Bonus balance meaning: it is the part of your casino account that holds promotional money rather than your own cash. You can play with it, but you can't withdraw it until the offer's conditions, usually wagering, are met. Your cash balance and bonus balance are tracked separately, and the terms decide which one is used first.
Your account can show two figures: cash you deposited or won, and bonus funds from a promotion.
Bonus funds can be played but not withdrawn until wagering and other conditions are met.
Terms set the spending order; many UK offers use your cash first.
Withdrawing cash during bonus play usually cancels the bonus balance.
No-wagering free spins pay into the cash balance, so no bonus balance is created.
What it holds
Promotional funds and, often, winnings made with them
Withdrawable?
Not until the offer's conditions are met
Usual condition
Wagering of up to 10x the bonus (UK cap)
Shown in
Account wallet or cashier area
Ends when
Converted to cash, forfeited or expired
Bonus balance meaning in one paragraph
A bonus balance is a separate pot of money in your account that came from a promotion rather than from your own deposits. It might hold a deposit match, a reload bonus or winnings from spins that carry wagering requirements. You can bet with it on games the offer allows, but it isn't yours to withdraw yet. Once you meet the conditions, it converts into cash; if you don't, it is removed.
Your cash balance is different. It holds money you paid in and any winnings that are already free of conditions. UK rules protect your right to withdraw that money, while the bonus balance remains the casino's promotional credit until it converts.
Cash balance vs bonus balance at a glance
How the two balances differ
Feature
Cash balance
Bonus balance
Where it comes from
Your deposits and unrestricted winnings
Promotions and winnings tied to them
Can you withdraw it?
Yes, any time
Only after conditions are met
Counts towards wagering?
Depends on the terms
Yes, on games that count
Max bet rule applies?
While a bonus is active, usually yes
Yes
What ends it
You withdraw or spend it
Conversion, expiry, forfeiture or a withdrawal
Some sites split this further. You may see a pending bonus that is waiting for a qualifying action, or locked funds that hold winnings until wagering is complete. The names vary, so the cashier's own labels are the ones to go by.
Which balance gets spent first?
The terms decide. Many UK casinos now take bets from your cash first and only start using the bonus once your cash runs out. That set-up is often called a non-sticky bonus, and it means you can stop and withdraw your cash winnings before the bonus is touched. Others mix the two or use the bonus first.
Suppose you deposit £40 and receive a £20 bonus. With cash-first play, your first £40 of losses come out of your own money. If you win £60 while still on cash, you can withdraw £100 and walk away, giving up the £20 bonus. If you lose the £40, play moves to the £20 bonus balance, which then needs its 10x wagering of £200 before anything becomes cash.
Asking to withdraw cash while a bonus is active usually cancels the bonus and any winnings tied to it. That is allowed, as long as the casino tells you clearly. What it can't do is stop you taking out your own deposit: the Competition and Markets Authority's online gambling case (opens in a new tab) led operators to commit that players can withdraw their own money during bonus play. The Gambling Commission's page on problems withdrawing winnings (opens in a new tab) says withdrawals should not be delayed or restricted unreasonably.
So the trade-off is simple: withdraw and lose the bonus, or keep playing and work through the wagering. Read what happens to a bonus if you withdraw before deciding.
How a bonus balance turns into cash
Conversion happens once you complete the wagering on time without breaking a rule such as the max bet. Whatever is left in the bonus balance then moves to cash. If the offer has a maximum withdrawal cap, anything over it is removed at this point.
Worked example: a £50 bonus with 10x wagering needs £500 of qualifying bets. On a 96% RTP slot the average cost of that play is about £20, so the expected amount left to convert is about £30. In practice the bonus balance might be empty long before the target, or sit well above £50. Nothing about a bonus changes the odds. Our page on bonus conversion covers the final step.
How to check your bonus balance
Most casinos show the split in the account menu or cashier, often with a progress bar for wagering. If you can only see one total, the bonus or promotions section usually breaks it down. How do I see my bonus balance has more on where to look, and support can confirm the figures if they look wrong.
Related bonus balance terms
Playthrough: the bets needed to convert the bonus.
None of the three spin offers below creates a wagering bonus balance, because winnings from the spins are paid without wagering. 18+ and terms apply. Coral gives 100 free spins at 10p (worth £10) after a deposit and £10 of slots bets; accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, and note that Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded.
Ladbrokes gives up to 500 spins at 10p, released as 50 a day for 10 days after you deposit and spend £10 on slots. PlayOJO pays 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p on a first deposit of at least £10, with winnings as cash; Northern Ireland is excluded. Compare them on our free spins page.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does bonus balance mean?
A bonus balance is the promotional money in your casino account that you can play with but not withdraw yet. It is kept separate from your cash balance, which holds your deposits and unrestricted winnings. To turn bonus money into cash you normally have to meet wagering of up to 10x the bonus within a set time. If you don't, the bonus and any winnings tied to it are removed. Our guide to how bonus funds and cash are used explains the two balances side by side.
Can I withdraw my bonus balance?
No, not until the conditions in the offer terms have been met. The bonus balance only becomes cash after wagering is complete and no rule such as the maximum bet has been broken. You can still withdraw the money in your cash balance, but doing so during bonus play normally cancels the bonus. If you have finished wagering and the money hasn't moved, contact support first. See can you withdraw a casino bonus for more on this.
Why is my bonus balance not going down when I play?
It is probably because your cash is being used first. Many UK casinos take bets from your own money before they touch the bonus, so the bonus balance stays the same until the cash runs out. Your wagering progress may or may not count those cash bets, depending on the terms. Check the offer's rules on spending order and contribution. If both balances look wrong, the help centre or live chat can show you a transaction history. How to track bonus progress explains what the counters mean.
What happens to my bonus balance if it expires?
It is removed from your account, along with any winnings still tied to it. Bonuses usually have a deadline, such as 3 or 7 days to finish the wagering, and the clock in the terms is the one that counts. Money already in your cash balance is unaffected. Expiry is one of the most common ways people lose a bonus, so note the end time when you opt in. Our page on bonus expiry and the glossary entry for validity period cover the detail.
Do free spins winnings go to my bonus balance?
It depends on whether the spins carry wagering. Winnings from no-wagering spins go straight to your cash balance, which is how the current Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO welcome spins are described in their terms. Winnings from spins that do carry wagering land in the bonus balance and must be played through, up to 10x, before they can be withdrawn. The offer terms say which applies. See do free spins winnings count as cash for examples.
Is a bonus balance real money?
Not until it converts. A bonus balance has a pound value and can be staked, but it remains promotional credit until you complete the conditions. That is why it can be removed if you break a rule, let it expire or withdraw early. Once converted, it becomes ordinary cash with the same withdrawal rights as your deposits. Treat any bonus as a conditional extra rather than money you already own. Bonus myths tackles this and similar misunderstandings.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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