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Casino Welcome Bonus Guide

James Smith
July 13, 2020
Modified: May 13, 2024
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The most common and popular type of casino bonus is the Welcome Bonus. Most online casinos give their players many opportunities to claim casino bonuses, but the Welcome Offer is the most common.

Although nearly every UK online casino offers this bonus, not every bonus is created equal. This Welcome Bonus online casino guide will explain what this bonus is, how it works, and what to look out for to pick the best casino Welcome bonus to start your casino experience with. We’ll also examine the different types of Welcome Bonuses that you can encounter at UK casinos.

What is a Casino Welcome Bonus?

A casino Welcome Bonus can be described as the casino’s way of rewarding players for choosing their casino, creating an account, and, often, making their first deposit. You can think of the Welcome Bonus as a casino’s way of making a great first impression on new players.

For the same reason, the Welcome Bonus tends to be one of the best offers at the casino because it’s the one with which new players can start their experience. A casino sign up bonus is offered at almost every online casino, but it’s important to understand that it’s also totally optional; if you prefer to start playing at a casino without a bonus, you can always do that.

How Does a Casino Welcome Bonus Work?

How an online casino Welcome Bonus works can vary from one online casino to another. Moreover, because there are different types of Welcome Bonus casino offers, they don’t always work the same.

In most cases, a casino with Welcome Bonus offers requires account registration and a minimum deposit. If you’re eligible to receive this online casino bonus according to the applicable terms and conditions, the casino will give you a reward to welcome you to the casino, such as Free Spins, a matched deposit bonus, or a combination of both.

Welcome Bonuses Types

Welcome bonuses come in different types, but what they have in common is that they can be a great way to get more value for your deposit by boosting your bankroll or earning a number of Free Spins. Let’s look at the best Welcome Casino Bonus types in the UK.

Free Spins Bonuses

A Free Spins Welcome Bonus is a first deposit bonus that gives new players a fixed number of Free Spins in return for signing up for an account and making a minimum deposit. For example, a Free Spins casino bonus which gives you 20 Free Spins when creating an account and depositing a minimum of £10.

The number of Free Spins, minimum deposit, and other conditions are different for every online casino bonus, but how a Free Spins deposit bonus works for new members is always the same. The value of the Free Spins awarded in these casino bonuses varies between casino bonus sites, but it’s always fixed.  

No Deposit Bonuses

A no deposit bonus is a Welcome Bonus that can be claimed by registering for an account. As you can probably guess from the name, no minimum deposit is required to activate this bonus. This type of Welcome Bonus isn’t so common at online casinos in the UK. Most casino sites don’t award bonus money or Free Spins without making a deposit first, but these casino bonuses are very popular among players.

Typically, no deposit bonuses offer a small number of Free Spins or bonus funds, especially compared to deposit bonuses. More importantly, it’s important to know that this type of Welcome Bonus usually comes with hefty wagering requirements.

Match Deposit Bonuses

A very common casino bonus is the match deposit Welcome Bonus, which, as the name indicates, matches your first deposit by a certain amount. This type of deposit bonus can be found at virtually every online casino in the UK.

The most popular matched deposit bonus is the 100% bonus, which doubles your first deposit up to a certain amount. For example, a 100% match deposit up to £200 will match any deposit you make up to a maximum of £200. This means if you deposit £20, the online casino will add another £20 to your balance, giving you a total balance of £40.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Casino Welcome Bonuses

As you may already know, there’s always a ‘catch’ when you claim a casino Welcome Bonus. This isn’t to say that casino bonuses are a scam or that they don’t offer real rewards, but it’s important to be aware that there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider before claiming a casino Welcome Bonus.

