Should you Play with a No-Deposit Bonus or Without?

For as long as online casino sites have existed, there has always been discussion about no deposit bonuses and how much value they offer. This type of promotion entices new players to a platform by allowing them to explore gaming options without spending money.

For many people, that can sound almost too good to be true. If you are eager to get in on the wave of no-deposit bonus casino play, it’s worth it first to take a bit of a deeper dive into their inner workings. As usual, there is always something a little more under the hood when you look hard enough.

This article will do that and ask whether it’s worth playing with no deposit bonuses or should they be given a pass.

The premise of the no-deposit bonus

A no-deposit bonus is a welcome offer that online casinos use to attract new customers. It’s a one-time deal that only a new account holder can take advantage of. After opening an account, bonus cash will instantly be credited, which can be used to play games.

The no-deposit bonus is attractive to players because it’s the reverse of a deposit bonus, where you must first pay to the platform before the bonus amount is released. But there are some considerations to consider with no deposit offers because it isn’t just free money that the casino is handing over with no strings attached.

Where to find no deposit bonuses

Firstly, if there is some appeal in grabbing a no-deposit bonus at an online casino, the next thing to do is find one. But how do you go about that? No-deposit bonus offers are nowhere near as common at casino sites as regular deposit bonuses are.

So, it may take a little time and research, and using a casino review site is a good place to start. A site like WSN rates and reviews various casino platforms, from the traditional to crypto and sweepstakes operators. The information, curated by experts, can make finding no-deposit bonuses much easier, as it points you in the right direction.

More than meets the eye?

While you won’t need to deposit to get the bonus, there are still some considerations because of what’s found in the terms and conditions of the promotion. The T&Cs will cite the stipulations on what you can and can’t do with the free bonus amount.

Arguably, the most significant factor is the wagering requirements. While you can freely use the bonus cash to play the slots, any winnings earned from it will then be subject to wagering requirements, which are typically steep.

If you have to play the value of winnings 35 times, for example, before it can be released as withdrawable cash, then suddenly the bonus may not be worth it because those terms are too hard to fulfil. Wagering requirements typically range around 35x to 50x, and they will also need to be fulfilled within a certain period, or the bonus will be forfeited.

Casino table games, bingo and poker, are generally excluded from or have very low contribution rates towards wagering requirement fulfilment, so the game of Hold’em may need to wait until the bonus is completed.

Time spans to complete bonuses can range from seven or 14 days up to 30. There may be more wrapped up in the T&Cs, such as game restrictions and bet maximums.

Bonus amount

Another appealing aspect of the no-deposit bonus is the thought of earning a big win from not risking any of your own money. However, winning anything substantial from a no-deposit bonus is challenging because it is typically small.

The bonus could be $10 or maybe $20 – and that’s it. In contrast, deposit bonus offers can run from $50 to $100, $200 and up. The small bonus value from the no-deposit offer caps what you can do with it. There is also likely to be a fixed limit on how much can be won from the bonus.

Should no deposit bonuses be played?

A no-deposit bonus is excellent for putting funds into a slot machine to get a feel for its mechanics. The best approach to take for a no-deposit bonus is a low expectancy that a substantial win will happen from it.

They are not scams, either – they are legitimate bonuses that some players do convert all the way through to withdrawable cash. It’s just overcoming the restrictive terms found on them that determines their actual value.

No-deposit offers are not bonuses you can take significant advantage of, but that’s the case with all casino deals. They serve a purpose, and while they can be valuable if they are appropriately approached and the wagering requirements are handled, they are often restrictive.

It’s all about how you look at them, and if that is viewing them as a low-risk way to explore a platform rather than expecting to hit the windfall of a massive payout, then no deposit bonuses are perfectly viable. But sometimes, the wagering requirements aren’t worth chasing for the value of the bonus you may get back.