A no deposit bonus is a term for bonuses you can claim without a deposit, meaning that, in that initial step, they are free. While you don’t need to make a deposit to activate the bonus, you will still need to wager your winnings from the no deposit bonus, and the wagering requirements can be quite steep.
We review the terms and conditions of every bonus listed here, including wagering requirements, wager and win limits, caps and restrictions, and you can learn more about this process from the AskGamblers bonus review guidelines.
Key Takeaways
- No deposit bonuses allow you to play real money casino games and test new platforms without committing any of your own funds.
- Most offers come with playthrough requirements (e.g. 30x), meaning you must bet the bonus or the bonus and deposit amount a specific number of times before withdrawing winnings.
- Casinos often cap the total amount you can win from a no deposit bonus, typically ranging from $50 to $200.
- These bonuses are usually restricted to specific online slots; table games like Blackjack or Roulette often contribute less or 0% toward wagering.
- Some exclusive offers require a specific "No Deposit Bonus Code" during registration to activate the credit or free spins.
What a No Deposit Bonus Is, and How It Differs From a Welcome Bonus
A no deposit bonus, in its essence, doesn’t require any money from you when claiming it. It is a bonus that gives you a chance to test a casino and selected game(s) without making a financial commitment to the casino.
A no deposit bonus can be a casino’s welcome offer, but that doesn’t happen very often. Typical casino welcome bonuses require a deposit and give a match deposit bonus up to a certain amount. The offer can also include Free Spins, but they're also tied to the qualifying deposit.
The bonus funds you receive come with a wagering requirement you must meet before being able to request a withdrawal. When a deposit is required, the amount you must wager sometimes includes your original deposit as well as the bonus funds.
Free Spins also come with wagering requirements, whether they're part of the welcome bonus or a no-deposit casino bonus. Note that there could also be wager limits and maximum cashout rules in the bonus terms and conditions.
Types of No Deposit Bonuses You Can Claim
Free Spins are not the only type of no deposit bonuses you can claim, even though they are the most common and most popular. Online casinos offer other types of no deposit bonuses you can use to test a new game or simply have more fun.
Free Spins
Free Spins are a favourite kind of bonus for many casino players, giving them a number of spins with capped wagers on slot games. The games casinos select for the Free Spins offer are either new games for players to test or games the casino wishes to promote.
Many of the Free Spins bonuses on our website are exclusive to AskGamblers players, meaning that they are only available here. These bonuses typically require a bonus code as well, and you can find it on the bonus cards.
Free Play
Free play casino bonuses are something like the demo mode for slot games, where you get free credits or a certain period of time to play casino games. The difference is that, unlike demo mode, the free play comes with wagering requirements.
This bonus is usually available to newly registered high-roller players. Winnings from these offers are usually capped, and the wagering requirements on the winnings can be very steep.
Free Cash
Sometimes a casino can give you extra funds to try out a new game after you have already made your deposit. The offer comes with wagering requirements, meaning that you would need to wager your winnings many times before you can request a withdrawal.
Free Coins
Since sweepstakes casinos don’t require a deposit, players get free coins or free sweeps to play there. Every player gets free coins upon signing up with a sweepstakes casino, and they can later purchase additional coin packages in some casinos if they wish.
Winnings are also credited as free coins, which are later redeemable for cash in sweepstakes casinos, but not in social ones.
When a No Deposit Bonus Isn't What It Seems
A no deposit bonus casino offer sounds great in theory, but that’s sometimes not the case when you look more closely at the terms and conditions. The casino can limit the bet and cap the winnings from the Free Spins, and you can find all those details in the fine print.
Also, no-deposit bonuses are often limited to a single slot game, and the casino can lock it at a low RTP (theoretical Return to Player), meaning that the slot doesn’t pay much on your wager. That means your winnings could be quite low, and you would still need to wager them before requesting a withdrawal.
📖 Deeper Dive
To learn more about slots with high RTP and what it means for a slot to have high volatility, make sure to explore our article detailing how to find slots with the highest RTP and our blog post explaining all about slot volatility.
