Casino Bonus 2023 – The Ultimate Guide
In this guide we will break down everything you need to know about casino bonuses in 2023. Making it possible for you to claim the best casino bonuses online.
You’ll find our updated list for 2023 of bonuses and related article so you can get the most of your deposited money here below.
Read also:
- UK License:
- Yes
- Bonus Wagering:
- 65x
- Free Spins Wagering:
- 65x
- UK License:
- Yes
- Bonus wagering:
- 35x
- Free Spins Wagering:
- 35x
- UK License:
- Yes
- Bonus Wagering:
- 35x
- Free Spins Wagering:
- Wager Free
- UK License:
- Yes
- Bonus Wagering:
- 35x
- Free Spins Wagering:
- -
- UK License:
- Yes
- Free Spins Wagering:
- 35x
- Bonus wagering:
- 25x
- UK License:
- Yes
- Bonus Wagering:
- x40
- Free Spins Wagering:
- x40
- UK License:
- Yes
- Bonus wagering:
- 35x
- Free Spins Wagering:
- 35x
The best casino bonuses – a guide for beginners
Choosing a casino bonus can be very difficult especially if you have never played at an online casino or claimed bonuses before. Some players know immediately what they want from bonuses, whereas others aren’t exactly sure about what kind of bonuses are good ones and how to claim them.
We’ve all been beginners once and claiming casino bonuses has been challenging. However, today we’ll tell you everything you need to know about claiming your bonuses. We’ll cover the best casino bonuses, free spins, reload bonuses, bonuses without deposit, bonus codes and much more.
If you’re already an experienced casino player and you know what kind of bonuses you like, then we recommend you jump straight to our reviews and claim the best casino bonuses. You can choose the best online casinos from our site and claim your favorite bonus.
However, if you have never claimed a casino bonus before, keep reading. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know and you’ll be ready to claim your bonuses in a heartbeat.
What is a casino bonus?
Before you claim your casino bonuses, it’s important to understand what a casino bonus actually is. A casino bonus is a reward, that an online casino offers their players. You can claim casino bonuses in many different forms, such as bonus money, free spins, cash back or reload bonus. You can snag them for instance with your first deposit or as campaigns offered by the casino.
There are hundreds of online casinos on the market and the competition for players is fierce. Each of them offer different bonuses for their players to lure more players in and the bonuses act as a little carrot and a thank you for new players.
However, bonuses aren’t a scam – they are real bonus money, that you can claim and play with. You do have to take into account, though, that casinos aren’t charities, so the money isn’t cashable as is. That’s why they are always attached to wagering requirements, as otherwise the casino would go bankrupt in a blink of an eye.
In order for an online casino to succeed, it’s almost mandatory for them to offer first deposit bonuses for their players. Players are more apt to join, then they know they’ll get a reward – that’s just human nature. And online casinos exploit this perfectly!
In addition to regular first deposit bonuses, many online casinos also offer other bonuses for their players. You can find campaigns, promotions, reload bonuses, weekly bonuses and tournaments. The more bonuses a casino has, the easier players join the casino and come back again and again.
Let’s see what kind of casino bonuses there are and what to expect of them.
Bonus without a deposit and a deposit bonus – what’s the difference?
Even though there are many different kinds of bonuses, they all fall into one of two categories:
● Bonus without a deposit, or
● Deposit bonuses
A bonus without a deposit is a bonus that you’ll get without depositing any money. These bonuses are often given in a form of free spins and you can’t find them at any casino. They are meant for giving a player a chance to get to know the casino without risking their own money.
A deposit bonus, on the other hand, is a bonus that you’ll get after you make a deposit. These bonuses are for instance first deposit bonuses, reload bonuses, campaigns and other promotions.
No deposit free spins
The most common bonus without a deposit is a free spins bonus. You can often claim them right after joining a casino. You only have to create an account, confirm your account and log back in. Then you’ll see these free spins waiting for you in your account.
No deposit free spins are to be played in games that are defined in the bonus terms. These are literal free play rounds, and you can play the specific game for free – while getting a chance to win real money.
For instance, if you get 10 free spins on Starburst without a deposit, you have to find Starburst from the game lobby and open the game. Then you’ll see these 10 free spins in your account and you can play them in the game.
Please note, that all bonuses (including free spins) must be wagered before you can claim your winnings. But we’ll talk about that a bit more later.
Free bonus money
Some online casinos also give their players free bonus money without a deposit instead of free spins. This is fairly rare, but you may still find casinos that do it. For instance, you may bet £5-10 free bonus money to play wherever you like.
Though this isn’t much, it may still be a better alternative to free spins. Let’s say you get £5 free bonus money and bet £0,10 per round. You can play 50 rounds! However, if you get 10 free spins and they are worth £0,10, you’ll technically get only £1 worth of bonus money.
So, if you have a choice between free spins and free bonus money, it’s recommended to give it some serious consideration.
Just like all other bonuses, free bonus money must also be wagered before you can withdraw your winnings.
