What bonus expiry means

Every casino bonus comes with a deadline in its terms. When the deadline passes, the casino can take back whatever is left of the bonus. That usually includes bonus money you haven’t wagered, free spins you haven’t played, and winnings still locked behind a wagering requirement.

Your own deposit is different. Real money you paid in stays yours, even if the bonus attached to it expires.

The three bonus expiry clocks

Many offers have more than one time limit, and they can start at different moments:

1. Claim window: how long after signing up or receiving an offer you have to opt in or make the qualifying deposit.
2. Use-by date: how long free spins or bonus money stay in your account once credited. Free spins are often the shortest, sometimes just 24 hours or a few days.
3. Wagering deadline: how long you have to finish playing the bonus through before bonus winnings become cash.

Read each one. A generous offer with a 24-hour window can be harder to use than a smaller one with a week to play.

Worked example: how much time a bonus needs

Say you get a £20 bonus with 10 times wagering, and you have 7 days to complete it.

• Wagering: 10 × £20 = £200 of bets.
• At 50p a spin: that’s 400 spins.
• Minimum time: UK online slots must take at least 2.5 seconds per spin, so 400 spins take at least 17 minutes of non-stop play, and usually much longer.

That sounds easy over a week. But if the free spins from the same offer expire after 24 hours, or you only play at weekends, a short deadline can still catch you out. Work out the sum before you opt in.

UK rules that affect bonus expiry

Since 19 January 2026, wagering on a UK casino bonus can’t be more than 10 times the bonus amount. Lower wagering means less play is needed, so bonus expiry deadlines are easier to meet than they used to be.

UK casinos must also set out significant terms, such as time limits, clearly before you take part. If you can’t find the expiry date on an offer, ask customer support before you claim.

How to avoid losing a bonus to expiry

• Check the dates first. Note when the bonus is credited and when each clock runs out.
• Claim only when you’ll play. Don’t take an offer just before a busy week.
• Use free spins first. They often expire sooner than bonus money.
• Keep stakes sensible. Rushing with bigger bets to beat a deadline raises your risk and may break a max-win or max-bet rule.
• Don’t chase a deadline. If time runs out, let the bonus go rather than deposit more.

Our casino deal checklist covers the other terms to check alongside bonus expiry.