Something for Nothing - The Fabled Free Lunch?
There’s no such thing as a free lunch. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that, but I always knew it wasn’t exactly true. You can get a free lunch pretty easily in fact, especially if you know where to look. But I’m guessing you didn’t come here to talk about lunch…
No deposit casino bonuses (What Are No Deposit Bonuses?) are the free lunch of the online gambling world. They work like normal bonuses (you know - the welcome bonuses casinos are forever promoting for new accounts and depositors). Except with one key, crucial, all-important difference - you don’t need to deposit a penny.
The clue is in the name - these are ‘no deposit’ bonuses, and they come in a range of different types (Types of No Deposit Bonus).
But what do these mean for players, how do these bonuses work (So How Does It All Work?), and how can you use these bonuses to your advantage at the best online (Casinos With The Best No Deposit Bonuses) and mobile casinos (No Deposit Bonuses for Mobile Devices)?
What Are No Deposit Bonuses?
So we know no deposit bonuses are bonuses that don’t require you to whip out your credit card first. No prizes for figuring that one out. But are they real, and if so, how can casinos afford to give away free money?
The answer, as always, lies in marketing. This is how some casinos spread the word about their offering, and reach out to new potential players to showcase what they’ve got. Often, you’ll find no deposit bonuses are much less generous than deposit bonuses, but it is possible to use these free credit and free games to win real money.
Types of No Deposit Bonus
There are several different types of no deposit bonus you’ll come across. We recommend a good spread of casinos offering one or all of these types of bonuses, so you can get a flavour for what might be best for your gaming. Don’t say we’re not good to you, now.
The first type is the straightforward no deposit bonus - essentially fixed credits awarded by the casino with every newly created account. You might be looking at something like £5 or £10 - a small amount that you can use to try out what the casino has to offer.
There’s no risk with these bonuses whatsoever, and you can use them in most cases before you’ve even made your first deposit. Yet any money you win is real, and subject to the wagering requirements, it’s yours to keep.
Another hugely common type of no deposit bonus is the free spins bonus, which you can often find linked to one or more specific slots games. Essentially, instead of being given free bonus credit to play across the games of your choice, you’re given straight up free spins on one or more slots. Anything you win from these slots is similarly yours forever, so long as you meet the wagering requirements and don’t go on to lose it on your paid-for spins.
You’ll often find free spins bonuses tied to a specific slot the casino is looking to promote, and sometimes the games available will change, depending on newly launched slots titles, or the casino’s own strategy for marketing their games.
You’ll also find free time play bonuses without the need for any deposit, but these are a little rarer. These give you a set period of time, usually an hour or so, in which you can play for free and win as much money from the casino as you can. Again, there are the usual wagering requirements and restrictions in place to prevent bonus abuse, but this can be another great way to get your start.
New Player Bonuses
Most no deposit bonuses you will come across are designed for new players. In order to qualify for these bonuses, including free no deposit bonus credit, you usually need to sign up for an account for the first time, and download the casino software in order to claim your bonus.
No deposit bonuses that are specifically targeting new players will mention this clearly in the terms and conditions, and this counts for the majority of these bonuses you’ll see advertised.
Loyal Player Bonuses
But it’s not just new players who can take advantage of these bonuses. From time to time, casinos will run promotions, usually offering free spins or free timed play, and these offers are often extended to (or specifically targeted at) their existing player base. Again, it will be specified in the terms and conditions which types of players are eligible, but as a loyal player, you can expect bonuses in various shapes and sizes, although perhaps most commonly free spins.
So How Does It All Work?
We’ve got a huge selection of no deposit bonuses listed for you to peruse and enjoy at your leisure. The process for actually claiming your no deposit bonus is so straightforward I’m confident my granny could manage it...if she can do it, you can too.
Step 1: Find a No Deposit Bonus: Choose a casino from our recommendations based on the type of no deposit bonus you are looking for.
