Canada’s Best No Deposit Bonuses

What is a No Deposit Bonus?

A no deposit bonus is an incentive offered by online casinos, typically to encourage as many new players as possible to join up. No deposit bonus amounts tend to be credited to a player’s casino account from the moment they become a member.

These bonuses are similar to matched deposit bonuses, where online casinos match a proportion of a player’s deposit with bonus funds. However, in the case of no deposit bonuses, there’s no requirement to pay money into your account. Before you start thinking that no deposit bonuses sound like opportunities to land free cash, remember that terms and conditions will apply, and that players should read these in full to avoid any unexpected surprises.

Since there’s no deposit required with these bonuses, their value will usually be smaller than other offers made by the same casino. It’s unlikely, for example, to find a no deposit bonus higher than the value of $20, but don’t be disappointed by this – no deposit bonuses are considered one of the most valuable of all casino bonuses.

Types of No Deposit Bonuses

While no deposit bonuses are typically reserved for new players, the form they take can vary. Here are some examples of no deposit bonuses.

No Deposit Sign Up Bonus

No deposit sign up bonuses either stand alone, or are included as part of a larger welcome package. Once a player opts into the bonus deal and completes their registration, the bonus amount will automatically appear in their casino account.

No Deposit Bonus Money

If your online casino is feeling particularly generous, it might offer no deposit bonus money to their existing players. This kind of offer will probably be based on some kind of scheme, where casino sites reward loyal players with special promotions.

No Deposit Free Spins

Free spin offers are another common type of casino bonus, letting players try out various slot games for free. Standard free spin bonuses are dependent on a minimum deposit, but no deposit free spins will get the reels moving with no monetary commitment from you at all.

Refer a Friend

Some Canadian casinos offer their players incentives to refer friends to the site, one of which could be a no deposit bonus. When one of your pals signs up, simply follow the stated procedure to unlock the bonus funds, and enjoy.

Add a Payment Method

Casino sites may sometimes offer a bonus to encourage players to add an extra payment method to their account, particularly an additional bank card. If you come across an offer like this, make sure you’ve opted into the bonus before you’ve added your card.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a No Deposit Bonus

Here are the main reasons why players may want to make use of no deposit bonuses and some things to bear in mind before you commit to a no deposit bonus:

Terms and Conditions of No Deposit Bonuses

Online casinos aren’t all that keen on giving away free money, so they saddle their bonuses with terms and conditions. While these always present a significant barrier to players looking to make a withdrawable return from a bonus, this is particularly true of no deposit bonuses, since the financial outlay comes entirely from the casino. Here are the T&Cs players are likely to encounter with a no deposit bonus.

Wagering Requirements

If you’re new to online gambling, you’ll need to get up to speed on wagering requirements – a condition of most casino bonuses that determines how many times players must wager a bonus before they can cash out any winnings. Also known as playthrough requirements, wagering requirements are calculated by multiplying the bonus a certain number of times, usually somewhere in the region of 25-40x.

Let’s say a casino has offered a no deposit bonus of $10, with a wagering requirement of 30x. Players receiving this offer will need to wager a total of $300 ($10 x 30) before they can request a withdrawal. While 30x requirements are an industry standard, players may find that no deposit bonuses come with much tougher requirements, given that it’s the casino itself fronting the cash.

Time Limits

Both wagering requirements and the bonus as a whole usually come with a time limit. This can range from days to months, but if the clock runs out, any outstanding bonus funds will become null and void.

Winning Caps

Winning caps are the most unsubtle of limitations to a bonus, restricting the amount players can win on any one offer. Although this sounds like an impediment, you could consider winning caps not as an irritation, but as a handy on-site limiter following a decent run of luck.

Available Games

Not all games will be eligible to play with bonus funds, so be sure to check your favourites are available before opting in. There may be a handful of video slots unavailable to play with bonus funds, as well as some table and live dealer titles.

Game Weightings

Perhaps more troublesome than restricted games are game weightings – a mechanism that limits the contribution of certain wagers to the overall wagering requirements. Most wagers on video slots will be weighted at 100%, meaning that any bets you make on the reels will contribute to the requirements in full. Other games may be weighted as low as 5%. Online casinos tend to include table and live dealer games in the category of lower contribution games.