5 Things You Must Never Do With No Deposit Bonuses
It’s not uncommon for new players to accidentally lose their bonus. No deposit bonuses come with a list of rules you have to abide by, and unless you’ve used them before, you’re likely to overlook them.
We don’t want you to lose your bonus. Let’s go over what you should never do with no deposit bonuses.
No Deposit Bonus Codes Explained
To accurately judge which type of casino no deposit bonus is best requires us to break-down how each type works.
An Overview Of No Deposit Bonus Credits
Online casinos give new players an incentive called a "no deposit bonus" when they sign up. It's a common way for casinos to try to get more people to play there.
Upon creating a new account, you’ll be given either free spins or site credit without having to make a deposit. It's that easy.
All no deposit bonuses give you the chance to:
- Win Real Cash - Simply abide by the rules and you can take out some of the money you win.
- Enjoy Casino Games For FREE - You don’t have to make a deposit or provide your credit card details.
- Test A Casino’s Service - Claim multiple casino bonuses and find your ideal casino.
What No Deposit Bonuses Are Available?
There are two kinds of no deposit bonus: one that provides site credit, another that provides free spins.
These different bonuses have different rules which determine how they can be used.
We'll show you the main differences between them in the following table:
Bonus Credits
- They look similar to real money as they are given with a value, such as USD10 in site credit.
- You can use them to play slots and occasionally table games.
- The bet size is adjustable.
Free Spins
- Allocated as a number of free spins, such as 10 free spins.
- Only works on slot machines.
- The bet size is fixed, usually at the lowest possible bet on the eligible game/s.
5 Things You Should Never Do With Your No Deposit Bonus
Even though there are different kinds of no deposit bonus, most of the rules are the same.
The next 5 rules pertain to free spins and bonus credits:
#1. Don’t Use Your No Deposit Bonus On Table Games
It’s clear why you might want to do this.
The odds of table games tend to be superior to those of slot games. Unsurprisingly, casinos also know this.
You won't be able to play table games with most no-deposit bonuses. Simply put, they will not be eligible, and by playing an ineligible game you risk losing your bonus.
Yet there are a minority of no deposit bonuses that do let you play table games.
Initially, playing table games with your bonus may seem like an attractive prospect. Look more closely, and you’ll encounter a rule called “Game Weighting Percentages.”
The "game weighting percentages" of a bonus details the percentage of your bet that will count toward the wagering requirements.
Let's illustrate with an example:
- Slots (100%)
- Roulette (6%)
As you can see from the example, different games contribute at different rates.
For instance, slot games are weighted at 100%. Therefore, by wagering USD200 on slot games using your bonus credits, you’d take away USD200 from the wagering requirements.
Essentially, the entire wager on slots counts.
Yet if you wagered the same amount on roulette, only USD12 would count, as roulette is weighted at a measly 6%,
Games with higher odds, such as table games, only contribute a fraction of your bet to the wagering requirements.
In many circumstances, the game contribution of table games may be between 0-25%,
Evidently, there is a tangible difference.
Don’t play games with high odds; it would take a miracle to fulfill the wagering requirements.
#2. Don’t Attempt To Withdraw Your Bonus Right Away
You can't just get a no deposit bonus and take the money out right away. Doing so is likely to get you kicked out of the casino.
Until you meet the wagering requirements, you can’t withdraw your bonus, or any winnings resulting from the bonus.
Simply put, the wagering requirements of a bonus stipulate how much you have to stake using your bonus before you can withdraw your bonus winnings.
Let’s go over how they work:
Let's say you claim a USD20 bonus with no deposit required.
If the wagering requirements for this bonus is 10x, you’d be required to stake a sum total of (USD20 x 10) USD200 prior to withdrawing your bonus as real money.
The value of your free spins is determined by how much you win using them.
Thus if you win USD20 using your free spins, and the wagering requirements are 20x, you have to stake at least (USD20 x 20) USD400 prior to withdrawing your bonus funds as real cash.
#3. Don’t Waste Time
Your no deposit bonus won’t last forever. Therefore you need to use it immediately.
The key to this is to be consistent.
Most bonuses that don't require a deposit run out within 2–7 days.
So, upon claiming your no deposit bonus, you must wager, wager, wager until those wagering requirements are met.
When your bonus ends, you'll have to put down real money to keep playing.
#4. Don’t Place Huge Bets
It might seem smart to make big bets to meet the wagering requirements as swiftly as possible.
Theoretically, the bigger the stake, the quicker you can meet the wagering requirements.
Sadly, it is unlikely you can do this and not breach the T&Cs.
All no deposit bonuses come with a maximum bet size rule.
If you make a wager that is bigger than the maximum size, it may not count toward the requirements. Also, if these bigger bets are part of a pattern that could be considered bonus abuse, you could be barred from your account.
The amount you’re allowed to bet with a no deposit bonus may vary, but it tends to be below USD5.
#5. Don’t Claim A Bonus More Than Once
You can only get one welcome bonus from a casino.
If you try to claim two, you can be barred from the casino.
All of the top casinos use technology that captures your IP address. If more than one person from your household (or anyone that shares your IP address) tries to claim the bonus again, it flags as suspicious.
Also be careful when playing with a public hotspot. It is an easy way to get barred from your account.
You Can Still Claim More That One Casino Bonus…
All you need to do is claim multiple no deposit bonus codes!
Even though each player can only get one bonus per casino, there are 100’s if not 1000’s of trusted online casinos.
Simply use our list of No Deposit Bonuses to see what’s available right now in your jurisdiction.
To Conclude
It's not unusual for new players to accidentally break the rules of their no deposit bonus and feel hard done by.
You can avoid a lot of distress by taking a little bit of time and reading the T&Cs.
FAQs
Yes, of course! If you want to win real cash for free with no deposit required, simply comply with the T&Cs.
For more information, read our guide on How To Maximize Your No Deposit Bonus And Turn Free Play Into Cash.
Here are the no deposit bonus rules that impact you most:
- Wagering requirements - The sum total you have to stake before you are allowed to withdraw your winnings.
- Game Restrictions - The games eligible to be played with your no deposit bonus.
- Date of Expiration - When your bonus will be confiscated.
- Game Contribution - The amount of your bet that counts toward the wagering requirements for each game.
- Maximum Bet - The most you can bet per bet when you use a no-deposit bonus.
No, you don't. Most casinos will credit you with a no deposit bonus automatically. Sometimes, you may have to choose your bonus from a menu, check a box, or put in a promo code.
We go into greater detail on our No Deposit Bonuses page.
Most casinos will have a process that lets you file a complaint. You will need to talk to your casino, either through Live Chat, email, or phone.
We think you should play slots. Slot games will probably count for 100% of the wagering requirements and give you a decent chance of winning.
For more information on how to win with a no deposit bonus, read our guide on How To Maximize Your No Deposit Bonus And Turn Free Play Into Cash.