How to read casino bonus terms before you claim

Most UK casinos show a short summary under the offer, often called the key terms. Below that, there’s usually a link to the full promotion terms. Read both. The summary covers the basics, while the full terms hold details such as excluded games and payment methods.

The UK Gambling Commission also advises checking any limits on a welcome offer before you sign up, such as how much you need to spend before a bonus is paid. In addition, it says terms should be fair and written in plain language. So if you can’t understand an offer, that’s a warning sign in itself.

Start with eligibility. If you miss one of these conditions, you may not get the bonus at all.

• New customers only. Most welcome offers are for your first account at that site.
• Opting in. Some offers need you to select them first. For example, at Bet365 Bingo you opt in under ‘My Offers’ before you deposit.
• Payment method. Some offers exclude certain methods. The Rialto Casino offer, for instance, excludes PayPal and Paysafe deposits.
• Verification. Rialto’s offer is only open to fully verified new players, so upload your ID early.

It’s worth checking all four before you deposit, not after.

Next, look at exactly what you need to do to trigger the bonus. Some offers only ask for a deposit. Others say “deposit and stake”, which means you must also bet that money on eligible games.

For example, the Buzz Bingo slots offer asks you to stake £10 on qualifying slots within 14 days of signing up. Your qualifying stake is real money, so count it as part of your gambling budget.

The wagering requirement is the amount you must bet before bonus money turns into cash. Since January 2026, the UK Gambling Commission has capped it at 10x on new casino bonuses. As a result, a £20 bonus with 10x wagering means £200 of bets.

Also check what the multiplier applies to. On some offers, it applies to a bonus balance. On free spins offers, it often applies to your winnings instead. At Rialto, for example, free spins winnings are paid as bonus money with 10x wagering. By contrast, no-wagering offers pay winnings as cash, so there’s nothing to play through.

Our guide to how wagering requirements work covers the maths in more detail.

These three terms decide how much play you really get.

• Spin value. Free spins have a set value. Rialto’s spins are worth £0.10 each, so 100 spins equal £10 of play.
• Eligible games. Spins and bonus funds are often locked to one game or a short list. Rialto’s spins only work on Big Bass Hold & Spinner, for example.
• Game weighting. Slots usually count 100% towards wagering. However, table and live games often count less, or not at all.
• Maximum bet. Many bonuses limit your stake. Buzz Bingo’s £20 slots bonus has a 10p maximum spin. Going over a limit like this can void your winnings.

Almost every offer has a deadline, and often more than one. First, there may be a window to qualify. Then there’s a time limit to use the spins, and another to finish the wagering.

Rialto, for instance, gives you 7 days to use the spins and 7 days to complete the wagering. Buzz Bingo gives you 14 days from sign-up to make the qualifying stake. Bonuses and spins often expire in 1–7 days, so plan your sessions before you claim.