Opt in bonus

What does opt in bonus mean?

To opt in is to say yes to a specific promotion. An opt in bonus is one the casino won't apply until you take that step, whether it's a tick box during registration, an "opt in" button on the promotions page, a "claim" button in your account, or choosing the offer from a list. Until you do, your deposit and play are just ordinary real-money activity with no bonus rules attached.

Opting in matters because it's the moment you accept the terms: the wagering, maximum bet, eligible games and expiry. It's the opposite of an automatic bonus in the sense that you make an active choice, although in practice most UK offers combine an opt-in with automatic crediting once you qualify. You'll find related formats on our types of casino bonus hub.

Why UK casinos make you opt in to a bonus

There are practical and regulatory reasons. Practically, a bonus changes how your balance works, adding wagering and stake limits, so it's fairer to let you decide. Regulators agree: UK guidance on fair promotional terms expects players to opt in to promotions rather than be enrolled automatically, and the Gambling Commission's guidance on the right to vary a promotion (opens in a new tab) says terms must not be changed after a player has opted to take part.

The opt-in also fixes which version of the terms applies to you. If a casino later updates an offer for new sign-ups, the version you agreed to should still govern your bonus. Our bonus terms version entry and the page on whether bonus terms can change after you opt in explain what that protects.

The CMA's 2018 work on online gambling promotions, which the Commission says operators must follow, set the standard that significant terms are shown up front and that players can withdraw their own deposits during bonus play. Opting in doesn't remove either right.

How to opt in to a bonus: the usual steps

The exact buttons differ between casinos, but the sequence below covers most UK offers. Skipping step one or step four is the most common reason a bonus never appears.

1. Find the offer through the casino's own promotions page or the designated offer link; some offers, like PlayOJO's, only apply via that link.
2. Read the significant terms shown with the offer: deposit, stake, spin value, wagering and expiry.
3. Register and complete identity checks; UK casinos must verify age and identity before you can deposit or play.
4. Opt in, tick the box or choose the offer before depositing, if the terms ask for it.
5. Make the qualifying deposit or bet with a payment method that counts.
6. Accept or claim the reward when it appears, inside any claim window.
7. Confirm it's active in your account's bonus area before you start playing.

Opt in bonus offers at our partner casinos

Each partner handles the opt-in moment differently. Here's what their published terms say, as checked on 5 October 2026. All offers are 18+, for new customers, and full terms apply.

So even offers that look automatic involve a choice. Our guides to claiming the Casumo bonus and claiming the Coral bonus walk through each brand's screens.

What opting in commits you to: a Casumo worked example

Opting in to a deposit match changes what you can do with your balance, so it's worth seeing the numbers before you tick the box. Casumo's welcome bonus gives 50% of your first deposit up to £100, with 10x wagering on the bonus within 7 days and a £5 maximum bet while the bonus is active.

At the top end, £1,000 of wagering in 7 days at no more than £5 a bet means at least 200 bets. The average cost figures assume a 4% house edge and are long-run averages; any one week can turn out very differently. Game, play and payment restrictions also apply. See our Casumo bonus wagering page for the full breakdown.

Opting in to a bonus vs opting in to marketing

Two different opt-ins appear at sign-up and they're easy to confuse. One is consent to a specific promotion. The other is consent to receive marketing, which since 1 May 2025 must be asked separately for each product (casino, betting, bingo) and each channel (email, SMS, phone), with every option off by default, under LCCP 5.1.12 on direct marketing preferences (opens in a new tab).

You can opt in to a welcome bonus without agreeing to any marketing, and the bonus should still apply. Our marketing consent rules page explains the second kind in more detail.

What changes once you've opted in

• Wagering applies to the bonus: up to 10x the bonus since 19 January 2026, never to your own deposit balance.
• A max bet may apply: for example £5 per bet at Casumo while a bonus is active, on top of the legal £5 (25+) and £2 (18–24) slot limits.
• Game restrictions apply: some games count less or not at all; see game weighting.
• Clocks start: claim windows, validity and wagering deadlines run from the moments set in the terms.
• Your terms are fixed: the version you agreed to should not be changed afterwards.
• Your deposit stays yours: you can withdraw your deposit balance at any time, though doing so may forfeit the bonus.

If you're unsure what's active, our guide on how to check if a bonus is active shows where casinos usually display it.

Forgot to opt in? What usually happens

If an offer needed an opt-in before the deposit and you deposited first, the casino will usually say the deposit didn't qualify. Terms rarely allow a bonus to be added retrospectively, and casinos aren't obliged to make exceptions. It's still worth asking support politely, especially if the opt-in step wasn't clear, because the significant terms are supposed to be prominent and easy to follow.

If you think the opt-in step was hidden or confusing, you can complain to the casino and, if that doesn't resolve it, take the dispute to an approved alternative dispute resolution service. See why a bonus was not credited and our guide on how to complain about a bonus.

Choosing not to opt in

Not opting in is a perfectly reasonable choice. Without a bonus, there's no wagering, no bonus max bet and no game list, and every withdrawal is straightforward. Many people prefer that, particularly on games that count little towards wagering, such as live casino tables. If you have opted in and want out, most casinos let you forfeit an active bonus from the bonus area; read can you cancel a casino bonus first, because forfeiting removes bonus winnings too.

Opt in bonus vs automatic bonus vs bonus code

There are three common ways a bonus gets attached to an account. Our partners use opt-ins and offer links; none needs a promo code.

See do casino bonuses need a code and our comparison of bonus codes vs automatic bonuses for more.

Opting in responsibly

An opt-in is a decision point, which makes it a good moment to check your budget. Only opt in if the deposit is one you'd make anyway and the wagering fits the time you'd normally spend playing. UK casinos must stop offering new bonuses to customers showing strong signs of harm, and our guide to opting out of promotions explains how to step back from them yourself. For support, call the free National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or contact GamCare (opens in a new tab).

Partner offers that use an opt-in or claim step

The three offers shown below each ask you to make a choice before the reward applies. All are 18+, new customers only, and full terms apply.

• Casumo: opt in, then deposit at least £20 for a 50% bonus up to £100 (£20 gives £10; £200 gives the full £100). Wager the bonus 10x within 7 days, £5 max bet while the bonus is active; game, play and payment restrictions apply. See the Casumo casino bonus.
• Coral: deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10 on slots, then accept 100 free spins within 48 hours; 10p each (£10 of spins), valid 7 days, no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify. Runs to 1 February 2027.
• Ladbrokes: deposit and spend £10 on slots, then claim 50 free spins each day before 23:59 for 10 days (up to 500, 10p each, up to £50 of spins), valid 7 days, no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers don't qualify.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited; check their terms before opening new accounts at both.

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.