Casino Welcome Bonus | Best Sign up Packages for UK New Players 2024

The first thing you notice about an online casino is its welcome bonus. Having a good welcome bonus is the best way for an online casino to lure in new players, so it needs to be a good one! Will that take the form of a free spins offer? Perhaps a deposit match bonus? Maybe a no wagering promotion? We’ve broken down everything you need to know about online casino welcome bonuses, giving you all the information you need to make the right decision about which online casino is the right one for you!

Parimatch are one of the biggest names in the online casino industry, and have been since they entered the market in 1994. Along the way, Parimatch’s welcome bonus has evolved to be one of the most intriguing on the market.

Overall, I feel that Parimatch has an excellent welcome bonus. The combination of bonus cash and free spins is always welcome, and unlike many free spins offers, you get to sample more than one game. The fact that the free spins come with no wagering requirements is an added bonus. It is admittedly annoying that the bonus is spread over three deposits, but you’re still getting great value.

Another big hitter in the industry, LeoVegas is an incredibly highly rated casino for a reason - even winning 'Best Mobile Operator' and 'Online Casino of the Year' in 2023. Their welcome offer might have something to do with that…

Although the welcome bonus is once again spread over multiple deposits, and you’re only able to claim bonuses of £10, £25 or £50 with each deposit, I still found a lot to like with Leoegas’ welcome bonus. For starters, slots, instants and Slingo all contribute 100% to the wagering requirements which is quite a good range. Furthermore, the free spins attached come with no wagering requirements!

One of the most prominent names in the online casino industry, Betfred’s casino is every bit as good as its sportsbook offering - thanks in no small part to its welcome bonus.

Betfred truly has one of the best welcome bonuses around in my opinion. You get to choose your own welcome bonus which is quite unique - 50 free spins on Age Of The Gods at £0.20 per spin, 100 free spins on Better Wilds at £0.10 per spin, or 200 free spins on Age Of The Gods: God of Storms 2 at £0.05 per spin! All with no wagering requirements attached! You have to be on the ball though as your free spins will expire after a week.

A key pillar of the White Hat Gaming casino offering, Dream Vegas encapsulates the spirit of its namesake city by providing an unforgettable casino experience for players. That all starts with the impressive welcome offer.

I think Dream Vegas has a really solid welcome bonus overall. The 35x wagering requirements are what we would hope for from a welcome bonus, and the fact that slots, scratchards and keno contribute to the wagering requirements 100% is a definite plus. You can definitely find welcome bonuses with lower minimum deposits - £20 isn’t exactly going to break the bank, but there are a lot of £10 options around if you prefer.

The Bally's-owned Rainbow Riches Casino has proved to be a popular online casino since its 2019 launch. This relative newcomer also has a tasty welcome bonus for you to take advantage of.

Rainbow Riches’ welcome offer ticks a lot of boxes for me. The fact that the free spins have no wagering requirements attached is a massive benefit, and their ‘Keep what you win’ approach eliminates max win restrictions on those free spins! You have to really like the Rainbow Riches slot game, however. I don’t mind it personally, but this isn’t an offer with a great deal of variety attached.

After conquering the US market, BetMGM Casino is well on its way to doing the same in the UK. What better way to make a name for yourself in a competitive market than with a great welcome offer?

I do enjoy a double welcome offer, and BetMGM certainly provides a good one. Although it can seem a little confusing, trust me when I say there’s good value here - not least because of the solid 35x wagering requirements for the cash element and the no wagering free spins! Although the spins are limited to one game, that slot in question is Big Bass Splash - one of the most popular titles around.

Part of the QuinnBet family, Quinn Casino has become an online casino mainstay due to its impressive game selection, and amazing welcome offer available to new players.

It was hard for me to find fault with Quinn Casino’s welcome bonus. It looks incredibly easy to claim as all you need to do is deposit and stake £10, inputting the code FREESPINS upon registration. The lack of wagering requirements is also an added benefit. The only downside is that Reel Diamonds isn’t exactly the sexiest of slot games you’ll see attached to a free spins offer, and the max win limit of £100 isn’t ideal, but there’s still more upside than downside with this welcome offer.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2018, MrQ has been a big hit with online casino players. A 1,200+ strong game library - and an enticing welcome offer - has made MrQ a serious proposition for online casino players everywhere.

