• Thu. Aug 28th, 2025

A guide to online casino bonuses in the UK

ByDave Stopher

Feb 15, 2021

Gambling online has become a very competitive industry with sites looking to attract new players with casino bonuses. This can be in the form of free cash, free spins or free playing chips. If you are new to playing online the types and number on offer can be overwhelming.

Here we will take you through a selection of types on offer and what they mean.

Free spin bonus

Slots are the most popular way to enjoy playing online and one of the easiest to play for free. Free spins are usually given straight away or after a deposit has been made into your account. Ranging from 5 – 50 spins these can be used on a specific game or across a selection of them. Winnings from these can sometimes be limited but are still a great way to get started.

Sign up bonus

The most popular of all casino bonuses in the UK and also known as a welcome bonus. It’s always worth taking advantage of these and they come in the form of free spins, money or a combination of the two. Unsurprisingly you will receive these when you sign up to the online site you have chosen as the name suggests.

It’s worth remembering that there is nothing stopping you from taking advantage of these sign up bonuses on multiple sites when you set up an account. Make sure you check the small print as some bonuses expire and also cashout restrictions.

Cashback bonus

It is inevitable that at some point you may lose in a game but you can restrict your losses by taking advantage of the Cashback offers. They work by returning some of what you have lost back to your account. For example if your losses were £50 depending on the offer in place you may get £5 or £10 back. 

A Cashback offer can be available on a particular day or game and you can take advantage of this bonus across multiple sites.

No deposit bonus

A no deposit bonus is very attractive to new players as they don’t need to commit money to play. The amounts on offer are lower but it’s a great way to try out different games This bonus comes in the form of free spins, casino cash or both. Winnings can be subject to a cap.

Reload bonus

These incentives are offered to existing players to encourage them to keep playing and depositing money. Whilst the amounts on these are not necessarily the biggest they are worth taking advantage of and are offered on a regular basis. 

No wagering bonus

I think it’s fair to explain what wagering requirements mean to show the benefits of a no wagering bonus. These are a strict set of rules around welcome bonuses and how many times you have to play through your bonus before you can withdraw any winnings. For example if the welcome bonus was £50 and the wagering requirement was X30 you would need to place £1500 worth of bets before claiming your winnings. As you can imagine this can be extremely frustrating for players.

Online sites have now started to offer modest no wagering bonuses to players with no strings attached. These have proven very popular and whilst it is tempting to go for a large welcome bonus, take the time to think. With large wagering requirements it is more likely you may come away empty handed.

Conclusion

There is a large selection of bonuses on offer across many sites and it is wise to take your time to look around. The selection we have looked at will give you a great start at understanding what’s available out there.