Welcome Bonuses

Who doesn’t love welcome bonuses? Usually offered by most online casinos, welcome bonuses are used to attract new players and can be very generous – just the perfect way to get your casino journey started. 

 

To claim it, you simply need to register a new account and make your deposit. However, some are better than others. They aren’t always as good as they look at first glance. So read on to get a idea on which are the best welcome bonuses, how to identify a good offer, claim it and get playing.

Welcome bonus casinos UK logo

What is a welcome bonus?

A welcome bonus is awarded to attract new players to the site. Usually, to claim the best online casino welcome bonus offer, you will need to deposit your own money first. There will need to be a minimum deposit you need to make as well as a maximum bonus you can claim. 

There may also be a no deposit bonus. This means you simply have to create an account. As soon as this is done, the bonus will be awarded and you can play with your free money or spins. 

A casino will do whatever it can to make its welcome bonus as attractive as possible. Because the more alluring it is, the more players are likely to sign up. However, this means not just generous bonus amounts, but also fair T&Cs.

 

Here are the most common types of bonuses:

100% Deposit Match

Most online casinos will offer a 100% match deposit offer, for example. This simply means that the casino will double your money. 

For example: 

  • You might be offered a 100% up to £200 bonus.
  • If you deposit £50 into your account, the casino will give you £50 in bonus money. So, in total, you will have £100 in their account to play with

     

This can generally be used to play many of the games on the site (with a few exceptions that you will need to check in the T&Cs).

Free Spins Welcome Bonus

A free spins welcome bonus typically awards you a set number of free spins on a specific slot game or a selection of slot games. These free spins can be used to play and win real money – although the winnings will be subject to wagering requirements.

This type of bonus offers a risk-free way to try out the casino’s games, show off new games or promote a popular game… potentially with real money wins. To claim it, you must create a new account with the casino and make an eligible deposit, although some casinos may also offer no-deposit free spins which are even better.

 

It’s important to read the terms and conditions of a free spins welcome bonus before claiming it, as there may be restrictions on the games that can be played with the free spins, wagering requirements, and other important information.

More often now, casinos give you a mix of the both, so you can enjoy bonus money and free spins to get started.

Terms and Conditions

You need to make sure that you read the T&Cs through carefully before you claim. Here are the main ones to look out for:

  • Eligibility: The welcome bonus may be restricted to players from certain countries or regions, will be for new players only and for players aged 18+.

  • Minimum Deposit Requirements: You will normally be required to make a minimum deposit – usually around £10 or £20.

  • Maximum Bonus Amount: The maximum bonus you can claim, which will be specified. I.e. £200. Even if you deposit more than £200, you won’t be able to claim anything over that.

  • Wagering Requirements: The bonus and your winnings will usually be subject to wagering requirements. This is the number of times your bonus and/or winnings must be wagered before they can be withdrawn. So, for example, if you claim a £50 bonus with 30x wagering requirements, then you will need to spend £1,500 of your own money before you can withdraw your winnings. The lower the wagering, the better.

  • Game Restrictions: It may well be restricted to certain games, such as slots (for free spins) or selected table games. So, make sure you can play your favourite games before you claim it.

  • Time Restrictions: The welcome bonus may have a time limit, after which the bonus and any winnings from it will be forfeited if not used. Use it or lose it. Ideally, it will be 30 days, but some may be as short as 7 or 14 days. The longer the better.

  • Maximum Win Limit: There may be a maximum win limit on winnings from the welcome bonus. This is usually more for a no-deposit bonus. Anything you win over this amount will be invalidated and lost.

Make sure you carefully read all the terms and conditions before claiming your bonus to make sure you know how to claim the bonus, how to withdraw your money – and if it’s worth claiming. If it has 60x wagering with a 14-day validity period, you may wish to refuse it.

Welcome Bonus v First Deposit Bonus

Some online casinos offer welcome bonuses and others call them first deposit bonuses, but are they the same? Here are the main differences: 

Welcome Bonus

First Deposit Bonus

A bonus such as this might involve multiple bonuses over your first 3 or 4 deposits.

First deposit bonuses are just for your first deposit.

If made over 3 or 4 deposits, these can go up to as much as £1,000 or more.

Most first deposit bonuses only go up to around £200.

This can be a combination of a deposit and no-deposit bonus.

First deposit bonuses are not usually offered alongside a welcome bonus or other bonuses

A welcome bonus may come with specific requirements for each deposit bonus

This type of bonus does not always have the same requirements

The best welcome bonuses will come as a package, which means lots of possible bonuses and spins up for grabs. It also encourages you to keep coming back to deposit. However, a first deposit bonus is great for a one-off, but there is no encouragement to keep on paying in afterwards. 

