The world of online gambling is highly competitive, with operators vying against each other to convince you to sign up and play with them. One of the main tools at their disposal when it comes to finding and attracting new players is casino bonuses, and in particular, free spins or sign-up bonuses for new players. These are incentives to create an account and make your first deposit, and they can often appear very attractive to those choosing where to play.

What are the Best Casino Bonuses?

Several things, First, you need to narrow down your search because there are lots of places offering casino bonuses. Second, it is important to read honest casino reviews about real money online casinos where each one is rated well for their specific denominations or categories. Finally, make sure to read the fine print on any promotional deals.

Top Casino Bonuses

Videoslots 9.8/10

Launched in 2011, the idea was to create a casino where you could play games from all major slots developers under one digital roof. If you’re looking for the biggest collection of slots anywhere online, you’ll find it at Video Slots. Review Videoslots

Launched in 2011, the idea was to create a casino where you could play games from all major slots developers under one digital roof. If you’re looking for the biggest collection of slots anywhere online, you’ll find it at Video Slots. Review Videoslots

UK Flag Deposit Bonus
100% up to £200 sign-up Welcome Bonus
on your 1st deposit
Play
eligibility

Eligibility: This offer is only available for first time depositors. BeGambleAware 18+

T&C’s apply. 18+ The Welcome Bonus offer is only available to those who have made their first deposit up to maximum of £ 200. Any amount over £ 200 will not form part of the player’s first deposit. In order to receive the maximum of £ 200 bonus, you will need to wager an amount equal to 35 times the value of your first initial deposit within 60 calendar days from the date on which the Welcome Bonus option has been activated. View all terms.

Deposit methods
Bank Transfer ecoPayz Entropay Euteller MasterCard Neteller PayPal paysafeCard Skrill Trustly Visa

Slotnite 9.8/10

Having launched in 2019, Slotnite has gone on to become one of the top UK online casinos. As the name suggests, it has a huge selection of slots, plus other live casino games to choose from. They have a generous welcome bonus and we highly recommend them as a casino to join. Review Slotnite

Having launched in 2019, Slotnite has gone on to become one of the top UK online casinos. As the name suggests, it has a huge selection of slots, plus other live casino games to choose from. They have a generous welcome bonus and we highly recommend them as a casino to join. Review Slotnite

UK Flag Welcome Bonus
Get up to a £500 bonus and 200 Bonus Spins
Play
eligibility

Eligibility: This offer is only available for first time depositors. BeGambleAware 18+

18+. New players only. One offer per player. Min Dep £10. Max bonus bet £5. 1st Dep offer is 100% up to £250 + 100 Bonus spins on Aloha Cluster Pays. Spins expire after 10 days, funds after 30 days. Bonus funds separate to Cash. Wager Req of 35x Deposit + Bonus apply. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org. View all terms.

Deposit methods
Bank Transfer MasterCard Neteller PayPal Skrill Sofortuberwaisung Trustly Visa

21 Casino 9.7/10

21 Casino has a growing reputation with lots of promotions that punters can take advantage of and the live dealer games are an attractive part of the package. With really fast withdrawal times, we recommend them as one of the top UK casinos to join. Review 21 Casino

21 Casino has a growing reputation with lots of promotions that punters can take advantage of and the live dealer games are an attractive part of the package. With really fast withdrawal times, we recommend them as one of the top UK casinos to join. Review 21 Casino

UK Flag Deposit Bonus
121% up to £300
Play
eligibility

Eligibility: This offer is only available for first time depositors. BeGambleAware 18+

T&C’s apply. Full T&Cs apply 18+. New players only. Min deposit £10. Bonus funds are 121% up to £300 and separate to Cash funds. 35x bonus wagering requirements apply. Only bonus funds count towards wagering requirement. £5 max. bet with bonus. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, otherwise any unused shall be removed. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org View all terms.

Deposit methods
Bank Transfer MasterCard Neteller PayPal paysafeCard Skrill Trustly Visa

Unibet 9.2/10

Unibet have a nice selection of casino games inclduing roulette, blackjack, slots and live casinos games. With a generous welecome offer and fast cash-outs, Unibet are worth a try! Review Unibet

Unibet have a nice selection of casino games inclduing roulette, blackjack, slots and live casinos games. With a generous welecome offer and fast cash-outs, Unibet are worth a try! Review Unibet

UK Flag Deposit Bonus
Deposit £10 and get a £40 bonus
Play
eligibility

Eligibility: This offer is only available for first time depositors. BeGambleAware 18+

T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. New Customers Only. Minimum deposit £10. 50x wagering requirement apply. Bonus will expire 30 days after opt-in. Further T&Cs apply. #AD View all terms.