MrQ makes a point to advertise its lack of wagering requirements, and they’re right to do so. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a combination of 75 free spins and no wagering requirements, so that’s a big plus in my book! Again, a £20 minimum deposit is on the higher side, but it shouldn’t be too big a stumbling block which stops you from claiming a welcome bonus which offers tremendous value.

Monopoly Casino has been one of Bally’s strongest brands since its 2015 launch. Capitalising on the name recognition of the famous board game, Monopoly Casino offers players an impressive selection of casino games, and an exciting welcome offer to boot.

Although you’ll be able to find a welcome offer that offers more than 30 free spins, I was still taken in by Monopoly Casino’s bonus offering. The lack of wagering requirements was particularly appealing to me, as was the lack of max win limit associated with the free spins - another ‘Keep what you win’ casino that enters my good books!

PokerStars Casino is one of the biggest names in the entire online casino industry. A vast game library and amazing welcome promotions have made them a premier online casino brand since they first launched in 2014.

When it comes to game selection for free spins, I don’t think Pokerstars Casino can be beaten. In total, there are 17 different games which are compatible with the welcome bonus free spins! What’s more is that you get so many free spins to play with - 250 free spins definitely go a long way. PokerStars Casino doesn’t have traditional wagering requirements, instead opting for its unique redemption points system. This can make it a bit confusing to know exactly what’s required of you to claim your bonus winnings.

What is a Casino Welcome Bonus?

A casino welcome bonus is an introductory offer that casinos give to new players when they sign up. It serves as an excellent marketing method to get as many new players to sign up as possible. In turn, those new players get to sample what the casino has to offer for low stakes, minimising the risk on their side.

What are the Different Types of Casino Bonus Available?

Welcome bonuses come in several different shapes and sizes:

• Deposit Bonus/Deposit Match Bonus - The casino matches your initial deposit, giving you extra bonus funds with which to explore the platform.
• No Deposit Bonus - the casinos gives you bonus funds to use without you having to deposit your own money first.
• No Wagering Bonus - a welcome bonus with no wagering requirements attached to it, allowing you to easily withdraw any bonus winnings
• Free Spins Bonus - The casino gives you free spins to use on certain slot games as part of your welcome offer
• Cashback Bonus - The casinos gives you ascertain amount of cash back upon completing your deposit or using your bonus.
• Reload Bonus - A bonus given to online casino players when they deposit more money into their account.
• Cashable Bonus - A bonus which you’re able to withdraw once you’ve met all the wagering requirements.
• Non-Cashable Bonus - A welcome bonus which cannot be cashed out - you can only use the welcome bonus to play other casino games.

What Restrictions are Attached to Casino Welcome Bonuses?

You will come across some common restrictions that are attached to your online casino welcome bonus:

• Wagering Requirements
  Wagering requirements determine how many times you need to play through your bonus before you’ll be able to withdraw any winnings. If a bonus comes with 35x wagering requirements, you’ll need to play through your bonus 35 times before you can withdraw any of your winnings.
  
• Bonus Contribution
  You won’t be able to use your welcome bonus on every game in a casino’s library. Different games will have different contributions towards your welcome bonus’ wagering requirements, usually shown as a percentage. Slot games for example usually contribute 100% towards a welcome bonus.
  
• Max Win Limit
  Most of the time, the online casino will set a maximum win limit on bonus funds, minimising the losses on their side. The maximum win limit for bonus funds is usually around the £100 mark.
  
• Expiry Time
  The online casino will usually set a time limit on when you can claim either your bonus funds or any free spins attached to your welcome offer.
  
• Minimum Deposit
  If you’re taking advantage of a deposit match bonus, there will likely be a minimum deposit you’ll have to input before you’re eligible for the bonus. Minimum deposits are usually not lower than £5, and will rarely be higher than £20.
  
• New Players Only
  Online casino welcome bonuses are targeted at new players exclusively nine times out of 10, as it’s a good way to draw in new customers. This means existing players are likely unable to take advantage of any new welcome offer.
  
