Best Free Casino Games

How To Play Free Casino Games Online

A free casino game refers to any game played without staking or winning real money. It’s the best way to start off any time you try out a new game or site, because your money isn’t at risk. You can use free casino games to get to grips with the rules and controls before staking your own cash — it’s never a good idea to gamble on a game you don’t know how to play. 

Many online casinos feature free or demo modes easily accessible from the real-money version of the game you’re playing — just look for a dedicated ‘free mode’ button in one of the corners. You may have to register for an account, but some sites let you play their games in free mode without signing up. When you’re playing table games like blackjack and poker, the functionality might be referred to as ‘practice mode’.

Another great place to look is on developers’ websites. Microgaming and Yggdrasil are two examples of software providers that host demo versions of their slot machines. Third-party free slots sites found with a Google search can yield options too, but we highly recommend using the developer’s own site — you know it’s trustworthy and secure, and you’re playing the most up-to-date version of the game.

Those who like to play on their mobile devices also have a good amount of choice. Whether you’re an Android or iPhone user, check your app store and you’ll likely find both free slots and table games as native apps. 

Types of Free Casino Games

Most casino games have a free demo or practice mode you can play without staking any real money. Typically, the free mode gives players a virtual bankroll of substantial size that they may use to play the game. Slots, blackjack, and roulette are some of the most common free casino games — read on for more details of each. 

Free Slots

You might wonder what the point of playing slots for free is — after all, much of the exhilaration comes from the chance of winning real money, right? While that may be true, many of today’s video slots incorporate complicated gameplay mechanics which aren’t as friendly to beginner players. We’d always suggest reading the game’s help section first, but it’s much easier to grasp a game’s peculiarities by seeing it in action. That’s where free online slots are invaluable. 

Think of a slot like Microgaming’s Thunderstruck 2. There’s a whole host of bonus features in the game — the free spins round has four different modes which are unlocked sequentially, and the wilds and scatters behave in ways not seen in other titles. Playing the demo mode means players know what to do if they encounter these bonus rounds and features. 

Ultimately, players don’t have any control over the outcome of spinning the reels on a slot machine, but they may be presented with choices in how they proceed. It’s best to fully understand all the controls and what they do before staking real money. 

Free Online Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular card game played against the dealer. Players must get their hand as close to 21 as possible without going bust by making a series of betting calls. While the rules are easy to get the hang of, there are plenty of blackjack variations out there. For example, players might have the option to double down or split their hands and if you don’t know what these terms mean, it’s a sure sign that you should play a free version of blackjack before you stake any real money.

Another reason you may want to play free blackjack is to perfect your strategy. Blackjack has the smallest house edge of any casino game, but keeping it minimised requires perfect play in every situation. Using the free play mode is the best way to practise your strategy and memorize the most statistically favourable actions.

Free Roulette

Roulette takes place on a spinning wheel that’s split into red or black numbered pockets. Players must try and predict where a small ball will end up landing on the wheel, betting on different outcomes such as the colour or number of the pocket. The game can be daunting to new players due to the vast number of possible bets — playing free roulette is the easiest way to learn your streets from your corners.

There are plenty of roulette variants to consider. French roulette includes the La Partage rule, where half the losing stake is returned if the ball lands on zero; American roulette features an extra 00 pocket increasing the house’s advantage; and mini roulette has only 13 pockets. Free roulette lets players familiarize themselves with these different rules and their impact on the game.

Top Online Casinos For Free Games

If you’re looking for a place to play free casino games, we’ve outlined some of the top online casinos below. Ensure you’re playing the free game before starting, as the casino selects the real money version by default. Playing for free at an online casino makes it convenient if you want to transition to staking real money — all you have to do is make a deposit and you’re good to go. 

Real Money Casinos and Bonuses

If you’ve been playing free online casino games, you might have decided you’d like to try playing with real money. Some categories such as live dealer games can’t be played for free, so you’ll have to make a deposit to access them.

While the chance of winning actual cash can be exhilarating, you should always remember it’s highly likely you’ll lose money at a casino site, so always gamble responsibly. If you do want to try real-money games, we’d recommend using a welcome bonus and starting out at lower stakes games. 

Matched Deposits

Matched deposits are where the casino awards bonus funds equal to the value of a qualifying deposit. Imagine a 100% matched deposit bonus up to $50: if you deposited $50, you’ll receive $50 in bonus funds from the casino. Deposit $100 and you’ll still only receive $50, which is where this offer is capped. 

Always read the terms and conditions before you claim any bonus. There could be wagering requirements attached, meaning you’ll have to stake the value of the bonus a certain number of times before any winnings can be withdrawn. 

Free Spins

As you’ve guessed from the name, free spins let you play slots for free but with the chance of winning real money. Alongside the demo mode, they’re another useful way to try out different slots and learn how to play. 

The first term to check is eligible games. Many free spins bonuses can only be used towards a specific game ‒ NetEnt’s Starburst and Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead are both commonly targeted with free spins bonuses.

Watch out for both wagering requirements and expiry dates. You’ll probably have to use your free spins within a certain amount of time after they’re awarded — they’ll be removed from your account if you don’t. 

No Deposit Bonuses

If you’re still trying to find the perfect casino to meet your needs, keep your eyes out for no deposit bonuses. Claiming these doesn’t require a deposit and the player simply has to sign up and create an account at the site. Many players love to use no deposit bonuses to allow them to check out the casino’s offering before they commit to transferring funds. 

There are always terms and conditions attached to these casino bonuses. One of the main ones you’ll see is a maximum win limit, placing a cap on any earning potential ‒ amounts around $50–$100 are common but will vary by offer. Operators put these restrictions in place because they’d lose a lot of money if everyone could net big wins without ever depositing any cash — bonuses with higher win limits typically offer better value for players. 

No Wagering Requirements

No wagering bonuses are one of our favourite types to see, because if you’re lucky enough to see any winnings, they’re yours to keep. The bonus might be given as free spins, a matched deposit, or a combination of the two. Any free spins are likely to be restricted to a specific slots game and you’ll often see maximum win limits applied to the bonus too.