Bonuses are marketing, not free money. Here’s what the common types actually are — and the terms that decide whether they’re worth taking.
Common bonus types
- Welcome / deposit match — the site matches a percentage of your deposit (e.g. 100% up to £100). The bonus money is separate from your cash and comes with conditions.
- Free spins — a set number of slot spins, often on one specific game, usually with a value cap and their own wagering terms.
- No-deposit bonus — a small credit for signing up. Attractive on paper, but typically carries the strictest wagering and withdrawal caps.
- Cashback — a percentage of net losses returned over a period. Simpler and often fairer, but read whether it’s real cash or bonus funds.
- Reload — a smaller deposit match for existing players.
Where the catch is
Almost every bonus has a wagering requirement, plus fine print: game weighting (slots usually count 100%, table games far less), a maximum bet while the bonus is active, an expiry date, and a cap on how much you can withdraw from winnings.
How to judge a bonus
Ignore the headline number and read the terms. A smaller bonus with low wagering and a fair max-bet is worth more than a huge headline offer you can never realistically clear. If the terms aren’t clearly published, treat that as a red flag.