Our Bonus Rating System: Find the Best Casino Bonuses for Real Money Wins

How Our Bonus Rating System Rates Online Casino Bonuses

Each category is weighted according to how much it impacts the overall value of the bonus. Wagering requirements, for example, make up 40% of the score because they affect how easy it is to cash out your winnings.

Free spins or bonus cash count for 25%, reflecting their significance in giving you extra chances to win real cash. Other factors like max win cap, deposit required, and RTP are weighted lower but still play an important role. Scroll down to learn more.

Criteria and Weightings:

1. Wagering Requirements (40% of total score)
2. Number of Free Spins/Bonus Cash (25% of total score)
3. Max Win Cap (15% of total score)
4. Deposit Required (10% of total score)
5. RTP (Return to Player) (10% of total score)

Each criterion is rated on a scale with different score ranges. We then multiply the score by its weighting to calculate the final score.

1. Wagering Requirements (40%)

Wagering requirements are the single most important factor in our rating system, accounting for 40% of the total score. This category reflects how many times you need to wager the bonus amount before you can withdraw any winnings. Lower wagering requirements mean it's easier for you to claim your winnings.

• 0x Wagering: This is the ideal scenario where no wagering is required to withdraw your winnings. A bonus with 0x wagering earns the maximum score of 5 points.
• 1x - 10x Wagering: If the wagering is within this range, it earns 4 points. This is still a very favourable condition for the player.
• 11x - 20x Wagering: Bonuses with moderate wagering requirements fall here, scoring 3 points.
• 21x - 35x Wagering: Higher wagering requirements are more difficult to meet and, therefore, score 2 points.
• 36x+ Wagering: These bonuses are the least favourable, requiring significant playthrough before withdrawals can be made. They earn just 1 point.

This category's heavy weighting means that a bonus with low or no wagering requirements can significantly improve its overall score, making it more attractive to players looking for easy-to-claim bonuses.

2. Number of Free Spins/Bonus Cash (25%)

This criterion accounts for 25% of the total score and reflects the number of free spins or the equivalent bonus cash offered in the promotion. The higher the number of free spins or bonus cash, the more value you’re getting out of the bonus. However, we also consider the value of each spin or the cash amount, so high-value spins can increase the score.

• 100+ Free Spins or Equivalent Bonus Cash: A bonus with 100 or more free spins or a large equivalent amount of bonus cash earns 5 points.
• 50-99 Free Spins: Bonuses that offer between 50 and 99 free spins score 4 points.
• 20-49 Free Spins: If the bonus includes between 20 and 49 free spins, it will earn 3 points.
• 10-19 Free Spins: Bonuses that include between 10 and 19 free spins score 2 points.
• 1-9 Free Spins: Bonuses with fewer than 10 free spins will receive just 1 point.

It’s important to note that the value of each spin or bonus cash is also taken into consideration. For example, higher-value spins (e.g., £1 per spin) will have a more positive impact on the score than low-value spins (e.g., £0.10 per spin), giving you more potential winnings.

3. Max Win Cap (15%)

The Max Win Cap is another crucial element, accounting for 15% of the total score. This category evaluates the maximum amount you can win from a bonus. Bonuses with no win caps are the most favourable, while those with very low win caps score the lowest.

• No Cap or £300+ Max Win: A bonus with no cap on winnings or a max win cap of £300 or more earns the maximum score of 5 points.
• £251 - £299 Max Win: An online casino bonus that has a max win cap within this range scores 4 points.
• £250 Max Win: A bonus with a max win cap of £250 will score 3 points, reflecting a reasonable win potential.
• Max Win Caps between £11 - £249: Limits of this value score 2 points.
• Less than £10 Max Win: Bonuses with a very low max win cap of less than £10 are the least favourable, scoring just 1 point.

A high max win cap ensures that the amount of cash you can potentially win when using a bonus isn't overly restricted.

4. Deposit Required (10%)

The deposit required to claim a bonus makes up 10% of the overall score. This category rewards bonuses that require lower deposits or, ideally, no deposit at all.

• No Deposit Required: Bonuses that don’t require any deposit are the most favourable, earning 5 points.
• Low Deposit (£1-£10): A low deposit requirement earns 4 points, as it still offers good value for the player.
• Medium Deposit (£11-£30): Bonuses that require a medium deposit fall in the middle, scoring 3 points.
• High Deposit (£31-£50): Higher deposit requirements will earn 2 points, reflecting a reduced value for players.
• Very High Deposit (£51+): Bonuses with very high deposit requirements are the least favourable, earning just 1 point.

This category emphasizes affordability, rewarding bonuses more highly the cheaper they are to claim.

5. RTP (Return to Player) (10%)

The RTP (Return to Player) percentage is a measure of how much of the wagered money a slot, casino game, or casino in general (if you can use the bonus on various games) is expected to return to players over time. It accounts for 10% of the overall bonus score.

While a higher RTP suggests better long-term payout potential, we weight this category lightly because the advantage is only slight due to the nature of Random Number Generator (RNG) software. RNG software ensures that every spin or game result is independent of the previous ones, meaning the RTP percentage will impact results over the long term rather than in the short term.

• 97%+ RTP: Bonuses linked to games with an RTP of 97% or higher will score 5 points.
• 96%-96.99% RTP: Games with a slightly lower but still strong RTP fall into this category, earning 4 points.
• 95%-95.99% RTP: Games with an RTP between 95% and 95.99% will score 3 points.
• 94%-94.99% RTP: Games with an RTP between 94% and 94.99% score 2 points.
• Below 94% RTP: Bonuses tied to games with an RTP below 94% score the lowest at 1 point.

RTP helps you understand the long-term payout potential of the game attached to the bonus, with higher percentages indicating a better chance of winning. However, due to the random nature of outcomes driven by RNG software, the impact of RTP on individual play sessions may be limited.

Casino Bonus Rating Calculation Explained

Each of the five categories is assigned a score based on the criteria described above. We then multiply each score by its respective weighting and sum them up to calculate the final bonus rating out of 5.

For example:

• Wagering Requirements (40%): If the bonus scores 4 points in this category, we multiply 4 by 0.4 to get 1.6.
• Number of Free Spins/Bonus Cash (25%): A score of 3 points in this category would be multiplied by 0.25, resulting in 0.75.
• Max Win Cap (15%): If the bonus scores 5 points, we multiply 5 by 0.15 to get 0.75.
• Deposit Required (10%): A score of 2 points here would be multiplied by 0.1, resulting in 0.2.
• RTP (10%): If the bonus scores 3 points, we multiply 3 by 0.1 to get 0.3.

We then sum up these results (1.6 + 0.75 + 0.75 + 0.2 + 0.3) to get a total score. In this case, the final score would be 3.6 out of 5.

This final score gives you a clear indication of the overall value of the bonus, helping you decide which promotions offer the best bang for your buck.

Our Bonus Rating System: What to Keep in Mind

Our bonus rating system is designed to help you quickly identify the best value casino bonuses by breaking them down into key categories like wagering requirements, free spins, and deposit terms. By focusing on these factors, we ensure you get the most out of your gaming experience. Yet while our casino bonus ratings system highlights the best offers, we encourage you to only claim bonuses that fit your budget and gaming habits. Responsible gambling ensures that your playtime stays fun and enjoyable.