What Is A No Deposit Required Bonus? Understanding The Concept Of A Free Casino Bonus

The term no deposit bonus is fairly self-explanatory – when you join a no deposit casino site, you’ll be able to claim some sort of reward without making a payment. The natural counter to a no deposit reward is the deposit match which, as you can guess, is a deal based on first making a deposit to your casino account.

No deposit promotions are extremely popular because they essentially give you something for nothing. However, before you dive into the mix and start collecting cash from our recommended no deposit casino sites, there are a few things  you need to be aware of. The rest of this guide will be dedicated to explaining these terms and conditions in more detail. For now, however, here are the main points you need to keep in mind when it comes to non-deposit bonuses:

• You have to be a new customer.
• You have to provide some valid personal details.
• You have to use your credits within a certain amount of time.
• You will have to make a deposit at some point.
• You will have to wager or play-through the winnings of the no deposit offer be it free spins or free deposit.
• You can’t claim more than one deposit-free bonus at the same site.
• Each top-rated UK online casino will have a different type of deal.

Looking at our list of points above, you’ll notice that we said the best casino sites for UK players will offer different bonuses. Although you’ll have to do some searching to find out exactly what they are, the “no deposit bonus” as a concept typically falls into one of three categories:

Free Spins

The most popular no deposit reward you’ll find are free spins. Often valid for a certain game/selection of games, the spins enable you to roll in real money wins which can be withdrawn once you hit meet a wagering limit. Perhaps the most interesting thing about bonus spins is that you never know what you’re going to get.

With the other offers listed below, the rewards are set in stone. With spins, you could win a little or a lot. In fact, you might not win anything at all. Yes, your potential wins will be capped, as will the size of your bet during the gratis turns. However, there is still a certain amount of uncertainty that makes these promotions exciting.

Free Bets

No deposit bets are common at the top online sportsbooks, but you can also find them in the casino sector. As you’d expect, free bets are applicable to table games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette and casino hold’em. The usual offer will look something like: “sign-up and receive 10 bets on XXX game”.

Free Cash

The second most common type of no deposit bonus on the market involves free credits. The amount you’ll receive won’t be a king’s ransom. However, you should be able to pick up between £5 and £10 at the leading online casinos.

Loyalty Rewards

Technically, loyalty and VIP rewards aren’t no deposit bonuses because you’ll have already credited your account. However, if you’re an existing player, these schemes are a way to get something without having to add additional funds to your account.

For example, you may be able to earn points for every real money bet you make. You can then exchange these points for cash and receive ‘free’ spins, bets or credits. In this sense, you’ve not made a payment into your account and you’ve received something extra. Therefore, you can class this as a no deposit bonus.

We’ve hinted at it so far in this guide, but let’s make it clear now: none of this is free money. Despite what the name suggests, you will have to make a deposit and place some bets if you want to collect your bonus. So, does this mean that no deposit bonuses are actually deposit bonuses in disguise? Not really. You don’t have to make a payment in order to receive the free credits. Moreover, you don’t have to bet with your own money if you don’t win or you don’t want to.

These are the main reasons no deposit deals are great. Having the potential to win something from nothing and then decide how you want to proceed is fantastic. Indeed, any time you can have options in the online casino world, it should be seen as a positive. Therefore, even though you will have to place some real money bets in order to release your free funds, there’s still a big upside to collect online no deposit bonuses.

So why would a UK online casino offer no deposit promotions?

The answer is simple: value. The iGaming market is a competitive place, which makes it tough for any single operator to stand out from the crowd. By offering new players an incentive to sign-up, the site is essentially saying: “hey look over here, come and give this a try”. In fact, that’s really what no deposit bonuses are, a try before you buy offer.

Even though it’s possible to play practice games, it’s not quite the same as playing for real money. No deposit rewards bridge this gap by allowing you to play for real without the risk. For anyone of any skill level, that’s a reason to join a site. What’s more, these deals actually give you a reason to make a deposit. As we’ve said, the only way to unlock your ‘free’ credits is to place some bets with your own money. From an operator’s perspective, this is great because it’s more likely you’re going to become a paying customer.

Therefore, as counterintuitive as it may seem for a casino to give away free cash, it’s actually a clever little system that has benefits on both sides. For you, it means you can win real money without any initial risk. For the casino site, it’s a way of enticing and, potentially, keeping new players.

OK, so now you now what a non-deposit deal looks like and the proverbial strings attached to them. At this point, you’re probably wondering how you can get into the mix. Well, as you’ll see from the steps below, it’s easy to claim some gratis cash or spins:

1. Scroll through our UK casino reviews and identify the sites that offer a deposit-free deal.
2. Read through the terms and conditions linked to the bonuses you like the look of.
3. Click our secure registration link and jump straight to the operator’s sign-up page.
4. Input your details i.e. name, email address, password and email address.
5. Confirm your new account if necessary and wait for your reward to appear in your account.

Moving through the steps is clearly very simple. As long as you make the above moves and then complete any necessary wagering conditions, that’s all you need to worry about. No financial details, no payments, nothing more than some clicking and typing: that’s it.

Do I have to enter my debit/credit card details to collect a no deposit bonus?

No. As we’ve said, you will have to make a deposit in order to collect your reward. However, to claim the non-deposit bonus, you won’t have to input any financial or payment details at virtually every major online casino.

Do I have to enter my personal details to collect a no deposit bonus?

Yes, but not more than you’d enter when joining any online casino site. At the majority of casino sites, you’ll be asked to enter your name, age and address, nothing more.

Can these rewards be combined with other bonuses?

Yes. A deposit bonus often follows the non-deposit option and the two won’t cancel each other out. In fact, payment-based rewards are often an extension of the non-payment offer. For example, at Casino.com the total welcome package is worth 200 spins and bonus credits up to £100. As we’ve noted, you get 20 turns as a no deposit bonus. This means the additional 180 bonus spins are released as you start making deposits. Therefore, the two deals are inextricably linked.

Which games can I use my bonuses for?

This will all depend on the casino you choose. From our examples, you’ll see that the operator can either be very prescriptive i.e. “play Starburst” or it can take a more laissez-faire attitude and let you bet on anything you like.

Are there any risks associated with non-deposit deals?

It depends what you mean by risk. In life, there’s always a certain amount of risk to anything you do. However, if we’re talking financial risk or that your personal details will get stolen, the answer is no. As long as you use one of our recommended UK casino sites, you’ll be fine. Because each operator is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), you can be confident that everything is legit and no one is out to harm you.

Do I have to be a new player?

Yes. This is one of the most important stipulations when it comes to new player no deposit casino bonuses. If you already have an account, no matter how old, you can’t get the welcome reward. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t ever collect a non-deposit offer. If a casino has a loyalty scheme, you may be able to exchange points for free credits.