Are No Deposit Bonuses Worth The Hype?

Most online casinos offer bonuses to attract players and optimise their gaming experience. Different types of bonuses come with different levels of appeal. The no-deposit bonus is a top player favourite and has several advantages that make it difficult for players to overlook.

Find out what makes a no-deposit bonus attractive and how valuable it is to your gaming experience.

No Deposit Bonuses Explained

No deposit bonuses are among the most desirable bonuses, allowing players to enjoy an online casino without making deposits. Once you create an account, the gaming site rewards you with a prize with which you can play real-money games.

Note that these are not demo versions that you only play for fun. You can potentially make some money with a no-deposit bonus without spending a penny. In short, a no-deposit bonus lets you get a feel for the casino and potentially make some money. This is often a more effective customer retention strategy than deposit bonuses because players do not have to spend money.

Nevertheless, casinos are not in the charity business and ultimately aim to make profits. Where available, these offers often come in minimal amounts and with stricter conditions.

Types Of No Deposit Bonuses

Here is a look at the different forms of no-deposit bonuses you might come across at sites that offer them:

  • Free cash: In this type of bonus, the casino puts a small amount of free cash in your account so you can play games on the platform The free cash might not be sufficient to play all your favourite games, but it will be enough for you to get a feel for the platform. No-deposit free cash often totals between £20 and £30
  • Free spins: With a free spins offer, you can use the no-deposit bonus to play selected online slots. Here, stakes are on the house, and you can make real money and withdraw it through any available payment options like PayPal
  • Bonus credits: Just as the name suggests, this bonus comes in the form of casino credits and not real money. Therefore, you will have to stake the credits a few times before withdrawing the winnings
  • Cash back: Some online casinos take it even further by giving you back a portion of the bonus if you lose everything

Terms and Conditions

Although no-deposit bonuses are free, they often come with terms and conditions. This often affects how valuable the offers are, so you should consider them carefully. Here is a look at some of the popular terms and conditions associated with no-deposit bonuses:

  • Wagering requirements: This is the number of times you must wager the bonus before its winnings become available for withdrawal. No-deposit bonus wagering requirements are generally tougher than deposit bonuses. However, they should still be reasonable enough that you stand a fair chance of getting your winnings. The best offers should have below 40x wagering
  • Eligible games: Typically, no-deposit bonuses must be used on specific games. A no-deposit bonus is more appealing if the selected slots or casino games are those that you enjoy. The good news is that eligible games are often the latest or most popular titles
  • Cash-out limit: Normally, online casinos have a bonus withdrawal limit. However, the limit is even lower for a no-deposit bonus. Note that this cash-out limit is a measure to prevent you from taking advantage of the bonus
  • Expiry date: Deposit bonuses do not last forever, and most casinos only give you a couple of days to use them. Some operators set a validity period of 24 hours, whilst others set validity to several days or a week. The longer you have to exhaust the bonus, the better

Advantages of No Deposit Bonuses 

Bonuses can be classified based on whether they require deposits or not. There are advantages to each type, but many players prefer no-deposit bonuses for a few reasons.

  • Completely free to play: You do not have to make deposits before enjoying a no-deposit bonus. Immediately after registration, you can claim the offer and make real money at no financial cost, offering safer gambling.
  • Try before you buy: Players often want to try an online casino before deciding whether to continue or opt for another platform. A no-deposit bonus is the perfect way to experience these gaming platforms. With these few rounds, you can make a reasonable assessment of the casino before going all in.

Drawbacks Of No Deposit Bonuses

As appealing as these offers might sound, they also have their disadvantages. First, these bonuses come with stricter wagering requirements. Offering a free bonus is more expensive for casinos, and many operators try to make up for it with tougher requirements.

These bonuses typically only apply to selected games, which means you cannot choose which games to use the bonus on. In addition, you will only receive a small amount of cash or a set number of free spins when you get this bonus. It is not usually as large as deposit offers.

How To Claim No Deposit Bonuses

Here are the steps to take if you want a no-deposit bonus:

  1. Find a no-deposit bonus casino: First, you have to find an online casino that offers no-deposit bonuses. You should look over the offer carefully to ensure it suits you
  2. Create an account: Register with the casino by providing relevant details. Normally, the registration process only takes a few minutes
  3. Enter a no-deposit bonus code: During registration, you might need to consent to get the bonus or use a specific bonus code. Bonus codes are not available for all bonuses, but in cases where they are provided, you must use them to activate the offer
  4. Start using the no-deposit bonus: Most no-deposit bonuses come with an expiration date, so proceed quickly. You will receive your new no deposit bonus immediately after creating your account and should put it to use right away

How Valuable Are No Deposit Offers?

A no-deposit bonus is one of the most valuable offers you can find in an online casino. It gives you a free opportunity to play casino games without taking on any financial risk. More importantly, it provides you with the opportunity to earn real money on successful bets. You play for free to win real money; it doesn’t get better than that. If you play at the best online casinos, you’ll have fair wagering requirements for better chances of winning.

—TechRound does not recommend or endorse and financial or gambling practices. All article content is purely informational—