A sign up bonus is an offer that the best online casinos use to get gamblers to create an account for their website or gambling app. 

These rewards are generally cash or free spins, but they can sometimes come as casino credit to be used on the site you’ve signed up to. 

While some people may believe a sign up bonus is free money they can use on their favourite casino games, the reality isn’t quite so simple – there are often requirements you need to meet to get the full bonus, meaning that you might have to spend your money. 

Our guide covers all the important things you need to know about casinos offering the best sign up bonuses, including: 

• Best cash welcome bonuses 

• Best free spins offers

• Best no deposit bonuses 

• Best no wagering requirements 

We’ve answered all the important questions about these bonuses and casino wagering requirements. All you need to do is read them and then decide which casino(s) to sign up to. 

Please be aware that all bonuses and promotions mentioned in this article come with the following conditions in order to meet UK casino compliance laws:

• 18+ 

• T&Cs apply 

How we review sites with the best casino bonuses 

We review every one site we cover with you (the player) in mind. 

Our priority is making sure you have all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about what sites offer the gambling experience you demand. 

That’s why our reviews look at all the things below (and more): 

• Bonuses for new players 

• Rewards for loyal gamblers

• Casino games on offer 

• Sports betting options available 

• Deposit and withdrawal methods 

• User-friendliness of site and app

You can discover exactly how much detail we go into by heading over to our online casino reviews page. It features all of the very best UK gambling sites and outlines what their latest bonus packages are. 

Meet the expert gambling team of OnlineCasinos.co.uk 

OnlineCasinos.co.uk has an in-house team of gambing reviewers who live and breathe casino gaming and sports betting. 

First and foremost, our team members are players themselves. They play the games they assess, bet on the sports they cover and test out the casinos they review. 

It’s this player mindset that means our reviewers not only highlight the things an online casino excels at but also the areas for improvement — for example, if a site could offer a better range of payment options. 

This honest approach means you can be certain that every review we publish is both fair and accurate. So, if we give a casino a 10/10 rating it’s because we believe that casino is one of the best sites you can use. 

Best sign up bonuses for new players 

UK online casinos work really hard to win new players. They offer great games, ace sports betting options, excellent websites and lots more. 

But while each casino is different, what you’ll notice is that many sites offer lots of the same games, a very similar sports betting range and even near-identical websites. 

Bonuses are one of the ways that casino sites stand out and these are the main ones on offer to new players: 

Free spins 

Free spins is a casino reward that’s specifically for slots games. These bonuses give you some free plays on leading slot games, such as Starburst, Book of Dead and Robocop. 

Welcome bonus 

Welcome bonuses are cash offers that are for new players. Casinos will match your deposit to a certain amount (like 100%) and this gives you a chance to boost your gambling funds. 

No deposit bonus 

No deposit bonuses can be a good offer for players because they don’t ask you to invest your own money to withdraw the winnings you make. These bonuses can be either for free spins or cash. 

Most popular casino games to play with bonuses 

Online casinos have hundreds, even thousands of games that you can play. 

But while you’re spoilt for choice in the number of titles you can select from, many sites offer a selection of popular games categories that you can use bonuses on. 

These are the most popular games that you can play using casino bonuses: 

Slots 

By far the most popular games category at most sites, slots are a game of pure chance that you can learn in no time at all. Check out some of the best new slots sites before you play. 

Roulette

A casino classic, roulette features an iconic wheel that asks you to pick a number (or numbers) then place your bets, spin the wheel and hope your bet comes good. Have a look at some of the top high stakes roulette casinos before you cast your bets. 

Blackjack 

One of the oldest and most played card games on the planet, blackjack pits you against a dealer and requires you to get a score of 21 (or as close as possible). Cast your eye over some of the leading online blackjack sites.  

T&Cs apply (new customers & returning players need to know this)

T&Cs stands for terms and conditions. It’s something that both new players and returning players need to know about because T&Cs list the requirements you need to meet to get the bonuses you’re interested in and collect any winnings you make from them.

These are some of the requirements you can expect to find in casino bonus T&Cs: 

• Qualifying bet: wagers that count towards the bonus. 

• Bonus valid for 7 days: you have a week to use the bonus. 

• Free bets valid uncertain games: limitations on the games. 

• Unlock free bets: how to unlock certain bonus offers.

• Free bets credited: when your bonus bets are credited. 

• Free spins new customer: the spins are only available to new players. 

• New customers only min deposit: you must make a minimum deposit. 

• Free multiple bet: you can make a multiple bet with this offer. 

The full T&Cs apply to all casino bonuses and you need to meet them to get your free spins credited or activate your first sports bet. So make sure you read and understand the T&Cs before you sign up to the offer you’re interested in. 

Are casino bonuses free bets?

You shouldn’t think of casino bonuses as being free bets. This is because most of these bets come with conditions that require you to invest your own money, at the beginning, middle, end or all stages of using the bonus. 

Below, we give you some examples of how bets ask you to invest your own cash: 

• £10 min deposit: you have to deposit a minimum of £10 to get the bonus. 

