Best Online Casino Welcome Bonuses

Welcome Bonuses Explained

There are a number of ways you can collect your reward; some bonuses are given once you make your first deposit; others offer a welcome bonus over multiple deposits; and an elusive no deposit bonus will be credited as soon as you sign up. Depending on the type of bonus, you can use it to play table games, slots, or even live casino games.

If you’re a novice to the casino world, a well-crafted welcome bonus is an exciting and rather useful prospect — the casino is basically giving you a lump of bonus funds you can use to explore their site and games. Why do they do this? Essentially, they’re looking to attract players to their site, and letting you play games on their dime is a great way to do that. 

Of course, if every casino went around handing out free money, they’d quickly go out of business. That’s why the terms and conditions around every bonus determine its true value to a player, as not every bonus will result in real, withdrawable cash.

Types of Welcome Bonus 

Online gamblers are a diverse bunch, and casinos are well aware of this fact — they offer a broad range of bonus types, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a slots fanatic looking for a fat bundle of free spins, or an eagle-eyed player searching for the lowest wagering requirements, you’re bound to find the perfect welcome bonus for you. Let’s take a look at the different types of welcome offers found across the online casino landscape.

Matched Deposits

Matched deposits are one of the most commonly seen welcome bonuses. It’s simple — just make a deposit and the casino will match it by a certain percentage. Say for example that you sign up at a casino with a welcome offer of a 100% deposit match up to £200. When you make at least the minimum deposit required — likely £10 or £20 — you’ll receive the same amount in bonus funds, doubling your bankroll. 

The number of deposit matches you can benefit from depends on the bonus. Although most casinos will only match your first deposit, others offer multiple matches, sometimes over four or five separate deposits. 

Nearly all match bonuses come with wagering requirements, which means you’ll need to play through your bonus a certain number of times before you can withdraw the resulting winnings. Some casinos will cap the amount of money you can win from a bonus with a winnings limit — we’ll cover these all-important T&Cs later on.

Free Spins

Free spins are another bonus you’ll frequently come across. They give you a chance to win real money on your favourite slots at no cost to yourself. Casinos often combine free spins with a deposit match that can be used on table games, giving you the best of both worlds. 

Free spins are generally only eligible for one or two slots. Some popular titles that are often included are Book of Dead from Play’n GO or Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt. Sometimes, bonus spins are given out when a new game is released to encourage players to give it a try. In any case, they’re a great way to familiarise yourself with the game and any special features before staking your own cash.

No Deposit

No deposit bonuses are exactly what they sound like — they’re bonuses that you can claim without making a deposit. These welcome bonuses are highly sought after as you can explore the casino and suss out the games on offer without committing your own cash, and they’re usually granted once you sign up for a new account.

A no deposit bonus will most often come in the form of free spins, but you could also receive bonus credit or even cashback on losses. It’s worth keeping in mind that because you’re not having to stump up any money to claim the offer, no deposit bonuses are usually smaller in size, or have their value diminished by strict terms and conditions like high wagering requirements and low win limits.

No Wagering

No wagering bonuses are the favourite of many online casino enthusiasts. If you’re not sure what a no wagering bonus is, it’s important to first understand what wagering requirements are. Found in the terms and conditions of any offer, wagering requirements prevent you from withdrawing your bonus until you’ve played through a set amount of your own cash, based on the value of the bonus.

With a no wagering bonus, you won’t have to do that — any winnings are yours and can be withdrawn as cash immediately. The bonuses are often smaller as a result, but they’re significantly more valuable to players as a real money return is much more likely. Casinos will usually explicitly state if a bonus doesn’t have any wagering requirements attached to it, as they know these types of offers are highly appealing to players. 

No Deposit, No Wagering

The double whammy of a no deposit, no wagering bonus is a true unicorn in the world of casino promotions. Not only will you get the bonus without making a deposit, but any winnings are yours to keep — it’s like you’re getting paid just for signing up. Most commonly, these bonuses come as a handful of free spins to use on a selected slot and are usually only found at new casino sites.

As you can imagine, the online casinos stand to lose a lot of money on these offers, so they’re usually subject to low win limits of around £5–£10. That said, there’s no reason not to claim this type of welcome offer: get lucky on the reels and it’s money for nothing.

Bonus Terms and Conditions 

There are always terms and conditions attached to a welcome bonus, and it’s essential you familiarise yourself with them to ensure you understand exactly what the offer comprises. For example, an online casino might promise an exceptionally large deposit match, but its true value will likely be negated by steep wagering requirements. Conversely, a smaller bonus with player-friendly terms and conditions might put a small cash return within reach.

While a welcome bonus is a kick-start to any online casino experience, there are several pitfalls to watch out for within the terms and conditions — and you could be left disappointed if you’re not aware of them. We’ve outlined the most common welcome bonus terms and conditions below.

