Despite the fact that the term ‘reload bonus’ makes it sound like an unlocked level in a video game, it’s actually a very common term in the online casino space.
The word ‘reload’ refers to topping up your casino account with additional funds, and these kinds of bonuses help you to do just that. Reload bonuses are a step beyond the initial welcome pack, allowing players to continue to gain additional value for repeat logins and deposits. A quality online casino will be committed to retaining players in the long-term, offering value and rewards in exchange for loyalty. This guide attempts to demystify reload bonuses, explaining how they work and what to watch out for. We cover the best reload bonuses available to UK players and give you the opportunity to take a look behind the curtain before choosing your next place to play.
Our favourite online casinos with reload bonuses
Top 15 casino sites that offer reload bonuses for UK players
Duelz
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MrQ
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Mr Vegas
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Karamba
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Spin Hill Casino
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Magic Red
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888casino
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Grosvenor Casino
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Griffon Casino
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Winomania
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32 Red
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Dream Vegas
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All British Casino
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Barz
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What is a reload bonus?
A reload bonus is a casino bonus that's offered to players who have already made at least one deposit at the online casino. It’s a way that these sites entice and reward players into making continued deposits. These bonuses are always made up of bonus cash at the bare minimum because they can be formulated in many ways, and there isn’t a strict rule in place. But regardless of the maths, a reload bonus always offers the player a percentage of their real cash offer in extra free bonus funds.
For example, 100% up to £100 in your next deposit. That means if you deposit £20 you’ll get another £20 in bonus cash on top. It’s important to note that reload bonuses will often come in smaller percentages, like 25%, 50%, or even 75% up to a maximum amount. While these can be tricky to work out, it’s usually safe enough to trust that the online casino will do the correct maths for you.
How do I get a reload bonus?
Reload bonuses aren’t always available. Every online casino is allowed to offer them at their discretion. These could be available once a week, once a month, or even every day. The only way to know for sure is to shop around. We recommend a few top online casinos that are known for their quality reload bonuses in this article. Here’s how you can get yourself a reload bonus in a few easy steps:
- Do your research and find a safe and secure online casino
- Browse the ‘Promotions’ section of the site (or check out our featured offers in this article)
- Activate your chosen reload bonus by depositing funds as per the promo instructions
- Claim a percentage of your deposit as bonus cash (it can even be as high as 150%)
- Play games at the casino with your boosted balance
Your reload bonus can be activated in a few different ways. Usually by ‘opt in’ or by promo code. Either way, the online casino will guide you through the entire (very short) process.
How to use a reload bonus at an online casino
In terms of functionality, there’s no real difference between a reload bonus and a welcome bonus. Once it’s up and running, there’s really very little left for you to do except play. The first thing you need to do is browse through the promo section on your favourite online casino site and choose your preferred reload bonus. Make sure to read all the terms and conditions that come attached to the offer, to be absolutely certain that everything is just as it seems. The same page will also contain activation instructions. These are always very simple to follow, and the steps are usually completed in less than 60 seconds. One of the steps always involves making a deposit, as this is a key feature of a reload bonus. The deposit process is identical to the one made when making your very first deposit with the site. It’s generally instant and you’ll see the funds on your account balance immediately, along with the bonus cash triggered by the promo. From that moment on you’re free to play any games with your increased balance, so long as the games fall within the remit of the reload bonus terms and conditions.
Why we love reload bonuses
The fact is, just because an online casino calls something a bonus, it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a good idea for you to accept it. Not all bonuses offer great value, and that includes reload bonuses. The online casino needs to be safe and secure, and the bonus itself should come with fair terms that give players a decent chance at converting it to real cash. However, if a reload bonus does meet all those conditions, then suddenly it becomes an offer that’s hard to refuse. There’s a lot to love about bonus cash, and here are some of that main factors:
- Reload bonuses are designed to keep players coming back for more, so they’re always very generous and built to reward.
- The main goal is for players to deposit again and play for longer sessions, meaning the bonus cash is meant to be big enough to last.
- Reload bonuses ripen with age, meaning the more you return to a casino the more generous the reload bonuses become.
- Give yourself more to spend for free – but watch out for wagering requirements!
- Try out a range of games – even those you’re on the fence about – without risking any of your own cash.
- Boost your profile at your online casino by gathering loyalty points and climbing the ranks.
- Take the plunge and try out games with increased bet sizes thanks to your increased fund.
What to look out for when using a reload bonus
If your thought reload bonuses were a simple matter of collecting free cash and making a withdrawal, then you’re in for something of a wakeup call. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and a few crucial elements should always be taken into consideration before you dive in and start spending that bonus cash.
