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Independent · No gambling offered · 18+SearchSavedAdvertise
 Vol. I · No.
Casino Courant
Updated 18+Play responsibly
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What is Welcome bonus?

A welcome bonus is a promotional incentive offered to new customers when they register or make a first deposit, often a percentage match of the deposit or a set of free spins.

A common format is a deposit match, such as 100% up to £50, where a £50 deposit is credited with an additional £50 in bonus funds. Others combine smaller matches across several deposits or add free spins. The bonus funds are usually subject to wagering requirements, game restrictions, expiry dates and maximum bet rules.

Regulators increasingly limit how welcome offers may work. In Great Britain, wagering requirements have been capped at 10 times the bonus since 19 January 2026, and offers combining different products, such as betting and casino, are no longer permitted. The Netherlands has heavily restricted bonus advertising.

For news readers, welcome bonuses are a major customer acquisition cost for operators and a focus of advertising regulation. Bonus terms are set by each operator and vary widely.

Related terms

Wagering requirementA wagering requirement is the amount a player must bet before bonus funds or winnings from them can be withdrawn, usually expressed as a multiple of the bonus.Game weightingGame weighting is the percentage of each bet that counts towards a bonus wagering requirement, which differs by game type to reflect each game's house edge.Max bet ruleThe max bet rule is a bonus condition limiting the stake a player may place while bonus funds are active, such as £5 per spin, with breaches risking forfeiture of winnings.No-deposit bonusA no-deposit bonus is a small promotional credit or set of free spins given to a new customer on registration, without requiring them to deposit money first.AffiliateAn affiliate is a website or marketer that refers players to gambling operators in return for commission, typically through revenue share, a fixed fee per depositing player, or both.