A mobile casino bonus is very similar to a standard promotion that you will find at an online casino. The main difference is that you can access it on your smartphone or tablet rather than on a laptop or desktop.
There might be a slight difference in terms of extra spins or bonus cash, but the promotion is often practically the same, no matter which device you access it.
Still, I want to introduce you to the best mobile casino bonuses in the UK. You can access these casinos via any mobile browser or download a dedicated iOS or Android app.
I also explain some of the intricacies of gambling on your phone and reveal the different T&Cs you should look for before accessing a mobile casino bonus this year.
100% bonus up to £100 & 50 free spins
on Diamonds of the Realm when you make your first deposit.
What is a mobile casino bonus?
An online betting site offers a mobile casino bonus to customers who sign up via a smartphone or tablet. Frankly, it’s usually the same offer that desktop-based players can offer.
I’ve occasionally seen mobile casino offers with unique features or characteristics (additional free spins, for instance) to encourage players to download the casino’s app.
Before accessing a mobile casino bonus, I recommend carefully reading its terms and conditions. Even if you’re an experienced casino player who has accessed dozens of promotions over the years, don’t get complacent.
Read the small print and know what to expect. Alternatively, let me do it for you. Keep reading as I explain what to look for in a mobile casino bonus before making your first deposit.
Different mobile casinos available in the UK
I love no-deposit bonuses, as they allow me to test a site’s offering without spending a penny. But this is just one type of mobile casino bonus available in the UK, as I illustrate below:
No-deposit bonus
Some popular UK online casinos offer a no-deposit bonus for a small sum, not more than £10 or £15. Alternatively, the casino might offer free spins for a specific slot game. Either way, you can access this promotion without putting your hand in your pocket – it’s entirely free.
Simply sign up and enter a promo code if required. Then, log into your account on your phone and access the bonus.
As much as I like no-deposit promos for testing out mobile online casino games, they nearly always come with low cash-out limits (£100 max, usually) and are only available for a limited time (24 hours).
So, while a no-deposit bonus is a great way to experiment at a mobile casino, I don’t think it’s the best option if you want to convert the bonus cash to payouts.
Deposit-match bonus
The most popular type of mobile casino bonus in the UK is the deposit-match promotion. This is where the casino matches your initial deposit, usually up to £100 or £200. I’m a big fan of this casino welcome bonus, as it’s easy to understand and comes with straightforward T&Cs.
For instance, let’s say the casino offers a 100% match up to £100. If you deposit up to £100 as a new customer, you can double your money – pretty cool. Sure, you need to satisfy the wagering requirements before cashing out, but it’s handy for topping up your balance when gambling on the phone.
Free spins bonus
Recognising how much UK gamblers love slot machine games, some mobile casinos offer attractive bonuses that add free spins to your account. The spins might be an addition to a cash bonus or be provided on their own.
I like free spins bonuses, though it’s frustrating that they’re nearly always capped at £0.10 per spin. You can’t usually adjust their value, which means only the smallest possible wins. Still, if you love slots like me, don’t turn your nose up at a free spins bonus at a mobile casino.
If nothing else, it’s a good way to play classic slots or try out new games without risking your balance.
Exclusive mobile bonus
Some mobile-first online casinos in the UK offer exclusive promotions to anyone who signs up via the site’s mobile app. This could be a free spins boost, additional bonus cash, or loyalty reward points.
I’ve also seen good value ongoing promotions exclusively available on the casino’s mobile app. For example, you might encounter a cashback promo or a 50% reload bonus unavailable to customers who log into the casino via a computer.
So, if the option’s there, I always recommend downloading the casino’s dedicated iOS or Android app. Not only will it result in a better mobile experience, but you might also be able to access exclusive promotions unavailable to other customers.
Finding mobile casino bonus value
I totally understand that you probably don’t want to read the T&Cs every time you sign up for a betting site. It’s a hassle, for sure, but if you genuinely want to find the biggest and best promotions, you must get into the habit of scanning the terms and conditions. Here’s what I recommend you check before making your first deposit:
Wagering requirements
I advise you to begin with the wagering requirements. Anything under 50x is reasonable in the UK market, though the lower the wagering, the better the offer is.
The wagering requirement indicates how much money (your own balance or winnings) you must gamble before cashing out the bonus cash or free spins.