Wagering Requirements

Arguably the most important terms to watch out for are wagering requirements, and you’ve likely encountered them if you’ve ever claimed a casino bonus in the past. Essentially, wagering requirements are a way for casinos to stop every player who claims a bonus from withdrawing the resulting winnings — otherwise, they’d quickly go bankrupt. 

So, how do they work? The T&Cs will stipulate a number of times you’ll have to stake the value of the bonus before the winnings can be withdrawn. Imagine a £20 bonus with 30x wagering requirements. You’ll need to stake £600 of your own money before you can cash out the bonus and associated winnings.

Time Limits

Nearly every bonus comes with a time limit, after which it expires. Make sure you know how long you have — you’ll need to meet the wagering requirements within this time as well, otherwise you’ll forfeit the remaining bonus and any winnings too. A common length of time is two weeks to a month, but some offers might give you as little as 24 hours to use the bonus. 

Game Restrictions

Unfortunately, you won’t get the total run of the place when it comes to using your welcome bonus. Certain titles or even entire genres will be excluded — live casino being the most common example. In the case of free spins, they’re often valid for one or two titles, although some casinos will give you a greater degree of choice. 

Some restrictions also apply when it comes to meeting the wagering requirements. Commonly referred to as game weightings, these terms dictate whether money wagered on certain games will contribute to the wagering requirements of a bonus. While slots usually contribute 100% to the requirements, most table games will be weighted lower or even contribute nothing at all.

Winning Caps

Another term which can inhibit the value of a bonus is a winnings cap, which limits the amount you can take home from your welcome bonuses. Say you won £500 on a lucky slot spin but the bonus is subject to a £100 win limit. You’ll forfeit the other £400. As frustrating as that might be, you should count your session as a success if you do hit the win cap. 

Winnings limits tend to be lower on bonuses with low or no wagering requirements or on no deposit bonuses, in order to keep things profitable for the casinos.

How to Claim Your Welcome Bonus

It’s easy to claim your welcome bonus at one of our recommended online casinos. Here’s what you need to do, step by step.

1. Browse and compare on Gambling Deals
   Browse our reviews at GamblingDeals.com and compare the available offers — our review team has done all the heavy lifting to make your life easy. Once you’ve found your match, click through to the online casino to begin the sign-up process.
2. Understand the terms and conditions
   Read the terms and conditions of the welcome offer to ensure it’s right for you. Make sure you note any key points such as wagering requirements and time limits.
3. Sign up
   Create your account by entering your personal details, choose a username and password, and complete any required identity verification steps. Make sure to enter the promo code or opt in if the bonus requires it. Once you’re logged into your new account, you’ll be able to claim your casino welcome bonus. 
4. Claim your bonus
   Head to the cashier page and make your qualifying deposit, ensuring you meet the minimum amount and use a valid payment method. Once the deposit is confirmed, you’ll be awarded your bonus — unless you’re claiming a no deposit deal which will be granted as soon as you’ve signed up. All that’s left to do is browse the games and play! Don’t forget to make a note of which games are eligible so you don’t get caught out.

Choosing the Right Banking Option

Funding your casino account is an essential step for any offer contingent on a deposit. There are pros and cons to the various payment methods available at online casinos, and it’s an equally important decision when it comes time to withdraw your cash should you land some winnings. 

Below, we’ve run through some popular options. Make sure you sign up at a casino which supports your preferred method. 

Debit Cards

A familiar payment method to most, debit cards can be used to deposit and withdraw funds to and from your casino account. Most players have access to one, so they’re a strong back-up if another method is unavailable. Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro are the most widely used debit cards.

While deposits are instant, withdrawals usually take longer, at around 3–5 days — although that’s changing with Visa Fast Funds, a service for Visa customers that allows you to receive your withdrawal in under an hour. 

e-Wallets

e-Wallets are a fantastic way to manage your online casino wallet, primarily because they’re highly secure. Your banking details are stored with the e-wallet account and you won’t have to share them with the casino site. e-Wallets are convenient too — just log in with your username and password to confirm the transaction. 

Popular e-wallet options include PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. Deposits are instant, and they offer some of the fastest withdrawal speeds too, with some users receiving their cash in under an hour. One potential drawback is e-wallets may be excluded from a welcome bonus.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are one of the safest banking methods to use at an online casino. One widely accepted prepaid card is Paysafecard, a voucher that can be bought at any participating retailer. Simply choose the value you want to purchase and you’ll get a 16-digit PIN which can be used to transfer the funds to your casino wallet.

If you’re concerned with security, prepaid cards are a great way to go — you won’t be sharing your own bank details with the online casino, and the card can never be overdrawn. Deposits are usually instant, but one major drawback is the lack of withdrawal support.