Best No Deposit Bonus Sites in 2024
How We Test No Deposit Bonus
At Platinplay, our team of experts does all the research and reads all the tiny print so you don’t have to. The no deposit bonuses on this page are the best ones that we could find. We made sure that they’re from licensed, reputable, and trusted UK casinos.
To give you a better idea of how we select bonuses, here’s what we take into consideration –
✅Clearly stated bonus terms and conditions
✅Reasonable wagering requirements and bonus validity
✅Fair games from renowned software providers
✅Availability of multiple deposit and withdrawal methods
✅Operators are licensed by UKGC, reputable, and reviewed by us
✅Casino offers sufficient Responsible Gambling resources
To know more about a casino, you can read its full in-depth review put together by experts.
What is a No Deposit Bonus?
You register at your chosen free no deposit casino, claim the offer, and start playing. No need to make a real money deposit into your account.
Basically, you’re trying out a new casino for free, which is amazing for those who have a low budget or who are newbies in the world of online gambling.
Most players love a no deposit bonus. The reason is a no-brainer – in theory, you can win money without spending money.
Usually, a no deposit bonus is offered to new players. However, if you’re lucky you may also find a free no deposit bonus offered to returning or existing players. This is usually when the casino wants to promote a particular new game, or even when there is a seasonal promotion.
How do No Deposit Bonuses work?
Before we learn how a no deposit bonus works, let’s understand why casinos offer them. Many players worry that a casino welcome bonus with no deposit required is too good to be true.
For sure, if you’re not a seasoned player you may wonder what the catch is as no one’s giving anything for free. But the truth is that no deposit bonuses at a casino are viewed as an excellent marketing tool that can help generate new business for the casino. Here are some valid reasons why an operator would make such a good offer:
- To attract new players
- To encourage existing players who haven’t played in a while to come back.
- To raise awareness about its brand, if it is a newcomer.
- To promote new games
- To reward big spenders
So yes, online casinos aren’t really giving out cash for free. It’s a part of their marketing efforts, which, you, as a player, can take advantage of.
And now, let’s see what a no deposit bonus looks like and how it works.
To start off with, no deposit bonuses, much like other casino bonuses, come with a few conditions –
- You cannot cash out bonus winnings from no deposit bonuses – you can only wager the winnings on other games
- The wagering requirements on no deposit bonuses tend to be higher than on normal bonuses
- They are typically only for new players
The reason for the first condition is that casinos discourage bonus hunters. Bonus hunters are players who seek out no deposit bonuses, register with casinos, and never make a deposit — becoming a big cash liability for the casino.
By tying players down with in-game wagering and higher requirements, this issue is eliminated. But it can backfire on more casual players. This is largely why the UKGC has cracked down on these types of bonuses.
Types of No Deposit Bonuses
Much like other casino bonuses, even no deposit bonuses have a few different types.
No Deposit Welcome Bonus
This is by far the most common type of no deposit bonus you’ll find at UK online casinos. As the name implies, it is used as a welcome offer to entice new players who have yet to register at the casino.
Even here, you’ll find different subtypes of this bonus. For example, an online casino may offer free money with no deposit upon registration, in which case you’ll find the cash added to your account. You’ll be able to use it on all the eligible games listed in the terms and conditions. Some others offer a number of free spins instead. Some will let you cash out immediately, others will impose a playthrough.
No Deposit Free Spins Bonus
If you’re a new player you’ll be generally offered some free spins, which can be anything between 5 and 20, to use on a number of slots, or typically a particular slot dictated by the casino.
Be aware that when using such free spins bonuses, the bet size and the winnings are usually capped so as to prevent bonus abuse. Bet sizes are usually between £0.05 and £0.10, while you’ll be able to cash out a maximum of at least £100.
When this offer is being made to existing players, this is usually to promote a specific new game, so you’ll only be able to use the offer on that game.
No Deposit No Wager Bonus
It is most likely that when you find a welcome bonus with no deposit required, you’ll still have wagering requirements attached to it.
On the other hand, a no wager, no deposit bonus on registration rolls up all these requirements in a ball and bins them. This means that you literally register, take the free offer, play for real money, and cash out your winnings without any other obligations. Understandably, these types of no deposit casino offers are usually small, in the region of £5.
Free Cash No Deposit
Every casino is different when it comes to the size of the offer. Free cash no deposit offers can literally take any shape, starting at £5. This may sound on the low side but consider that this is literally free cash being handed out. Bigger brands may splash out with a £10 or £20 no deposit welcome bonus. Anything more than that is usually reserved for high rollers on the highest tier of the VIP club.
Add a Card No Deposit Bonus
Now, just because you’re not required to make an actual payment to activate your free cash no deposit casino offers, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other T&Cs to take note of. Most notably, most UK gambling sites nowadays clearly state in the terms and conditions that they require a debit card verification to activate the bonus.
Some players may view this as suspicious, but it’s actually a legit requirement that’s mostly there to satisfy KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements. Note that the site will not deduct any funds from your card or it would fall foul of UK Gambling Commission regulations and risk losing its licence.
VIP Bonus
This is not exactly a bonus, but if you’re a VIP player, have loyalty points, or you’re a high roller, then casinos might offer you extra bonuses and perks. Sometimes, this may include no deposit bonuses.
