The different types of casino bonuses used by online casinos in the UK
Online casinos use numerous methods to attract new customers and keep old ones coming back. Many use rewards to help punters play more rounds while enticing them to deposit more money. This article highlights the most popular promotional bonuses in UK casinos.
No deposit bonuses
No deposit bonuses are a less common type of casino bonus nowadays in the UK due to regulatory changes in recent years, but when they are used, they are usually given to new players as a welcome offer. In most cases, you can redeem them before paying, but some require a low minimum deposit. Besides, some sites need a promo code to redeem the reward, while others automatically reward you with the prize after you top up.
Such bonuses enable you to play numerous casino games such as slots, blackjack, or roulette. The best part about them is that you don’t need your own money to use them on a particular casino site. Therefore, if you do not like the site or if it does not have the games that you want, then you will not lose out financially by using a ‘no deposit bonus.
If your no deposit bonus wins big, then that is great. However, it is always advisable to double-check what terms or conditions apply for withdrawing any winnings before playing with this reward to prevent any misunderstanding down the line.
Match bonuses
Match bonuses are another common type of casino promotion. A match bonus is when a casino offers to match a player’s deposit by some percentage up to a specified monetary value. For instance, a casino may offer a 100% match bonus on deposits with a maximum value of $50. If you make an initial deposit of $30, then the platform will credit your account with an additional $30 in bonus funds. The terms and conditions that apply to match bonuses can vary between casinos. However, the most common terms and conditions are:
a) The player must deposit at least the minimum amount specified for the bonus funds to be activated
b) Players cannot withdraw their winnings until they have met the playthrough or wagering requirements.
c) Different games count towards meeting these wagering requirements by different amounts. In most cases, slots count 100% towards meeting them, whereas other games only contribute partially or not at all
Cashback bonuses
When players receive a percentage of their losses back to their account, these are known as cashback bonuses. Unlike many other forms of casino bonuses, they’re not restricted to new players. Instead, they can be made available to anyone who has signed up and has played and lost several gameplays. The frequency with which a player can claim a cashback bonus varies from casino to casino. For example, some casinos will offer daily, monthly, or weekly cashback, but others will only provide this kind of bonus on special occasions.
Free play bonuses
These come in the form of free credits given to punters for playing online games. Players are often limited by how much they can win on these free play bonuses such as in the example of the ‘Up to 500 Free Spins’ welcome bonus available at LuckyCloverSpins.com, where you are required to make a deposit to trigger the luck-based amount of spins. For example, if you earn £100 or more from them, you may be asked by the casino to deposit some money to keep any winnings over that amount. A good thing about free play bonuses is that although they’re subject to wagering requirements like other forms of bonus money, your original stake isn’t considered when calculating them. So, if you’ve won £100 and have met the wagering requirement, the amount is all yours.
However, some free-play promotions don’t involve real money. Some casinos will only provide fun credits that allow you to explore different games for free. Unfortunately, playing for free means that you cannot win real money. Besides, free spins expire after a specific period. Therefore, if you do not use your credits within the specified time, the casino deducts the amount from your account. Lastly, most casinos reward bonus rounds in batches over a few days. For instance, a player that wins 100 free spins can be rewarded with 20 spins for five consecutive days.
Reload bonuses
Online casinos offer Reload bonuses to existing customers to entice them to make more deposits and keep playing with them. They are usually a percentage of your deposit, and they tend to be smaller than the Welcome Bonus. Some platforms can give you a reload bonus on every top-up, while others limit them to every few weeks or months. Such rewards are often subject to wagering requirements. Therefore, you have to bet a specific number of times before the site allows you to withdraw your cash.
Refer-a-friend bonuses
Most casinos drive players to bring their friends or colleagues to the platform using their referral systems. Refer-a-friend bonuses vary in size and come with different requirements. In most sites, the referred player needs to top up and wager up to a specific amount for the referrer to get the bonus.
Final thoughts
Bonuses improve punters’ gambling experience by providing additional credit and free plays. As long as you take the necessary precautions at online casinos, you should make sure you assess the rewards carefully before you redeem them since some of them might have a high playthrough and other unsuitable terms that can lead to losses.