No Deposit Casino Bonuses

Just like many other industries, gambling operators give its customers an opportunity to try their services before buying. This is whre no-deposit casino bonuses come into play.New players don’t have to upload real funds yet can still win real cash. Clash of Slots lists some of the operators that welcome new members with incentives requiring no investments.

Even though novice gamblers tend to grab any risk free gifts, you should take a more careful and educated approach. And the main question to answer is whether you can trust casino or not. Some  shady operators will simply reject paying out  for legitimate wins, and sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it.

The best online casinos offering no-deposit real money promos are those that make the whole player experience stress free, meaning there won’t be problems withdrawing money or any instances of unfair treatment. Bigger brands aren’t necessarily better; smaller operators can provide the same level of integrity while paying more attention to each individual customer. So do not exclude smaller brands, but always make sure they are legit before choosing to play on the platform.

When to Choose a No-Deposit Casino

Not everyone will benefit from these offers as there are certain conditions for getting “free” cash. Accepting an offer means agreeing to a set of T&Cs that may make casino deals less appealing. The biggest concern is typically high playthrough and small chances of actually benefiting from those no deposit incentives.

This type of promo is designed for new players, but it isn’t really a good option for those who have no online gambling experience. The reason is inexperienced casino fans often misunderstand the nature of something that is ”no deposit” and are unable to see the true value. It’s not that operators scam players, but some of them just don’t provide detailed information on their offers making inexperienced players believe there aren’t any strings attached.

The price novice gamblers pay is the frustration when realizing the offer isn’t exactly the one they expected. Sometimes it’s more than just emotional stress. Players can end up depositing and losing their own money trying to withdraw bonus credits that they initially wanted for free.

Picking the Right Real-Money, No-Deposit Casino

There are certain key criteria to look at when evaluating casinos. They indicate the operator’s level of integrity and help players make better choices.

Terms & Conditions

You should also be aware of the casino T&Cs as there may be some unfair terms you won’t agree to. Casinos licensed in strict jurisdictions aren’t allowed to include unfair terms, but when it comes to jurisdictions with weak industry control, there’s nothing to stop shady operators from treating players unfairly.

Always check the withdrawal rules as this is where you can find unpleasant surprises such as personal withdrawal schedules that give operators the right to implement any cash out limits to any player basically leaving the player with no choice over when payments are made.

A good casino is one that has detailed T&Cs that regulate every aspect of its services, and there are certainly no unfair terms.

Safety & Security

Gambling must be safe and secure from multiple threats, and casinos must take care of that. Some are bound by regulations to provide certain security level, but operators themselves are interested in utilizing best security tools. That includes ensuring the exchange of data with players is secure and sensitive player information is kept safely. To make account more hack proof, some operators offer their customers two-factor authentication.

Licensing

Every gambling operator must have license, and where they get licensed makes a big difference as jurisdictions each have their own reputation good or bad. Curacao is the least trusted jurisdiction, while UK is one of the most respected markets. But keep in mind that having certain license doesn’t guarantee services will be good or bad. You just need to consider license along with multiple other factors. Some of the most popular licensing jurisdictions are:

Reliable Banking Methods

There are usually multiple payment options online casinos offer and these are trusted and reliable methods. Most players can find banking options they know and trust. Occasionally, payments do get lost on their way to or from casino, and that’s when good customer support is crucial as they can help track the money and resolve the issue.

Games Portfolio

A platform’s games library is another good criteria when choosing the right online casino with no-deposit bonuses. There are dozens of casino content providers and gambling operators mostly have extensive collection of games. They don’t have to necessarily partner with as many providers as possible, but popular ones must be there. Otherwise, players may miss great titles.

If you want to play certain casino games on no-deposit promo money, make sure they contribute toward bonus wagering. Usually only slot bets contribute 100% towards playthrough, but some of them contribute less. So, make sure to check the bonus T&Cs.

The collection must consist of variety of slots by major providers and smaller trending studios, some RNG table/card games and decent selection of live dealer games. Check if gambling site offers titles produced by your favorite suppliers.

Customer Service

It’s important that players have 24/7 customer support. Live chat is a must as this is the most convenient and fast method to get a reply. Email is another popular channel of communication, while phone support is quite rare.

Good customer support is essential for a great gambling experience. Support staff must be knowledgeable and committed to providing quality assistance. Having great selection of games and lots of promos won’t make up for a lack of good customer support.

Staff must know how to professionally handle different situations and resolve both minor and major issues. This way, gamblers can still enjoy their time spent in the casino even if they face problems.

Positive Online Reputation

Having good reputation is essential for any business including online gambling. But building reputation takes time and sometimes you will want to trust your intuition and pick new casinos that might be offering no-deposit rewards. But you are typically safer with older, widely known brands tested by time and thousands of players.

