Best No Deposit Casino Bonuses

How No Deposit Bonus Offers Work

No deposit casino offers are a great way for players to try out online casinos for the first time without having to risk their own cash right off the bat. Once you create an account with a no deposit casino, you’ll be given a reward to welcome you to the site, with no requirement to deposit any money yourself.

This reward will be in the form of free spins or a certain amount of bonus money credited to your account, meaning you can explore, play games and get a general feel for the casino on their dime.

Depending on what the casino allows you to spend your no deposit bonus on, you might be able to try out a whole range of games, from slots to live blackjack. Bear in mind that when making use of a no deposit bonus, you’ll very probably have to fulfil certain wagering requirements to withdraw any winnings – we’ll get into that shortly.

Types of No Deposit Bonus

No deposit bonuses can come in a few different forms – we’ve explained what these are below. 

Sign Up Bonus

Most no deposit bonuses are offered to players simply as a reward for signing up. Online casinos know that welcome bonuses are their most effective tool in enticing as many new players to sign up to their site as possible. With a no deposit sign-up bonus, as soon as you’ve completed the registration process – including the casino’s required identification checks – your account will be credited with the bonus.

Free Spins Bonus

As opposed to crediting players’ accounts with bonus funds, no deposit free spins bonuses will issue them with a bundle of spins to use on the casino’s online slots. These spins can only be used on the slots, and not, for example, on spins of the roulette wheel. 

Bonus Codes

Some no deposit bonuses are unlocked with a promo code. When players are at the cashier page making their deposit, they’ll have an opportunity to key in their no deposit bonus code and receive their funds or free spins, whichever form the bonus takes.

Advantages of a No Deposit Bonus Casino

The obvious advantage of a no deposit casino is you’ll have a nice little gift waiting for you when you start playing for the first time, whether that’s in the form of bonus money or a number of free spins on the colourful slots games. This can be handy if it’s your first time playing at an online casino, as it gives you a chance to explore the site and sample some of the real money games without having to put any of your own money on the line.

A no deposit bonus is also advantageous for seasoned players who want to try out a new casino and get a feel for it without risking their own cash for a site they might not enjoy. Of course, one of the major advantages is that you may also win real money using a no deposit bonus, if you manage to meet the wagering requirement set by the casino. This means you could potentially end up with a profit which you can then withdraw.

Disadvantages of a No Deposit Bonus Casino

The main disadvantage of no deposit bonus casino offers is that they’re generally a lot smaller than other bonuses. For example, while a standard welcome package may give you the chance to claim a €200 matched deposit bonus and 100 free spins, no deposit bonuses average around €5-€10 no deposit bonus money and 10-20 no deposit free spins.

Another potential drawback is that no deposit bonuses can have stricter terms and conditions to prevent online casinos losing too much money. This is usually the case with the wagering requirements, which tell you how much money you have to bet before you can withdraw winnings earned from your bonus.

To take a very simple example, if the no deposit bonus casino gifts you €10 on joining and the bonus has a 60x wagering requirement, you’ll need to bet a total of €600 before you can cash out any returns from that initial no deposit bonus. The same will usually be true of no deposit casino offers involving free spins, where the wagering requirement applies to any winnings you make form your free spins.

You should always read the fine print when signing up, as winnings related to the no deposit bonus may also be capped at a certain figure. Plus, there may well be a tight time limit you’ll need to fulfil the wagering requirement by.

Games to Play with a No Deposit Casino Bonus

There are many kinds of games you can play using your no deposit free spins or cash bonus. Let’s have a quick look at some you may find when you sign up at a desktop or mobile casino.

Slots

Online slots are fun and easy to play, and the best online slot sites will have hundreds upon hundreds to choose from. These range from retro, fruit machine-style games to the latest video slots which conjure up fantasy worlds and come packed with bonus rounds. Just remember that you may only be able to use your free spins bonus on a limited selection of games. Sometimes, the free spins will be exclusively intended for one slot only. 

Table Games

There are table games for all tastes, whether you like those that rely on pure chance or those that involve some strategy on your part. Using your bonus funds, you’ll usually be able to play a wide range of online and mobile table games from blackjack and baccarat to roulette and craps.

Still, if you have your heart set on a particular title or category of game, it’s a good idea to confirm that you’re able to spend your bonus funds on it. Note that game weighting oftens means table games contribute less to wagering requirements than slots, however, with the contribution from wagers often being as low as 10%.

Live Casino Games

Live casino games bring the buzz of playing in a real, brick-and-mortar casino, even if you happen to be sitting on a bus or lounging in a park at the time. With the action streamed directly from stylish studio sets, you can play classic casino games like live blackjack and live roulette, overseen by real human dealers. There are also revamped board games and game show-style titles to experience.

Top Casino Software Providers

The best online casinos will host games from a range of different software providers, each with their own unique style. Here are some of the biggest names in the industry.

Microgaming

Microgaming’s involvement in online gambling stretches back to its origins, having developed the world’s first online gaming software in 1994.

It has continued to set landmarks ever since, also creating the world’s first mobile casino software ten years later. Its influence today is clear to see, with its titles available at almost every major casino site in the world.