Step 2: Set up an account (and choose your free bonus): Create your account at the casino and claim the bonus. In some cases, this will be with a code, or it may be automatically applied by the casino. If you are unsure, check out their bonus terms and conditions first so you’re more informed when the time comes.
Step 3: Hide your credit card for a while: Remember, these are no deposit bonuses, so don’t go depositing over the top of them until you’ve had a chance to make full use of your bonus.
Step 4: Use your bonus to win: Get to work with your bonus on eligible games, trying as hard as you can to make the bonus pay dividends. Remember, you keep everything you win and you won’t be able to enjoy this level of freedom forever, so go nuts - your bank balance might well be thanking you later.
Step 5: Meet the wagering requirements: Hold on, squire, you’re getting carried away. You need to meet the bonus wagering requirements before you are eligible to get your hands on your no deposit winnings. You might also be subjected to maximum winnings clauses, but you should have enough experience of the casino to make an informed decision by the time you meet these requirements.
Step 6: Deposit, Withdraw. Well done!: It’s here, the day you’ve finally met your wagering requirements. Time to withdraw against your bonus and enjoy the spoils of your victory. And if you like the casino experience you’ve had, you can always deposit real money into your account while you’re at it.
It really couldn’t be simpler to take advantage of these bonuses. All you have to do is find the right casino first...and that’s where we come in.
No Deposit Bonuses for USA Players
Let’s have a moment’s silence for our friends across the pond...we understand your pain. US players have a tough time with online gambling thanks to their archaic and repressive gambling laws. But fear not - that doesn’t mean bonuses are out of the question.
In fact, there are a number of bonuses specifically targeted at USA players, from casinos who welcome American players with open arms.
Our Recommendations
Check out the no deposit bonuses available at:
- Bovada
- Slots.lv
- Slotocash
- Lincoln
- Intertops
- Las Vegas USA
No deposit required bonuses around USA
What better way to begin playing at the online casinos than with no deposit bonuses? However, there are not too many US online casinos that offer their players a no deposit bonus. I’ve prepared a list of RTG and Rival casinos online that have some exciting no deposit promotions.
No Deposit Bonuses Are For Grabs
Café Casino provides new players with some thrilling welcome bonuses. If you’re new to this gambling brand you can choose one of two match bonuses: 500% up to $5,000 on your first deposit with 10x maximum cashout, 35x playthrough (Bonus Code: CAFE500) or 100% up to $1,000 on your first deposits (there is no max cashout, 25x playthrough, Bonus Code: CAFE100). Both bonuses are cashable.
But the highlight promotion is a $10 Free Chip Bonus just for signing up, as the casino’s gift to you! To qualify for the free chip a player must use the bonus code CAFE10 that is intended for new players only who haven’t made a real-money wager. This bonus is subject to a 60x wagering requirement, as well as a maximum withdrawal amount of $125 on winnings.
Desert Nights casino offers a $10 free no-deposit bonus. The playthrough requirements are 50x the bonus, maximum cashout is $170. Any winnings from this bonus money can be redeemed if the cashout amount is more than $25. You can play this bonus through on Slots, Scratch Cards and Keno games. Almost all countries of Eastern Europe, as well as India, Ireland, Montenegro, Portugal, Turkey, Brazil, United Kingdom and some others are excluded from getting the $10 FREE Sign Up Bonus.
Free Additions to Some Exciting Bonuses
There are some other interesting promotions. SlotsPlus offers a 200% double match bonus up to a $7,000 FREE! More than that, this bonus comes with 50 free spins on their popular game Enchanted Garden. All you have to do is deposit as little as $25 and start playing. In addition, you can get an extra $25 FREE if you Use MST Gift Cards for your first deposit.
Las Vegas USA online casino also offers some amazing sing up bonuses and an extra $50 FREE for using MST Gift Cards for your first deposit. Each bonus is subject to the casinos’ Rules and Regulations.
Be aware of the fact that all these bonuses are subject to casino terms and conditions and must be played through before cashing out. Some of the casinos offer sticky bonuses meaning they are for wagering purposes only and can’t be redeemed.
