No Deposit & Deposit Casino Bonuses

Casino Bonuses for December 2019

Here are our accredited online casinos that offer a no deposit bonus on sign up, as well as a welcome bonus on 1st deposit. If you’ve given any thought to joining an online casino site at some point, you will no doubt have come across the term “no deposit casino bonuses”. There is no trickery going on here (well, not much anyway) – a no deposit bonus is exactly as it sounds. It is, in effect, a bonus which is offered to casino players without them having to deposit into their account.

Below in this article, we go into the different types of no deposit casino bonuses, deposit bonuses and what a wagering requirement is.

It may seem strange, but there are several types of no deposit casino bonuses out there on the net, and they can offer quite different things. Some are very advantageous to claim, and others not so much. How can you tell the difference? Let’s take a closer look at the world of no deposit deals at online casino sites.

Best Online Casino Bonus Guide

There are several types of casino bonuses out there on the net, and they can offer quite different things. Some are very advantageous to claim, and others not so much. How can you tell the difference? Let’s take a closer look at the world of casino bonuses at online casino sites.

Generally speaking, there are many types of no deposit casino bonuses you will find at casinos, often the same bonus with a different name. Here is a detailed list of the most popular:

No Deposit Bonus

A free sum of money on sign up to try certain games. These will be exclusive offers given to partnered sites such as Casinoencycopedia.com. You will need to follow the link from the site you are visiting on and then sign up as usual. They will ask for the bonus code (if needed) which is usually something like ’25FREESPINS’, which you will need to implement.
This bonus can be used to play real money casino games, often just for slot machines and video poker, keno or scratch card games. Anything you win with this cash is yours to keep, up to a certain limit. There will be wagering requirements attached and sometimes a maximum cashout such as $100.

Deposit Bonuses

Deposit bonuses are usually based on a percentage of your initial deposit such as a 50% or 100% extra to spend at the casino offering this type of bonus. They can go as high as 500% in some instances usually from Bingo sites. After the 1st deposit bonus additional bonuses are usually referred to as a reload bonus, however, these terms can be used interchangeably.

Exclusive Bonus

An exclusive bonus is a type of bonus given exclusively to partnered sites such as CE. In other words, an exclusive bonus is given to our visitors only. You will need to follow the link given and sign up to said site thru CE to activate this type of bonus.

Sign Up Bonus

This is the exact same as a no deposit bonus or free chip. Other names that describe the same bonus is a Cash Up-Front or Free Play bonus.

Match Bonus

When a new player makes his first deposit he gets this type of casino bonus. The casino then matches a percentage of your total deposit.
Example: a match offer of 100% of up to $100, you’ll get $100 when you deposit $100. Your account will now contain $200.

The Free Spin Bonus

This is a common promotion that will offer a handful of spins (between 10 and 50) on a particular slot or a small selection of slot games at any given casino. The spins are usually played out on the lowest possible stake (so, often 1p per line) and anything you win is again yours to keep up to a certain value. It is rare, but sometimes free spins can be used on any slot at the casino, although progressive jackpot slots are usually excluded.

Loyalty Points Bonus

When you play long enough on the same website, you will automatically become part of their loyalty program. These VIP incentives include free spins, free chips, cash-backs and other gifts such as Spa Days, Electronics, Cruises etc.

Reload Bonuses

Players can get this incentive ongoing and are usually offered either daily, weekly or monthly. This is different for every website. This will vary from 20% all the way up to as high as 500% on occasion.

The Time-Based Bonus

It is rare nowadays, but a handful of casinos still offer time-based no deposit bonuses. These deals offer either cash or free spins, but they must be used within a certain time frame. You must also meet the wagering requirements of this bonus (wager a certain amount a specific number of times) to cashout on anything you win with this offer.

Refer a Friend Bonus

Players will get this perk when someone they know joins a casino site that they play at and then funds their account. This bonus usually ranges from $20 to $50, or a percentage of their future deposits. This bonus can be ongoing at some websites for up 3 months to a year.

Sticky Bonuses

A sticky bonus is a very appealing bonus to many players as it’s usually a much larger match such as 500%. After the wagering requirements are met you can withdrawal the winnings minus the initial bonus that you received from the casino. Another reason that sets the sticky bonus apart from the rest is that unlike other bonuses you can bet on most casino games and 100% of the wagers will apply for games such as blackjack and roulette etc. A typical casino offering a non-sticky bonus will offer 100% of the wager will apply when playing slots, video poker, and keno and only 10% – 25% of the wager will count towards most other games such as blackjack and roulette. This percentage will be different depending on where you are playing.

The Wheel Bonus

A few online casinos offer players the chance to spin a mystery wheel (or play a scratch card) without making a deposit. This will reward newbies with either free cash or more spins, and you have no way of knowing which until you give it a try. Of course, this type of bonus will often come with wagering requirements.
 

Whatever no deposit bonus you happen to get, they are all based on roughly the same concept – that players are being handed a chance to win without having to put any money upfront.