Great casino brands all have good reputations. There are, however, always a share of bad player reviews. You should be able to know which of them to trust, as there are fake positive and negative reviews. There are also a lot of players who are upset about their losses and write negative comments about legitimate operators, and some gamblers who break casino rules, get punished, and write nasty reviews out of revenge. You should be aware of all such nuances to draw as accurate conclusions as possible.

Player complaints submitted on third party sites, and the way they are handled by casino representatives are crucial as they indicate whether customers get fair treatment from professional support staff. The fact that players complain about certain things is not a big problem in itself; there will be issues in any casino. But if operator is ready to resolve issues and possibly fix its mistakes, that’s a good sign.

Different Types of No-Deposit Bonuses

Players get various types of no-deposit incentives, but there are not all equally popular. Typically, what casino fans can expect is a small number of free spins, some cash and cashback. They all are very widespread, with cashback being offered by almost all gambling operators.

Free Spins

Signing up for a casino account is sometimes rewarded with free spins. This isn’t a universal practice, but there are always a number of operators that offer this type of incentives. It’s not just new casinos that offer no-deposit-free spins. Many older operators still use this marketing tool to attract customers.

The number of free rounds generally varies between 10 and 20 per spin, which is equal to about $0.10-$0.20, so the total value is quite low. Free spins are released on specific slot and must be activated within a short period of time after receiving the offer. Activating spins means loading the corresponding slot. Once activated, players have some time (usually 1-7 days) to use bonus and complete playthrough. There are other things to know:

  • How to get no-deposit free spins in a casino? Most likely you’ll get them as a bonus for joining casino. Spins will be credited automatically once you provide the required information or you’ll have to claim them by entering coupon code or contacting customer support.
  • Playing online slots can result in some massive wins. That’s why casinos restrict the games that can be played using bonus money. These are usually high-volatility high-potential titles.
  • Maximum withdrawable amount is pretty low, around $50 or even lower. Considering it’s a promo that doesn’t require uploading funds, the limit seems fair. But it can be frustrating to see some nice wins being credited to your bonus balance.

Bonus Cash

Cash rewards are also common no-deposit casino bonuses and typically are designed for new players. The amount of money is usually $10-$20, which is significantly more than the value of free spin packages. Claiming bonus cash is similar to getting spins; it’s either automatically credited or requested by player.

The advantage of having cash instead of spins is that players get to choose games by themselves. Slots are usually preferred over other games as they contribute 100% to playthrough, but you can play some other games as well. Keep in mind that jackpot titles are usually among the restricted titles.

FreePlay

One of rare welcome bonus types is free play. That’s when player is credited large amount of funds and given a limited time to spend them. Usually they are given 1 hour to spend and wager bonus. Unlike spins and bonus cash, in this case the value is much higher – it can be few hundred dollars or even more.

To claim free play no-deposit bonus, casino requires you to make a certain minimum number of bets and  a minimum wager amount. Once wagering is complete the amount in excess of the initial bonus will be credited.

  • Suppose 1 hour free play bonus is $500. At the end of the one hour period you get $400 on your balance, which is $100 less than the initial value meaning you won’t get anything.
  • But if you get $550, then $50 will be credited as cash.

This is a good option for those that are new to online gambling. Your chances of withdrawing real cash are small, but during that 1 hour of intensive wagering gamblers can have lots of fun.

Cashback

Unlike all of the above mentioned offers, this one requires some investments but is considered a no-deposit casino bonus because it isn’t directly tied to deposits. Moreover, to qualify for cashback, players need to have net losses calculated using the following formula:

  • Cashback percentage (deposit – remaining balance – withdrawals)

Cashbacks is usually tied to the loyalty program and variesy between 5 and 15%. As players upgrade their status they get more cashback. Casino returns are typically credited on a weekly basis on specific day once the week in question is over. Cashback has minimum and maximum limits, somewhere around $20 for the minimum and $1,000 for the maximum.

More generous operators don’t require cashback to be wagered, while others might ask for an insignificant turnover before credits turn into cash. But beware of casinos that set standard playthrough of x30-x40, which doesn’t seem appealing especially when compared to cashback offers from other casinos.

How to Use the No-Deposit Casino Bonus Code

When promo codes are provided to claim bonus, players should enter them in the corresponding field. Just copy and paste the code, if required. Read bonus terms and conditions for specific instructions. Sometimes the code must be entered during account registration. Other times gamblers are required to contact customer support and either provide bonus code or simply ask for no-deposit credits.

You really need to read the T&Cs or contact customer support if you can’t find the relevant information. User guide or FAQ section can also provide relevant instructions.

No-Deposit Mobile Casinos

Today, it makes no difference whether you use PCs or mobile devices to play casino games. In either case, players use the website to access gambling services. Some platforms do offer specially designed apps, but most operators simply have flexible website design that adjusts depending on the user’s screen size. It’s a one-size-fits-all approach.

