There are only so many ways to play online bingo. There are traditional games, mini-games, and games based on TV shows—you can dress them up any way you like but the heart of these bingo games is the same. It’s one of the reasons why online bingo sites often have flamboyant designs and mascots, as seen with the likes of Foxy Bingo, but it also makes it different for one site to set itself apart from another.
After all, if you’re a new bingo site trying to compete against the big boys, how can you differentiate yourself when you basically have the same games and payment options?
That’s where bingo bonuses come in. These bonuses are one of the constants in the online bingo industry, but they are vastly different from one site to the next.
What are Bingo Deposit Bonuses?
A bingo deposit bonus is the site’s way of standing out from the crowd and screaming “look at me”. They know there is a lot of competition. They know that you have many other sites to choose from. And so, they lure you inside with the promise of eye-catching deposit offers.
As the name suggests, these bingo bonuses are only available to players who make a qualifying deposit. There is no fixed qualifying amount and it varies from site to site. The average is £10, but we have seen requirements as low as £5 and as high as £20.
The bonus offers themselves can also differ, and may include one or more of the following:
Free Bingo Tickets
Free bingo tickets are some of the most common bingo bonuses and they’re usually pretty generous. Take Play OJO as an example. Not only does its welcome bonus include free spins, but it also offers 500 bingo tickets.
These tickets can be used on most of the site’s games, but there are usually restrictions for big jackpot games and games that have a high ticket price.
Bonus Credits
Bonus credits can be used to play bingo, slot machines, live table games, and any other games that the site has to offer. There are wagering requirements and there are also terms governing how they are collected, but you have a little more freedom when it comes to actually using these bonuses.
If you’re going to use them to play virtual table games and live table games, however, make sure you check the wagering contributions first.
Free Spins
Free spins are slot bonuses. They are a common sight on bingo sites, as most online bingo sites also have lots of slot machines these days. The spins will have a fixed value and be assigned to a specific slot. If there are 50 spins or more, they will probably be released in batches of 20 or 25 per day, ensuring that you keep returning to the site.
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Cashback
Cashback bonuses give you cashback on all losses during a specific time period, usually 24 hours. It calculates your total profit and loss for this period and then pays a percentage based on how far in the red you are. If you finish the day in the black, you won’t get any cashback.
When used as first-deposit bonuses, cashback offers are not as common on bingo sites and are more frequently used on poker sites, as well as in bigger spender casino bonuses. You will find them as part of loyalty programs/VIP programs though.
What is the Best Bingo Deposit Bonus?
It largely depends on what you’re looking for, how much you’re depositing, and whether you’re interested in free spins or not.
You can collect a generous offer from Bonnie Bingo that combines free spins and bonus credits while Foxy Bingo offers up to £40 and 40 free spins and is usually at the top of the pile for bingo bonuses.
Check the sites we have reviewed to see what’s available.
New Player vs Loyalty Bingo Deposit Bonuses
Bingo deposit bonuses are more commonly offered as new player bonuses. You’ll be asked to meet a qualifying deposit, and if you do, you’ll get whatever bingo tickets, free spins, and bonus credits that you’re entitled to.
These bonuses are used to entice you into the bingo site, but they can also be used as reload bonuses. A reload bonus is basically the same as a new player deposit bonus, only it’s offered to existing players.
Reload bonuses usually have a smaller percentage match, so you won’t get as many credits, free spins, or bingo tickets, but they are available to all active players.
What are the Terms and Conditions of Bingo Deposit Bonuses?
All bingo deposit bonuses have terms and conditions. The main terms are usually included as small print below the promotional image. If you click this text or look for a “Read More” link, you can find the full list of terms.
Here are the most important terms relating to deposit bonuses on bingo sites:
Wagering Requirements
You can’t simply collect your bingo money and then make a withdrawal. You can’t even collect, play, and then withdraw. There are always wagering requirements attached to these promotions, and these must be met before you can make a withdrawal.
Bingo sites are usually a little less demanding than online casinos when it comes to deposit bonuses. The average returns from bingo tickets are far less than slot spins, so you typically won’t be asked to meet huge wagering requirements.
If you collected some spins or bonus credits along with those tickets, it could be a different story.
Payout Limits
If you’re collecting multiple bingo deposit bonuses and slot bonuses in the hope that you can have a few free shots at fixed jackpots and progressive jackpots, we have some bad news.
Most deposit bonuses have some kind of win limit, withdrawal limit, or conversion limit. These restrictions vary with regard to when the money is taken from you, but essentially, they mean that you can’t win and withdraw above a certain amount.
Such restrictions are not as common with bingo deposit bonuses as they are with slot deposit bonuses, but you definitely need to look out for them.
Spin and Ticket Value
£10 is always worth £10, but 50 bingo tickets or free spins on one site aren’t necessarily worth the same as 50 tickets/spins on another. In fact, the value can differ even on the same bonus.
Many bingo tickets are fixed to the lowest value ticket on any game, with exclusions for games that have expensive tickets.
For instance, if Bingo Game A has a minimum bet of £0.01 and Bingo Game B has a minimum bet of £0.10, your tickets can be used on both of them, but you’re obviously better off using them on Bingo Game B.
As for free spins, these usually have a fixed value, such as £0.05, £0.10, or £0.20 per spin. It can make a big difference when determining the true worth of a bonus.
After all, 50 free spins valued at £0.20 each are worth much more than 100 free spins valued at £0.05 each.
You can learn more about the value of bingo tickets and free spins in the terms and conditions.
Payment Restrictions
You can always collect bingo deposit bonuses using Visa and MasterCard. Most of the time, these bonuses are also available for players using web wallets, but there are exceptions.
Some bingo sites and casinos place restrictions on players who use Neteller, Skrill, and Paysafecard. These three options are the most commonly excluded payment methods, but there are others, including ecoPayz and PayPal.
FAQs about Bingo Deposit Bonuses
Yes, you need to verify your account before you can make a deposit and play games at a regulated UK bingo site. This process is usually quick and easy though, and it’s not the frustrating and drawn-out process that it used to be.
When you sign up for a new account, the bingo site will perform a soft credit check on your details, making sure that you are who you say you are. If your details can be found, then your account will be verified and you won’t face any further requests.
If not, you will need to send a photo ID and proof of address. On some sites, this verification process takes a few minutes and is fully automated. On others, it can take several days.
All of the sites on this page offer bingo deposit bonuses. These are our top picks and include some of the best gambling sites in the United Kingdom.
If there are no specific restrictions in place for PayPal deposits, then you should be able to collect a bingo deposit bonus using this payment method. Always check the terms and conditions first because if it’s excluded and you deposit anyway, you’ll miss out.
