject the bonus anymore unless it is forfeitable.
For casinos that use bonus codes, rejecting the first deposit bonus is generally easier. Just don’t input the bonus code and the deposit bonus won’t be credited after your deposit. However, most casinos don’t use bonus codes anymore.
But why would you actually choose not to take a first deposit bonus?
Winnings Cap
Some first deposit bonus casinos will include a clause which limits how much you can actually win from the bonus. For example, you may well see something like “Max withdrawal amount of £100” within the terms and conditions.
This means that you can only ever win up to £100 in real money. Any wins that went over this amount would be taken away from you.
Limited Game Selection
You may also find that your deposit casino bonus can only be used on a few games. That’s because some sites restrict what the offer is available for.
If it’s a small boost then you might not mind. However, anything from a 100 casino bonus, 200 casino bonus, or higher would mean playing the same slot(s) over a longer period.
Bet Limits
One thing that pretty much every casino deposit bonus has is a maximum bet limit. In most cases it’s £5 – and this means that you can only bet up to £5 per spin on a slot when completing the wagering requirements.
If you happen to accidentally bet more than £5 – even if it’s only on one spin – then the casino will have grounds to remove your bonus and any winnings you made from it.
Too High Wagering
With £5 betting limits, it’s no secret that wagering a first deposit casino bonus can take a while. Therefore, if the wagering requirement is too high then it might not be worth taking up (between x30 – x40 wagering is the usual benchmark).
Anything higher than these amounts would mean you need to spin for longer. Of course, the more wagering you have to do the more likely you’ll lose your casino bonus winnings in the long run.
If you’re not happy with these kinds of terms then we recommend selecting a different first deposit bonus until you find one that’s appropriate.
Casino bonus UK
If you currently reside in Great Britain and you’re looking for the best casino bonuses for UK players, pretty much every casino listed here has offers in British pound. However, all UK casinos must adhere to the rules of their licencing body – the Gambling Commission. Over the years, the Gambling Commission has implemented a few changes which have affected casino bonuses in the UK.
On 7th May 2019, the Gambling Commission introduced rules which meant that players signing up at a new gambling site must have their name, address, and date of birth verified before they can play. This means that a UK player can’t deposit and subsequently get a casino bonus until this ID verification has taken place. In most cases, it happens automatically. Yet, it’s common for sites to ask players for verification documents too.
It was then reported by Forbes that the Gambling Commission had banned the use of credit cards to make deposits at gambling sites on 14th April 2020. Instead, players can use a debit card (or another eligible method) to deposit and get a casino bonus at a new site.
Best first deposit bonus casino
The most common type of casino bonus is a first deposit bonus which all the casinos above offer. This means you will receive a bonus after making your very first deposit which gives you more money to play with before you’ve even placed your first bet. However, not all first deposit bonuses are the same – with some sites being much better than others.
If you’re looking for a popular deposit bonus casino, UK and other players around the world can check out these options:
- Rizk – View Rizk review
- Casumo – View Casumo review
The best first deposit bonus casino is a casino that is transparent in its terms and conditions. Some may also have additional offers afterwards too for the complete casino welcome bonus package.
Good casinos also allow you to forfeit your bonus after you have already started playing. This is called a forfeitable bonus.
First deposit bonus – Is it forfeitable?
- You first start playing with your own money
- If you lose it then you play next with the bonus money – giving you another chance to win.
- However, if you win using the real money first then you can withdraw your winnings straight away
- You just need to give up the bonus to do so (but you’ve already won so you don’t need this!)
Of course, if you have started playing with the bonus money already then this cannot be done anymore. You used to only see forfeitable bonuses at really good sites. However, they are much more common now after the UK’s Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) put pressure on the industry to change (BBC – Betting firms to stop ‘unfair’ promotions). They specifically stated that “players will not be required to play multiple times before they can withdraw their own money” which made it a lot easier to withdraw than before.