Deposit methods
Bank Transfer MasterCard PayPal paysafeCard Skrill Visa

Offers like £100 free on your first deposit, £200 plus 20 bonus spins or no deposit casino bonuses can seem like a no-brainer. After all, who wouldn’t want free money to get started playing at their chosen online casino? However, it’s important to dig deeper with these offers and to make sure you understand what is involved. We suggest you do this before accepting any casino welcome bonus.

So what are the common terms and conditions attached to casino bonuses, how do they work, and how can you use this information to choose the right casino bonus for you?

Wagering Requirements

The first and perhaps most crucial issue of the terms and conditions of any casino bonus is the wagering requirements. This is a limitation on withdrawals from the bonus, and is in place to ensure that operators don’t get ripped off.

Imagine a casino offering a £100 no-strings-attached bonus for new accounts. The casino would quickly be scammed by people setting up dozens of new accounts, simply to withdraw the £100 bonus. A tidy business for any would-be fraudster.

Instead, casinos have in place what are known as wagering requirements. This is a minimum multiple of the first deposit that must be wagered before any winnings, can be withdrawn. This could be 20x, 30x, 50x the original deposit amount.

So in the example of a 100% deposit match bonus on £100 with wagering of 30x, the player would need to bet £3000 (30x£100) before they could withdraw the £100 bonus, or anything they have won from that bonus.

As a player, this means you need the wagering to be as low as possible, in order to ensure you have the best chance of cashing out.

Game Limits

There are also limitations on the games that are supported by these casino bonus offers. For example, some bonuses will not be available for use with roulette or blackjack, and will only apply to online slots play. In other cases, you’ll find that only slots contribute 100% to the wagering requirements, while roulette might contribute 10%. In other words, your wagering requirements become 10x bigger (and more difficult) if you’re using the welcome bonus for roulette play than slots play.

These limits are very important to know from the outset to avoid nasty surprises later down the line. This is generally specified in the offer terms and conditions, and you typically won’t find this in the bonus offer headline. These game limits can make meeting wagering much more difficult if you’re not playing optimally to the bonus terms. This is a large part of the reason why you should be reading the terms and conditions.

Bet Limits

So you find yourself with a wagering requirement to meet. Why not just bet big (or smaller) than you usually would to meet the requirement more easily? Not so fast. Bet limits are also a common feature of casino welcome deposits. They restrict how exactly you work towards meeting those wagering requirements.

There’s usually a minimum and a maximum bet attached to bonus offers to prevent abuse of the bonus. This is because casinos keen to ensure you play through your bonus in a specified way. You can be sure this typically disadvantages the player by eliminating strategies that could reduce your risk profile.

Thanks to bet limits, like these other restrictions, it becomes much more challenging to meet your wagering requirement and cash-out. The casinos actively make you take risks with the free bonus credit. This protects the casino from bonus abuse, and to make sure you play through in a set way.

The Benefits of Casino Bonuses

So with all these restrictions, what are the benefits of casino bonuses? For all that you are constrained in your use of casino bonuses, they can and do still provide value, especially for new depositors. They provide a kickstart to your gaming, giving you additional bankroll until you find your feet.

They can also prove lucrative if you’re able to meet the wagering requirements allowing you to win from no-risk wagers. They’re also a great way to get a feel for how a casino operates and how it treats players. This can be a useful indication for what you might expect later down the line.

How to Choose the Best Casino Bonuses

The best casino bonuses are invariably those with the fewest, or least onerous, terms and conditions attached. When it comes to weighing up different offers, it’s all in the Ts and Cs. Never take a bonus offer at face value – it’s almost certain to lead to disappointment. Instead, make sure you find out all the applicable restrictions to the offer before accepting it. Also, remember that accepting a bad offer can do more harm than good to your account.

The easiest way to compare offers is to write the terms and conditions as they apply to competing bonus offers. Make a grid and compare the equivalent terms between different bonus offers. This should give you the most complete insight into the terms and conditions you’ll be up against. When it comes time to trying to cash out from your bonus offer there will be no surprises.

Conclusion

Casino bonuses won’t be the ticket to your jackpot win, but they are a useful tool when deciding which casino to choose. With the right terms, these bonus offers can still help you maximise your winnings, either by rewarding your loyalty or incentivising a new account. With free credit available whichever way you cut it, taking advantage of sign up bonuses is always recommended for new players. It’s only a question of finding the right bonus, with the right terms and conditions, for maximum impact.