CURRENT EDITION
UK guide · Bonus basics
A neutral checklist for comparing bonus terms
Comparing two promotions is useful only when the comparison preserves the conditions. A larger headline can conceal more required activity, less time or a reward that is not cash.
- Use consistent columns
- Compare like with like
- Include the option to decline
Use consistent columns
For each offer, record qualifying payment, reward type, nominal amount, wagering base, contribution, deadline and conversion cap. Add unknown where a field is missing. Empty information should not be treated as zero restriction, and a spin count should not be entered in a cash column.
Compare like with like
A £10 bonus and ten spins are not equal units. Neither can be reduced to a guaranteed cash value without assumptions. Keep multiple dimensions visible rather than inventing one overall score. A table can reveal a trade-off without declaring a winner or recommending participation.
Include the option to decline
A comparison that contains only promotional choices can make gambling look inevitable. Add a no-promotion option requiring no qualifying transaction. If an offer requires more spending or time than intended, that extra exposure is a relevant disadvantage regardless of its headline percentage.
Explain the result without a winner
A neutral comparison can conclude that the information is incomplete, that the conditions differ in ways that cannot be reduced to one score, or that neither option fits the reader existing boundaries. Those are useful results. If one offer has a shorter deadline and another has more restricted games, state the trade-off instead of assigning arbitrary points. The comparison should also show whether figures are confirmed from current terms or merely repeated by a third-party page. Do not assume a low multiplier compensates for an unclear balance rule. The purpose of the table is to expose the full decision, including the option to do nothing. A clear comparison can therefore finish with unanswered questions rather than a recommendation to register.
Date the comparison. If one set of terms changes, update that row rather than assuming the entire table remains current. A comparison is a snapshot of documented conditions, not a permanent ranking.
- Use the same unit and definition in each comparison column; separate pounds, spins, percentages and time periods.
- Mark unavailable information explicitly instead of interpreting a blank field as no restriction or zero cost.
- Include the no-promotion alternative so that a comparison does not quietly assume participation is inevitable.
Worked example · hypothetical
Two incomplete offers
Offer A states £5 credit but omits expiry. Offer B states twenty spins but omits stake value. Neither is ready for a complete comparison. The correct result is two unanswered questions, not a ranking based on whichever headline looks larger.
Common questions
Can one number summarise every condition?
Only by imposing subjective weights and assumptions. Show those assumptions or keep the comparison multidimensional.
Are the figures an offer or a promise?
No. They are hypothetical teaching figures. They explain definitions and calculations without recommending an operator, a deposit, a game or a strategy.
Sources & further reading
Read the source alongside the explanation. Rules and published terms can change; check the current official position where you live.
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