What a reload bonus is

Welcome offers are only for new customers. A reload bonus is the casino’s way of rewarding you for coming back. Typically it’s a deposit match, such as 50% up to £50, or a set number of free spins when you deposit a minimum amount.

Reload bonuses usually arrive by email, text or in the casino’s app, and often only if you’ve agreed to receive marketing. Some casinos run them on set days, while others send personal offers based on how you play.

How a reload bonus works

1. You opt in to the offer, often with a promo code or a button in your account.
2. You make a qualifying deposit, at or above the minimum.
3. The casino adds the bonus money or free spins.
4. You meet any wagering requirement before bonus winnings become cash.

Since 19 January 2026, any wagering requirement on a UK casino bonus can’t be more than 10 times the bonus. Many reload deals now have lower wagering than that, or none at all.

Worked example: what a reload bonus is worth

Say you deposit £100 and get a 50% reload bonus up to £50, with 10 times wagering on the bonus.

• Bonus: 50% of £100 = £50.
• Wagering: 10 × £50 = £500 of bets before bonus winnings can be withdrawn.
• Expected cost of that wagering: on slots with a 96% return to player, £500 of bets loses about £20 on average.
• Rough value: £50 − £20 = about £30.

This is an average over a very large number of sessions, not a promise. In a single session you could finish well up or lose the lot. Even so, the sum shows why wagering matters: the higher it is, the less the bonus is worth.

The terms that matter

• Wagering: how many times you must play through the bonus, up to 10 times.
• Expiry: how long you have to use the bonus and finish the wagering.
• Game weighting: slots often count in full, while table and live games may count less or not at all.
• Maximum bet: many bonuses cap your stake per spin while the bonus is active.
• Win caps: some reload spins limit how much you can win.

Our casino deal checklist covers these in more detail.

UK rules on reload bonuses

Two Gambling Commission rule changes from 19 January 2026 apply to every UK bonus, including reloads. First, wagering is capped at 10 times. Second, a single promotion can no longer require you to play more than one product, such as casino and sports betting, to unlock it.

In addition, UK casinos must not send marketing, including reload offers, to anyone who has self-excluded.

When a reload bonus is worth taking

A reload bonus is worth considering when you were already planning to deposit and play at that casino. In that case, low or no wagering makes it a genuine extra.

On the other hand, don’t deposit just because an offer has arrived. A bonus that tempts you to spend more than you meant to costs more than it gives. Set a budget first, and use the casino’s deposit limits and reality checks.