No-deposit bonuses: what you actually get

A no-deposit bonus gives you something to play with before you put any money in: a small free chip, a batch of free spins, or occasionally free play for a set time. They are the most searched-for offers on any bonus site, and the most misunderstood.

Why casinos give them away

A no-deposit bonus is a marketing cost. The casino is paying for you to try its games, hoping you like them enough to deposit later. That is why the terms are strict: the casino expects most no-deposit balances to end at zero.

What a typical offer looks like

So a €20 chip at 50x needs €1,000 of betting, and even a lucky run is usually capped at €100.

Things that catch people out

• Verification before withdrawal. Expect to send ID and proof of address before any no-deposit winnings are paid. Use your real details from the start.
• A deposit to withdraw. Some casinos require a small deposit before they pay out no-deposit winnings. It is in the terms; read it first.
• One per person. Offers are limited per person, household, device and IP address. Opening a second account usually forfeits everything.
• Codes. Many no-deposit deals only work with a code entered at sign-up. Our bonus listings show the code where one is needed.

Tip: treat a no-deposit bonus as a free trial, not an income. The value is seeing the casino's games, payment page and support before you trust it with money.

How to pick a good one

1. Prefer a lower multiple over a bigger amount.
2. Check the cashout cap: a €200 cap beats a €50 cap on the same chip.
3. Check the casino first. A free chip from a casino with no licence on file is not worth your ID documents.

You can filter live offers to no-deposit deals only on our bonuses page, and every casino page shows its licence and operator before you sign up.