In the highly competitive UK online casino environment, one of the primary concerns of online casinos is how to attract British players to their sites and keep them there. There are many ways in which they do this, with one of the key incentives being bonuses.
Extra money to play with, free spins, cashback, loyalty programs - there are endless options available. However, with so much choice it can often be difficult to determine where the real value lies with a casino bonus. And if it’s even worth taking in the first place?
In this article, we’ll consider both the pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision.
Pros of Casino Bonuses for UK Players
Extra Money When You Sign Up
The most common type of offer is when a casino gives you more to play with. You make a deposit and the casino adds extra bonus money and maybe some free spins to your account to use on the slots and games. This allows players to increase gameplay without spending more upfront.
For instance, one of the most popular offers is 100% up to £100. This means you could deposit up to £100 and receive the same amount as bonus money, doubling your playing power.
Most sites offer a first deposit casino bonus for new players who sign up. This is a particularly popular offer as it’s usually one of the biggest you can get, giving you the possibility to add a lot of extra bonus money to your account.
Continued Rewards as You Play
Savvy casinos offer a range of bonuses to existing players as well. One of those is a reload bonus, which works in the same way: You make a deposit and get extra money on top. There might not be as much extra money available compared with when making your first deposit, but it’s still a decent way to top up accounts and keep players happy.
Some sites may offer cashback rewards as a way to keep existing players engaged. For instance, you might be given 10% of your net losses over a day, week, or month back to your account. Depending on the casino’s terms, this can be given as bonus money or real funds that you can withdraw.
You might also be able to join a casino’s VIP or loyalty program to earn exclusive benefits and personalised perks. Typical benefits include bigger and more personalised offers. However, some sites also give prizes such as the latest tech or holidays abroad.
Chance to Win Real Money
One of the obvious benefits of a casino bonus is that you can actually win and withdraw real money from them. Of course, you often have to clear the wagering requirements which is difficult (more on them later), but it is possible if you strike lucky.
Also, in the UK specifically, players are allowed to withdraw their own money at any time. This usually means they play with this balance first which has a couple of benefits. If you manage to win then you can just forfeit the bonus amount to withdraw the cash straight away. This means not having to navigate the wagering requirements or any other tricky terms.
However, if you lose your own money, the bonus will then kick in and give you another opportunity to win. Of course, it’s more difficult to cash out but it at least gives you a second chance to gain something.
Access New Titles with Less Risk
If you’ve been thinking of playing something different than what you’re used to then a casino bonus can be very handy. Instead of betting your own money, you can instead use the bonus amount to get to grips with the new game first. Then when you’re feeling more confident, you can start to bet with your cash.
For brand new slots, many casinos hand out a batch of free spins to be used on upcoming games, and this can be a great way to try them out. Maybe you’ll even manage to land a bit of winnings on top.
Cons of Casino Bonuses for UK Players
Wagering Requirements
While the bonuses can give you a good bit of extra bankroll, there is of course a catch. Casinos don’t just let you withdraw the bonus amount back to your account, instead you need to place a series of bets to turn the amount into real cash. This is known as wagering requirements.
For instance, if you get a £100 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement then this means you must bet a total of £3,000 before you are allowed to cash it out. Of course, this is a lot of money to wager which is why you’re never guaranteed to win from a casino bonus.
Game Restrictions
Some bonuses only allow you to play certain games. Free spins are the best example as they are always reserved for either one slot or a small selection of slots. You can never just choose which one you want to play. Some bonus money may also have game restrictions but this is less common.
Also, when using any bonus money, it’s important to remember that not all games count equally towards meeting the wagering requirement. Most slots contribute 100%, so if you bet £1 then the full pound counts towards clearing the wagering. However, if you bet £1 on a game that contributes 10% (like popular table games such as blackjack and roulette) then only 10p is considered towards clearing the wagering.
Maximum Wins
Some casinos may decide to protect themselves from losing a lot from bonuses by inserting a maximum win. If you manage to complete the wagering requirements then you will only be able to cash out up to a certain amount, even if you end up “winning” more while playing.
The exact amount usually depends on the type of offer. For instance, if you’ve made a deposit then it’s usually at least £100 or more. However, for no deposit offers it can drop down to around £10 to £20. Any maximum win will be listed as one of the terms and conditions.
Time Limits
Most bonuses have an expiry date. You must activate the offer and complete any wagering requirements within this timeframe or risk losing the amount plus any winnings on top.
Most casinos give you at least a week or even longer which is plenty of time. However, some sites can reduce it to 24 hours. This can be tricky with large bonuses as it can take several hours to complete the wagering requirements for these.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time?
For players who enjoy slots and don't mind fulfilling certain conditions, casino bonuses can be very useful. They will prolong your gameplay, giving you the chance to enjoy the thrill of online slot machines for longer than normal while giving you an outside chance of winning.
Of course, it’s very important to know that you are much more likely to lose the bonus amount than cash anything out. As long as you understand this then you can consider taking one when it’s offered to you. If it’s getting money you’re solely interested in, you can view our guide on how to make £1000 instead.
Also, if you don’t like getting caught up with tricky terms and conditions then it might be best to skip a casino bonus. This way, you won’t accidentally break one of the obligations and have the winnings taken away.
Also, because of how wagering requirements work, casino bonuses are best suited for slots players. Table games just don’t contribute enough to the wagering so these players may also benefit from not taking these offers.
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