Are you looking for the best UK casino bonuses? I’ve worked in the industry for two decades, accumulating loads of knowledge on how to claim the best offers from reliable casinos. My primary aim when playing is to convert the bonuses into real money.
I want to share some of the casinos I can highly recommend and the types of bonuses you can enjoy. Throughout this article, I’ll share my tricks and tips for elevating your gaming experience to a new level. Let me start by sharing my top casino choices.
100% bonus up to £100 & 50 free spins
on Diamonds of the Realm when you make your first deposit.
Why trust Simon Says
If you’re wondering why you should trust me as your number one source of gambling content, I am passionate about what I do. Having been in the iGaming industry in one form or another for over 20 years, I am a master at sourcing and have all the tricks of claiming and using valuable casino bonuses. I also have plenty of experience playing online slot games and choosing the best ones for wagering.
I also have first-hand experience, as I would never recommend a casino without trying it myself and claiming the bonus. I also always rate the casinos I list to help you make wise betting decisions. I use a set of non-negotiable criteria to assist me with these ratings, including the following:
- Confirm casino licensing and security protocols
- Check the number and quality of games and software providers
- Test the banking methods and detail payment methods
- Make a withdrawal to see the processing speed
- Speak to other players for feedback
- Assess the customer support team and their responsiveness
- Claim and play the bonus casino offers
Variety of online casino bonuses
With so many varied and profitable bonuses available, I want to detail the top ones you’ll come across and how they work. Whether you prefer to play from your smartphone or tablet to claim a bonus, I’ve got the main types of deals you can claim below.
Welcome bonus
As soon as you have chosen a site, the first offer available for you to claim is typically the most generous. You can claim the bonus when you sign up at a casino. I find these vary quite a lot between sites, but the basic premise is that you will receive bonus funds, free spins for playing the slots, or a combination of both. The average percentage of bonus funds I can commonly claim is around 100%.
Some will come on your first deposit only, while others may offer you deposit bonuses or free spins on your first few deposits. My more detailed casino reviews will detail how to claim and the terms attached.
Reload bonus
Once you’ve completed the welcome offer, you’ll want to continue to boost the bank. This is when I turn to these offers for existing players, which can again come as a deposit boost, free spins, or a mix. Each site differs, with some offering them for a weekly or monthly claim. Others I find are very much player-specific, and the more I play, the more offers I tend to receive.
Free spins
I’ve already mentioned the free spins you can receive for new players and as part of reload promotions. Many of the casinos I play at regularly also offer standalone deals. While they all focus on playing slot games, some require deposits, and other offers will reward me for loyalty with no outlays required.
I also find that casinos promote new slots, allowing you to try out the latest releases as they hit the virtual floors. This allows you to try different mechanics, including the ever-popular Megaways casino slots.
No deposit bonus
These are my favourite types of casino offers. They will supply me with free bonus cash or free spins with no deposit to let me get a taste of the casino site. Mostly, they are for slots, but I often receive them from new casino platforms to help them build their initial player base. Some will be for live dealer games, and you’ll receive free chips instead of free spins.
Cashback
As a long-time player, I know that not every session ends in winnings. The cashback deal helps to soften any losses I generate over the course of a day or week, depending on the casino. It will come as a percentage of your losses, ranging from 5% up to about 25%. The percentage is also commonly tied in with your VIP or loyalty program progression.
Some will be for slot gameplay, while others may be for a specific live dealer title or on a range of blackjack or roulette, for example.
Simon Says: “I always factor in my budget when depositing at a bonus casino. If the bonus offer is 100% up to £500 but my budget only allows £100, that’s what I’ll claim. Another thing I do is I will also only deposit money I can afford to lose, as not every bonus claim I make will result in me generating winnings.”
My online casino bonus criteria
Before I join a casino or use a bonus at an existing one, I check to confirm they offer good value. The bonuses all come with terms and conditions. This is one of my top tips and an essential check to undertake yourself, as the casino can change these at any point.
It’s always the best way to have all the facts to hand before you begin. There are a few factors I scrutinise, which I have detailed below.
Wagering requirement
The number of times I have to spend my bonus funds is the wagering. The less, the better for me. The percentage varies from rarely available 1% deals up to about 50%.
Let’s say I received a 100% bonus of £100 with 30x wagering. The simple maths is 30 x 100 = £3,000. This would mean I must spend that amount on the games to convert the bonus monies into real withdrawable cash.
