A casino bonus can be claimed from our best online casinos table below. Please feel free to study the casino reviews to gain a better understanding of the casinos and bonuses on offer.
Best Online Casinos Table
Casino Bonuses Explained
Welcome to Casino FAQs’ online casino bonus guide. Here you will find detailed information about casino bonuses, including a comprehensive explanation of the various types of bonuses supplied by online casinos. We also explained casino bonus terms & conditions, how to choose the best online casino bonus, bonus abuse, and more.
Additionally, you will learn how to make the most of these offers without abusing them. Continue reading this online casino bonus guide to upgrade your gaming experience and become a more informed casino player.
What Is A Casino Bonus?
Casino bonuses are promotional offers that allow players to earn free money or free spins. They are usually offered to new and existing players as a sign-up package, reload, or loyalty program. Casino bonuses enhance the gaming experience by increasing the value of your deposit. Also, they allow you to explore a casino and play some games without taking any risk.
Types Of Casino Bonuses
There are different varieties of bonuses available to casino players. It is important that you familiarize yourself with each type of casino bonus to increase your chances of leaving the casino with a profit. The most common types are:
Welcome Bonuses
As a new player, this is the first type of bonus you will come across when you visit an online casino. Some sites call them welcome bonuses, while others use the term sign-up bonus. Both terms mean the same thing. Usually, welcome bonuses include free spins and deposit match-up bonuses. With the latter, the casino matches the fund you deposit with a certain amount. For example, you may get a 100%, 50%, or 25% match-up of your first deposit.
However, some casinos may offer you free spins only, while others may give you just a match-up bonus. Welcome bonuses may also come in other forms like free play, no deposit bonus, high roller bonus, and more. These bonuses are only available to players signing up on the casino for the first time. Like the other types of bonuses available on online casinos, welcome bonuses come with terms and conditions that include wagering requirements.
Deposit Bonuses
Just like the name implies, they are the freebies you get when you deposit money at a casino. These offers are often available as a welcome bonus, but you can also earn them as part of the casino’s promotional program. Like the welcome offer, you get a multiple of the amount you deposit after registering on the casino.
The bonus could be 100%, 200%, or even 400% of your deposit. Most times, the higher the amount you deposit, the higher the deposit bonus you get. They also come with terms and conditions, so you should be ready to wager the bonus many times before withdrawal. Furthermore, some casinos
may set restrictions on where you can use the bonus. For example, your 100% deposit bonus may be limited to table games like blackjack only.
No Deposit Bonuses
No deposit bonuses are the all-time favourite casino bonus among new players and one of the most sought-after bonuses in the online casino space. It is the complete opposite of the deposit bonus. You don’t have to pay a dime to earn it. You earn the bonus just by creating an account on the casino. These bonuses give you the chance to play games and win without risking your money.
Usually, no deposit bonuses are limited to a specific amount. Also, it comes with certain restrictions and wagering requirements. For instance, you may only be able to use the freebie on slot machines. Let’s say you are given £200 credit; the casino may require you to play it 20 times on a slot machine before you can withdraw. There may also be a limit to the amount you can cash out with your free credits.
So if you win an £11,000 jackpot with your no deposit bonus, the maximum amount you can withdraw may be limited to just £500. Though these restrictions may seem awkward, they are always in place to check bonus abuse.
Free Spins Bonuses
Free spins give you the chance to spin the reels of a slot machine and win real money without spending a cent. Casinos give them out regularly in batches of 10, 30, 50, 100, and more. They are usually offered to existing players as promotions for new slot machines or bundled as part of a welcome bonus for new players. Most online casinos in the UK offer free spins, so you are likely to come across them now and then.
Free spin bonuses usually come with wagering requirements, which are often high. However, some casinos now offer no wager free spin bonuses, which means you won’t have to wager your winnings before you cash out. Whether you are offered no wager free spins or free spins with wagering requirements, there is always a limit to the amount you can cash out. So even when you win big with the free spins, you can’t withdraw above the set limit.
Cashback Bonuses
Cashback is also a great type of bonus that you should look out for on online casinos. It helps you get some of your losses back. In other words, you get back a certain percentage of the amount you lose while playing. For example, if you are offered a 20% cashback bonus and lost £100 while playing, you would get £20 back.
Though cashback does not cover all your losses, it makes things easier for you. There are things you should look out for when you get a cashback bonus. First, check if the bonus applies to all games or some specific games. This way, you can avoid playing games that do not qualify for the bonus. Second, check out the cashback limit to know the maximum amount you can get back if you lose.
Loyalty Bonuses
These are bonuses you get for playing at a casino for a long time. Loyalty bonuses are also called VIP bonuses. They are made available to players through a loyalty program or granted to players that reach certain milestones. Loyalty bonuses are often bigger and juicier than regular bonuses. Sometimes, they come with lower rollover requirements, giving players the chance to withdraw their winnings sooner.
