1. Establish whether the offer applies
Start with geography and age, then new-customer or existing-customer status. Look for restrictions involving a household, address, device, payment method or previously held account. Treat unclear eligibility as a reason to ask a question before making a payment.
Write down the exact qualifying action. An opt-in, an eligible deposit and a qualifying stake are different actions. If the terms require an opt-in first, a payment alone may not create eligibility. A payment method may be valid for the account while excluded from a promotion.
2. Separate the advertised reward from cash
List what is actually credited: cash, restricted bonus funds or free spins. Record when it is awarded and whether it arrives in instalments. An advertised number of spins is not a cash sum. A percentage match has a maximum award and may have a minimum qualifying deposit.
The ASA’s guidance explains that significant conditions need clear presentation and that full terms should be accessible. A short promotional message should not force you to guess about a condition likely to affect your decision.
3. Make a one-page record
A useful record has seven fields: eligibility; qualifying payment or activity; reward; wagering target; eligible games and stake limit; expiry; withdrawal or cancellation effect. Add the page URL and the date you saved it. Keep the promotion-specific and general terms in the same place.
If two documents disagree, do not choose the more generous interpretation. Ask support which clause applies to the exact offer identifier, and keep the reply. An informal chat answer is useful evidence, but it does not automatically rewrite a contract.
4. Decide without deadline pressure
The comparison can end with declining the offer. Do not enlarge a deposit, extend a session or change a personal limit simply to qualify. A reward with more restrictions can be less suitable even when its headline is larger.
Check the offer again at the point of use because account-specific eligibility can differ from a public page. ReelTerms does not publish live availability, personalised eligibility or operator endorsements. The checklist is a reading method, not an invitation to gamble.
Sources & scope
Primary sources checked 9 November 2026. These explain the general framework. An individual offer or dispute depends on its own facts and current terms.
- ASA / CAP: Free bets and bonuses ↗
- ASA / CAP: Significant promotional conditions ↗
- Gambling Commission: Fair and transparent terms, glossary ↗
Prepared with AI assistance from public sources; no hands-on casino testing is claimed. Read our editorial method.