Bonuses with a large number of Free Spins or an amount of free cash can often be the ones that ultimately bring the least value to the players, partly because of the mentioned limitations, partly because of wagering requirements.
Our experts check these bonus details before publishing them on the website, and these are typically outlined, along with a link to the T&Cs on the casino’s website. We consider clear terms and conditions part of the casino’s responsible gambling efforts.
No Deposit Bonus Terms and Conditions to Check Before Claiming
We can’t stress enough how important it is to read the bonus terms and conditions carefully before claiming the offer. Everything you need to know is disclosed there, and these are the terms you should pay attention to:
- Eligibility: The bonus might not be available in your country, and you can check out our casino bonuses by country page to see what’s available for you. The bonus could also be for new, existing or verified players only. Check whether you meet the requirements.
- Winnings can be capped: For example, the Norsewin Casino Bonus that is exclusive to AskGamblers players gives 135 Free Spins but caps winnings at $100. That means that even if you win more from your Free Spins, the casino will only pay out $100, while the rest will be voided.
- Wagering requirements: Most bonuses have these, and that’s no secret. However, wagering requirements can be steep, and you might need to play through the winnings 40x before you can request a withdrawal. Not all games contribute equally towards meeting the wagering requirements, but slots should contribute 100%, unlike other casino games.
- Eligible games: It often happens that no deposit bonuses are limited to one or two games, usually new games at the casino. The purpose is to test new games and give them a boost.
- Expiry date: All bonuses have expiry dates, and they can be as short as 24 hours. Make sure to check all this before claiming the offer to avoid any unpleasant surprises later.
|
Bonus Amount
|
Best For
|
Typical Wager
|
Maximum Cashout
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Free Spins No Deposit | Quick game trials | 30x - 35x | $50 - $100 |
| 20 Free Spins No Deposit | Testing a new slot | 35x | $100 |
| 25 Free Spins No Deposit | Casual players | 35x - 40x | $100 |
| 30 Free Spins No Deposit | Exploring a new casino | 40x | $100 |
| 35 Free Spins No Deposit | Extended playtime | 40x - 45x | $100 - $150 |
| 40 Free Spins No Deposit | Low-stakes hobbyists | 45x | $150 |
| 50 Free Spins No Deposit | Serious bonus hunters | 50x | $150 - $200 |
| 100 Free Spins No Deposit | High-volume testing | 50x - 60x | $200 |
| 150 Free Spins No Deposit | Evaluating VIP programs | ≥ 60x | $200 - $250 |
How to Claim a No Deposit Casino Bonus
Let’s look at an example where the no deposit bonus is a welcome offer at new casinos for you. If you need a bonus code, the casino will ask you to provide it in the process. These are the steps you should follow before claiming the offer:
- Check out multiple casinos that offer no deposit bonuses: While the no deposit offer itself is attractive, it is also important that the casino offering it is trustworthy. Read our expert casino reviews and check the casino licensing info, available payment methods, withdrawal speed and limits and player reviews before selecting the casino that you like the best.
- Read the bonus terms and conditions: Now that you know what bonus terms and conditions to pay attention to and how important it is to read the fine print when claiming a bonus, make sure to do it next time you are picking a no deposit bonus.
- Create an account: Open an account with the casino you have chosen as your next destination. This could be a good opportunity to set a deposit limit for later, if the casino offers that option.
- Claim the offer: If the casino prompts you to claim the bonus when you complete your account, that's the easiest way to do it. Otherwise, head to the promotions section and find your bonus. You will probably not need to verify your identity at that point since you don’t need to make a deposit, but you might need to complete the KYC (Know Your Customer) process when requesting a withdrawal.
- Verify your identity: When the withdrawal request triggers KYC, you will need to upload photos of your documents, bank statements, proof of address, and everything else the casino requires to complete your account verification. The goal is to prove your identity and ensure you are the only person using your account.
If the no-deposit offer isn't a welcome bonus, but one for existing customers, you will still need to read the bonus terms. These bonuses are sometimes a part of a loyalty reward, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be cautious with them and make sure the terms suit you.
