A no deposit bonus is a small gift from a casino: free spins or a few euros that you get just for signing up, without paying anything in. It sounds like free money. It is not, and the rules decide whether it is worth your time. This guide shows what to read and how to do the sums. It is general information, not advice, and every casino has its own terms.
Why casinos give them
#A casino wants new players. A no deposit bonus lets you try the site, and the casino hopes you will deposit later. That is fair, as long as the terms are clear. The trouble starts when the terms are hard to find or the limits are so tight that you can almost never cash out.
The five things to read
#1. Wagering (playthrough). This is how many times you must bet the bonus (and sometimes the winnings) before you can withdraw. A 10 euro bonus with 40x wagering means 400 euros of bets. Typical offers run from about 20x to 65x. Lower is better. Our guide How to read wagering requirements goes through the sums.
2. Maximum cashout. Many no deposit bonuses cap what you can take out, often around 50 to 100 euros. If you win more, the rest is removed when you ask for a withdrawal. A bonus with high wagering and a low cap is poor value: you do a lot of betting for a small result.
3. Maximum bet and game weighting. While the bonus is active there is usually a maximum bet per spin. Break it and the casino can cancel your winnings. Not all games count the same toward wagering. Slots often count 100%, table games and live games little or nothing, and some slots are excluded. Check the list.
4. Expiry. The bonus and the wagering have a deadline, sometimes only a few days. Winnings you have not wagered in time can disappear.
5. Verification and payment rules. To withdraw you will usually have to prove your age and identity (KYC), and some casinos want you to make a deposit before a first withdrawal. Read this before you start, not when you win. See Why casinos request KYC.
A worked example
#A casino gives 10 euros with 40x wagering, a 50 euro maximum cashout, and a 2 euro maximum bet.
- You must bet 10 x 40 = 400 euros in total, with no single bet over 2 euros.
- Slots return on average less than 100% (see RTP vs volatility). With a typical 96% RTP, 400 euros of bets loses about 16 euros on average. So on average the 10 euro bonus is gone before you finish.
- Even if you do win, you can take out at most 50 euros.
Result: the offer is a free trial with a small chance of a small win, not free money. That is fine, if you treat it that way.
Rules in strict markets
#Rules differ by country and by licence. In Great Britain the Gambling Commission says that deposit and bonus balances must be shown separately, that players must not be made to meet wagering requirements before withdrawing their own deposit, and that operators should ask for ID at appropriate earlier points and not only at withdrawal. Many offshore casinos are not bound by these rules, so read their terms. See What does a casino licence mean.
Red flags
#- The terms are hard to find, or the wagering is not stated.
- A very high multiplier (over 50x) together with a low cap.
- A bonus code or link that only works through a "partner" and has no terms page.
- You are told to pay a fee or deposit to "release" the winnings of a no deposit bonus.
- The casino has a record of not paying. Check How to check if a casino is safe.
Checklist before you claim
#- Open the full bonus terms, not only the banner.
- Write down: wagering, maximum cashout, maximum bet, allowed games, expiry.
- Multiply bonus x wagering to get the total you must bet. Is that realistic?
- Complete identity checks early so they do not delay a withdrawal.
- Keep screenshots of the terms on the day you claim.
- Never deposit more than you planned just to "unlock" a bonus.
In short
#- A no deposit bonus is a trial, not free money.
- Wagering, the maximum cashout and the maximum bet decide its value.
- Do the sum: bonus x wagering. Compare it with the cap.
- Expect ID checks, and do them early.
- Strict regulators protect your own deposit, offshore casinos may not. Read the terms.
Play with care
#Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over. It is entertainment, not a way to earn money, and it can be addictive. Play only with money you can afford to lose. Set a deposit limit and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach them. If gambling stops being fun, talk to someone you trust. Organisations such as GambleAware offer free, confidential help (GambleAware serves people in Great Britain, so look for a service in your own country). Gambling rules and what is allowed differ by country. Check the law where you live before you play. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