Casinos offer these bonuses to keep players loyal to their casino. When you qualify for this type of promotion, you get to enjoy special incentives that may be hard to get elsewhere. Some of the most common loyalty (VIP) bonuses you will find on online casinos are loyalty points, level-up systems, and mission bonuses.
For loyalty bonuses, the casino rewards you with points that can be converted to credits. With missions and level-up systems, you get rewards like free spins, bonus coins, and more when you complete a challenge or reach a new level in the casino.
Referral Bonuses
This bonus is also called a refer-a-friend bonus. They are great for players interested in spreading words about a particular casino and introducing new people to them. In simpler words, the casino rewards you every time someone registers on the site by using your referral link. These bonuses are usually in the form of free credits. Some casinos offer £50 per referral, while some even pay more. Generally, the only condition often attached to the offer is that the new player must deposit a minimum amount to the casino before you are eligible for the reward.
Reload Bonuses
Reload is one of the oldest types of bonus in the online casino space. They are offered to customers that have already deposited to the casino. Reload bonuses are usually offered as weekly promotions. Also, they may be limited to some specific games.
Higher Roller Bonuses
These are rewards given to players willing to make a huge deposit. Higher roller bonuses vary across different casinos. Some may be in the form of a match-up bonus, while other casinos may offer their VIP membership as a higher roller reward. You are unlikely to get a 100% match-up for this kind of bonus. They are usually in the range of 30 – 50% of your deposit amount.
How To Choose The Best Online Casino Bonuses
There are tons of casino bonuses and promotions out there, but not all of them are worth your investment. Knowing how to choose the best online casino bonus can increase your chances of winning. When playing at casinos, you should carefully choose offers that align with the games you are playing. Below are some of the factors to consider when choosing online casino bonuses.
Check the bonus terms and conditions
Almost all casino bonuses come with terms and conditions which usually have hidden elements. It is crucial that you check these terms and conditions before you sign up. We recommend that
players should at least skim through the critical sections of the T&C if they can’t read all. Some of the essential parts you should not miss include the withdrawal limits, the number of times you should play to qualify for the bonus, and the restrictions on the offers.
This information is often not available on the promotion page, so you may have to check the bonus terms and conditions page to find it. Not checking the terms and conditions before playing may affect your gaming experience and even cost you money. Furthermore, taking a look at this section can help you steer clear of deals that do not suit you.
Consider the casino’s wagering requirements
Casinos are in business to make money. As such, when they throw bonuses at you, they are usually not entirely free. Most casinos require you to meet some wagering requirements before you can access their bonus. A wagering requirement dictates how much money and how many times you must wager on qualifying real money games before you can withdraw your bonus and the winnings associated with it.
For example, let’s say you get a 100% match-up bonus on your first deposit, and the offer has a 10x wagering requirement. It means you will have to spend ten times the amount you deposited, including the bonus cash, before you can make a withdrawal request. Other factors you should also consider are game bonus conversions and conversion caps. The earlier indicates the games that contribute to the casino’s wagering requirement, while the latter limits the amount of bonus you can turn into real cash.
Take a look at the bonus validity period
All casinos set a validity period for their bonuses. The validity period is the length of time you are allowed to use the bonus or meet the requirement associated with it. While some bonuses expire in a few hours, others may be available to you for months. Bonuses with a short validity period may increase your risk of losing money because they force you to overspend on the casino.
For instance, it makes no sense when you win a £1,500 bonus that has a 50x wagering requirement and a 48hours validity period. You should make sure that the expiration date of the bonus is reasonable before opting for it. We recommend that you check our list of best online casinos to get bonuses with reasonable wagering requirements and validity periods.
Confirm the casino’s credibility
Just because a casino is offering you an attractive bonus does not mean that it is credible. Always check their legal status and reputation before opting for their offer. The primary way to confirm a casino’s credibility is by checking if the site is licensed by the appropriate authority. The UK Gambling Commission, Gibraltar Gambling Commission, and Malta Gambling Authority are some of the recognized licensing authorities for UK online casinos. These organizations have very strict rules and regulations, so you can trust the casinos licensed by them.
Check qualifying games
Not all the games on online casinos are eligible for bonuses. So before you sign up, you should check the eligible games and decide if you like to play them. For example, if you enjoy playing slot games, it won’t make sense to sign up at a casino that offers bonuses only on table games. Opting to play games you don’t like because of the bonus will likely result in lots of losses for you. We recommend choosing casinos that offer bonuses that would maximize your winnings and make your gaming experience enjoyable.
Nonetheless, don’t be tempted to bet outside your budget because of an excessively high bonus. Set a deposit limit before registering on an online casino, and don’t go beyond it regardless of the offer thrown at you. In other words, it is better to miss out on a bonus than playing with an amount you can’t afford to lose. Following this tip will help you remain a responsible gamer.
