Everything you Need to Know About No Deposit Bonuses
As you may already know, the online casino industry in Canada is very competitive. With so many offering large welcome bonuses, rewarding promotions and top of the range games from the best software developers, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. Online casinos are always looking for innovative ways to attract new players, and the no deposit bonus is among the most popular offers you’ll find.
What are they?
A no deposit bonus is a promotion that’s usually reserved for new customers at online casinos, and allows them to claim a bonus with no requirement to make a deposit. This give you the chance to get a feel for a game you have been wanting to try or maybe a new brand you have had your eye on. The lack of requirement to deposit any money is the main reason this type of deposit is so popular. As always it is important to check if these bonuses come with any wagering requirements.
No Deposit Bonus Variations
Much like most other bonuses available at online casinos, you can expect to find more than one type of no deposit deal available to new players. The two most common variations of this bonus are free cash and free spin bonuses. That being said there are other variations of these bonuses available.
No Deposit Free Spins
Among the most popular types of no deposit deals exclusive to new players at online casinos is the free spins offer. Free spins bonuses are exactly what they sound like. With these, a casino will give you a set number of free spins to be used across their selection of slot games. Like other no deposit bonuses, these can be used to get a feel for the casino and their slots.
By using your free spins you have the opportunity to win money without risking your own money. By signing up and entering a bonus code (if required), new players get the opportunity to spin the reels on top online slot games and potentially claim the rewards without placing any real money stakes. Your winnings will almost certainly be capped, however, and your no deposit free spins will usually be restricted to a specific game. Still, this is a great way to get comfortable with the features and controls of a slot game whilst potentially earning some bonus winnings.
No Deposit Free Games Codes
Not a huge fan of slot games? You may be able to find these alternative new welcome bonus no deposit offers instead. They work the same way as a free spins offer, and may require entering a bonus code. But, instead of getting free spins, you’ll be offered free rounds of a different game. You’ll usually find this kind of casino bonus available for table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps.
No Deposit Cash Bonus
This welcome bonus is arguably the best option for new players at online casinos. You’ll be free to use your no deposit cash bonus funds on just about anything you’d like from the games collection. Here you will find that a casino offers a relatively small sum of money for you to try out their platform. Use this to get a feel for a site and try out some of the popular titles they have on offer. Keep an eye out for restrictions in the terms and conditions which will impact how you play with the promotion.
Wagering Requirements
While a welcome bonus no deposit offer has the obvious advantage of not requiring any deposit to be made. It is important to bear in mind that many of the no deposit bonuses will come with wagering requirements attached.
A wagering requirement refers to the number of times you have to bet the value of the bonus in order to get your hands on any winnings.
If we take the example of no deposit cash bonuses. Lets imagine a site gives you a no deposit cash bonus of $10 with a wagering requirement of 10x. What this means is that in order to claim any of your potential winnings from your cash bonus of $10 you must wager 10 times your winnings from this bonus. This value will vary depending on how much you win. Only once you have wagered 10x your winnings, can you withdraw any potential winnings you might have from the initial $10 cash bonus.
It’s best to look around at the various no deposit bonuses on offer and see what sort of terms and conditions are attached. You don’t want to take advantage of what you think is a great value no deposit bonus, only to find that the wagering requirements aren’t suitable for your playing habits.
What are the Other Terms and Conditions?
Other than wagering requirements, almost every casino bonus usually comes with other terms and conditions that new players must follow in order to cash out after you win real money. Let’s have a look at the most prominent.
Game Weighting Restrictions
These dictate which games can be played in order for you to fulfil the wagering requirements and claim your casino bonus winnings. Playing certain games will count more than others. Slots are often weighted as high as 100% while table games and live dealer games are generally weighted much lower.
Time Limits
Online casinos almost always put an expiry date on their no deposit bonus deals. New players may have only 24 hours to use your no deposit free spins. If you’re lucky, you may have longer, from weeks to a month or more to use the bonus. It’s always wise to check, as the last thing you want is to inadvertently miss the deadline.
