How To Use No Deposit Casino Bonuses – A Five Step Guide For Novices
Online casinos offer various bonuses to acquire new players and keep them engaged. From a player's point of view, no deposit bonuses are among the most alluring of all bonus offers.
No deposit bonuses give you a chance to try out games and assess an online casino without having to risk your own money as it is only your time which you need to invest. A no deposit bonus is a free offer but the word free has been thrown around so often that we think it is important to explain how these 'free' no deposit bonuses work.
How To Claim a No Deposit Bonus
Normally, you just have to open a new account to qualify for a no deposit bonus. You won't even have to provide any banking information and you seldom need to provide any private details beyond your name, birth date, and email address. Some sites automatically credit your account with the no deposit bonus right after you sign up. Others require you to send an email to the site's customer service reps or enter a bonus code.
Step 1: Understanding The Basics
No deposit bonuses usually come in the form of free spins or free chips although you will sometimes find other types of free bets. You might even come across the occasional no deposit cash bonus. Typically, these bonuses work in much the same way.
With free spins, a participating online casino gives you a certain number of credits that you can use to try out slot games. The thing is, most sites place unreasonable rollover requirements on any winnings derived from those free spins. Also, many sites put a low cap on the amount of money you can actually win. This makes it difficult to turn your no deposit bonus into real money and, when you do, it usually doesn't add up to much.
Example: MFortune Casino (UK and Europe)
mFortune Casino will give you up to 50 free spins when you open a new account. The great thing about this no deposit bonus offer is there is a super-low 1X wagering requirement on your winnings. That's almost unheard of. You can also cash out up to £200 which is more than a lot of other sites will allow. This offer is worthwhile because it gives you a realistic shot at winning a nice chunk of change.
Example: Cool Cat Casino (USA, Australia and Rest of World)
Similarly, players can get free chips to use on table games. An example of this is found at Cool Cat Casino where they are offering a no deposit bonus of $25 in free chips to play table games or video poker if you use the bonus code COOLEST25 when you sign up. Play through the bonus money 30 times and it's your to keep. While the wagering requirements aren't as generous as mFortune's offer, they certainly aren't outlandish.
The main thing to understand with no deposit bonuses is the fact that you will normally need to wager the bonus amount several times over and there will be a limit to the amount of money to can win. Can it be done? Absolutely. Is it hard to do? In most cases, yes. Are no deposit bonuses worth it? They are as it gives you the option of trying out an online casino and winning money without making an investment of your own.
Step 2: Pick The Right Bonus
Bigger is better. Right? Well, that isn't always true. Especially when it comes to no deposit bonuses. On the surface, 100 free spins looks a lot better than 50 free spins. However, this is where you need to understand rollover requirements and caps on winnings. Maybe your winnings from the 100 free spins are subject to a 70X wagering requirement and the cap on the potential payout is $100. Compare that with mFortune's offer that has a 1X playthrough and a £200 cap on winnings. Not only is the smaller bonus amount far easier to achieve, it also gives you a higher potential payout.
The same thing can be said of free chips, cash bonuses, and other no deposit free bets. You need to know the wagering conditions and maximum payout before you choose the right no deposit bonus. It also helps to play games with higher payout rates.
Step 3: Understand The Rules Before You Start
Aside from the aforementioned wagering requirements and maximum payouts, you need to know of any other rules that are in place. Be sure to take the time to read the terms and conditions that apply to any no deposit bonus you want to claim. The Devil's in the details.
Some no deposit free spins or free chips may only be used to play a limited number of games that the online casinos wishes to promote. A lot of sites make you use your no deposit bonus within a short period of time after you claim it. Don't forget to make sure that residents of your country are eligible to claim the bonus. These rules tend to differ greatly from site to site.
Most important rules to look out for when playing with no deposit bonuses:
- Wagering requirements
- Permitted games
- Bonus expiry
- Bet types excluded (e.g. double up)
- Bet size limits