Allowed casino games
I’ve learned the hard way with this term by wagering on the wrong game and wasting time and money. It’s essentially the games you can use to wager your bonuses.
Generally, not all games will count with most slots allowed, but some exceptions may be detailed in a list in the terms. These types of games that won’t count can include jackpot slots with their higher payouts or live casino games.
Minimum deposit necessary
To claim the casino bonus, you must deposit a minimum amount to activate it successfully. In my experience, it averages between £10 and £20.
Mobile casino bonus
If a casino offers a bonus for downloading the app or for mobile players only, you must claim it on a mobile device. As more and more platforms focus more on their mobile offerings due to their increased popularity, they want you to download their app, and you can claim their rewards when you do.
Time frame for claim
When I join a new site or, as an existing player, want to claim an offer, I check the time allowed to claim and activate the offer. If I miss the cut-off date, I will miss out. The other factor to check is the time allowed to claim the bonus before it expires. In my experience, this varies dramatically from a day to about a month.
Max stakes allowed
Another factor to always check is that if you don’t comply with this term, it will be classed as a breach, and you can have any current bonus funds removed. They vary, but generally, it will be a set amount, like £5 per spin, or a percentage of your total bonus funds, like 5%.
Bonus or promo codes
This is another factor to consider when making deposits to claim casino bonuses. If the offer has a bonus code attached, ensure you input it before or during the deposit.
Cashout limits
A bonus casino often imposes a maximum limit on the amount you can withdraw after wagering. It means any winnings you make after the allowed limit will get removed once you complete wagering and before you can request your withdrawal.
These can be frustrating when you lose a big chunk of winnings, so confirm the amount before claiming.
My top tips for using casino bonuses
I know it can be challenging knowing which bonus to claim and how to use it to your advantage best. Over the years, I’ve used the strategies below, which I incorporate to claim the most value and increase my long-term chances of success.
- Looking for low wagering: The lower the wagering of the offers, the higher your chances of converting the funds into cash.
- Don’t claim a bonus before reading the fine print: I’ve already mentioned the T&Cs, but while a bonus may look incredible at first glance, a closer look at your requirements helps to confirm whether it is indeed a good offer.
- Use bonus funds on high RTP games: To help me convert my bonus funds, I aim for the games that are generally slots with the best odds. This helps to increase my long-term chances.
- Choose a bonus casino for games allowed: Most bonuses cater to slot players. If you prefer playing live dealer games at a casino rather than slots, choose one that promotes bonuses for live casino play.
- Gamble safely: This is the most important step to incorporate into your gameplay to keep the gaming entertaining. Never deposit more than you can comfortably afford, and never chase losses.
- Follow the rules: I have included all the terms to check before claiming. Ensure you abide by them, as you don’t want to spend hours playing and then make a simple mistake by spinning more than allowed or missing the deadlines to complete the wagering and receive your casino payouts fast.
Simon Says: “I have a rule of not going above 50x wagering when claiming a bonus, as the odds won’t be in my favour. I also check to see if the wagering is attached to the bonus funds or on my deposit. If it includes my deposit, I won’t go above 25x if it’s a 100% bonus. It’s effectively doubling my wagering requirement.“
My final thoughts on casino bonuses
I have claimed many online casino bonus offers over the years and therefore sourced the best casinos in the UK with some of the top bonus offers. To assist you when deciding where to play, you can use my online casino reviews of the best UK casinos to help you choose.
Understanding the attached bonus terms is the main thing to consider for successful activation and completion. Finally, always maintain a healthy attitude toward gambling when claiming and playing with these lucrative bonus offers.
FAQ about casino bonuses
Can I claim a free UK online casino bonus?
At some sites, yes, you can. With some, no deposit bonuses will entice you as a new player. You can also enjoy VIP or loyalty club promos, including free spins and no deposit bonus funds.
What is considered fair wagering when using one of the casino bonuses?
The lower the wagering, the better the general rule. When I started, most offers involved 10x wagering. This is rarer nowadays, and 30x to 50x is more common and the norm.
What happens if I deposit less than the sum required when claiming a bonus?
The bonus won’t activate on your account. With some bonuses, you will have lost out, while with others, you will have to make another deposit to claim. The best bet is always to check the terms to confirm the minimum deposit required.