Deposit bonuses are easily the most lucrative offer that you’re going to find at an online casino, with values often reaching into the thousands of pounds. And it’s not just big spenders that get the big bonuses either, some casinos offer fantastic multipliers on your deposit – meaning a deposit of £100 can receive a £400 bonus.
Most casinos will offer some kind of introductory bonus on your first deposit, but many also have additional bonuses available on your second, third and even fourth deposit into the casino.
Below you’ll find a table detailing the various welcome and sign up bonuses that are available from our hand picked selection of trusted UK online casinos. If you’re looking for a more information you can read our full reviews for each brand or read our casino guides and banking pages.
UK Casino Bonuses (full list)
How to Claim a Casino Bonus
Once you’ve found the right offer for you check out our guide below on how to claim your bonus to make sure you get the maximum amount of value from these offers.
For information on bonus types and major terms have a peek at our casino bonuses explained guide on our casino offers page, or click here.
Register and Sign Up
The process here may vary but at the very least you will need to enter your name and email address at this stage. You will then receive an email, to verify your email address is real simply click the link and this will take you back to the casino website.
Some casinos will request you add in your address at this stage and some operators may even ask you to provide support documents to verify your identity now. Should you wish to do this later you can come back.
When you register you may be asked to add payment details. This isn’t necessarily for you to deposit straight away (you may not want to if you are taking a no deposit bonus for example) but this may be used instead to verify your address. The easiest way for a casino to verify a customer is if the payment method address matches the address you register with. If you use a payment method registered at a different address to the one you give to the casino it is highly likely you will be asked to send in further documentation (see later).
Before you press register have a scan around the page and make sure there is no “opt in” box that you need to tick to activate your welcome offer.
Casino Registration Failed?
Players can only register for an online casino if they do not already hold an account with the operator. If you’ve forgotten your login details contact them to reissue new credentials rather than trying to sign up again as sometimes this can be misconstrued as fraud.
Even if you have not used the online casino in many years and your account has become deactivated you cannot just sign up to a new one, all you can do is reactivate the old one. This means you will probably not be able to claim any sign up bonus. Then again it is worth emailing them and asking if you can have a new account, they will sometimes let you.
The other reason that registration may fail is if you are trying to sign up from a restricted territory. This will happen if gambling is illegal in the country you are accessing the site from (e.g. the US) or if the casino doesn’t accept players from that country.
On occasion registrations will fail because your name or email address has been blacklisted, this can occur by mistake though so if you think this has happened to you in error a quick chat with customer services usually resolves the issue.
No Deposit Bonuses
The clue is in the name, to claim a no deposit bonus you shouldn’t need to deposit, but you will need to register. Most operators will let you register and claim a no deposit bonus using just your name and email address. You may be asked for your address and bank details during your registration but as stated in the last section this is about customer verification rather than taking funds from your account.
You will still be allowed to play with your no deposit funds or spins even if you do not verify your age and identity with the casino first. Ultimately it’s only when it comes to taking money out of a casino that they then must adhere to their obligation to check your age and residency. Whether you verify who you are before or after the no deposit bonus it doesn’t change the fact you will need to eventually. Saying that it is easier to verify afterwards in case you don’t win with your bonus and you don’t want to carry on playing.
If you complete the wagering requirements of your no deposit deal and you’ve ended up winning real cash then you will obviously need to provide banking and identify details to the casino to withdraw any funds.
Opting in and Promo Codes
The majority of deposit bonuses are automatically awarded on your first qualifying deposit, as a customer there is little you need to do except make sure you deposit the right amount of money for the level of bonus you want.
Occasionally you will need to add a bonus code or opt in to the promotion on either the deposit or registration page. If you need to do this these terms should be prominently displayed on the bonus page, we also clearly outline any terms like this with our recommended online casinos.
Casinos don’t make you opt in or add codes in an attempt to con you, they mainly do it because they run several offers in parallel (in different countries, etc.) and this is simply a way of selecting the right offer. When depositing with a bonus offer you are also locking in your deposit funds until the bonus terms are complete, the opt in system gives you the option to reject an automatic bonus if you don’t want this.
