No Deposit Free Spins vs. No Deposit Bonuses - Which Is Best?
It’s well known that no deposit bonuses let you play at online casinos for free & win real money. But which type of no deposit bonus is, generally, the best?
This is what we set out to discover in this article. Let’s get into it.
What’s The Difference Between Free Spins & Bonus Credits?
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
- With no deposit bonus credits you’ll get somewhere between $10 and $50 in bonus money.
- With these bonus credits you’ll be able to make wagers on a selection of different game types, including (generally) slots, keno and bingo; occasionally, you can also use it on table games.
- Before you can withdraw your bonus winnings, you must meet the bonus's wagering requirements. It’s likely you will have to wager 30-60 times the value of your bonus credits. (More on this later).
An Overview Of No Deposit Free Spins
- Again, no deposit free spins do not require a deposit. After you sign up and claim this bonus you’ll get somewhere between 10 and 50 free spins.
- Free spins only let you play slot games. Most of the time, you’ll have to stick to playing slot games until you meet the T&Cs.
- The eligible games list for free spins is a lot more strict than it is with bonus credits. You may even be limited to playing a single slot game.
- Wagering requirements apply. Therefore you can only cash out your free spins winnings after wagering your free spins winnings a number of times.
The Wagering Requirements Apply Differently
All no deposit bonuses make you fulfill wagering requirements before you are able to withdraw your winnings as real cash.
The way the wagering requirements work is different depending on the type of no deposit bonus you claim.
To work out the wagering requirements (or the sum-total you have to wager before withdrawing) for bonus credits is straightforward.
Simply take the amount you receive in bonus credits and times them by the multiplier given in the wagering requirements.
For instance, if you claim a $30 no deposit bonus with wagering requirements of 20x, you have to wager ($30 x 20) $600 with your bonus before you can cash out.
Please also be aware of the max cash out clause of your no deposit bonus. No deposit bonuses only let you withdraw a portion of your winnings between $50 and $200, generally.
Working out the wagering requirements for free spins with no deposit is similarly easy, but there is an extra step.
The value of your free spins can only be known once you use your free spins.
So say you claim a 20 no deposit free spins bonus. With your free spins you win $10. It is this $10 that you multiply by the wagering requirements.
Therefore, if the wagering requirements are 40x, you’d have to stake ($10 x 40) $400 with your free spins winnings before attempting to withdraw.
No deposit free spins also have a max cash out clause.
Other Notable Differences
Aside from how the wagering requirements are met, you also need to be aware of the following differences:
- Eligible Games - While free spins are eligible on slot games, bonus credits sometimes let you play a whole variety of games.
- Bet Size - Another difference is that you can change the bet size of your bonus credits, whereas free spins have a fixed bet size. Again, bonus credits give you a bit more freedom.
In What Way Are Free Spins And Bonus Credits The Same?
- They’re Both Free - No deposit is required to claim either bonus.
- Wagering Requirements - Even though the wagering requirements work a little bit differently, they still both have wagering requirements.
- Withdrawal Limits - You will only be able to win so much in real money with either free bonus.
- One Per Player - You can’t claim more than one no deposit bonus at the same casino.
What You Also Need To Be Aware Of
You may have already decided which no deposit bonus is best for you.
However, before you go and claim one, we recommend you also consider these factors:
No Deposit Bonus Credits
- Eligible Games - You will always be allowed to play slot games with bonus credits. But these bonuses can vary significantly in the games they allow you to play. Make sure you can play a game you want to play.
- Withdrawal Limit - You want to be able to withdraw as much as possible using your no deposit bonus. Any bonus that has a withdrawal limit over $100 is very generous.
No Deposit Free Spins
- Withdrawal Limit - Take a look at the win cap. No deposit free spins will let you withdraw between $50 and $200 in most cases. The higher the win cap, the better.
In Conclusion
You can’t deny the fact that no deposit bonus credits give you the most freedom.
Being able to change the bet size (and therefore bet more or less depending on your situation) adds a degree of strategy to winning with no deposit bonuses that you don’t get with free spins.
Similarly, you are also able to play more types of games, so there is a far broader appeal to no deposit bonus credits.
However, our advice isn’t to judge a bonus based on what you receive, but on the generosity of the T&Cs. In most cases, whichever bonus has the lowest wagering requirements is the best.