- Wagering requirements – You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bonus that comes without wagering requirements. These are also called rollover requirements and playthrough requirements – so don’t get thrown off by terminology. Your focus should be on the figure attached to the requirement, which ideally should sit at 35x or less. At a push, you could accept a maximum 50x wagering requirement – but your goal really should be to seek out bonuses with the lowest rollover requirements possible.
- Wagering contribution table – Game weighting is a common restriction that comes hand in hand with bonus cash. You meet wagering requirements by betting with games, but not all games help you to complete wagering requirements at the same speed. As a general rule, slot games contribute at 100%, table games contribute at 10%, and all other games at 0% – but this can vary from site to site. There are also usually several games that are eliminated from use with bonus cash entirely.
- Match percentage – Your reload bonus will work similarly to the welcome offer you’ve probably already used up. While the welcome offer is usually always a 100% match bonus, reload bonuses tend to come in a little lower. It’s not uncommon to find a reload bonus for 75% or 50% up to £300, for example.
- Maximum bets and winning caps – Most casino bonuses come with limits. These limits stipulate the top end of the bet size, as well as the maximum amount you can win. While it might not seem so important initially, these are key indicators to determine the value of the bonus. If you can only win a little more than your deposit then it’s probably not worth the effort. Similarly, if your max bet is set too low, then your win potential is vastly diminished.
- Limited games – You might have a favourite slot you’re excited to play with your bonus cash, but you won’t necessarily be able to. More often than not, every bonus’s terms and conditions set out a number of games that are excluded from use with bonus cash. This is generally set out as a series of excluded slot titles, as well as table games like blackjack because they offer the player a vastly increased edge against the house.
What is the best reload bonus?
It’s hard to pin down a single casino with a great reload bonus. That’s because these kinds of offers are rarely permanent fixtures. Other times the online casino might choose to reward specific players only, based on their loyalty and participation over a period of time. However, if the bonus restrictions are fair with regards to limitations and wagering requirements, then it doesn’t really matter which online casino is producing the offer. Stick to our recommended list of sites to ensure a safe and secure online gambling experience.
How often can I claim a reload bonus?
Reload bonuses are always doled out at the discretion of the online casino. That means there’s no set number or frequency with which they’re doled out to players. What we can tell you is that online casinos tend to stick to a schedule. If you stick around long enough you’ll start to recognise a pattern, for example, Reload Tuesdays, where players can collect 75% up to £200 in bonus cash every week.
In summary, we advise you to check in with the promo page at your favourite online casino regularly to see if there’s anything you’re interested in available. As long as a reload bonus is available, you can continue to claim it. One thing you should be aware of is that online casinos only allow you to have one active bonus at a time. It means that even if there are two separate reload bonuses on offer, you won’t be able to run them concurrently.
Do casinos give reload bonuses automatically?
The short answer: not really. When it comes to a reload bonus, you always have to explicitly accept the offer. This is due to multiple reasons, not least because of the special terms and conditions that come attached to every offer. But the biggest reason is probably because a reload bonus inherently requires players to make a deposit, which is the main triggering feature, so they can never be automatically applied to your casino account.
The way you onboard a reload bonus will vary from casino to casino. The two most common methods are via an ‘optin’ feature or the application of a bonus code. Both methods are extremely simple and straightforward, and you only have to give the promotion page a quick scan to find out exactly what you should do.
The only times you’ll be awarded a bonus automatically is when they come with no strings attached. Many online casinos use these little gifts to keep players happy and engaged. For example, you might sometimes log in to your account to find a set of free spins without any wagering requirements waiting for you to play.
Can I cash out a reload bonus?
Reload bonuses are designed to offer players the chance to turn the bonus cash into real, withdrawable cash. The truth is, it can be a long – or even fruitless – journey towards that exciting payout. The only thing standing in your way is those pesky wagering requirements. Once you’ve activated your bonus, it will be locked from withdrawal. There’s no way to make withdrawals as soon as the bonus cash hits your account, and there are a few hoops to jump through first.
Even if you’ve made a pure cash deposit, you’ve got to turn it over at least once before you can withdraw it. While this might sound strange, it’s actually a very standard anti-money laundering requirement that’s found at every single licensed and regulated online casino.
But back to reload bonuses and how to turn them into real cash. There’s no magic formula to succeeding. You’ll need to focus on choosing the right games to play (for example, slots with an RTP above 96%), and reading all the fine print ahead of accepting the bonus. This brings us back to one of our early points, that you must really pay attention to the bonus terms and conditions, which always stipulate your wagering target. If the rollover requirements are too high, then the attractiveness of the offer diminishes entirely, as your chances of cashing out become very small.
Responsible gambling
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
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