• Game Restrictions
  Online casinos will often make a handful of games playable with the money or free spins you get from a welcome bonus. With a free spins bonus, the casino will stipulate which games can be played with the free spins.

How Does a Casino Welcome Bonus Work?

As online casino welcome bonuses are targeted at new players, they are always claimed when you first sign up to a particular online casino and deposit your first set of funds. Sometimes there’s a special code you have to input - such as Pokerstars’ ‘UK10’ code upon deposit - but more often than not, hitting the minimum deposit is all that is required to be eligible for your bonus funds. Then, in order to claim any winnings from your bonus funds, you have to play through the casino’s wagering requirements as outlined in the terms and conditions.

With Dream Vegas for example, you need to deposit a minimum of £20 to be eligible for the deposit match. Upon making the deposit, you’ll get your free spins to be used on either Starburst or Aloha! Cluster Pays. This comes with a 35x wagering requirement which you’ll have to play through in order to withdraw bonus winnings.

You will sometimes come across welcome offers that offer free spins which are free of wagering requirements, meaning you won’t have to wait as long to withdraw any bonus winnings. Betfred is one example of a casino which offers free spins with no wagering requirements as part of its welcome offer - hit the minimum stake of £10 and you’ll be able to claim your free spins!

Why Do Casinos Offer Welcome Bonuses?

Welcome bonuses are an incredibly effective marketing tool for online casinos. They serve as a great way to advertise their platform, enticing new players to pick their product over a similar online casino.

They give players the chance to properly sample an online casino’s offering before they commit to being a full-time player - a chance to try before they buy with relatively low-risk states.

How to Choose The Best Welcome Bonus Offers?

There are several different factors that go in to making a good welcome bonus. The size of the offer is the primary factor - a high deposit match or a large number of free spins will obviously go a long way and help you get settled with an online casino.

The wagering requirements of the welcome offer are also important to consider. In this regard the lower the wagering requirements the better as you won’t have to wait as long to withdraw your bonus winnings - even better if it’s a no wagering offer!

You should also keep an eye out to which games a welcome bonus can be played on. On top of that, if there are wagering requirements attached, you must ensure the games you choose to play will contribute 100% towards them.

Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preferences in a welcome offer. Do you value high cash values? Lots of free spins? Low wagering requirements? The choice is yours!

How to Sign Up for a Casino Welcome Offer

Luckily, it’s incredibly easy to sign up to an online casino and claim a welcome bonus. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what you need to do:

• Select your online casino of choice
• Find and select the casino’s welcome offer. If you’re not greeted with a pop up as soon as you enter the site, the welcome offer is usually on the homepage near the top, or maybe in its own promotions/offers tab
• Register with the online casino - input all your important personal details such as name, age, email address etc...
• You may be asked to provide ID details to verify your account
• Deposit the required funds as set out in the welcome offer’s terms and conditions
• Start playing the games which are compatible with the welcome bonus!

How Do We Rank The Best Welcome Bonus Sites?

Here’s what we look for when assessing the quality of an online casino’s welcome bonus:

• Cash Value
• Amount of Free Spins
• Wagering Requirements
• Minimum Deposit
• Max Win Limit
• Game Selection
• Is It Easy to Claim?

Tips for Using Welcome Bonus Offers

Want some advice regarding the best way to use your welcome bonus? Here are a few things for you to be aware of.

Firstly, you should absolutely always read the terms and conditions of a bonus before you commit to the signing-up process. They will outline everything you need to know about the bonus you’re signing up for, including what the wagering requirements are and how much eligible games contribute towards them.

The terms and conditions will also tell you the minimum deposit required, as well as how many deposits you may need to make before you can claim the bonus. If the offer is for a high cash value, but attached with high wagering requirements and spread over multiple deposits, it may be an indicator that the biggest number isn’t always the best way to go when welcome bonuses are concerned.

You should also make a note of the time limits attached to claiming bonus funds, in addition to the maximum win limits which apply to bonus funds.

Welcome bonuses are usually low-risk, low-deposit stakes, so if you do incur any losses you shouldn’t spend too much time trying to chase them and make your money back.

You can only withdraw your bonus winnings once the wagering requirements have been met, so aim for welcome bonuses with the lowest wagering requirements possible.