How to keep records of bonuses

How to keep records of bonuses, and why it's worth doing

Casino bonuses run on dates and conditions: opt in by this time, deposit with that method, wager this much before that deadline. When something goes wrong, the casino has its own records and you often have only memory. A short personal log closes that gap.

Good bonus records do four jobs:

• Proof of what you agreed to. Terms can change for new sign-ups, so a dated copy shows the version that applied to you.
• Deadline control. Accept windows, claim cut-offs and wagering periods are easier to keep track of when written down in one place.
• Evidence for a complaint. If a bonus doesn't arrive or winnings are removed, a timeline of deposits, bets and messages makes the complaint quicker to resolve.
• A spending check. Adding up deposits and withdrawals shows what gambling is really costing you, bonus or not.

This guide is part of our casino bonus guides. It isn't about tracking results to win more; bonuses don't change the odds, and losses are likely over time. It's about knowing where you stand.

What to record for each casino bonus

One row or note per bonus is enough. These are the fields worth capturing, with an example of each:

The example figures are illustrative. For the meaning of each term, our casino bonus terms guide works through a full set of terms clause by clause.

Saving the bonus terms you accepted

The most valuable record is a dated copy of the terms. Capture both the significant terms shown beside the offer and the full terms page. A screenshot works; saving the page as a PDF or printing it to a file keeps the full text. Note the date and time in the file name.

Why it matters: before you opt in, the casino can change an offer for future customers. After you opt in, Gambling Commission guidance on the right to vary a promotion (opens in a new tab) says operators must not vary or withdraw it for you unless that's needed to stop fraud or similar unlawful behaviour. Your dated copy shows which terms you signed up to.

Consumer law adds another reason. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a term that could mean two things is read in the way most favourable to the consumer, and an unfair term isn't binding on you; see section 62 of the Act (opens in a new tab). Having the exact wording is what lets you make that argument. The guide to reading a significant terms box shows what to look for.

Logging deposits, bonus balance, wagering and withdrawals

UK casinos must show your deposit balance and bonus balance separately, and you can withdraw your deposit balance at any time. Record both figures at each step so you can see which money is yours and which is still tied to the bonus. Our guide on how bonus funds and cash are used explains the two balances.

Here is an illustrative log for a hypothetical 50% match on a £40 deposit with 10x wagering over 7 days:

Whether bets come from cash or bonus first depends on each casino's terms; Commission guidance doesn't set an order. Record what your account shows rather than assuming. To check how much wagering is left, the wagering calculator helps with the sums.

Tracking bonus deadlines and claim windows

Put every bonus deadline in your phone calendar or log the moment you opt in. The partner offers show how varied they are:

• Coral: accept the 100 free spins within 48 hours; use them within 7 days.
• Ladbrokes: claim each daily batch of 50 spins before 23:59; each batch lasts 7 days.
• Casumo: wager the bonus 10x within 7 days.
• 10bet: make the first deposit within 7 days of choosing the welcome bonus, then wager it 10x within 3 days.

A deadline note is there so you aren't caught out, not to make you play. If a bonus would expire before you'd normally play again, letting it go is a perfectly sensible outcome. The bonus expiry guide explains what happens to unused bonuses and their winnings.

Using the casino's own transaction history

Your account will have a transaction or account history section listing deposits, withdrawals and often bonus credits. Check it against your own log after each step, and save a copy if you can export or screenshot it. Discrepancies are much easier to raise within days than weeks later.

If you need a fuller record, you can ask the casino's support team for a statement. Under UK data protection law you can also ask any company for a copy of the personal data it holds about you, which can include account and transaction records. Keep your request and the reply in your log.

When a bonus fails to appear, records answer the first questions support will ask: when you opted in, how you deposited and how much you bet. Our pages on why a bonus was not credited and why a bonus disappeared list the usual causes.

How bonus records support a complaint

If a dispute can't be fixed through live chat, the formal route has fixed stages. The Gambling Commission's guide to complaining (opens in a new tab) sets them out:

1. Complain to the casino using its published complaints procedure, attaching your terms copy and timeline.
2. Give the casino up to 8 weeks to resolve it; keep every reply in your log.
3. If it's still unresolved, or you get a final response you disagree with, take it to the casino's named ADR provider, which is free.
4. Submit within the provider's deadline; providers must allow at least 12 months from the operator's final response.
5. Send the ADR provider your records: terms copy, deposits, bets, balances, messages and dates.

IBAS is one approved ADR provider; registered companies agree to be bound by its decisions up to £10,000. You can read how it works on IBAS's site (opens in a new tab). The Commission itself doesn't resolve individual complaints. See our guides on how to complain about a bonus and the complaints and ADR rules.

Using bonus records as a spending check

The same log tells you what gambling costs you. Your net deposit is deposits minus withdrawals: deposit £120 in a month and withdraw £30, and the net cost is £90, whatever bonuses came along the way.

Casinos watch this figure too. Since 28 February 2025, a financial vulnerability check (a public-record check for things like bankruptcy or county court judgments) is triggered when net deposits pass £150 in a rolling 30 days; see financial vulnerability checks. These are not credit-score affordability checks.

If your records show you're depositing more than you planned, or chasing a bonus deadline, act on it. Set a lower limit with our guide to setting deposit limits, take a time-out, or self-exclude from all UK-licensed sites through GAMSTOP. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133.

Bonus records, tax and keeping your data safe

UK players don't pay tax on gambling winnings, so bonus records aren't usually needed for HMRC; duty is paid by operators instead. Our gambling winnings tax page explains the position. The reasons to keep records are disputes, deadlines and spending, not tax.

Keep the log somewhere private and protected, such as a password-locked spreadsheet or notes app. Leave out passwords, full card numbers and security codes; the last four digits of a card are enough to identify it. If you saved ID documents for account verification, keep them away from shared folders.

How long to keep bonus records

These are practical suggestions, not legal requirements. If storage isn't a problem, keeping a year of records is simple and covers most situations.

Setting up a simple bonus log

1. Create one spreadsheet or note titled with the casino's name.
2. Add columns for date, event, cash balance, bonus balance, wagering left and notes.
3. Before opting in, save the significant terms and full terms with today's date.
4. Record the opt-in, the deposit amount and payment method, and the bonus credit.
5. Add each deadline to your calendar.
6. After each session, note the balances and wagering left from your account.
7. Log withdrawals when requested and when received.
8. Copy any support chat or email into the log with its reference.
9. Total deposits and withdrawals each month and compare them with your budget.

Our casino bonus checklist pairs well with this log: use the checklist before you claim and the log afterwards.

What to record for each partner bonus

If you claim one of the partner offers we list, these are the details worth noting at the start. All are 18+, new customers only, and terms apply.

• Coral Casino: deposit (some types excluded) and bet £10+ on slots for 100 free spins at 10p on selected games (£10 of spins). Record the qualifying bet time, the 48-hour accept deadline and the 7-day use deadline. No wagering on free spin winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify; note your deposit method. Offer runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. See Coral bonus expiry.
• Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500 at 10p). Note each day's claim before 23:59 and each batch's 7-day expiry. No wagering. PayPal, prepaid cards, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't qualify.
• PlayOJO: first deposit of £10+ for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p (£8), winnings paid in cash. Note that you used the designated offer link, as the offer isn't available otherwise; not available in Northern Ireland.

A good log won't make any bonus more valuable, but it makes the terms easier to follow and any problem easier to fix. Gamble only with money you can afford to lose.

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.