Maximum Winnings Caps
Maximum winnings caps limit how much you can actually make from a particular casino bonus. The casino may have offered you the bonus funds for free, but it will limit how much you can win from them. This is definitely something to track so that you don’t end up spending more than you can win from the promotion.
Game Exclusions
Online casinos don’t always allow new players to use no deposit bonuses on their full range of games. For example, live dealer games may be off-limits, while no deposit free spins are often restricted to select titles. This is a particularly important feature to look out for in case you had planned on using a no deposit bonus on a particular game.
Payment Exclusions
You’ll often find that making your first deposit through certain payment methods will render you ineligible for welcome bonuses at online casinos. These will usually be with e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller or PayPal. It can be frustrating if the banking option you’re most familiar with is excluded. Read the full terms and conditions of a promotion before signing up.
New Sites Offer Attractive Promos
It may seem like a good idea to play with more established casino names, but new casino sites also have a lot to offer. In order to stand out from the crowd, they often provide some pretty attractive promos, sometimes including free no deposit bonuses.
These can often be more player-friendly than alternatives from long-standing industry names. There may also be a higher max bonus winnings cap alongside smaller wagering requirements. And even if the requirements are still quite high, a no deposit bonus is still a great way for you to get used to a new site before you risk any of your own cash.
Playing on the Go
The great thing about modern online casinos is that you can claim your free no deposit bonus and play anywhere in the world from your mobile. Our featured sites have a fully optimised mobile site, if not a top-class mobile app. A native app gives you access to a far smoother and immersive gaming experience.
The added benefit of playing via your mobile is that you can activate push notifications. This means you’ll never miss out on the latest new promotions on offer from the casino.
How can I Claim a No Deposit Bonus at an Online Casino?
These three simple steps will guide you through the process of claiming and using your free no deposit bonus:
- Compare online casinos – First up, you’ll want to browse through the offers on the table at the top online casinos. You will find the best no deposit bonuses available from the most trustworthy casino brands in the country on our list. Simply compare and pick out your favorite!
- Sign up – Head over to your new online casino once you’ve chosen a favorite. Simply fill in the required personal and contact information – you’ll be done within minutes, even on mobile. If you’ve got a no deposit bonus code, you’ll be prompted to enter it at this stage.Play for free
With your account created, you’re ready to play using your no deposit offer. If you have no deposit free spins on a specific slot, then all you do is load up that game and start spinning. Or, if you’ve managed to grab a no deposit cash bonus, you’ll be able to sample almost any game from the casino’s collection.
- Play for free – With your account created, you’re ready to play using your no deposit offer. If you have no deposit free spins on a specific slot, then all you do is load up that game and start spinning. Or, if you’ve managed to grab a no deposit cash bonus, you’ll be able to sample almost any game from the casino’s collection.
Ready to Play?
No deposit bonuses are a great option for those looking to try out a new casino or game for the first time. So check out my list of the best no deposit offers from the top casinos available online, compare deals, sign up and play your favorite games.
Your Questions Answered
Yes. While no deposit bonuses certainly allow you to win real money, there are almost always maximum winnings caps in place to prevent online casinos from making any significant losses. The amount will vary depending on the terms and conditions of the bonus at your chosen casino.
Even the best no deposit bonus deal offered by an online casino will typically have a time limit by which you’ll need to claim it. The length of time will vary depending on your chosen casino, so it’s worth having a look at the terms and conditions of any bonus offer before you claim it.
Unfortunately not. Even with a free bonus, you’ll almost always be required to meet wagering requirements before you can withdraw your bonus winnings. Once these have been fulfilled, you’ll be able to keep what you win.
No. You’re not required to keep playing once you’ve used your free bonus, so you won’t need to make a deposit. However, if you’d like to continue enjoying the site, and potentially win real money along the way, then you’ll have to head to the cashier page and deposit funds.
This is the amount you will need to bet before your bonus winnings are available for withdrawal. With no deposit free spins on slots like Book of Dead, the requirement will usually be a multiple of however much you happen to win.