Microgaming develops all manner of casino games, and its most popular slot titles include Immortal Romance, Thunderstruck II, and the progressive jackpot slot, Mega Moolah.

NetEnt

Microgaming’s influence on online gambling is perhaps only matched by NetEnt – a creative studio based in Sweden and founded in 1996.

NetEnt’s ability to create quirky characters within highly visual slots has positioned it as one of the most respected designers of casino games around. Gonzo’s Quest is a prime example of NetEnt’s rich aesthetic, and some of its other classics include Starburst, Dead or Alive, and Jack and the Hammer 2.

Betsoft

If NetEnt is the master of cinematic slots, then Betsoft is the heir apparent. Founded in 2006, this software provider prides itself on its high-quality graphics, artistic animations, and stylish themes. Among its most successful products are Magic Shoppe, Kawaii Kitty, and Good Girl, Bad Girl. 

No Deposit Bonus Terms and Conditions

No deposit bonuses usually come with quite stringent terms and conditions, so make sure you read them before creating a new account. Here are some strings that may be attached. 

Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are a fact of life in the world of online casinos, so how do they work? Simply put, a wagering requirement refers to the amount you’ll be expected to wager before you can withdraw anything you win using your bonus funds or spins. It’s provided as a multiple of the bonus funds or winnings –  say, 20x or 40x.

If you’re playing a casino game using no deposit bonus funds, the wagering requirement is usually based on the total bonus funds. For example, if you’ve claimed a bonus of €5 and the wagering amount is 40x, you’ll have to wager a total of €200 (that is to say, 40 x €5) before you can withdraw any winnings.

Some casinos include the value of your initial deposit in the calculation, and this significantly increases the wagering requirements of the bonus. Keep an eye out for this in the terms and conditions to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

When it comes to free spins, the wagering requirement is calculated against the amount you win. Take the example of a welcome bonus of 50 free spins with a 20x wagering requirement. Say the reels come up in your favour and you win €100 from playing your free spins. In this situation, you won’t be able to withdraw this money until you’ve wagered 20 x €100, which would be €2,000 worth of bets.  

Game Restrictions

Free spins are often limited to certain slot games only. Similarly, Irish casinos may place restrictions on which games you can play with your no deposit bonus funds. Generally speaking you should have a large choice of eligible games available, including popular table games, but it’s a good idea to check the fine print to see if any specific categories are off limits. 

Time Limits

Casino bonuses don’t tend to stick around forever. Most no deposit bonuses will come with a strict time limit by which they must be used. Miss the deadline, and the bonus will  disappear from your account along with any associated winnings. A free cash bonus or free spins will often need to be used in a matter of days, so avoid missing out by only signing up once you’re ready to play. 

Winnings Caps

A winnings cap is the maximum amount that casino players can rack up in returns using their bonus funds or free spins. Winning caps on bonus funds are either expressed as a set amount or a multiple of the bonus. For example, if you have a no deposit bonus of €5 and there’s a 4x winning cap, you can only win up to €20. This means that big progressive jackpot wins will almost always be off the table when you’re betting with bonus funds or free spins.

No Deposit Bonuses at New Online Casinos

New casinos are emerging all the time, but why should Irish players consider them over longer running, established sites?

It’s true that many people are naturally drawn to well-established casinos, as they recognise the brand names and may feel more confident that the operators run a secure ship. However, as long as a new online casino in Ireland is licensed by a reputable gaming authority, you won’t have to worry about leaky digital security or games not paying out as they should.

If a casino falls foul of its licensing requirements, the awarding body can deal out significant sanctions and even revoke the site’s licence. In short, it isn’t worth the risk for a licensed online casino to flout the terms of its licence.

New casinos can also bring distinct advantages over older stalwarts. As they’re not as well-known, they’ll often try to attract your attention with more generous welcome deals, such as no deposit bonus offers with player-friendly wagering requirements.

They can also provide unique gaming experiences, whether in terms of quirky and irreverent visuals, innovative loyalty schemes or games libraries featuring titles you might not find at older sites. For all these reasons, it’s well worth keeping an eye out for the best new licensed casino sites in Ireland.

Other Casino Bonus Offers

In addition to no deposit offers, most online casinos put other bonuses on the table for both new and existing players. Here are some you may come across. 

Matched Deposit Bonuses

Matched deposit bonuses are very often given to new customers when they make their first deposit at a casino. The bonus is worked out as a percentage of your deposit – for example 50% or 100%. If, say, there’s a 100% up to €200 matched deposit bonus, depositing €200 would bag you another €200 in bonus funds, but any more than that will not increase the bonus amount.

There are usually wagering requirements attached, as well as maximum win caps. 

Low Wagering Bonuses

Low wagering is a bit of an abstract concept, but generally speaking anything less than 30x is considered low wagering. The lower the wagering requirements, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to turn any bonus-related winnings into withdrawable cash.

No Wagering Bonuses

No wagering bonuses are free spins or bonus cash that comes without any wagering requirements at all. This means if you win on a free spin, or while gambling using your bonus funds, you can withdraw the money straight away without needing to wager it over and over.