Note that some operators will send you a code once you’ve deposited that you need to enter into the my account section in order to receive or activate the bonus.
Activating and Receiving your bonus
In most instances the bonus is awarded as soon as you deposit (or sign up if using a no deposit offer). In the account section there should be two amounts displayed, one being bonus funds and the other real cash in your account. If you have been awarded free spins these may not show up here though, you may need to go into a game to see your free spin balance.
You may need to go into your account to activate your bonus. If this is the case remember this may be the point at which the clock starts ticking on your bonus. Not activating a bonus immediately can give you some extra time if you need it. Some terms state that you need to play through your deposit first before the bonus is actually awarded so check these terms in advance.
I haven’t received my bonus?
If you think you’ve met all of the terms but you still can’t see your bonus funds drop the casino a line.
Even if you know you have made a mistake, by not using a promo code or not opting in t the correct time, get in touch with the casino rather than walking away.
Remember it is in the best interests of the casino site to give you the introductory offer or bonus, they want you to try their casino after-all.
If there has been an error (on either your side or theirs) they will usually fix it straight away. They will generally only not award a bonus if they think its fraudulent.
Below are some other common reasons why you may not receive a bonus:
What Payment Method did you use to Deposit?
Due to some dodgy practices by customers using Skrill and Neteller in particular in the past, many online casinos now restrict their bonuses on first deposits made this way. If there is payment ineligibility it should be made clear in the terms and we make it very clear in our reviews. Not all casinos restrict their bonuses, if you want to find casinos bonuses available for specific payment methods then visit our banking sections.
If you want to use a bonus ineligible payment method, such as Skrill, to fund the casino in the long run but you still want the sign up offer then consider making your first deposit using an eligible method (e.g. bank card) and switch to these other methods later down the line.
Again if you’ve signed up this way in error contact the casino and they may still issue you with a bonus if you agree to change your payment method.
What is your current location?
Most bonuses are geographically linked and there are different offers available in different countries. Even if you are from the country where the offer is valid (e.g the UK) but you are trying to sign up from a different location you will not be allowed to claim the UK bonus. The ability to gamble in an online casino is dictated by your location at the time you access the site, not by where you are from or live.
If you already have an account that you registered in the UK you should be allowed to play abroad so long as that casino operates in that country. Therefore, if you have a live bonus and you plan to travel do check whether you will be able to continue playing while away. If not you could time out and lose your entire bonus.
Another reason for bonus intelligibility may be that the territory you are currently in has restrictions on online gambling. The US for example will not allow you to gamble online in the country irrespective of where you are from or where you set the casino account up from originally. Many sites are blocked by the country or the casino itself will block you playing while in that country.
Did you deposit enough money?
Bonuses have minimum qualifying deposits, these are usually the same as the minimum deposit amount, but not always. It is worth checking. If the minimum deposit for the bonus is sat £20 and you deposit £10 then you may not have qualified.
Don’t give up though, most terms state a bonus will be awarded on your ‘first qualifying deposit’ so you may still be able to claim on your next deposit. If not get in touch with them, as we say the casino wants you to have a bonus so they will often allow you to make up the difference.
Did you opt in or use the right code?
This is a very common way that bonuses get mixed up. If you’ve entered the wrong code, no code or didn’t opt in this can mean you won’t get a bonus, or indeed you end up with the wrong bonus. A brief chat with customer services should solve these issues.
Did you use the right link?
If you are signing up through an exclusive offer you may need to use a specific link to actually get it. We at OnlineCasinos have many exclusive deals that we arrange with online casinos, but you can only get these through our specific links. If you visit the casino directly or through a link on a different site you won’t be able to claim the exclusive bonus.
Do you need to play with your deposit first?
It is possible any bonus will only be awarded one you have actually used your initial deposit. This shouldn’t make much of a difference overall, even if the bonus is pre-awarded you will need to play through a deposit before you can use bonus funds anyway. It does give you more security to get your bonus in advance but a quick check of the terms should tell you if this is the case or not.
Have you got another active bonus?
