It’s rare that you can get something for nothing, and that’s doubly true when it comes to the world of gambling. While plenty of live casinos and online gambling sites are happy to give you incentives and bonuses for playing, they usually require you to spend a little (or a lot) of your own money first.
But no deposit bonuses are different. With a no deposit bonus, you’ll get your bonus right up front, with no commitment from you. There might be some restrictions, but there’s still no beating the deal you get: you can play real money pokies and potentially win prizes without depositing so much as a dollar into your account.
A no deposit bonus is any online casino bonus that doesn’t require you to make a deposit in order to receive your bonus funds. These tend to be smaller than traditional bonuses that require a deposit, for obvious reasons, but the fact that they offer what amounts to free play is a major perk, making no deposit bonuses very popular among players.
There are a couple different types of no deposit bonuses available for players at various online casinos. The first type offers free spins on a poker machine. Usually, the number of spins and the pokies you are allowed to play are chosen for you by the casino; you just get the free spins, after which anything you win can be spent in the casino (normally on any games you choose).
The other major form of no deposit bonus is one where you simply get some cash that you can use in the casino. The amount of cash you might get will depend on the casino in: it could be $10 or less, though some other casinos offer as much as $50 or more.
Most no deposit bonuses come with one major restriction: they have a maximum on the amount you can win while playing on those bonuses. The reasoning for this is obvious: since the player isn’t risking anything, the casino wants to put a limit on how much they can lose. When these caps on winnings exist, they tend to be between $75 and $150.
There are a couple other things you should know about these no deposit bonuses. First, you can’t just cash out any time you’d like: there will be a playthrough requirement, meaning you’ll have to bet a certain amount – usually a multiple of your bonus amount – before you will be allowed to withdraw your winnings. You’ll also want to check to see whether your bonus is cashable or not: some bonuses convert to cash you can withdraw once you’ve hit the wagering requirement, while others are deducted from your balance after the bonus ends.
Depending on your needs, a no deposit bonus might be just what you’re looking for or something to avoid. No deposit bonuses are generally best for a couple different kinds of players. If you’re not sure if you want to try a casino, and don’t want to commit to anything before you start playing, then a no deposit bonus might give you just what you’re looking for without requiring you to risk any of your own money.
No deposit bonuses are also great for players who want to get the thrill of online pokies and other casino games, but aren’t interested in actually putting money into an Internet casino account. In this case, you can play these games for real money, but won’t have to worry about losing anything. If you happen to win, that’s just an added bonus!
However, if you’re absolutely certain that you plan to make a deposit at an online casino, then you might want to stick with a more traditional bonus. It can be very disappointing to take a no deposit bonus, play some pokies, hit a jackpot win and then find out that your winnings are capped at a modest amount when playing with your bonus funds. This is a common restriction with a no deposit bonus, and can be easily avoided by using a regular first deposit bonus instead.
If you believe a no deposit bonus is right for you, though, they can be a great way to start your online gambling experience. To take advantage of these free offers, just choose one of our recommended no deposit bonus casinos and you can start playing in minutes!