The online gambling industry has grown exponentially in the past 15 years. With it, the completion has become high and intense. Nowadays there are more than a hundred licensed and registered online casinos, sportsbooks and poker and bingo sites that are available to UK gambling fans. In addition, there are also many virtual gambling destinations that are unlicensed and dubious. For UK players, there are several different factors to consider when choosing an UK-friendly casino website. One selection factor is the bonus program.
Almost all online casinos that cater to UK players offer several bonuses and promotions to attract customers and maintain a good player base. One of the most popular types of casino bonus is the first deposit match bonus. This bonus is given to new players only that have made a deposit of certain amount. Once the initial deposit is made, a player can claim this bonus by entering a coupon code or by selecting the bonus from a list. Sometimes you may need to contact the support to get this bonus. In addition to first deposit bonuses, there are also regular deposit match bonuses available to already registered players. They are given on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and match the amount of the deposit to a certain percentage.
Below you will find a list of the best online casino match bonuses offered by trusted and top rated UK-friendly casinos. You will also find an in-depth explanation of the types of first deposit bonuses along with their terms and conditions.
UK Casinos That Offer Match Bonuses
The most common type of bonus you'll find. Here is a comprehensive list of match bonuses that are on offer right now:
- Bonus Types
- MMatch
- HHigh Roller
- FFree Play
- NNo Deposit
- CCash Back
- PPost Wager
Types of First Deposit Bonuses
The first deposit bonuses are given to new customers by matching their initial deposit up to a specified bonus amount. For example, a player wants to deposit AU$200. The bonus will likely be given by matching this deposit at some predetermined percentage up to a max bonus amount. What follows is an explanation of the types of first deposit bonuses.
First Deposit Match Bonuses
21Prive Casino offers an unlimited 100% first deposit bonus up to infinity. This means that you can deposit as much as you like and the casino will match your deposit by 100%. At this casino you will also get up to £500 each on your second and third deposits. The first deposit match bonus is instantly credited once you make the qualifying deposit (£20). The bonus has 35x wagering requirements (deposit plus bonus). For example, if you deposit £100 and get £100 bonus, and decide to play slots, you must meet the wagering requirements of 35 times £200 i.e. wager £7,000.
A Package of Multiple Deposit Bonuses
This bonus offer is a combination of several deposit bonuses, also given to new players only. For example, GoWild Casino gives €500 in new player welcome bonuses plus 2,500 loyalty rewards points. Another welcome offer at this casino is 200 free spins on Riviera Riches and 150 free games on Avalon Mobile plus 2,000 loyalty points.
The welcome bonus package consists of the following bonuses- a 100% first deposit bonus up to €200 and 50% match bonus on the second and third deposit of up to €150 free. The min qualifying deposit is €20. Under the special offers tab you can redeem the bonus of your choice. The sign up bonuses have 30x wagering. As the wagering requirements are met, funds are automatically transferred from the bonus balance to the cash account in increments of €10.
Match Bonuses with Free Spins
As the name implies, this is a first deposit match bonus that comes with free spins. Diamond 7 Casino, for instance, offers an unlimited 100% first deposit bonus plus 20 free spins on NetEnt’s popular slot Spinata Grande. To claim it, register an account and make a qualifying deposit of £20. Then start Spinata Grande slot to access the 20 free spins. Winnings from the free spins are credited in casino bonus which must be played through 35 times. The 100% first deposit match bonus is credited instantly after making the qualifying deposit and is also subject to 35x wagering.
Understanding the Rules and Wagering Requirements
We have mentioned several times on our website that it’s very important to fully read and understand the terms and conditions of casino bonuses. If you don’t understand something, contact the customer support for more information. The terms and conditions of deposit match bonuses are fairly easy to understand. They include the following information:
- A minimum qualifying deposit to claim the match bonus;
- How to claim the bonus (with bonus code, via e-mail, by contacting the support or automatically credited);
- Wagering or rollover requirements of the bonus;
- Eligible, partially eligible and non-eligible games for wagering purposes.
Perhaps the most difficult rule to understand is the wagering requirements and how they work. Let’s say if you deposit AU$100 and receive a 100% match bonus, the casino will deposit an additional AU$100 into your bonus account. Before you can cash out any credits associated with the matching amount, you must meet the wagering requirement. If the wagering is 35 times (deposit plus bonus), you must wager both the deposit and bonus amount 35 times on eligible and partially eligible games before you are allowed to withdraw any funds. That is, you must make AU$ 7,000 (AU$200 * 35x) in gross wagering.
Casinos often list the games that can be played with match bonuses. Quite often, eligible games are slots, Keno and scratch cards and they contribute 100% towards the wagering. Partially eligible games that contribute a specified percentage can be some blackjack and video poker games, several roulette variants and some poker games. Ineligible games are usually the progressives.
Summary
Match bonuses are an excellent way to increase your playing funds. They are the virtual casinos’ way of ‘comping’ you just as land based casinos do with free meals and vouchers. In addition, as a new player, first deposit match bonuses are the ideal way to test a casino and its games so that you can decide whether you like the gaming destination or not.
However, to get the best for your money, make sure you clearly understand the rules of the bonus before claiming it. It’s also advisable to compare several match bonuses, particularly their wagering requirements, and get the best deal. Some bonuses may have high wagering (over 50x) and they might not be worth claiming.