Know how to get the bonus
You get some casino bonuses only when you enter the bonus code. So it is important to check if the offer requires a code. If it does, copy the code and use it at the point of registration to claim the bonus. However, some offers do not require codes. In cases like this, you are awarded the bonus automatically after registration.
What Is Bonus Abuse?
Casino bonus abusers are those who exploit casino promotions to profit from them. While casinos are okay with giving their players bonuses, they do not want people to register just for the sake of taking advantage of their promotions. Casinos label players who sign up just to profit from their offers as bonus abusers.
Bonus abuse is not new to the online casino world. Some players have been abusing casino bonuses since their introduction. When bonuses were first introduced, the wagering requirements were not strict, and it was very easy to get them. However, bonus abusers exploited these offers and caused online casinos massive losses.
This situation resulted in casinos setting stricter wagering requirements. With this new development, you now have to play qualifying casino games a set number of times before you can convert your bonus to cash and withdraw.
Different Types Of Bonus Abuse On Online Casinos
There are different ways players abuse casino bonuses. Some of the most common types of casino bonus abuse are:
Creating multiple accounts
All online casino sites limit their customers to one account to prevent them from getting welcome bonuses repeatedly. To curb multiple account creation, casinos do request personal information like name, email and phone number. However, some casino players find ways to avoid this precaution and profit from the welcome bonus multiple times. By doing this, bonus abusers get multiple free spins, deposit bonuses, match-up bonuses, no deposit offers, and more. Opening multiple accounts is also one of the quickest ways to get your account banned and your money potentially confiscated by the casino.
Abusing high paying games
Some players game the system by choosing slot machines or table games with high RTP and combining them with a low playthrough. Though there is nothing wrong with playing games with high RTP, a casino may consider you a bonus abuser if you withdraw immediately after winning.
Placing huge bets to meet playthrough requirements
Casinos use wagering requirements to force players to earn bonuses rather than just turning them into cash and withdrawing them immediately. Some players exploit the system by placing the highest possible bet to quickly cash out on the bonus. Casinos don’t like players that use this strategy.
Bonus Hunting
Bonus hunting involves jumping from one casino to the order just to take advantage of the welcome offer and other promotions available to players. When bonus hunters lose on one casino, they move quickly to another casino to exploit their bonus.
Consequences Of Abusing Bonuses
Bonus abuse affects everyone, including the casino, new and existing players, and even the casino abusers. First, bonus abuse often results in a reduction of the bonus offer. Sometimes it may even cause complete discontinuation of the bonus. Second, casinos respond to bonus abuses by setting stricter terms and conditions. For example, it may lead to higher wagering requirements or reducing the maximum amount of bonus players can withdraw.
How Casinos Curb Bonus Abusers
Casinos are always looking for new ways to curb bonus abuse. Some of the things they do to stop bonus abuse from happening include:
• Tracking your IP Address
Casinos track players IP addresses to determine if they have signed up with them before or not. If the casino discovers that you have registered before, they will notify you, and you won’t get another welcome bonus. A player may decide to continue creating multiple accounts and getting several welcome bonuses if casinos don’t track their IP address.
• Placing restrictions on countries notorious for bonus abuse
When casinos discover that a significant amount of bonus abuse comes from a particular location, they solve the problem by excluding all the players from the location from their promotions and bonuses.
• Limit bank methods that qualify for bonuses
Some players abuse bonuses because they are easy to cash out. They make deposits through e- wallets and cash out almost immediately after winning. Casinos react to this kind of abuse by limiting the deposit options for qualifying bonuses. This way, they have more time to scrutinize suspicious bonus wins before they are withdrawn.
How To Avoid Being Labelled A Bonus Abuser
The best way to avoid being tagged a bonus abuser is by staying away from all the acts we mentioned above. However, there are instances when casinos tag players as bonus abusers just to deny them what is rightfully theirs. We recommend checking out reviews and ratings of any online casino before you sign up. Better still, you can choose a reputable casino from our list of the best UK online casinos to avoid playing at dubious casinos.
Casino Bonuses – The Bottom Line
Casino bonuses are one of the factors to consider when deciding whether to play or not to play at an online casino. They are a great way to increase your bankroll and improve your gaming experience. However, it is important that you understand every aspect of casino bonuses to get the most from these offers. We hope if you have become more knowledgeable by reading our detailed guide on casino bonuses.
Casino Bonuses FAQ
Featured Articles
Rainbow Riches
Rainbow Riches is one of the oldest and most popular series of slot machine games and is played by slots fans across the world. You can find the best places...
Online Slots Bonuses
Online Slots Bonuses – As they are the most popular type of casino game it is only right that we should look at the different options players have for claiming...
Free Spin Slot Games
Free spins are one of the most exciting features players look for when gambling online. They are used as promotional tools in most casinos to encourage newcomers to sign up...
18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org