Casino first deposit bonuses – Are they Cashable?
Another thing that’s great to see is a cashable casino bonus. This is where you get to keep your bonus alongside any winnings when you go to cash out.
Let’s give you an example – you get a £100 bonus, win £100 with it, complete the wagering, and then go to make a withdrawal:
- Cashable casino bonus – Let’s you withdraw the full £200, meaning you keep the £100 bonus money as part of your winnings.
- Non-cashable casino bonus – Let’s you withdraw only £100, removing the initial £100 bonus money that you were given.
Of course, it’s always best to play at a casino with a cashable bonus. However, they don’t always make this clear in the terms and conditions. Instead, we often resort to asking the customer support to see what the deal is. This might sound a bit of work to begin with but if you win then it could mean a nice little extra on top.
Best first deposit bonus casino – How to search
Alongside manually looking through the available options, you can also search and filter. The search bar at the top of the page allows you to search for a specific casino. If we have it on Casino Professor, you will be able to see a review that will contain their first deposit bonus.
We also have a Categories filter. This allows you to view the first deposit bonuses of specific types of casinos. For example:
- PayPal Casinos – Find the best first deposit bonus casino that accepts PayPal payments
- Live Casinos – View the first deposit bonuses of casinos that we consider to offer the best live experience
Best welcome bonus casino
Rather than focussing purely on the first deposit, the best welcome bonus casino puts it all together. These sites don’t just offer one casino deposit bonus and that’s it. Instead, they give new players a variety of offers to keep them on their toes.
For example, the casino welcome bonus at 888 consists of MULTIPLE deposit bonuses – with some free spins included too as an added extra. So, once you’re done with the first you simply move on to the next to give you more bonus money to play with (see our 888 Casino review). Other sites may give you cashback if you lose, extra loyalty points, or another form of casino bonus to make the overall package last longer.
Online casino bonuses for existing players
Once you’ve settled in at a new site and your casino welcome bonus has been used up, you’ll want to learn of online casino bonuses for existing players. Make no mistake, loyal players should be given extra treats to reward them for continuing to play. Otherwise, players can, rightfully, forget them and move on to a different site where they are appreciated better.
There are many ways that an existing player can get an extra casino bonus quite regularly. The most obvious place is the “Promotions” tab which most sites have under the menu. Here you will find all the casino bonuses that are currently available.
Many casinos also run loyalty schemes and programs for a more personal touch. The best VIP casinos go beyond just casino bonuses as well by offering faster payouts, dedicated managers and more perks. However, one of the best ways that casinos like to reward their existing players is when they turn a year older.
Birthday bonus casino
There’s nothing more personal than a reward from a birthday bonus casino. You can log in on the big day and be treated to something special. Of course, a casino won’t publicise your birthday bonus to everyone – so make sure to keep your eyes peeled on your email or ask customer support if they would kindly be able to offer you something.
Also, when it’s the casino’s own birthday, prepare to be showered with bonuses. Sites often like to make a big deal of their own special day with numerous promotions and tournaments for the occasion.
Latest casino bonuses
At Casino Professor, we aim for perfection and we try to have the latest casino bonuses available for our visitors at all times. However, a helping hand every now and then doesn’t hurt. If you spotted something wrong on our website, please drop us a line at [email protected] and we will correct it as soon as possible. You can also leave your own review under each of our casino reviews.
Good luck at the tables and remember to check the terms and conditions before making a deposit!
FAQ – Your casino bonus questions answered
A casino bonus is often useful as it gives you extra bonus money to play with. However, the bonus money can either be given as soon as you deposit or as a backup if you lose.If you want to try out slots and games without using your own money then getting the bonus money straight away can be useful. However, if your goal is purely to win, you may want the extra bonus money as a backup just in case you lose.
For example, if you won £100 and the wagering requirements were x20, you would need to bet £2000 using your winnings before you could withdraw it. You can find more examples within our page.