• 35x wagering requirements: you must bet 35x the bonus amount to get the winnings. 

• Free bet stakes: you have to stake some of your own money to get the bonus. 

How do I make a free bet at gambling sites?

Gambling sites make it both simple and complicated to make a free bet on their games. 

It’s simple because they give you all the information you need to be able to make a free bet. It’s complicated because this information can be wordy and difficult to understand — like many examples of terms and conditions. 

What does it mean if I get 20 in free bets? 

Whether a bonus offers £30 in free bets, a £10 free bet or 20 free spins, when an online casino states a specific number of free bets then it means (in theory) that you get this amount of cash or spins for free. 

However, the reality is often a little different.

Your free bet stakes could come with a time restriction, meaning that you get 20 free bets in batches four over the course of a week. 

It might also be the free bet valid element of the offer is applicable to certain games only. So, while you get 20 free spins you’re only getting it for a particular slots title, which might not be one you want to pull and then makes it null and void in your eyes.

Free bet offers always come with conditions and these must always be clearly displayed for players. It’s vital you read them before signing up to the bonus, so you know just how free the offer really is. 

Pros & cons of using casino bonuses 

Using casino bonuses can be great for players but it can also be a negative if you don’t use them responsibly. These are the key pros and cons of casino offers: 

Pros 

• You can earn a free bet stake on your favourite games 

• You can get your free bet credited quickly (pending on the site you use) 

• You can receive free wagers on popular sports 

Cons

• You need to really focus on responsible gambling to bet within your means 

• You must ensure you keep your bounce funds separate from your own cash

• Your minimum odds don’t change by making more plays using bonuses 

Online casinos with the best casino bonuses 

1. 888: king of casino sign-up bonuses 

2. bCasino: great all-rounder 

3. The Grand Ivy Casino: you could get a great welcome bonus

4. Genesis: potentially offers the most free spins

5. 777: ticks all the boxes 

Gold medalist 🥇 888 – king of casino sign-up bonuses 👑

Credit: 888

Total sign up bonus: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: no deposit bonus + cash welcome bonus + free spins 

888 offers you each of the three main sign up bonuses: no deposit bonus, cash welcome bonus, and free spins.

It has the best no deposit reward and is very competitive for both cash welcome bonus and free spins. Head over to the site now to find out what you could get. 

All of these things make it a simple decision to crown 888 the online casino with the best sign up bonus package. 

Credit: 888

Top three features of 888

• Fantastic poker games selection 🂡

• Superb exclusive slots titles 🎰

• Great VIP loyalty promotions 💑

Wagering Requirement ⭐⭐⭐⭐: 30x.

888 has a great sign up bonus offering, but there are so many other reasons we like this great casino. Read our Casino 888 review to find out what they are, or visit 888 Casino to find out how good it is for yourself. 

Silver medalist 🥈 bCasino – great all-rounder 💪

Credit: bCasino

Total sign up bonus: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: no deposit bonus + cash welcome bonus + free spins

bCasino isn’t the number one casino for any of the main sign up bonuses we look out for, but it has an exceptional overall offer. When signing up, you get a no deposit bonus, cash welcome reward, and free spins offer, giving you everything you could want from an online casino. 

All of the bonuses offered by bCasino come with their own terms and conditions. You can find out what these are and the level of bonus you could get by checking out the website now. 

 Credit: bCasino

Top three features of bCasino 

• Brilliant regular promotions 💷

• Massive slots selection 🎰

• Easy-to-use website 💻

Wagering Requirement ⭐⭐⭐⭐: 25x.

We’re big fans of bCasino for its generous rewards, top games, and excellent site design. Head over to the website now to see how good it is for yourself. 

Bronze medalist 🥉 The Grand Ivy Casino – you could get a great welcome bonus 💷

Credit: The Grand Ivy Casino 

Total sign up bonus: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: cash welcome bonus + free spins 

No casino comes close to the cash welcome bonus you could get for signing up to The Grand Ivy Casino 

While you don’t get a no deposit bonus from The Grand Ivy Casino, you could get some free spins and this means we’re happy to name it one of our top casinos for the sign up package you get from it. 

Check out the site now to find out what the latest sign up bonuses are. 

Credit: The Grand Ivy Casino 

Top three features of The Grand Ivy Casino 

• Huge range of table games 🎲

• Lots of excellent software providers 💻

• Good selection of live games 🏟

Wagering Requirement ⭐⭐⭐: 35x.

The Grand Ivy Casino is one of the UK’s leading gambling sites and has something for every fan of casino gaming. Visit the website today to find the best games for you.

Genesis – potentially offers the most free spins 🎰

Credit: Genesis

Total sign up bonus: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: cash welcome bonus + free spins 

If you’re a fan of slots then Genesis might be the perfect casino for you – your sign up bonus offer you the chance to potentially get the most free spins offered by any online casino we've reviewed. 

As well as spins, you could also get a cash welcome bonus, which is reason enough to make Genesis one of the best casinos for new players. 

