Online casino operators dish out numerous bonuses for various reasons, and for some players, especially newbies, deciding which online casino bonuses might be worth claiming can often prove challenging.
On this page, we will be taking a closer look at no-deposit bonuses and revealing how they are different from no-wagering bonuses.
What’s the difference between no deposit bonuses and no wagering bonuses?
There is a major difference between no-deposit bonuses and no-wagering requirement bonuses.
A no-wagering bonus means you don’t have to complete any wagering requirements before you can withdraw your winnings, and a no-deposit bonus is a type of online casino bonus that simply doesn’t require you to deposit to unlock the bonus.
What are wagering requirements?
Wagering requirements are often attached to online casino bonuses and usually must be completed within a certain time frame before you can withdraw any winnings you made from your bonus.
They are also sometimes referred to as playthrough requirements, rollover requirements, or turnover requirements. It all means the same thing, and it’s one of the most annoying things about bonuses.
However, when you think about WHY they are attached to bonuses, then you might not be too bothered by them.
If they weren’t attached to bonuses, there would be nothing stopping players who receive free money from withdrawing it straight back onto their credit or debit card or other preferred payment method.
In other words, wagering requirements are there to stop players from doing this and basically prevent bonus misuse.
If wagering requirements weren’t attached to bonuses, and over 90% of players simply withdraw whatever they receive without spending it in the casino, operators would quickly go out of business.
When you claim an online casino bonus, the terms and conditions clearly state exactly how many times your bonus money must be wagered. The most common wagering requirements attached to online casino bonuses today are the following:
- 1x to 5x times the bonus amount – considered extremely low. Bonuses with low wagering requirements like this do exist, but they are hard to find
- 10x to 25x times the bonus amount – considered low
- 30x to 50x times the bonus amount – considered average
- 60x to 70x or higher – considered high. Some are known to be as high as 200x and would be better left unclaimed
The thing to remember is that the lower the wagering requirement is attached to your bonus, the less time it will take for you to complete it.
What else do I need to know about online casino bonuses and wagering requirements?
Some of you may randomly type the phrase free spins no deposit no wagering bonuses into your preferred search engine to find the latest bonuses.
If you’re lucky enough to find a globally renowned iGaming review site like JohnSlots.com with the latest bonus codes and secure links to those casinos, you will have nothing to worry about.
Before claiming any bonuses, the most important thing you must ALWAYS remember to do is read the terms and conditions attached to the bonuses. Reading and understanding the bonus Ts and Cs will ensure you get the most out of your bonus.
For example, as well as completing the wagering requirements, you generally have to wager the initial deposit amount on top of the wagering requirements. Additionally, you may only have 24 hours, one week, or two weeks to complete the wagering requirements.
It will all be clearly stated in the Ts and Cs for the bonus you are about to claim. That’s not all. Some online casino bonuses can only be claimed when using certain deposit methods. For example, the Neteller eWallet or all cryptocurrencies may be excluded from the bonus.
You don’t want to spend money on claiming a bonus only to find out that the deposit method you used wasn’t included in the promotion. In the Ts and Cs, you will find exactly which games will help you complete your wagering requirements in as little time as possible.
For example, most (bar a few exceptions) online slot machines and scratchies will contribute 100% per $/€/£1.00 wagered towards getting your wagering requirements.
I found out the hard way because I preferred playing roulette over slots and I didn’t ever read the Ts and Cs.
I eventually realised playing roulette wasn’t helping me complete the wagering requirements. Today, I tend to avoid claiming bonuses with a 60X or higher wagering requirement and stick to playing slots when completing my wagering requirements.
Other games, like video poker, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps, and live dealer games, may only contribute 5% to 20% towards completing them. Some may not contribute anything, so avoid these games when trying to complete them.
Final thoughts
A no-deposit bonus may arrive in the form of free spins or a free cash gift, and for obvious reasons, it’s the best kind of online casino bonus. Most other online casino bonuses require at least the minimum deposit amount required on that site to unlock the bonus, which might be $/€/£10 or $/€/£20.
In my opinion, when playing online casino games for money and claiming online casino bonuses in 2024, it is always best to play on secure sites and to claim bonuses from licensed and regulated online casinos that trustworthy operators control. Take a minute or so to read the Ts and Cs to find out how you can maximise your bonus and avoid disappointment.
