What is a no deposit bonus?
A no deposit bonus is a special offer provided by online casinos to new players or existing users. Casinos use these bonuses to attract new customers and to reward loyal players from time to time.
These bonuses allow players to play casino games using free money or free spins without having to deposit their own funds first. Of course, a no deposit bonus never guarantees a profit, but it can sometimes result in real, withdrawable winnings.
PlayID app users can currently claim a €5 no deposit bonus after successfully completing KYC, which can be used at any connected casino!
Types of no deposit bonuses
There are several types of no deposit bonuses, such as bonus money, free spins, or free sports betting credit (also known as a freebet). These no deposit bonuses and freebets are usually tied to registration and tend to be smaller amounts, typically under €25.
At most online casinos, the maximum withdrawable winnings from no deposit bonuses are capped at a fixed amount, although some casinos do not set any payout limit on these offers.
Free spins
At most casinos, the number of no deposit free spins ranges between 10 and 50. The value of each free spin is usually set between €0.10 and €0.50, depending on the promotion.
No deposit bets (freebets)
This type of bonus is typically offered by online casinos that also operate a sportsbook. The casino grants a fixed-amount freebet that can be used to place wagers on various sports events under predefined conditions.
As with other bonus types, these offers always come with specific terms and conditions that must be met before any winnings can be withdrawn.
Cashback bonuses
This type of bonus can appear on its own or in combination with other promotions. In short, the casino refunds a fixed percentage of a player’s real-money losses as bonus funds or cash.
Cashback rates usually range between 5% and 30%, and the total amount that can be refunded is normally capped.
Sticky and non-sticky bonuses
Many players are not familiar with the difference between sticky and non-sticky bonuses, even though the distinction is very important.
Sticky bonuses
A sticky bonus is a casino promotion where the bonus amount itself cannot be withdrawn. You can use the bonus money to play games, but you cannot cash out the bonus balance. Instead, only your own deposit and any winnings generated with the bonus – once all conditions are met – can be withdrawn.
Here’s a simple example:
• You deposit €40 and receive a €40 sticky bonus, giving you a total balance of €80.
• You can wager the full €80 on casino games.
• Once you complete the wagering requirements and request a withdrawal, the €40 bonus is removed from your balance.
• Only your original €40 deposit and any remaining winnings can be cashed out.
Non-sticky casino bonuses
A non-sticky bonus works differently. In this case, you start playing with your own deposit first. The bonus is kept separate and only activates if you lose your deposited funds. This structure gives you more flexibility in how and when you use the bonus.
Example:
• You deposit €50 and receive a €50 non-sticky bonus.
• You start by playing with your €50 cash balance.
• If you win, you can request a withdrawal without touching the €50 bonus, as long as the casino’s terms allow it.
• If you lose your deposit, the €50 bonus becomes active. From that moment, the bonus and any winnings from it are subject to the stated wagering rules. After you complete the wagering requirements, any remaining balance can be withdrawn as winnings or used for further play without additional restrictions.
Rules for using no deposit and other bonuses
Bonus terms and conditions
Always read the bonus terms carefully before you start playing! Every properly licensed online casino has general terms and conditions, and within them a dedicated section explaining how bonuses work.
On top of this, individual promotions often come with their own specific rules, which reputable casinos display clearly next to each offer. Below are the most important conditions you should always check.
Wagering requirements
Wagering requirements
Wagering requirements are the most important – and often the toughest – condition you need to meet before your bonus money can be converted into real, withdrawable cash.
Every bonus has its own wagering requirement, usually somewhere between 20x and 50x. Here’s a simple example for a 100% bonus with 25x wagering:
If the wagering requirement applies to both deposit and bonus:
You deposit €20 and receive €20 in bonus money, for a total of €40. You then multiply €40 by 25, which equals €1,000. This means you must place €1,000 worth of bets to clear the 25x wagering requirement.If the wagering requirement applies to the bonus only:
You deposit €20 and receive €20 in bonus money, again for a total balance of €40. In this case, you multiply only the €20 bonus by 25, which gives €500. So you need to wager €500 in total to complete the 25x requirement.
A crucial point many players are unaware of: wagering requirements can apply not only to your bonus, but also to your deposit!
In practice, this means that even if you deposit at a casino without claiming a bonus, you may still need to wager your deposit a certain number of times before your money can be fully withdrawn.
At fair casinos, the wagering requirement on your deposit is usually 1x, but there are operators that demand a 5x rollover on deposits before allowing withdrawals – which is generally considered a predatory practice.
Time limits
Time limits are another strict condition, similar in importance to wagering requirements. The casino sets a specific period in which you must complete the wagering – typically between 5 and 20 days.
Shorter time frames usually apply to smaller bonuses and free spins, while larger deposit bonuses often come with longer deadlines.
Maximum bet
The maximum bet (max bet) is also a key condition when using bonuses, even if it may feel less strict at first glance.
At most casinos, the maximum allowed bet while a bonus is active is around €5 or the equivalent in other currencies. This max bet limit also applies to bonus buy features in many cases.
Eligible games
The “eligible games” rules define where you are allowed to use your bonus.
Sports bonuses and freebets can only be used in the sportsbook, free spins are limited to specific slot games, and live casino bonuses are restricted to live dealer tables.
For standard casino bonuses, the terms and conditions usually include a list of excluded games that do not count towards wagering. In addition, some game providers may restrict the use of bonus funds from certain countries.
Other important rules
Deposits: There are generally two ways to claim a bonus, depending on the casino. In the simpler setup, you choose a bonus before making your deposit, from a list of available offers. In other cases, you need to claim the bonus manually after you deposit.
In both scenarios, one rule always applies: you must claim the bonus before you start playing. If you deposit and begin wagering without opting in, you almost certainly lose the right to receive that bonus.
Also, some casinos exclude certain payment methods from bonus eligibility. A common example is that deposits made with Skrill or Neteller do not qualify for bonuses at specific casinos.
One IP address – one player!
Roughly 99% of online casinos allow only one bonus-eligible account per household or IP address. In many cases you can technically register multiple accounts from the same IP and even receive a bonus, but any winnings are very likely to be confiscated later.
The same applies to players using a VPN, as casinos treat this as a potential bonus-abuse risk.
Prohibited strategies
Delaying free spins
With this strategy, a player triggers free spin bonuses on several games while a bonus is active, but deliberately does not play those free spins until the bonus period expires. The idea is that any winnings from the stored free spins would then be credited directly to the real-money balance without wagering.
Almost all casino terms and conditions explicitly forbid this tactic.
Two-tier betting
In a two-tier betting strategy, players place a few very large bets at the beginning in the hope of landing a big win. If the win comes, they switch to very small stakes on low-risk games to “protect” their balance.
This pattern is also clearly prohibited in most bonus terms and is treated as bonus abuse.
No deposit bonuses – an opportunity you shouldn’t miss
In summary, no deposit bonuses are a great way to try out a new casino and enjoy risk-free gameplay using bonus money or free spins.Just make sure you always read and follow the rules carefully – that’s the only way to ensure that any winnings from these offers can actually be paid out.