It is rare that you would ever be allowed to have bonuses concurrently. If you are currently playing with a bonus, a no deposit bonus for example, then make sure you finish playing with this and meet any terms before going on to claim further bonuses. If you do claim another offer when you still have a live bonus it may invalidate your current deal.
Did you wait too long?
There are generally two time limits to look for with a bonus. The first is how long after registration do you have to claim your bonus? If this is say 7 days but you’ve waited two weeks to make your first deposit, then you may have missed your chance. As always have a chat with the casino support team who will usually reissue a bonus if this happens.
The other time limit is on the bonus itself. Should you take an offer you will need to meet the wagering requirements in a given time. If you do not do this your bonus will simply disappear. In this instance customer services will not give you another chance so be mindful.
How to Use Your Casino Bonus
On our casino offers page you can read a detailed guide to all the different bonus types, how to best use them and all the major terms to be aware of. Here are brief summaries of how to use a casino bonus:
Play with your deposit first
It is always the case when taking any casino bonus that you first must play using your deposit funds, only when these are used can you start playing with your bonus. This applies to the deposit not the winnings from your deposit. Say you’ve deposited £50 to get £50 free, you need to play £50 worth of hands or spins to activate the £50 bonus, irrespective of whether you win or lose with your deposit.
Beware of the Rollover
The rollover, or wagering requirement, is the number of multiples of your bonus you need to wager in order to turn that bonus from promotional cash to real cash. Rollovers are in place to ensure new players don’t take the money and run, however, these terms do still vary massively between casinos. It really is worth shopping around when it comes to this term.
The best rollovers are those that apply to the bonus amount only and not the deposit plus the bonus. A good wagering requirement will be 35x or less.
As an example if you have a £100 with a 35x rollover you need to wager a total of £3,500, using your bonus and subsequent winnings. Anything left over after this requirement has been met is now real cash that can be used, withdrawn or transferred to another product (e.g. sportsbook).
Wagering requirements have further game, time and possibly withdrawal restrictions to, so be aware.
What Games Can You play with your Bonus?
Most standard slot games can be played using your bonus, contributing 100% to your wagering requirement. This means £1 in the game is equal to £1 towards the rollover. Some specialist slots are not included or have a lower contribution and it’s not always possible to use the bonus on progressive jackpots. All these restrictions should be clearly set out in the offer terms.
Table games can be more restricted, especially traditional games like roulette, blackjack, and craps that have a low house edge. These may not be entirely excluded from the bonus but it is possible they will have a lower weighting. A 10% weighting would mean you need to spend £10 in the game to add £1 to the rollover requirement.
Each bonus is different and will have different games excluded or with reduced contributions. Check the terms or read our reviews for more details on bonuses from individual operators.
If you want to use your promo funds on a specific game check the availability in advance. We list bonuses available for commonly excluded games, such as roulette and blackjack, on our games pages.
Can you play progressive jackpots with a bonus?
It Depends. Most casino progressive jackpots are games with both an individual and multiplayer element with prizes available for winning within the game as well as larger progressive jackpot amounts. Each time you play a proportion of your stake goes into a pooled jackpot, shared with other players playing the game. The jackpot grows until someone hits the top prize, in progressive jackpot videopoker game for example this would be a royal flush for exmple. Depending on the game and software jackpots can rise to a millions or even tens of millions.
Some casinos won’t let you use your bonus at all on progressive jackpots. Others will let you play the game using the bonus but without the contribution to the prize pool. This means if you were to get the top hand or reel combination you would win the top prize within the game but you wouldn’t receive the huge progressive jackpot. Occasionally you find bonuses with no restriction on progressive jackpots, if this the case also check for bonus withdrawal limits.
How much time do you have to use your Bonus?
The amount of time available to meet wagering requirements can vary from a couple of days to unlimited depending on the bonus and the casino. As a general rule no deposit bonuses and free spins have a short expiry, usually 3-7 days, although these are low value amounts so this is not a problem for most.
