5 Little-Known Secrets of UK Online Casino Bonuses

Right now, there are over 2,400 licensed iGaming operators offering their services to online casino fans in the UK. This number continues to grow as more and more online casinos seem to launch every day. This doesn’t just give players more games to choose from, but it also means that punters have access to more of the best online casino bonuses in the UK.

Almost any online casino you come across will offer you a welcome bonus when you sign up and fund your account. They are usually easy to claim, but there are a few things that you need to be aware of. We here at Wagering Advisors will now reveal 5 little-known secrets of UK online casino bonuses. Knowing these helpful tidbits of information will help you find the best UK online casino bonuses for you.

Game Weightings

Pretty much any casino bonus you claim will be subject to wagering requirements. In other words, you have to wager through the bonus amount a certain number of times before you can withdraw your bonus windfall. Let’s say you claim £100 in bonus cash and it requires a 20X rollover. This means you need to place a total of £2,000 in wagers. However, this isn’t always exactly true. You may need to wager a lot more than that.

This is because bets on different casino games contribute different amounts toward the wagering requirement. Typically, 100% of each wager on video slots counts toward the rollover. In this case, the 20X playthrough would indeed add up to £2,000. However, only 5% or 10% of each wager on games like blackjack, roulette, and other table games might count toward the rollover requirement. 

As such, those who plan on meeting the wagering requirement by playing table games will need to meet a much higher threshold. If only 10% of a blackjack player’s wagers count, then they would be looking at placing £20,000 in wagers to satisfy the advertised wagering requirement. This is why savvy bonus hunters always consider game weightings before they jump on a bonus offer.

The True Value of a Bonus

If you had a choice between claiming a 500% match bonus up to £5,000 and a 50% match bonus up to £100, which one would you pick? A lot of inexperienced players will likely choose the bigger bonus amount. After all, £5,000 in bonus cash appears to be much more appetizing than a £100 bonus.

Here’s the thing: You can’t accurately assess the true value of a bonus without examining the terms and conditions of the offer. Whilst the advertised bonus amount tells you quite a bit, it is the wagering requirements, time limits, game weightings, and other restrictions that reveal the true value. 

Furthermore, some UK online casino bonuses are better suited to small-time bettors while others are aimed at high rollers. That £5,000 might look more appealing, but a player on a modest budget likely won’t be able to take full advantage. On the flip side, a £100 bonus might be perfect for a small-time player, but it isn’t much of an incentive for a player with a bigger budget.

The Best Online Casino Bonuses UK Aren’t Just for New Customers

If you have ever signed up at a UK online casino, you were likely offered some type of welcome bonus. Almost all online casinos will give new customers something like free spins, bonus cash, or both when they sign up and make a minimum deposit. 

As mentioned, this is one of the most effective ways of bringing in new players. However, the best UK online casinos keep the bonuses and perks coming long after players have cashed in on their introductory offers. 

A lot of top-tier online casinos have offers for existing customers that are very similar to welcome bonuses. In some instances, reload bonuses can be more valuable than the initial sign-up bonus. 

This results in existing clients being able to keep hauling in those bonus bucks and free spins whenever they deposit. Even though things like cashback, loyalty points, and VIP rewards aren’t bonuses per se, they might as well be because they continuously offer added bonus value.

One of the most important secrets of online casino bonuses is that they don’t have to end with the welcome bonus. If you are looking for the best UK online casino bonuses, don’t just settle for a sweet-looking welcome bonus. Instead, check out our top operators that offer ongoing bonuses and promotions for existing players. This will have a positive impact on your bottom line.

You Don’t Have to Accept any Bonus

Even though the best online casino bonuses UK are quite generous and easy to cash in on, you need to remember that they are optional. You do not have to claim a bonus if you don’t want to. Declining a bonus is normally as easy as simply not opting in when asked. 

However, you need to keep an eye out for online casinos that automatically apply a given bonus offer. This is akin to negative billing. Thankfully, you can usually back out of these offers by contacting the site’s support staff.

So, why would you want to refuse a bonus? Well, there are many reasons why some players do it. Perhaps one of the main reasons is that participating in a bonus offer can restrict your ability to withdraw your winnings. With that said, any licensed UK operator will let you withdraw your money any time you like. It’s just that doing so will void any active bonus offer and negate any bonus winnings.

Another reason that people find to refuse bonus offers is that the terms and conditions are just too unreasonable. We will expand on that thought with our next secret of UK online casino bonuses.

Some Offers are Money-Losing Propositions

When thinking about casino bonuses, a lot of people assume that they will make money on them. The sad reality of some bonus offers is that claimants are more likely to lose money in their pursuit of the bonus. 

To illustrate this secret, let’s say that you just claimed £100 in bonus cash and it is subject to a 50X wagering requirement. This equates to £5,000 in wagers. To keep it simple, the T&Cs of the bonus requires you to meet the wagering condition by playing the Starburst slot game. 100% of each bet contributes to the rollover.

Now, the Starburst slot game has a 96.1% Return To Player. In other words, you can reasonably expect a return of about £96.10 for every £100 you feed into it. Of course, you could hit a jackpot or you could go broke. This is just an average. So, if you were to place £5,000 in bets on Starburst, you can reasonably expect to net a return of about £4,805. Again, this is merely an average based on the RTP.

The end result of satisfying the wagering requirement is an expected loss of about £200. As you can see, you are down £100 even after factoring in the £100 gain you receive by completing the bonus conditions. In other words, you lost money chasing the bonus.

This scenario should demonstrate that the wagering requirements are among the most important aspects of any bonus. The best online casino bonuses in the UK have much lower wagering requirements which makes cashing in a more realistic and profitable possibility. 

When you see that a bonus’s wagering requirements are high, you are less likely to come out ahead. As an aside, be aware that some wagering requirements apply to both the bonus and the deposit amount. This essentially doubles the advertised rollover which only makes it harder to achieve.

Get the most with online casino bonuses in the UK

Online casino buffs in the UK are continuously inundated with bonus offers. Some of those offers are very generous and the terms and conditions are more than fair. However, other offers aren’t nearly as great. It’s important to know the difference so that you can find a bonus that suits your online gambling budget and playing style. 

Needless to say, your search for the best online casino bonuses in the UK should start right here at Wagering Advisors. We give visitors access to the very best deals from the most reputable operators. Don’t forget to check out our expert casino and bonus reviews before you make your decision. Doing so will go a long way toward making your online casino gaming experience as fun and profitable as it can be.