How to stay safe online when using a welcome bonus

You need to stay safe whenever you sign up for a new account at an online casino. Obviously, playing at a licensed casino is a must.

However, another way to stay safe when looking for online casino welcome bonus offers is checking to see if the site uses SSL (secure socket layer) encryption. The details of any SSL encryption can usually be found in a site’s terms and conditions section. 

Ideally, it should also be certified by agencies such as eCOGRA, which ensures that the RNGs are completely transparent and fair.

The most popular types of welcome bonus

Welcome bonuses can come in many shapes and sizes. However, the most popular online casino sign up bonus are:

  • A simple welcome bonus  – This is the most common type of welcome bonus offered. It involves players receiving anything from 100% to 200% of their initial deposit. Bonuses such as this tend to be found at most online casinos and attract many players. The welcome bonus can occasionally be as much as 500%, however, this is very rare.

     

  • A slots welcome bonus – Those who love to play slots may find that this type of bonus is more suited to them. A slots welcome bonus typically involves players receiving free spins when they create an account. From time to time, a slots welcome bonus may also involve players receiving money to spend on the slots.

     

  • An extra spins bonus – A bonus such as this can include bonus rounds in a game of slots. A casino registration bonus such as this is typically only available at online casinos that offer slot games. 

The above types of welcome bonuses tend to be the most popular. They offer players the chance to get extra money or spins when they use a sign up bonus casino offer. 

Players should be aware that every online casino is likely to offer something different. A free sign up bonus a casino offers might be completely different to a welcome bonus offered elsewhere. This is why it makes sense to shop around. 

The best welcome bonus casinos

There are some excellent welcome bonuses around, and they are usually offered by some of the best online casinos. 

At the time of writing, the best welcome bonus casinos were:

Online Casino

Welcome Bonus

Casumo Casino

100% deposit bonus up to £100 and 20 free spins

Luckland Casino Up to £50 plus 50 free spins

Pokerstars Casino

100 wager-free spins and an additional 150 wager-free spins

Grosvenor Casino

Deposit £20 and play with £50

Betfair Casino

50 wager-free spins

777 Casino

Receive up to £200 on your first deposit 

Party Casino

50 free spins

888 Casino

100% deposit bonus plus an additional bonus of £88

LeoVegas Casino

Up to £100 bonus, 10 no-deposit splints and 50 extra rounds

Note: The above welcome bonuses were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change at any time. Make sure you visit the online casino in question to see what the current offer is.

How to find a good welcome bonus

Finding a good registration bonus isn’t always as easy as you think. There are a multitude of welcome bonuses on offer. However, some are undoubtedly better than others. Here’s how you can find one that suits you:

Look for a bonus you like

One of the first things you should do is look for a bonus you like. This could be a 100% welcome bonus, or a bonus that includes extra spins. Take a look at as many online casinos as possible to see what they offer. Chances are, you will find at least a few welcome bonuses that appeal to you

Online casinos tend to change the bonuses offered from time to time. Therefore, if you aren’t too sure about one right now, but you like the look of the actual casino, it is worth your while saving the casino’s URL and checking back 2-3 weeks later. You can even claim more than one if you like. There’s nothing wrong with signing up for different casino websites.

Read the terms and conditions

When you do find a welcome offer that you like, be sure to read the terms and conditions. Every single welcome bonus out there will come with a number of stipulations to follow. Reading them will help you to understand what is required of you before you get the welcome bonus. 

For example, you might be asked to deposit at least £20 into your account before you receive a 100% deposit match. 

If there is more than one bonus available and it is spread out over several deposits, you will need to check the terms for each of these as, quite often, there are differences.

Open Your New Account

As soon as you have read the terms and conditions, it’s time to sign up. Whether you are looking for a free spins bonus, a match deposit bonus or a no deposit offer, there will be something just for you. So, look through our list of best casino bonuses, compare them carefully, read the reviews and choose the right one for you.

FAQ

An online casino welcome bonus usually involves players making a deposit and getting rewards in return. This could include a 100% deposit match that will double your money, free spins, or even a mix of the two if you are lucky.

They require a player to open a new account on the website and make an eligible deposit. As soon as this is done, the player will be rewarded with the promised welcome bonus, which they can then use to play the specified games. To withdraw any winnings, you will need to fulfil the wagering requirements within the given time frame.

Most online casinos give welcome bonuses to all players. However, it is always worth shopping around to make sure that you find the best offers around. Look through our list of the best welcome offers and compare them to find the right one for you.

At the time of writing, 888 Casino gave one of the biggest welcome bonuses. However, this is subject to change at any time.