Main bonuses should have an expiry of at least 14 days, if shorter than this I would leave it well alone. On average you get 30 days to meet the wagering requirements although some bonuses have much longer 90 day expiry’s and some don’t expire at all.
Do any stake limits apply?
The casino doesn’t want you to spend your entire bonus in one hand or spin. The purpose of a bonus is it’s an incentive for you to play with the casino and try out their products. For this reason there can be a limit on how much of your bonus can be staked in any one go. This may be a percentage of the bonus, an actual amount or a number of chips. Many bonuses won’t let your wager more than 10% of your bonus in any one bet.
Wagering requirements generally set limits on how much of an individual bet contributes towards a rollover. This could be say £50, therefore for any stake higher than £50 will not contribute.
How long is your deposit held for?
Deposits are locked in until you complete the terms of the bonus. This means you cannot withdraw your deposit and any winnings until you’ve finished the wagering requirements. If you do withdraw during this period you will forfeit your bonus and any winnings. This is a very common condition across all bonus offers.
Are there any Withdrawal or payout limits?
There shouldn’t be, but some bonuses to have maximum limits on how much you can win. This is actually a common term in no deposit bonuses, which is fair enough as they are giving you a freebie, but it’s a bit rough for deposit bonuses.
This is worth looking for in the offer T&C’s before you sign up, especially if you are taking a large bonus or tiered bonus. Limits could be anywhere from a few hundred up to tens of thousands depending on the bonus.
If you are allowed to use a bonus on a progressive jackpot then think about whether withdrawal limits apply. Not much point winning £1M if you can only take out £10k is there?
how to claim Second and Third deposit bonuses
There is usually nothing difficult or complicated about tiered welcome deals which offer second, third and even fourth deposit bonuses. These introductory deals are better for the casino, as there are incentives for the player to play longer, and they are also good for the customers, as you may as well be rewarded for playing if you want to carry on anyway.
Claiming these additional bonuses is usually identical to the process you went through when the first offer. Many of these deals are automatic if you opt into the whole offer at the beginning, i.e. on your second deposit you will receive an automatic bonus.
Be aware of a couple of factors before you opt into the full offer:
- Casinos will only let you hold one bonus at a time so you need to make sure you’ve finished the first bonus before depositing to claim the next.
- Some of these bonus have a time limit that starts from the date of sign up not the date you claim the second load of funds. If there is an overall time limit of say 60 days make sure that you are clear you will need to meet all wagering requirements for all bonuses in this time. After this point any incomplete active bonuses and winnings will be wiped.
- Not every bonus in the chain will necessarily have the same wagering requirements and game restrictions. It is important that you read the terms for each bonus in turn to make sure you don’t get caught out.
Withdrawing your bonus
Once all wagering requirements have been met what is left of your bonus and winnings should be automatically converted into a cash balance. Remember if you try to withdraw either your bonus or your deposit before you complete wagering requirements then you will lose your bonus.
Providing there are no bonus withdrawal limits you should be allowed to take out any balance you like at this stage. With some casinos your money is put into a pending mode when you request a withdrawal. It may take them a day, two days max, to process any payment but any additional time on top of this is deliberate holding of funds. The casino holds your funds for a few days, even longer sometimes, in the hope you may reverse part or all of the transaction, reloading the funds back into your casino wallet. If this is the case look for a feature known as manual flushing, this allows you to override any additional pending periods.
Verifying Your Account
It is a condition of holding a gambling licence in the UK that all online casinos must verify you are who you say you are. This is primarily to protect venerable people and minors and also prevent the industry being used for crime and fraud.
The easiest way a casino can verify your identity is if you deposit using a bank account or bank card and the registration address of the payment matches the address you give to the casino. The operator often performs a ‘soft credit check’, this allows them to check your residency, age and address without performing a full credit check (i.e. they don’t get to see your credit history or credit score). This is a common verification practice throughout the business world not just bookmaking and casino.
You may be asked to provide further documents to verify your ID. These may include drivers licences, passports, utility bills, etc., all the usual gubbins.
Common reasons for additional ID requests include mis-matched addresses, large withdrawals, random screening and suspicious account activity or betting patterns.