No deposit bonuses

What better way to play in an online casino than to play for free, win some rounds, and get to withdraw the money as well?

This is exactly what the no-deposit bonus promises.  In fact, this is one of the promotions that many online casinos do in order to get players to sign up with them.  Exciting as this may sound, but you have to know that there are requirements that you have to pass before you can withdraw your winnings.  Furthermore, you also have to know that the requirements are not that easy to comply with because no real online casino would simply give you the money simply because you won.

What is a no-deposit bonus?

As mentioned above, the no-deposit bonus is a type of promotion that some online casinos offer wherein the player automatically gets a certain amount of money credited into their player’s account when they sign up, without depositing any kind of money beforehand.  A typical example of a no-deposit bonus is getting $100 for free when you register at the online casino.

The no-deposit bonus can range anywhere from a measly $7 to a huge $1,000 free cash, but like any other “wonderful” bonuses, there is usually a catch.

What the online casinos do not tell you upfront about their no-deposit bonuses?

Casinos need players to sign up with them, so they leave out some things when they promote their no-deposit bonus.  You will only find out about them when you read their fine print and realize how much it will take for you to be able to withdraw your bonus.

Remember the wagering requirements you need to be able to withdraw your winnings when you availed of a no-deposit bonus?  Well, the wagering requirements can sometimes be so difficult to achieve that you end up better off grabbing their deposit bonus.  There are online casinos that require you to bet 100x the amount of your no-deposit bonus, but you will only be allowed to play in a limited number of games, which sometimes do not include the game you are good at.  Also, you will notice that the total amount of your bets to meet the wagering requirement is sometimes more than the entire no-deposit bonus itself.

The online casinos will also not tell you upfront that their no-deposit bonus comes with a time limit.  You will notice that the bigger the no-deposit bonus, the smaller the time limit gets.  For example, the online casino will promise you a $500 no-deposit bonus, but the only way to get your bonus is if you bet the entire $500 bonus in under 30 minutes.  Now, whatever profit you make beyond the $500 is yours to keep.  Let us say that you happen to win an additional $20 when you played blackjack, then that means that you get to keep the $20.  But if you lose, you get to take home nothing.

The reason why online casinos ask for rigid wagering requirements is because they hate doling out free cash, and the no-deposit bonus is, after all, cash taken out of their own pockets, so, of course, the players have to work hard to get that money, and the online casinos will make them work harder for it.

What are the advantages of the no-deposit bonus?

The no-deposit bonus is not all about tight wagering requirements though because you will also learn that this type of bonus offers some advantages.

With the no-deposit bonus, you get to play and win some real cash at an online casino for free, without risking any of your own money.  You also get the benefit of honing your skills on your favorite games, if they are offered, without sacrificing any penny of your precious bankroll.

It cannot be denied that veteran online casino players sneer at the idea of a no-deposit bonus, thinking that it is for newbies who want to try out the casino first, but what they do not know is that the no-deposit bonus is a good way to build your bankroll.  Look at it this way.  Since it is mostly the newbies who avail of the no-deposit bonus, then you can expect that you have a big edge over them, especially if you are good in the game.  Furthermore, since this is only free money, you cannot really expect that these players are playing their hardest.  In fact, you will probably have the loosest and softest opponents online, so think of how much you will be earning in these games, provided, of course, that your patience is that of a saint’s to play at this kind of lengthy process.

What are the disadvantages of no-deposit bonus?

One of the obvious disadvantages of a no-deposit bonus has already been discussed, and that is the steep wagering requirements to be able to withdraw your winnings.

Another disadvantage of playing at a no-deposit bonus online casino game is the annoying banners and ads that can distract you during your game, something that you cannot do anything about since, let us face it, you are only playing for free.  After all, the online casinos will need money to pay out its players when they win, thus, the sponsored ads, so you really cannot do anything about the banners and the annoying ads but put up with it.

So, is the no-deposit bonus worth it?

It is tempting to avail of a no-deposit bonus, but you have to think about the pros and the cons of this type of bonus as well as your reasons why you are playing at a no-deposit bonus casino game in the first place.  Are you playing because you want the experience?  Are you playing because you want to win bigger money?  Or are you simply just a cheapskate that it does not matter much to you, as long as it is free?

If you want the experience, then the no-deposit bonus will give you the chance to play against other avid online casino game players.  But if you want bigger prizes, then this type of bonus is not for you because of the high wagering requirements.  If you are a cheapskate, then, by all means, enjoy the no-deposit bonuses.

How to choose the online casino that offers the best no-deposit bonus?

Choosing the online casino that offers the best no-deposit bonus is relatively easy to do.  You can simply read reviews, comments, and testimonials made by other online casino players about the different casinos offering this type of bonus.  They will usually tell the other players what to watch out for, what casinos to avoid, what casinos to go for, and if the online casino is trustworthy and delivers what it promises.