If you want to learn more about casino bonuses, different types, and how they work, check out our detailed guide on Casino Bonuses.
What to Look for in a No Deposit Bonus?
To start with, you need to make sure that the casinos you have chosen hold a valid license from UKGC. Further, also look for fairness audits done by entities like eCOGRA or iTestLabs to confirm that the games are fair. Of course, you can skip this if you choose a casino that we have reviewed.
In addition to this, here’s a quick checklist of all the things that you should look for in a no deposit bonus –
| Terms & Conditions | No deposit bonuses often have several T&Cs attached to them, so we encourage you to read the tiny print, understand how the bonus works, and then claim it. |
| Bonus Amount | If you find multiple no deposit bonuses, compare the bonus amounts, and choose one that best fits your needs. |
| Wagering Requirements | Check if the wagering requirements are reasonable. If the requirements are too high, you won’t be able to fulfill them. |
| Bonus Validity | All bonuses come with an expiry date. Go for a bonus that offers |
| Min. & Max. Bets | To avoid bonus abuse, all bonuses have a minimum and maximum eligible bet amount. See if you’re comfortable with the range. |
| Maximum Win | Most casino bonuses have caps on their winnings. Check the max amount that you can win from the bonus to determine if its worth it. |
| Eligible Games | A bonus is not applicable to all casino games. Usually, it can be used on a few select games. Check to see if you enjoy these games or are familiar with them. |
| Game Contributions | Not all games count towards wagering requirements equally. Usually, slots contribute 100% while card games do not. Have a look at this to plan your strategy accordingly. |
How to Claim a No Deposit Bonus
If you come across a no deposit bonus, here’s how to claim it –
- Step 1: Go over to the official website
Make sure that you’re visiting an official online casino website and not a rip-off. The easiest way to avoid confusion is to click on the links here on the Platinplay website. You can also try the website
- Step 2: Sign up at the casino
Next, you have to register at the casino and verify your details to be eligible for the bonus. Before doing so, we recommend you to read the privacy policy and understand how your data would be used.
- Step 3: Read T&Cs
This is the most important step here is that you read the terms and conditions thoroughly. Make sure you understand how the bonus works and what your rewards would be before claiming it.
- Step 4: Claim the bonus
Once you’re successfully logged in, it’s time to claim the bonus. Usually, you’d have to visit the promotions page and opt-in. However, sometimes, you might have to enter a bonus code to redeem the offer.
- Step 5: Use it on eligible games
Then, you have to start using the bonus on eligible games and play till the wagering requirements are fulfilled.
- Step 6: Cash out the rewards
Once the bonus funds are used up, it’s time to withdraw the rewards if you have won any. Remember that withdrawals are subject to bonus T&Cs, so read them carefully.
| You can also check out no wagering or low wagering bonuses. Just like the terms suggest, no wagering bonuses have no wagering requirements on them, and low wagering promotions have minimal requirements (like 1x). |
No Deposit Bonuses Pros & Cons
Now, whether to claim a bonus or pass it depends largely on your preferences and whether you’d benefit from it or not. That said, we have presented a quick argument to help you decide if you should go for a no deposit bonus –
| Why You Should Go for it | Why You Should Think Twice |
| You get to play the games for free, without risking any of your money | Such bonuses are quite rare to find |
| You don’t run the risk of spending more money than initially planned | You won’t be able to use the free cash or spins on all the games |
| You can win and cash out real money (depends on T&Cs) | Your winnings will be capped |
| You get an excellent opportunity to test unfamiliar games without spending anything |
Conclusion
To sum up, a no deposit bonus is a promotion that offers incentives like bonus money and free spins without players having to make a deposit. In the UK, these bonuses are hard to find and often have several conditions attached to them. If you find a good bonus, ensure that the casino is licensed, the T&Cs are clear, and the bonus is eligible for your favourite games.
No Deposit Bonus FAQs
There are mainly two types of no deposit bonuses: free cash bonuses and free spins bonuses. You can also find no wagering no deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses requiring a card verification and more. If you want to find out more, check out our detailed section about the different types of no deposit bonus.
No. Like all other casino bonuses, no deposit bonuses are typically limited to one per player, household, or IP address to prevent abuse of the offer.
Offering no deposit bonuses helps casinos attract new players who might become regular customers after trying out the games. It’s a form of marketing investment for customer acquisition. But there are more reasons why a site may decide to offer these bonuses, such as brand building or new game promotions. You’ll find out more information in our section detailing why a casino would offer no deposit bonuses.
Wagering requirements are crucial as they dictate when you can withdraw any winnings made from the bonus. These refer to the number of times the bonus money must be bet before being eligible for withdrawal. We recommend sites with a range of 30x to 45x, as otherwise the cost of playthrough may be too high for casual players.
This varies by casino. Most set a cap on the maximum amount you can withdraw from no deposit bonus winnings to prevent significant losses. Check the specific casino’s terms and conditions for details, however you’ll find that most sites cap it at £100.
Some casinos require a bonus code, while others add the bonus automatically or require you to opt-in. Check the promotion details or contact customer support for specifics. If you’re following a link from our guide to no deposit bonuses we will always alert you when a promo code is required.