Keep in mind that you must read the terms and conditions before signing up. It really sucks when you have played for hours and you finally think you met the wagering requirements, only to find out that you were risking your money on the wrong games.

To start your hunting you should look at which sites offer you the best online casino bonuses and make sure they are a fair and reputable establishment. All our listed casinos are reputable and have gone thru a screening process for fair play etc. If it’s possible, play blackjack and wager small. It’s true that the bigger you wager the faster you’ll meet the play thru requirements. It’s also true that you’ll have a bigger chance at busting out your account, leaving you with nothing.

If you must play craps, roulette or poker, look at our strategy pages for some tips on how to play. Try to wager small on these games and test your skills by playing the free version first.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

When it comes to the terms and conditions of online casino bonuses, it’s really easy for players to get confused because there’s such an overwhelming amount of fine print to sort through. However, it really only comes down to a handful of things that you need to look for in these terms:

• The amount you’ll receive.
• How much you’ll have to wager to clear your bonus.
• Whether or not you can cash out once it’s cleared.
• If there is a cap on how much of the winnings you are able to cash out after the wagers are cleared.
• The games you’re allowed to play on.

 
Those are really the only points you’ll need to know to accurately assess the best online casino bonuses available out there, no matter what they’re called. Once you know this, you can figure out which deals are better than others. This will allow you to avoid non-cashable bonuses with overly strict game restrictions and other less-than-favorable promotions. Before you take advantage of any new deal, always be sure to break things down in terms of the five points above so that you have a clear picture of what you’re getting yourself into.

FAQ’s & Casino Bonus Glossary

What is a wagering requirement?
You will not be able to cash out any funds from your bonus balance until you meet the wagering requirements. This is the amount you will need to bet. An example would be if you made a deposit of $5 and you were matched with another $5. You would have $5 in your real money account and $5 in your bonus account. Say the wagering requirements are 50x (bonus only). You would multiply 5 x 50. So you would need to make $250 worth of bets before the bonus funds are transferred to your real money account.

Do no deposit bonuses come with wagering requirements?
Yes, most do. By clicking on the terms and conditions of a no deposit deal, players will be able to read the terms attached, as well as any wagering requirements attached. However, no deposit bonuses which are offered as loyalty deals (to already existing members) may be free of these shackles, but even that is rare.

Why do online casinos give away bonuses?
The simple answer is that players love them and it’s a great way to attract and keep a player depositing. It makes your deposit last longer and there is a chance that you will be able to cash out the winnings. This is very appealing to players. There is also so much competition and casino bonuses have become a marketing strategy that has paid off for both players and casinos.

Why don’t all Casinos offer no deposit bonuses?
Some prefer to max out their welcome bonus offers instead. Those that do this will often do so at the expense of no deposit promos, and this does tend to happen at the more established casinos.

Do I have to be a new player to claim a no deposit bonus?
Again, not exactly. Some casinos offer free cash and spin deals as loyalty bonuses based on your gaming activity. Most promos where you get something for nothing do tend to be aimed at the newbies in a bid to convince them to play there.

I want a no deposit bonus, how do I get it?
As the name implies, players do not have to deposit anything into their account to claim this bonus. However, they are going to have to sign up as a new player – there’s no avoiding that. Most casinos’ sign-up processes are complete in a matter of minutes, and the bonus will be credited to your account almost immediately.

Sometimes a casino will request that you contact customer support to inform them that you’re interested in the promo. At other times, you may need to enter a promotional bonus code to claim the deal. On occasion, casinos will just offer it to you straight away, and you can get going with your free cash or spins.

Why would I claim a no deposit bonus?
There are plenty of reasons why a player may wish to claim such an offer. One of the main reasons is that this promo can be valuable and it allows you to “test drive” the casino, so to speak. By wagering the casino’s money (and not your own) on a handful of spins of slots, you can gauge what kinds of games the casino carries and whether they will be a good fit for you.

Of course, the more practical reason for claiming a no deposit is that you can win real money, too. These little wins may just whet your appetite for casino gaming action, so much so that you decide to deposit. This is what the casino is hoping for.

Should I claim a no deposit bonus?
Provided it comes with relatively low wagering requirements or none, it can’t really do you any harm. It provides you with an excellent opportunity to check out a casino and potentially win a bunch of free cash.

What is bonus abuse?
Players that take advantage of software or participating in strategies to intentionally cheat the house. The operator may think the player has broken the rules. Some tips in order to not label yourself a bonus abuser are to not break the bonus rules and don’t drastically change your betting sizes when you are trying to meet your wagering requirements. It’s also advisable to make a deposit without a bonus from time to time.

What is a bonus code?
This is a word or phrase you enter when you make a deposit to activate a certain bonus. An example is ’50FREEBONUS”. A bonus code can activate any number of bonuses including free spins, 1st deposit, reload etc. You might find certain bonus codes from your search on social media or sites such as CE. The bonus will be valid if you click on the link from the page in which you are visiting.