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Guide · bonuses

Casino bonuses & wagering, explained.

How welcome offers and free spins actually work, what wagering requirements mean for your money, and why Atlas shows no bonus figure.

How bonuses work

A welcome offer is usually a deposit match (bonus funds worth a percentage of your deposit) and/or free spins. It is a marketing tool to get you playing — and it always comes with conditions attached. The headline number is the least important part; the terms decide what it is really worth.

Wagering requirements: the key number

The wagering requirement (or playthrough) is how many times you must bet the bonus before you can withdraw winnings from it. A 35x requirement on a £10 bonus means £350 of bets. Watch for the details that change the real value:

Game weighting
Slots usually count 100% toward wagering; table and live games often count far less, or not at all — so playing them barely clears the requirement.
Time limit & max bet
Bonuses expire (often days), and there is usually a maximum bet while wagering. Break the max-bet rule and the bonus and winnings can be voided.
Max cash-out
Winnings from a bonus (especially free spins) are frequently capped — you may only be able to withdraw a limited amount however much you win.

Why Atlas shows no bonus figure

The full terms usually appear only after sign-up, and a big “£X bonus” headline without the wagering conditions is misleading — exactly the kind of number affiliate sites use to drive clicks. So Atlas publishes no bonus value. We explain how bonuses work and leave the current offer and its terms to the operator, where you can read them in full before deciding.

Bonuses and responsible play · 18+

A bonus encourages more play and longer sessions — treat it as marketing, not free money, and never chase wagering with money you can’t afford. Set deposit and time limits first; UK casinos must offer them, and GAMSTOP if you need to stop.

Frequently asked questions

What does 35x wagering mean?

It means you must bet the bonus (or bonus plus deposit, depending on the terms) 35 times before any winnings can be withdrawn. On a £10 bonus at 35x that is £350 of wagering — and different games count differently toward it.

Are casino bonuses free money?

No. A bonus is marketing, not a gift. It comes with wagering requirements, time limits, maximum bets and often a maximum cash-out, so the real value is far lower than the headline figure — and sometimes negative.

Why does Atlas not show bonus offers?

Full bonus terms usually appear only after you sign up, and a headline amount without the wagering conditions is misleading. So Atlas publishes no bonus figure — we describe how bonuses work instead, and leave the current offer and its terms to the operator.