Tips and Tricks
When you're visiting an online casino, you need to know that you can play with peace of mind. Your chosen site should be safe, trustworthy and fair. Most online casinos will offer you attractive welcome bonuses, and you can find top casino bonuses here. With so many online casinos to choose from, knowing which site to pick can be difficult!
We've put together everything you need to know to make the most of the online casino bonus offers that are out there just waiting to be discovered. In this article, we've picked out the latest bonuses and info for players in the UK, although there are plenty of other bonuses available for casino fans elsewhere in the world.
What to Look for
First of all, it's important to make an informed choice when choosing casino bonuses. In order to attract customers to sign up and to stand out from the competition, online casinos often offer flashy offers. You should always read the terms and conditions before you sign up for anything so that you know exactly what you're getting. It's also important to know how to check if a site is the real deal so that you don't get caught in a scam!
There are seemingly endless kinds of bonuses to choose from too. For instance, some bonuses are specific to certain casino games. If you're unfamiliar with bonus types, it can be really difficult to work out what is actually on offer. We've brought together all of the bonus types that you're most likely to come across, plus some of the rarer ones that are worth keeping your eyes peeled for.
To round things off, we've also picked out some of our favourite bonuses that are on offer now. We've done the work so that you can trust that these offers and sites are completely trustworthy. As offers are usually time-limited, it's a good idea to watch out for new bonuses as they come online.
How to Play Safe
Once you've spotted a casino bonus offer that you like the look of, it's a good idea to check that it meets certain requirements. Our tick list is pretty foolproof and is a handy way to assess any bonus offer you come across. It's also a good idea to read user reviews, to find out what other players think of specific casinos and offers.
Avoid Scams
First of all, you should check the legitimacy of the casino. Unfortunately, there are some scam sites out there, so you need to be careful that you don’t give out personal or financial information to a fraudulent site. It's easy to check if a casino site is real; Simply look for the anchor in the web address. That little symbol indicates that the website has been verified and is trustworthy.
Is Your Casino Licensed?
You should also scroll right down to the bottom of the casino's webpage, to check that it is licensed. If you're playing in the UK, look for the Gambling Commission logo. That badge means that the casino is licensed and regulated to operate legally in the UK. It's best to avoid a site if it doesn't display its license, as it might not be trustworthy.
Check the Small Print
Once you're satisfied that you've chosen a good casino, it's time to check the small print of the bonus on offer. All casino offers are subject to wagering requirements. This means that money won through free spins or cash must be played with through the casino a certain number of times before it can be cashed out.
Consider whether the wagering requirements are too high and whether you are likely to play enough with that site to be able to cash out on the offer. It's also worth checking how long the bonus is valid. Will you be able to meet the wagering requirements before the offer expires? Finally, you should check the minimum amount you need to deposit to claim the bonus.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are certainly worth taking advantage of and offer a great way to stretch out your bankroll. However, it's worth having a look at the other kinds of bonuses that online casinos offer too. Lots of sites offer bonuses and special schemes to reward regular players. There are quite a few different kinds of bonuses to keep your eyes peeled for, so we'll explain exactly what they are.
What Are They?
Welcome bonuses, also known as sign up bonuses, are offered to players when they create a new account at an online casino. Sometimes these bonuses are offered before players make their first deposit. These are called no deposit welcome bonuses and often consist of cash to play with or free spins. For these, and some other kinds of offers, bonus wins can be capped. This will always be explained in small print.
Different Types
Similarly, there are also first deposit and match bonuses. These are usually matched to a percentage of a player's first deposit. For instance, you might come across anything from a 100% matched bonus to a 500% matched bonus.
Some welcome bonuses are specifically for mobile play, while others cater for live casino games, like live poker or blackjack. Free spins bonuses are very common and are often available to use only with specific slots. If you know which games you like best, there are other specific offers like bingo bonuses and poker bonuses.
How to Claim
Occasionally, you'll find a welcome bonus that requires a code to activate it. Don't worry though, because the code is not normally kept secret! Most of the time the casino will display the code alongside the offer. If not, google is your friend and you'll be able to find it quickly. Bonus code offers aren't particularly different to any other kind of offer and are well worth looking out for.
Loyalty Rewards
Some players seem to think that once you've signed up with a casino, you won't be offered any more special offers. That's not true! Many of the bonuses we've already discussed are offered to loyal players, as well as some other bonus types.
Most casinos like to reward customer loyalty, as it keeps players coming back for more. Sites will often have weekly or monthly promotions, for instance, a slot game of the week. Free spins or reward points could be on offer for playing that game. For table games, there are sometimes cashback offers. While these are usually only available when you lose a game, they offer a great way to minimize any losses.
It's worth looking out for no wagering bonuses too, although these can be harder to come by. These bonuses are offered without the player having to meet wagering requirements and are some of the best value bonuses. Other offers for existing customers include rollover, double and reload bonuses.
VIP Treatment
Perhaps the most discussed bonus of the moment is the VIP scheme. These casino bonuses have appeared frequently in the press, and the regulator has tightened rules to make them safer for players. These loyalty schemes offer some of the best rewards for regular players, but it's important not to play beyond your means to meet points goals.
Loyalty schemes are usually offered to players who visit the same online casino regularly. If a certain site becomes your favourite and you find yourself visiting it often, you could receive an offer to join such a scheme. Unlike other kinds of bonuses, VIP offers are exclusive and hand-picked for special customers by the casino.
VIP customers can receive special treatment from a personal account manager, personalized deposit and withdrawal limits and monthly bonuses. Rewards can be in the form of cash, prizes and invite to events. Some loyalty schemes operate on a system of points, which can be earned by playing games and wagering certain amounts. Once a player has earned enough points, they can then swap them for prizes and offers.
Our Favorite Bonuses
Now you know all about what kinds of bonuses are on offer and how to receive them, let's take a look at some of our top picks. As there are constantly new bonus offers being brought out, it's worth looking for yourself too!
We think that Casimba's three-part £2000 Welcome Bonus is one of the best bonuses out there. First, the casino is offering to match 100% up to £500, plus 50 free spins on the Starburst slot. The second bonus offers 25% up to £1000 and 50 spins on Starburst, Gonzo and Twin Spin slots. The third bonus promises to match 50% up to £500 bonus, plus a further 25 spins on Netent games.
Casumo offers new customers a 100% matched bonus up to £25, plus 20 free spins on the popular slot "Book of Dead". If you'd prefer an offer on sports betting, Casumo is also offering a sports welcome offer – all you have to do to claim it is bet £10 to get £10.
BGO is a great online casino for slots fans and is offering new sign-ups a spin on the Mega Wheel, for the chance to win up to 500 free spins. Griffon Casino is also offering up to 200 bonus spins as part of its welcome package.
Top 15 Casinos
You'll find that there are plenty more online bonuses to help you make the most of your bankroll. Check out these casinos for some of the best welcome and loyalty offers.
- LeoVegas
- SkyVegas
- EnergyCasino
- Betway
- LV BET
- Grosvenor Casinos
- BetVictor
- Playluck
- Grand Ivy Casino
- Paddy Power Games
- PlayOJO
- Playzee
- PartyCasino
- Virgin Games
- Ladbrokes
Happy Playing!
Now you know which kinds of casino bonus offers are out there, you can choose one that suits your playing style best. Remember to always check the small print and check that your selected casino is licensed in the UK by the Gambling Commission. Have fun, play safely and make the most of casino bonuses!