No Deposit Bonus Codes Explained
Sometimes the casino requires that you insert a bonus code to activate the no deposit bonus. These no deposit bonus codes are usually conveniently placed somewhere you can easily find and copy them, without the need to leave the page.
The no deposit bonus codes can also come from a partner offer. The ones you can find on our website are often exclusive bonus offers, and the codes are copied and applied automatically when you click to claim the offer.
💡AskGamblers tip: Codes can have an expiration date, and you may need to request a new one from customer support if the offer renews, so you won’t rush to complete bonus wagering.
How to Choose the Best No Deposit Bonus for You
To find the best no deposit bonus casinos, you will need to cross-reference information. First, the casino should be reliable and trustworthy and offer everything you need in a casino, including your preferred deposit methods and casino games.
Read our casino reviews and other players’ reviews to get more details about the operator and learn about other players’ experiences.
Next, you know what bonus terms suit your playing preferences, so read all the fine print to find the right option for you. Most of these bonuses have “free” in their name, but which is your cup of tea?
If you live in the US, those could be the free sweeps coins you get when you register with a sweepstakes casino. But not all sweepstakes casinos are the same, and some might let you redeem your coins later for real cash, while others, like social casinos, don’t offer that option.
How to Maximise Your No Deposit Bonus Offers
The number of Free Spins is important, but the wagering requirement number is maybe even more important to you. That’s because the wagering requirements can be so steep that you can end up spending all your winnings to meet the requirements, and end up with nothing to withdraw.
This is why you should pay more attention to the wagering requirements, but also a reason why you should think of a no deposit bonus as a chance to test a casino or a game, and not a chance to earn. If any winnings remain, you should withdraw them before the funds expire.
Apart from the bonus expiration date, you should also be careful not to claim another bonus while this one is active, as it can cancel the no deposit bonus.
You should also be aware that some online slots contribute 100% to wagering requirements, some less, but table and live casino games contribute very little, even as low as 5% or 0%.
If you prefer high-volatility slots, you could reach the win cap faster with one or more big wins, but you could also run out of free cash or bonus funds fast, meaning that nothing will be left to withdraw.
📖 Deeper Dive
In our blog post dedicated to explaining maximum cashout, we explore the reasons why online casinos place limits on withdrawals, how location and different payment methods impact cashout limits, and tips for navigating these limitations.
Who Can Claim a No Deposit Bonus, and How to Play It Safely
First, you must be of legal age in your country to sign up with a casino. In some countries, the legal age is 18, but in some it’s 21 or higher, so make sure you are familiar with the laws. This is vital because you will need to complete the KYC process before you can withdraw funds.
No deposit bonuses might not be available in your country at a certain casino, which is something the casino will state in the bonus terms and conditions, so always make sure to check that in advance.
Once you complete the wagering requirements, if there are winnings left, you can withdraw them before the bonus expires. If you’ve enjoyed your experience at the casino, you may even choose to continue playing there, which could also mean depositing your own funds.
At that point, your casino journey becomes a real-money casino experience, so be careful with your deposits and consider setting limits if the casino offers that option.
The Bottom Line on No Deposit Casino Bonuses
No deposit bonuses give you a chance to test a casino without real-money commitment, but the wagering requirements will make sure that you stay a while if you wish to withdraw your winnings.
Unless you are ready to commit time to a casino no deposit bonus, you should consider claiming one with a low number of Free Spins, for example, or lower wagering requirements that are easier to clear.
Even if you are there to stay, our advice is to look for a bonus with manageable wagering requirements, as they could leave you with more funds for your favourite casino games.
Key Terminology
- Wagering Requirement: The number of times you will need to play through the no deposit bonus winnings before you can request a withdrawal.
- Free Spins: The spins the casino gives you to use in a specific slot game without having to make a deposit.
- Free Play: High-rollers can get time-limited free play from a casino to play casino games. Wagering requirements can be very steep for this promotion.
- No Deposit Bonus: A no-deposit bonus typically gives players Free Spins to play one or more slot games without having to make a qualifying deposit.
- Volatility / Slot Volatility: Volatility determines how often a slot game will pay out and how high the payouts could be. Slots can have low, medium and high volatility.
