How to choose the best no deposit bonuses in the UK
No deposit bonuses sound like one of the best deals among all casino bonuses – you get to try what a casino has to offer with very little risk! However, some things might sound too good to be true, so it’s worth going through what makes an honest no deposit bonus.
1. Read the terms and conditions
The key to using your no deposit bonus to the full lies in the terms and conditions. Licenced casinos are obliged to provide the full details of their offers, including their values, wagering requirements and game weighting. So make sure to read the T&Cs carefully!
2. Pay attention to the wagering requirements
The wagering requirements are the amount of times you need to wager any winnings from your bonus before you can withdraw them as real cash. The lower the wagering requirement, the more likely you will be able to get some dosh from your bonus.
You can wager the winnings from the bonus to complete the requirement, but you will need to make a real-money deposit to continue wagering if you run out of bonus cash.
3. Make sure your payment methods are accepted
While online casinos tend to use a wide variety of payment methods, you still need to make sure that your preferred method is accepted! As a rule, UK casino sites accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards and a variety of e-wallets such as the best PayPal casinos, Neteller, and Skrill.
4. Make sure to check eligible games
No deposit bonuses will generally be tied to one or a number of specific games. These games tend to be slots, with Book of Dead and Starburst being among the most popular.
5. Check about games weighting
The terms and conditions can tell you that certain games contribute more or less towards the wagering requirement. For example, if Roulette or Blackjack count as 50% that means you will need to play these games twice as many times as games that count as 100%.
In the case of free spins no deposit bonuses, these are usually given for use on just one slot game specified by the casino.
6. See about maximum payouts available
Some no deposit bonuses will have a limit to the maximum payout you can get. This can either be a fixed cash amount in the case of no deposit free spins or a multiple of the bonus amount. Of course, the very best no deposit bonuses will be those with no cap on your winnings!
7. Pay attention to withdrawal times and terms
How long do you have to use your no deposit free spins or meet the wagering requirements? This time limit can vary from just 24 hours to a few days. This time period starts from when you register your account and, of course, having more time allows you to use the bonus more calmly.
8. Take advantage of our Bonus Calculator
Last, but definitely not least, use our very own Bonus Calculator to determine the amount you need to wager before withdrawing your winnings from a no deposit bonus! It can also help you figure out the amount you need to play after activating your bonus and how much you can potentially win based on the game’s RTP and contribution.
Are no deposit bonuses legal in the UK?
Yes – so long the casino offering the no deposit bonus has the proper gambling licence. In the case of the UK, the casino site needs to be licenced by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Here at CasinoHawks we only deal with new online casinos with a UKGC licence, so you can stand assured that it’s safe and legal to take advantage of their offers.Â
Is playing in no deposit bonus casinos safe?
No deposit bonus casinos are definitely safe so long, as mentioned above, they are properly licenced. Casinos with a UKGC licence are also obliged to have Responsible Gambling sections with tools like deposit limits that encourage players to treat gambling as a leisure activity, and not as a means to make an income.
Why are casinos offering No Deposit Bonuses?
The UK online casino market is a highly competitive one, and every site wants to attract new players. No deposit bonuses are one of the ways to do so, as they get British players to try out what the casino has to offer, be it through bonus cash or no deposit free spins with little risk.
Why use No Deposit Bonuses?
Since they are there – why not? No deposit bonuses are usually optional, and using them involves very little risk. That said, nothing in the world is perfect, so let us go through the pros and cons of these bonuses.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Allow risk-free gambling | Usually involve high wagering requirements |
| A cheap-as-free means to test a new casino | The bonus is tied to one or a limited selection of games |
| Can take the form of bonus funds as well as free spins | Might have a short time limit |
Types of No Deposit Bonuses
There are two types of no deposit offers available for British players – no deposit free spins and no deposit cash bonuses. Both are worthwhile, so let’s take a closer look at each of these:
No Deposit Free Spins
No deposit free spins are exactly what they sound like – free spins given out by a casino without the need to make a deposit. These are generally handed out as part of a welcome offer, but some casinos also give no deposit free spins to returning players as a reward for their loyalty.
No deposit free spins can mainly be used on a specific slot, such as the ever-popular Starburst or Book of Dead.
No Deposit Cash Bonus
A no deposit cash bonus is an amount of bonus funds the casino gives to a player without having to make a deposit. As a rule, this is handed out as part of a welcome offer to new players when they register an account.
Such an offer allows you to play a variety of games, including slots and table games, with very little risk. However, keep in mind these bonus funds will come with wagering requirements attached.
You also need to check the terms and conditions to see if any games are excluded from the offer or have less weighting in the playthrough requirements calculation.
How to use a no deposit bonus?
Once you’ve snapped up your no deposit bonus from our recommended British casinos, the good times can start rolling! But first, we think you need to understand how to make the best use of this deal, so follow along with this guide:
1. Check our list of recommended casinos
On top of this article, you will find a list of what we believe are the best online casinos offering no deposit bonuses. So go through it and go for the one that tickles your fancy.
2. Read the terms & conditions
Before committing to a bonus, no deposit or otherwise, read the terms & conditions so that you know all of its details.
3. Sign up and opt-in
Once you find the offer that’s right for you, sign up with the casino in question. Make sure you opt in for the no deposit bonus!
4. Grab the bonus
The casino will generally send your bonus to your profile once you are fully verified.
5. Use the full bonus
Now that the bonus is firmly in your hands, use it in full within the time limit! This includes fulfilling any wagering requirements.
6. Check how much cash you have available for withdrawal
Your account should have a section that shows your current real money balance (as opposed to bonus funds).
7. Either withdraw your winnings or keep them to play another day
Once you’re done with your casino session, you can either withdraw your winnings to your bank or payment provider, or keep them in your account so that you can play in the future.
Solutions to common issues with No Deposit casino bonuses
While most British players will find getting their no deposit bonus to be a smooth affair, some of you might prove unlucky and face an issue or two. Here at CasinoHawks we’re all about putting your minds at ease, so here are the solutions to some of the more common issues out there:
- I didn’t get my bonus!
If you signed up with a new casino but cannot find your no deposit bonus it might be the case you failed to opt into the offer. As such, you should check your account and make sure you confirmed the bonus.
If nothing obvious pops up then you should get in touch with customer care to see what happened to the bonus.
- I cannot withdraw my winnings!
This is probably due to not completing the wagering requirements, which have you play through your winnings a fixed number of times. Your account should show you your progress in this case.
- My bonus disappeared!
You might have failed to complete the wagering requirements before the time limit was over, which led to the loss of your bonus funds or spins. The terms and conditions will always tell you how long you have to meet the playthrough requirements.
That said, you should also check whether the bonus funds have already been converted into real money, in which case you will find the amount in your cash balance.
- The casino didn’t pay out my winnings
This is likely due to not following an aspect of the terms and conditions to the letter. If you’re in doubt whether that’s the case, then the best idea would be to get in touch with the casino’s customer support team.
Make the most of your no deposit bonus!
Now that you’re equipped with all the knowledge relating to no deposit bonuses, you’re all set to get one of your own! So go through the information we have here at CasinoHawks to find which casinos currently have deals of this sort.
Keep in mind that bigger is not always better – an offer with fewer free spins might have a smaller requirement, or the value of the spins might be higher. In the same way, you might prefer a smaller amount of no deposit bonus funds if their wagering requirement is lower or the time limit is longer.
As such, always go through the details carefully before making your decision. Good luck, and happy playing!