Deposit bonus
Deposit bonuses can be found at almost all online casinos. There are a few different types of deposit bonuses:
● First deposit bonus
● Reload bonus
● Campaigns
This means, that you have to make a deposit before you can get a bonus. For instance, if a casino offers a 100% bonus up to £100 with a minimum deposit of £20, you have to deposit £20 real money before you can get your 100% bonus.
In this case, should you deposit £20 to the casino, you’ll get a bonus of £20. This way your account actually has £40 money: £20 deposit and £20 bonus.
No matter what kind of deposit bonus you claim, the idea is always the same: you have to make a deposit before you get your bonus.
What is a first deposit bonus?
First deposit bonus, or a welcome bonus, is a type of casino bonus that you can claim when you make your first deposit at a casino. It can be a one time deal or you can get a bonus on multiple deposits. Some casinos offer a bonus only when you deposit for the first time, and some casinos divide it over a few different deposits.
Usually, you’ll get a match deposit bonus. This means that you’ll get a certain percentage of your deposit as bonus money.
There are many different types of deposit bonuses. You can find really small ones or really big ones. A casino can offer you bonus money, free spins or both. Sometimes you’ll get a 100% match bonus and other times a 500% bonus.
That’s why is super important to compare available bonuses and pick the one that’s right for you.
What’s a match deposit bonus?
The way match deposit bonuses are displayed can look a bit confusing. However, they are actually very easy to read:
● 100% match deposit bonus up to £100
This is the most common type of match deposit bonus and you can find it in multiple casinos. Frankly, this type of bonus doubles your deposit. For instance, if you deposit £20, you’lle get £20 bonus money as well.
However, if you deposit £100 instead, you’ll get £100 bonus money, and you’ll get to play with £200.
You can always deposit more than what the maximum amount is, but you won’t be awarded with any more bonus money.
● 200% bonus up to £100
A 200% bonus is becoming more common. In short, this is a bonus that triples your deposit. If you deposit £20, you’ll get £40 bonus money. Your balance will then be £60. But if you deposit £100, you’ll get £200 bonus money and you can play with £300.
● 50% bonus up to £50
You may also come across bonuses that are less than a 100% or less than £100. These are not very good bonuses, as a £10 deposit would only bring you £5 extra cash. Even with the full amount a £50 deposit brings your balance to £75. Whomp whomp.
● 400% bonus up to £1000
Sometimes, you may also find bonuses that are just huge. In this scenario, a £100 deposit would bring your balance to £500. A full £1000 deposit would give you £4000 bonus money. Though this sounds great, you have to take into account all wagering requirements that can actually get pretty impossible, when we’re talking about amounts this big.
Also note, that some casinos offer a bonus to you only once, whereas some casinos may spread it over the first four or even five deposits.
You are never required to claim any bonuses. If you wish to not claim your first deposit bonus, it’s recommended to contact customer service in advance.
Free spins
In addition to bonus money, you may also get a chance to claim free spins. Some casinos offer only free spins instead of bonus money, and as a matter of fact, these are some super popular bonuses.
A casino may give you 100 free spins for a £20-50 deposit. And if you deposit £51-100, you’ll get 200 free spins. In this case, making the minimum deposit can bring you a good bit of free spins!
Alternatively, a casino may give you 2 free spins for every £2 deposited. For instance, let’s say that the minimum deposit is £20 and you’ll get 2 free spins per pound up to £50. In this case, a £20 deposit would give you 40 free spins. If you deposit £30, you’ll get 60 free spins. A £50 deposit would bring you 100 free spins.
You should also note, that free spins are usually playable in one or two predefined games. This means, that your free spins cannot be played in any other game. Also, the maximum bet in free spins is usually £0,10-0,20 per spin.
Hundreds of free spins are often given to you in 10-20 spin batches. For instance, 100 free spins could be awarded to you in 20 spin increments over the next 5 days.
- Read also: Free spins no deposit for 2022
Bonus money and free spins
Some online casinos offer their players bonus money and free spins. For instance, some casinos may offer you 100% bonus up to £100 + 100 free spins.
Alternatively, a casino may offer you bonus money on the first deposit and free spins on the second and third.
These type of bonuses that offer both bonus money and free spins, are the most generous ones. You can enjoy some free money and free spins, so why shouldn’t you claim them? More and more online casinos offer these bonuses to their players.
Reload bonuses at online casinos
After you’ve claimed your first deposit bonuses, there are usually other bonuses to claim as well. These are called reload bonuses – but what are they?
Frankly, reload bonuses are bonuses that are not first deposit bonuses. These casino bonuses are offered for older players, who have already claimed their first bonuses.
For instance, some casinos may offer their players free spins every Monday. Then you can claim free spins every Monday, when you make the required minimum deposit. Also, a casino may, for instance, offer a 50% bonus up to £50 every Friday.
Online casinos may also offer other campaigns, promotions and tournaments.