Head over to the site now to find out what bonuses you could get when you sign up. 

Credit: Genesis

Top three features of Genesis

• Outstanding payouts for its blackjack games 🂡

• Enormous games library 🎲

• Some brilliant loyalty reward bonuses 💑

Wagering Requirement ⭐⭐⭐: 40x.

We love playing our favourite games at Genesis and we’re certain you will too. Read our Casino Genesis review to find out about all the great games it has, or visit Genesis Casino now to start playing them. 

777 – ticks all the boxes ✔️

Credit: 777

Total sign up bonus: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: cash welcome bonus + no deposit bonus + free spins  

Cash welcome bonus? Tick. No deposit offer? Double-tick. Free spins? Another tick. 

While 777 doesn’t excel in any single sign up bonus category, what’s important is that it ticks all the boxes – something that only a few casinos can claim to do. 

One thing to be aware of is that 777 does have high wagering requirements. Its 50x puts it at the top end of the scale, meaning you need to invest a lot of your own cash to get full value from its bonuses. 

Credit: 777

Top three features of 777 

• Great live casino gaming 🏟

• Ace VIP rewards scheme 💑

• Secure and simple banking 🏦

Wagering Requirement ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: 50x.

777 is one of the finest gambling sites we’ve reviewed, with top games, secure withdrawals, and some excellent rewards for new gamblers. Head over to the website now to find out why we rate it so highly. 

Best cash welcome sign-up bonus 

3 key things you need to know about cash welcome bonuses

• They generally come with wagering requirements 

• You might have to make multiple deposits

• You may get the money as casino credit 

Best free spins sign-up bonus 

*Every Wednesday 

**This is an offer for mobile gambling

3 key things you need to know about free spins 

• They are often for one specific slots game

• They will often have wagering requirements 

• You may not get all the spins at once 

Best wagering requirement for sign-up bonuses 

3 key things you need to know about wagering requirements 

• The lower the wagering requirement, the better it is

• They may require you to invest your own cash to get your bonus 

• They apply to both spins and cash rewards 

Do returning players get casino bonuses?

Credit:PxFuel

While some people may think that the rewards stop once you’ve signed up, most online casinos offer ongoing promotions and a loyalty scheme for returning players. 

The bonuses you get will depend entirely on the site you’re gambling at, but some of the ongoing promotions may include: 

• Daily free spins 

• Favourable sports betting odds

• Regular cash boosts 

The loyalty scheme benefits you get from casinos might feature the following things: 

• Special prize draws 

• VIP bonuses 

• Cash rewards 

What are no deposit bonuses?

Credit: PxFuel

No deposit bonuses are a reward used by casinos to attract gamblers. They work by offering players either free spins or a cash bonus without asking them to deposit any of their own money. 

While this may seem like free money, it’s very important to know that no deposit bonuses may actually require you to indirectly deposit your own money to get them. 

Credit: PEAKPX

The reason for this is that you may need to build up game credit to get them and to get said credit you will need to place bets. This means two things: 

1. You'll need to deposit some of your own cash to get credit in the first instance

2. If you don’t go on a winning streak that gives you the necessary game credit for the no deposit bonus, you’ll need to cover any losses by investing your own money

So while you’re not asked to deposit your money to get these rewards, the reality is that you will need to spend some cash if you want them. 

What are free spins?

Credit: Piqsels

Free spins are a bonus that casinos use to encourage gamblers to bet on their slot games. 

These rewards can come as a sign up bonus for new players, or as an ad-hoc/ongoing promotion for loyal gamblers. 

One thing to keep in mind with free spins is that they’ll come with wagering requirements. 

This means you’ll need to wager a certain amount of your own money before you can get the full benefits of the free spins offer. 

What’s a cash welcome bonus 

Cash welcome bonuses are offers that casinos use to attract new gamblers. 

They generally work by offering to match an amount of money that you deposit to a certain percentage. 

For example, a welcome bonus may be a first deposit match of 100% for up to £100. In this case, if you deposit £100 then the casino will match it completely, giving you a welcome bonus of £100. 

Credit: Piqsels

Something you need to know about welcome bonuses is that you may be required to make multiple deposits to get the full amount. 

For instance, the welcome bonus could be £1,000 split out in these ways: 

• 100% first deposit match up to £250 

• 100% second deposit match up to £250 

• 50% third deposit match up to £2,000

What are wagering requirements? 

Credit: PxFuel

Wagering requirements are one of the most important things that you need to know about casino bonuses. 

Why? Because they represent the amount of your own cash you need to invest to get your bonus. 

Wagering requirements are used for both cash and spins offers and they’re shown as being “x” the amount of the value of the advertised offer. 

Using the example of a £100 cash welcome bonus, this is how wagering requirements work: 

• 10x: 10x £100 – wagering requirement means you need to invest £1,000

• 20x: 20x £100 – wagering requirement means you need to invest £2,000

• 30x: 30x £100 – wagering requirement means you need to invest £3,000