No Deposit Bonuses for UK Players
If you’re in the UK, you’ve got it made. There’s a bustling scene of free no deposit bonuses for you to sink your teeth into, including offers from some really great casinos. I like to think we’ve got something for everyone across our recommendations, and we make sure to review the latest offers as they become available, so you can get the full story before you make up your mind.
Our Recommendations
- Casumo
- 888 Casino
- Spin Casino
- Gala Casino
- CasinoPop
- Vegas Paradise
No Deposit Bonuses for Mobile Devices
Do you remember the first mobile casinos? They were like a cross between Nokia’s classic Snake and old-style Game Boy casino games...not a patch on their current glory.
Today, mobile casinos stand as one of the major beneficiaries of smartphones. They are now virtually just as effective on mobile as the online versions of these casinos, and they provide plenty in the way of exciting games, juicy jackpots, and even better bonuses.
Just because you’re playing on mobile doesn’t mean you have to avoid no deposit bonuses - in fact, we have several recommendations for mobile players to help them take advantage.
Our Recommendations
- CasinoPop
- Mr Win
- Guts Casino
- Mansion Casino
- LeoVegas
- Energy Mobile
Online Slots with No Deposit Bonus Offers
One of the biggest areas of online gambling to benefit from no deposit bonuses has been slots. Amongst the most heavily played and marketed of all casino games, slots appeal because they have the right combination of big jackpots and an even playing field - everyone is in with the same chance of hitting that progressive prize.
Online slots tend to be included in no deposit bonus offers, and will usually contribute most heavily towards your wagering requirements. Additionally, you’ll also find free spins no deposit bonuses as being a very common offer from different casinos, giving you the chance to try your luck at one or more specific slots games.
These spins must often be used up within a set time period, and in many cases are restricted to certain particular games. But they are still a great way to get a feel for different casinos and their games, not to mention an excellent chance to win some decent money while you’re there.
Wagering Requirements
Before you dive straight in and take advantage of all these free bonuses, it’s important to say a word or two about wagering requirements. Imagine for a moment you were a casino - even with millions in the bank, advertising free money on the Internet with no restrictions will definitely result in bankruptcy.
Casinos have to be careful to detect and avoid bonus abusers - believe it or not, some people will sit all day looking for free bonuses to try their luck at every different casino under the sun, essentially making it their business to pocket these no deposit bonuses. This isn’t what the casinos want of course, and they have one powerful tool in their armoury to fight back against that.
So What Are Wagering Requirements?
They are called wagering requirements, and they apply in no deposit bonuses as they do with other types of casino bonus. Essentially, wagering requirements are a multiple of your free bonus amount (sometimes bonus + deposit amount, in the case of some deposit bonuses). This might be 3x-50x, depending on the type of bonus deal you’re looking at.
What this means is that you can’t withdraw any winnings from your bonus, or any winnings from your account full stop, until you’ve met the wagering requirement. So if your free bonus was worth £10, and your wagering requirements stand at 5x, you need to wager £50 before you can withdraw any of the winnings from your bonus.
These vary between different casinos and different types of bonuses. Luckily, no deposit bonuses generally have lower wagering requirements than deposit bonuses, but they are just one of several tools the casinos use to cover their own back.
It’s worth noting these terms - you’ll need to meet them later down the line. But they shouldn’t put you off - I’ve had some great successes with no deposit bonuses, and at the very worst, they’re an excellent way to find a casino you like for real money play.
Casinos with the Best No Deposit Bonuses
So without further ado, here’s our rundown of the casinos with the best no deposit bonuses. Use them wisely, and these bonuses can be a great way of getting the best results from researching different casinos. And who knows, you too could walk away richer than you started, thanks to the real-money potential of these completely free bonuses.
Here’s our recommended list of some of the best no deposit bonuses we recommend.
- Bovada
- Slots.lv
- Slotocash
- Lincoln
- Intertops
- Las Vegas USA
- Casumo
- 888 Casino
- Spin Casino
- Gala Casino
- CasinoPop
- Vegas Paradise