Wagering requirements at online casinos
Some players think that casino bonuses are a scam, and that you can’t win anything. That’s not true. Casino bonuses always come with wagering requirements, so it’s much harder to get winnings – but not impossible at all. If casinos didn’t have these wagering requirements, they would basically just be giving money away. And that’s no way to run a business.
Wagering requirements – what are they?
Wagering requirement is a requirement to how many times you have to play your bonus through the games before you can withdraw your winnings. It can also be called a playthrough requirement. For instance, if a wagering requirement is 30x bonus and you got £100 bonus, you are required to play £3000 through the games before you can withdraw winnings from bonuses.
Remember, that the wagering requirement can also be for the deposit and the bonus.
Even though this sounds like a lot, it really isn’t. It is completely possible to meet these requirements, though not necessarily easy. You may get a ton of winnings, if Lady Luck is on your side.
Maximum bet when playing with a bonus
Please note, that when you play with a bonus, you have to take into account all bonus terms. One of the terms is a maximum bet when playing with a bonus. Normally, it’s around £5 per spin or £0,50 per pay line.
If you bet more than this, your winnings and bonus will surely be voided.
Excluded games
When you play with bonus money, there are often many games you’re not allowed to play. This list of games can be found in the bonus terms, and you should always read it over. Or at least make sure that the game you want to play isn’t on it.
On this list are usually the games with the highest RTP as well as jackpots.
Expiration date
It’s important to check how long your bonus and free spins are valid. They all have an expiration date, some a longer one than others. For instance, at one casino a bonus may be valid for 6 months, whereas other may have set the expiration date for 7 days.
Also, free spins are often valid for a lot shorter time, usually only for 24 hours or 72 hours.
Other bonus terms
When you play with free spins, you should check if the casino has a winnings limit. Especially no deposit free spins tend to have a maximum amount you can withdraw. This amount is usually around £100.
Also note, that oftentimes deposits made with Skrill or Neteller don’t give you a right to claim your first deposit bonus. You’ll find this in the bonus terms.
You should also take into account all other possible bonus terms and terms of service. For instance, you can only claim one bonus per household or IP-address.
You should always read all bonus terms and terms of service before you start playing. Though this may feel frustrating, it’s a very important thing to do to avoid stress and headaches (and possible problems) in the future.
What is a bonus code and how should I use it?
Some online casinos use bonus codes for claiming bonuses. It is starting to be more rare, but some casinos still do it. Fortunately, using them is very easy:
1. Check the bonus code from bonus terms
2. Insert the bonus code to a field reserved for it when making your deposit
3. Bonus is in your account
The good thing about bonus codes is, that you can choose whether or not you want to claim your bonus. On the other hand, bonus codes are easily forgotten and they may be expired. If you don’t insert the bonus code when required, you may be left without a bonus altogether.
Should an online casino use a bonus code for bonuses, you can find it in the bonus terms or in the campaign offer. That’s also why you should take some time to read over all bonus terms.
Forfeitable bonus – what is it?
Sometimes, when reading the bonus terms, you may notice that the bonus is a “forfeitable bonus.” So, what does this mean?
This means, that you can forfeit your bonus, if you haven’t played with it yet. You always start by playing with your own money, and when it’s used, you’ll start using the bonus money.
So should you snatch a big win during your first rounds, you can forfeit your bonus and withdraw your winnings without wagering at all.
These bonuses are pretty rare, but you can find them at bigger and more established online casinos. New online casinos often cannot afford to offer such luxury.
On the other hand, if you find a bonus like this, you should claim it over a bonus that isn’t forfeitable. It’s often much more profitable than a normal bonus.
Should I claim casino bonuses?
Many players wonder if they should claim casino bonuses at all. To answer this shortly: it depends on what the player wants. Playing with bonus money is an excellent way to get to know the casino and to play with real money instead of play money.
In addition, bonus money gives more value to your deposit. You should always take into account all bonus terms and conditions, though, so don’t skip them!
Summary
Though casino bonuses may confuse players at first, there’s really nothing difficult to it. You can either claim no deposit bonuses or deposit bonuses, either with your first deposit or afterwards.
Almost all online casinos offer bonuses to players, because it gives them an incentive to play and to join. So it’s no wonder that it’s mega easy to find casino bonuses and free spins at almost every casino out there.
You can find casino bonuses at almost every casino, and the best way to choose the right one is to use some time and compare them. If you like free spins, pick a free spins bonus. If you’re after bonus money, pick one that has the highest match bonus percentage.
Compare casino bonuses and free spins at online casinos that we recommend. We have picked the safest and most reliable online casinos with amazing game selections, and of course, the best casino bonuses.
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Hailing from Leeds, James Worthington is a seasoned player turned writer with over a decade immersed in the online casino realm. With a background in computer science from the University of Leeds, James offers a blend of technical understanding and firsthand gaming experience. Regularly penning articles for free-spins.org, he breaks down complex game mechanics and provides readers with strategies that are both informed and actionable. James's expertise ensures that players get the most out of every spin.