Simon Says:“Though a bit like gold dust, the best offers in the UK casino market are no-wagering promotions. As the name suggests, they offer bonus cash or free spins without requiring any wagering. Therefore, as soon as you spin and win, you can cash out any winnings up to a specific amount. If you can find them, no-wagering bonuses are a brilliant way to kick off your online casino experience.”
Game contributions
While many people know about wagering requirements, others forget to check the game contributions when signing up for a mobile casino bonus.
This condition stipulates which casino games you can play to satisfy the wagering requirements. Often, slots contribute 100% (although jackpot games are usually excluded), table games range from 10% to 50%, and live casino titles are generally 0%.
So, bottom line? Don’t make the wagering requirements more complex than they already are to meet. Only ever play games with wagering contributions of 100%, and you will find that you can cash out your winnings much more often.
Time limits
You might not be surprised to learn that mobile casino bonuses aren’t available for an unlimited time. You will have a short window to trigger the bonus after signing up (often 24 hours).
Then, after triggering the bonus, the funds or spins will remain active in your account for up to one month before expiring.
Therefore, I advise only signing up for a casino bonus when you’re ready to play. If you’re not planning to play at a casino until the start of next month, wait until then. If you open your account now, you will start the bonus timer ticking, giving you less time to satisfy the terms and conditions before your funds expire.
Payment options
It’s also worth checking which payment options you can use to activate the promotion. I know from experience that many online casinos prevent you from using Neteller and Skrill when depositing. I usually deposit funds into my casino account with PayPal or my debit card, which are nearly always eligible for the promotion.
Also, I want to remind you that you cannot deposit funds at an online casino in the UK with a credit card.
Win limits
Finally, always consider how much you can win from the bonus. Is it worth your time if the win cap is £10 or £20? Possibly – everyone’s different, after all. Personally, I like to see bonuses with win caps no lower than £200, but I appreciate that it’s common to see £100 win limits attached to casino promotions.
It’s so important to check this, as there would be nothing worse than landing a huge 10,000x win while using bonus funds, only to realise you can only cash out £50 or £100. If you check beforehand, at least you’re prepared.
Benefits of mobile over desktop bonuses & gameplay
Although the bonuses at mobile casinos can often also be accessed on a computer, I’m a huge fan of playing slots on my phone.
If I have a little downtime during the day, I love spinning the reels on Book of Dead or Gates of Olympus. Here are some of the reasons why I think gambling on your phone beats playing on a laptop or desktop computer:
Mobile payments
The newest online casinos in the UK support mobile-friendly payments. Specifically, you can create an account on your phone and deposit via Apple Pay or Google Pay with the tap of a button.
This is so much more convenient than typing in your card details and much safer than saving your card details online for future use.
Simon Says: “When you sign up for a mobile casino on your smartphone, you can do everything on your phone. Visit the app store, download the app for free, and register in seconds. Then, switch to Apple or Google Pay to instantly deposit funds without fees. This is so much more convenient than the sign-up process when I started playing at online casinos when dial-up internet added to the time it took to get online for slots & blackjack!”
Play anywhere at anytime
There’s also the significant benefit of being able to play mobile online casino games anywhere and at any time. You don’t need to open your laptop or sign into your desktop computer.
Simply whip out your phone, click on the app, and play your favourite games. This opens up the possibility of online casino gaming when you’re on the train to work or if you’re sitting in the doctor’s waiting room.
In other words, it makes the online casino world much more accessible, enabling you to play whenever you fancy a little flutter.
Exclusive content and promotions via the app
Many mobile casinos offer access to exclusive content and games alongside unique mobile casino bonuses and promotions. Some slots are made exclusively for mobile devices, while others are designed to be better on a mobile screen.
You might even have the chance to enter app-based competitions and tournaments to increase your potential payouts while playing slots and other games.
Though I rarely reach the top levels, I also like that you can earn loyalty points when playing on your phone. These points unlock better perks like improved customer support, cashback offers, and reload bonuses.
So, even if you don’t make it to the top of the ladder, the loyalty points can improve your gameplay experience at the mobile casino.
Why you can trust Simon Says
I have 20+ years in the gambling industry and have been playing slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette since before mobile casinos were invented. My detailed casino reviews are based on my own experiences playing at various sites with real money, and I only recommend legally available and licensed UKGC sites.
I follow a detailed 20-point casino review process to ensure my recommendations are thorough, objective, and fair. If I don’t like a casino, I’m more than happy to tell you why and encourage you to avoid it.