Casinos might offer mobile versions of their site with a slightly different layout to better display all the key elements. But sometimes these versions lack certain insignificant features. If you are unhappy with the mobile site versions, you can easily switch to the standard design.

The times when mobile players had separate promos are long gone; nowadays, all the same no-deposit casino promos are available for mobile and desktop users.

Our Favorite Mobile Casinos

Refer to our ratings of no-deposit casinos to see what options you have. The top positions are assigned not to the operators we like, but to those that have better characteristics. Ratings are calculated automatically once specially designed algorithm is fed relevant casino facts. There are certain key characteristics that play major role such as:

  • Licenses
  • Game library
  • Payment methods
  • Player reviews and complaints

How Does a No-Deposit Bonus Work on a Mobile Device?

It should work just fine on any device, including smartphones and tablets. You’ll access all settings and features and claim any promos you are eligible for. Today gambling sites do not differentiate between mobile and PC users.

New No-Deposit Casinos

Many players are concerned about new operators, and there are reasons for that. You can never know what to expect when casino has no prior history. At the same time, young brands that belong to a well known gambling family are much more trustworthy and safer as usually all brands share the same quality level.

You should be careful signing up with new casinos that aren’t related to familiar brands. You should basically trust your intuition in deciding which ones you can trust. There won’t be many player reviews to draw conclusions from.

New casinos are more likely to offer no-deposit incentives, but they are also likely to miscalculate the cost of such promos. And if that’s the case, you may have some issues as casino might be struggling to stay afloat and reluctant to pay legitimate winnings.

Wagering Requirements on No-Deposit Bonuses

Some key T&Cs are typical for no-deposit casino promos. They are designed so that just few players can actually turn credits into real money so that it won’t be too costly for operators to offer such promos. Gamblers need to be aware of some key T&Cs to make more educated choices.

  • Max withdrawable amount. You won’t get all your wagered bonus credits as withdrawal cap is usually applied, and it’s pretty low in the case of no-deposit offers. For instance, you collect $10 for registering an account without uploading funds. When playing slots, you are only able to wager if you have $1,000 in your balance. Even if you have $1,000, $950 will be gone if the max limit is set to $50.
  • Maximum wager. Never exceed max bet limit as this can result in bonus funds being forfeited. Some operators do have software settings that won’t allow players to exceed any limits so that they aren’t at risk of breaking rules. But others make it the player’s own responsibility to make sure bets aren’t too high.
  • Restricted games. Certain games are always restricted when players have active bonuses, including no-deposit casino bonuses. The list of restricted games will vary depending on the operator. Usually there are live dealer titles and certain slots that can’t be played.

The reason casinos offer maximum bet and restricted games is to avoid the potential scenarios of gamblers winning too much or implementing bonus abuse strategies. Just like with max bet, some gambling sites won’t allow you to load restricted games, while others let you play them and then punish you for doing that.

When it comes to no deposit promos in online casino, turnover requirement is usually quite high. You can expect it to be anywhere between x60 and x100. However, there are offers with lower wagering requirements. Time allowed to complete playthrough is typically short – some casinos give players only 24 hours. There are other important things to remember such as:

  • Deposit before withdrawing. You might think that you can withdraw real money from a casino without making any deposits. But that’s not exactly how things work. Generally operators want players to upload at least minimum amount of funds before withdrawing cleared bonuses. You may or may not be required to wager a few times with your deposit to get your cash or pay a withdrawal commission.
  • Restricted countries. Make sure to check the list of restricted countries. Usually the more appealing the offer, the fewer countries that are eligible as casino might specifically target a few markets.
  • Do not delay bonus rounds. This is considered a serious violation that can sometimes stay unnoticed as gambling sites aren’t always able to see that bonuses are delayed when there are no active promos. Delaying bonus rounds is the strategy bonus abusers use to get extra edge, and that’s prohibited in all casinos. Even if they are unable to see when bonus rounds are delayed, operators can track behavior that indicates this may be happening. And you can be sure that this behavior won’t be tolerated.

There are usually many more terms and conditions. So you are always better off reading them all. But we’ve covered most important of them.

Pros & Cons of No-Deposit Casinos

Greatest benefit of this type of offers is that gamblers get to know the casino for free and at the same time, have a chance of withdrawing real cash. Once wagering is complete, money gets credited as withdrawable cash.

But considering that playthrough is high, there is little chance of anyone turning no-deposit credits into real money. It would also be frustrating to see massive wins land during bonus wagering as winnings will appear on your bonus balance with only a small share of the winnings cashed out.

FAQs
Yes, it’s safe as long as you choose legitimate operators that offer licensed games and treat players fairly.
Generally you’ll be able to play all games except for a list of restricted titles that is different in each casino. Generally operators encourage gamblers play slots, but don’t want them to chase progressive jackpots or enjoy live dealer games. Check the casino’s general or bonus T&Cs to find out what games are restricted.
Check our list of operators offering this type of promo. These are all legitimate operators with licensed games.