How we rate bonuses

For each bonus, we assess how easy it is to claim. We favour offers with simple requirements, such as registration, login, activation or a deposit, rather than multiple complicated conditions.

We also assess wagering requirements (WR) and what they’re calculated from. A WR based on both the bonus and deposit can make the real wagering amount much higher than one based on the bonus alone.

Our rating also considers value for money and time limits. We look at how much players must deposit, stake or wager, what they get in return, and how long they have to meet the terms.

With bonuses, we don’t rate only the highest advertised amount. What matters most is the real value for players. We assess a deposit bonus differently from free spins for registration, and differently again from a reward the player gets with no deposit.

That’s why we look not only at the total bonus amount, but also what the player has to do to get it. The biggest bonus isn’t automatically the best if it comes with complicated terms, a short validity period, or demanding wagering.

We also rate free bonuses separately – rewards for registration, logging in, or a simple activity. These can have high practical value for players because they don’t have to deposit their own money straight away.

We never assess a bonus completely on its own. It’s always part of a specific casino, so the rating also reflects the quality of the operator.

Even an attractive bonus can lose value if it’s offered by a casino with unclear terms, a weaker game selection, or a poorer user experience. That’s why we check whether the casino feels trustworthy, has a English licence and offers players a fair and transparent environment.

So the bonus is always linked to the casino’s overall rating. We describe the detailed rules for this part in a separate casino rating methodology.