✔️ Casino Welcome Bonus ProsCasino Welcome Bonus Cons
✅ You can boost your bankroll by up to 100%.❌ Wagering requirements apply (and may be quite high).
✅ A Welcome Bonus can double your initial deposit.❌ Maximum winnings from a Welcome Bonus are generally capped.
✅ You can earn a number of Free Spins when claiming this bonus.❌ Some banking options can’t be used when claiming a Welcome Bonus.
✅ It’s one of the best ways to start a casino experience as a new player. 
✅ You can earn loyalty rewards by claiming your Welcome Bonus. 

Cashable vs Non-Cashable Welcome Bonus

Online casino bonuses like the Welcome Bonus can be either cashable or non-cashable. Cashable bonuses allow you to withdraw your bonus money once you’ve fulfilled the wagering requirements, which is why they’re considered the best Welcome Bonus Casino offer. On the other hand, non-cashable bonuses can only be used to play games and can’t be withdrawn.

The table below compares the two Welcome Bonus types.

💰 Cashable Welcome Bonus💰 Non-Cashable Welcome Bonus
➡️ Bonus funds can be withdrawn, subject to terms and conditions.➡️ Can only be used for play purposes.
➡️ A maximum cashout limit may apply.➡️ You can’t withdraw your bonus funds at any point.
➡️ Cashable Welcome Bonuses are much more popular.➡️ Not very common at online casinos and much less popular.
➡️ Wagering requirements generally apply.➡️ Not usually subject to wagering requirements.
➡️ Online casinos usually impose a minimum withdrawal limit.➡️ The bonus amount may be higher than a cashable Welcome Bonus.

Terms and conditions vary between online casinos, but the type of conditions tend to be the same for the most part. For example, a minimum deposit is usually required, but the amount varies.

The most common Welcome Bonus T&Cs are explained below.

  • Time limit – Any wagering requirements and other terms must be fulfilled within the time limit specified, or the bonus will be forfeited.
  • Wagering requirements – Most bonuses must be wagered a specified number of times before any winnings can be cashed out. The average wagering requirement ranges from 30x to 65x.
  • Maximum winnings – Some casinos limit the amount that can be won when playing with bonus funds or Free Spins.
  • Minimum deposit – Deposit casino bonuses have a minimum deposit required to activate a bonus.
  • Game restrictions – If the Welcome Bonus awards Free Spins, there are usually restrictions on which slot games can be played with bonus bets.
  • Eligible payment methods – Some casino sites don’t allow deposits with any available banking options.

How to Sign-Up for a Welcome Bonus?

To claim any casino Welcome Bonus, you must first complete the account registration process. This might look slightly different from one online casino to another, but the process is generally straightforward and quick.

Here’s a step-by-step guide you can follow to claim a casino Welcome Bonus:

  1. Choose an online casino with the best casino bonuses.
  2. Click ‘Sign Up’ or ‘Register’.
  3. Fill in the required fields to complete the registration form.
  4. Tick the relevant box to indicate that you wish to receive the Welcome Bonus.
  5. Make the minimum deposit required to activate it.
  6. The Welcome Bonus should now be added to your account.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About Welcome Bonuses

☑️ A casino welcome bonus is any bonus offered to a new player who signs up at an online casino. This could be a live casino Welcome Bonus, a mobile casino Welcome Bonus, or even a Sports Betting Welcome Offer.

☑️ Online casinos offer welcome bonuses to give prospective players an incentive to create an account and make a deposit on the site. It’s also a way to encourage players to choose their online casino over their competitors.

☑️ If you’ve fulfilled all the welcome bonus wagering requirements, you can cash out any bonus winnings like regular ones. Remember that a minimum withdrawal limit usually applies.

☑️ You can use a casino bonus balance to play eligible casino games to contribute towards your wagering requirements.

☑️ The wagering requirement refers to the number of times the bonus amount needs to be wagered before you can request a withdrawal from your casino account.

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James Smith

At the age of 28, James, an expert in technology and video gaming with a passion for online casinos, pursued studies in Creative Writing and Media Studies at the University of London. As an active contributor to the Gizmodo Twitter account, his goal is to share his knowledge of video game culture and technological advancements with you, the readers.

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