It’s no secret that the online gambling industry is booming. Analysts predict that the iGaming industry will be worth an estimated $100 billion by 2026 thanks in large part to the legalization of both sports betting and online casino gaming across the United States and in other markets. All of this action has created an incredibly competitive marketplace where gambling companies are spending big to attract new customers.
This means that promotions are a very big deal and one of the most frequently used in the iGaming industry right now is the no deposit bonus available at many regulated online casino sites.
With these no deposit offers spreading like wildfire, picking the right one can be difficult. Here are a few things you should know about these promotions before deciding which one suits you.
What is a no deposit online casino bonus?
It’s exactly what it says it is—a bonus for simply registering as a new player at an online casino. In most cases, all you need to do is register, verify your identity, and you’re ready to hit the tables.
A no deposit bonus is not free money
No deposit bonuses are not free money but free credits to play a game at an online casino. Generally speaking, you can play any game, but some online casinos may specify that the free credits can only be used for particular games or types.
A look at the top no deposit bonus offers as listed on NoDepositBonusCasino.com shows us that in many cases, the bonus consists of free spins on the casino’s slots.
No deposit bonuses are usually quite small
While deposit match bonuses can be quite generous, the no deposit bonus is usually quite small. This is understandable as simply registering at an online casino doesn’t necessarily mean that you will continue to play or deposit any money at any point in the future.
They are sometimes linked to deposit match bonuses
Some online casinos will offer a complete welcome package that includes a no deposit bonus and a deposit match bonus. In this case, the player gets the free spins and if they make a deposit within a certain timeframe, that deposit will be matched.
This is why it’s always a good idea to look for the value in the complete welcome package and not just the no deposit bonus.
You cannot withdraw your bonus credits
As mentioned earlier, the no deposit bonus is free credits, not cash. It is a little different to deposit match bonuses where the player may be able to withdraw the bonus credit once certain conditions are met.
However, you should be able to withdraw any winnings earned through the promotion. That’s not a hard and fast rule though, so check the terms and conditions of the offer before you sign up just to be sure.
A no deposit bonus may have high wagering requirements
While you should be able to withdraw those winnings, most online casinos will require that you wager a certain amount before being allowed to do so. This is often a multiple of the bonus amount.
For example, if your no deposit bonus is worth $5, the online casino may require you to wager something like 25x or even 50x the bonus amount before any winnings earned through the bonus can be withdrawn. The idea here is to make it more difficult for players to earn big without depositing any of their own cash.
Winnings from a no deposit bonus may be capped
If you have dreams of winning a Mega Moolah jackpot worth millions of dollars by using your no deposit free spins, then dream on. Very few, if any, online casinos will allow you to win big using a no deposit bonus.
Again, the idea is to get you to deposit some actual cash and play with your own money so they will cap your winnings from a bonus at a certain amount. This can vary a great deal from casino to casino so, as we mentioned earlier, it really is worth reading those Ts and Cs. Generally speaking, the cap is somewhere in the low hundreds.
The final word on no deposit bonuses
The no deposit online casino bonus is a fantastic way to test the waters and get a feel for an online casino. It gives you the opportunity to actually play the games and see how everything functions in real time. For this reason, they are one of the best promotions out there for new players.
That said, if you’re going to take up one of these offers, be sure to read the small print and make sure it really is as good as it sounds.