Since the advent of online gambling, players have become spoilt for choice. There’s a wealth of online casinos out there full of glitzy advertising and vast libraries of games – it can be overwhelming sometimes, and for operators, hard to get noticed. Online casinos seek to stand out from the crowd by using offers and promotions to attract and retain players, and chief amongst these is the superstar welcome bonus. For any potential punters looking to try their luck at a new online casino, these welcome bonuses are smart investing, and we’re here to present to you our pick of the best welcome bonuses available on the UK market today so you can make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck when signing up to a new online casino.
Understanding Welcome Bonuses
Before diving into the specific welcome bonuses offered by various UK gambling operators, it’s essential to understand what a welcome bonus is and how it works.
A casino welcome bonus, also known as a sign-up bonus or a new player bonus, is an incentive offered by an online gambling operator to attract new customers. There are a few different forms to these bonuses, listed off below.
Deposit Bonuses
Most welcome bonuses you see will be of the deposit bonus variety. Here, the operator matches a percentage of your initial deposit – and this can range from 50% up to a mind-blowing 300% deposit match. Usually there’ll be an upper limit on what the casino will cover, but we find that most casual gamblers will rarely hit this threshold. We’d recommend looking for a casino that offers at least a 100% deposit match – they’re out there, so make sure you’re making the most out of your first cash put into the game.
No Deposit Bonuses
No-deposit bonuses are gems amongst rhinestones when it comes to welcome bonuses. For these, operators will offer a small amount of bonus funds or free spins simply for registering an account – not a penny spent! Bonuses like these aren’t very common, so players should snap them up. If nothing else, it’s a great way to give a casino a test run without committing a thing.
Free Spins
This welcome bonus is specific to slot play, so it’s not going to add much to your game if your gambling focus is table games, but for those slot-fanatics, free spins are a welcome bonus not to be missed. Simply put, the casino offers you a set number of free spins on a specific slot game – no strings attached. It’s a great addition to your start at a casino.
Cashback Bonuses
We like cashback bonuses quite a lot. If an operator offers this bonus, they’ll give you cashback on your losses in those crucial first few days while you’re getting to grips with the site. This won’t usually be 100% cashback, but it’s a fab safety net while you find the ropes.
Matched Betting Bonuses
This one’s for the sports bettors. Some bookmakers choose to entice new players with matched betting bonuses. The long and short is that whatever you place on your first bet, the operator will match it with a free bet of equal value – certainly nothing to be scoffed at!
Best UK Welcome Bonuses
So now that we’ve gone over the basics, let’s take a look at the absolute best welcome bonuses available on the UK market today.
Bet365 – 100 Free Spins
Bet365 is one of the most recognized names in online sports betting, but not enough online gamblers appreciate their fantastic casino offerings as well. To draw more eyes to the other side of the business, Bet365 have offered a fantastic welcome bonus. New customers can enjoy a fantastic welcome offer of a whopping 100 free spins. After staking £10 on eligible casino games, Bet365 will drop their bonus of 100 free spins straight into your account.
Duelz – £100 Bonus + 100 Free Spins
For those big fans of casino games, Duelz is a reputable operator that’s put together an unmissable welcome bonus. New players can claim a 100% deposit match running up to £100 on their first deposit. In addition to the match, Duelz also offer 100 free spins on their renowned slot game Book of the Dead. The casino has a wide slot collection and some top tier table games for players to enjoy after sign up too.
LeoVegas – Get 100% up to £200 + 100 Free Spins
LeoVegas is renowned for its mobile gaming experience, and their welcome bonus is equally impressive. New players can benefit from up to £200 cash on a 100% deposit match, and if that wasn’t enough, grab 100 wager-free spins upon their first deposit playing Big Bass Splash.
Swift Casino – 100% up to £50 + 50 Free Spins
Swift Casino is a celebrated casino brand, and it’s a great time to give the operator a shot with their enticing new welcome bonus on offer. New customers can enjoy up to £50 back on a 100% deposit match – more than enough for casual gamblers. For this one, you’ll have to use the exclusive bonus code “SWIFT” on sign up to unlock, where you’ll also grab a bonus 50 free spins on Book of the Dead.
Rainbow Riches – 30 Free Spins
Rainbow Riches are a casino that know sometimes simpler is better. For putting down just a £10 initial deposit, players are granted 30 free spins when opting in on registration. It’s not any of the glitzy big-hitters, but it’s just the right amount to give you a great taste of what the casino has to offer in it’s interactive and gamified casino environment.
Winomania – 100% up to £100 + 100 Free Spins
Winomania is known for their reliability, and they don’t fall off the wagon when it comes to this classic welcome bonus. New players can grab a 100% deposit match up to £100. Then, after each qualifying deposit of £10, players are gifted 25 free spins on a slot of their choice. It’s a welcome bonus that keeps giving – a great option for retaining customers past that initial hit.
21 Casino – 121% up to £100 + 21 Spins
21 Casino has an edge on its competitors on this list when it comes to deposit matches, offering more than equal to your money back with a 121% deposit match up to £100, and tack a lovely 21 free spins on top. 21 Casino splits your bonus funds out from your cash funds, so you know there’s no loss playing with them, and once you’ve hit the wagering requirement, they’ll drop straight into your cash pool for anytime withdrawal.
Mr Q – No Deposit Spins + 30 Free Spins
Mr Q offers an innovative and unique approach to welcome bonuses. Upon registration, new players receive 5 free spins with absolutely no deposit required. Then, upon making their first deposit, they can lay their hands on an additional 30 free spins. It’s hard to say no to a no strings attached offer like this with Mr Q featuring the only no-deposit bonus on this list.
10Bet – 50% up to £100 Bonus + 50 Free Spins
10Bet offers a straightforward but attractive slots welcome bonus. With the code WELCOME10, new customers can claim up to £100 in bonus funds with a 50% return on their deposit plus an additional 50 free spins. It’s not as high-rolling as some of the other bonuses on this list, but with their solid reputation and experience-tailored product, the bonus is little more than the icing on top of an already great casino.
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