A no deposit bonus is the most sought-after casino bonus around. These bonuses do not require you to deposit any of your own money into the casino while still giving you the chance to win real money. Basically, you'll be able to get free money. However, a bonus like this does not come without any restrictions or conditions. Getting what is essentially free money might seem too good to be true, and you might think there is some catch to it. And yes, there is. But, that doesn't mean they are not worth taking.
We would argue that any no deposit bonus, contrary to deposit bonuses, is worth taking advantage of when you get them. You might end up not being able to withdraw any real money from your bonus, but on the other hand, you could potentially walk away with thousands of dollars! Exactly how a no deposit bonus works, what you'll have to do to cash out your winnings, and, of course, how you can get your hand on a bonus like this, is what we here at SociosCasino will tell you. So let's get to it!
What is a No Deposit Bonus?
A no deposit bonus is basically what it sounds like – a bonus you get without making a deposit. This type of casino bonus is something an online casino will give you merely for signing up, to try a new game, or as some sort of loyalty reward. They will either credit your player's account with a small amount of money for you to play with or give you some bonus spins to play for free. The latter, free spins, is one of the most common casino bonus types around and also the one players from Canada tend to appreciate the most.
You might wonder why a casino would give away bonuses such as these, and the answer is simple: they want you to choose to play at their casino. With hundreds of online casinos available to players in Canada, the competition among the casinos is fierce.
That's why they want to get you to sign up at their particular casino, and then they want to keep you coming back to them. If it weren't for this, there would be no point for a casino to give away free money. So there is something in it for both parties here.
The casino gets you as a player, new or returning, and you as a player get the chance to win some real money without risking anything except for the time it takes you to claim the bonus and play for it. That's what we call a win-win! Since the only thing you are risking is time, we feel it's always worth taking part in all bonuses not requiring a deposit. If you don't win, you just wasted some time, but honestly, you probably had that time to spare anyway, and hopefully, you also had a good time. On the other hand, if you win, well, then you just got what everyone usually will tell you does not exist – free money!
The two main types of free no deposit bonuses you'll get from a casino are bonus money or free spins. It doesn't matter much which one you get, as they long-term work the same way. So which is the best no deposit bonus is just up to your personal preferences. From the casino's perspective, it's basically no difference. But, let's dive more deeply into these two free bonus types and also have a look at some less common versions of the no deposit bonus you might be able to claim.
If your bonus offer is free spins, then you never know how much you got as a bonus until you have played them. What you will get can be five free spins, 20 free spins, or even hundreds of no deposit bonus spins, or even more, and these are spins you can play without any real money being deducted from your account balance. The slot machine you get to play on will have a pre-set bet and a certain number of spins it will allow you to play. Whatever you win from these spins will essentially be your bonus. If you're unlucky, you might not win much, but you might also have Lady Luck on your side and walk away with a heap of cash! The thrill of the unknown is, of course, why Canadian players tend to love free spins bonuses.
After all, this thrill is what you'll get even when playing for your own money, so having the opportunity to play for the big wins without having to risk your own real money just adds to the excitement. For most offers of free spins, the casino will decide which slot you get to play on. The most common ones are Starburst from the game provider NetEnt, and the slot Book of Dead from Play'n GO.
These two have also been the most played slots at online casinos for years, and there is no indication that they'll ever lose their popularity. But, a casino might, of course, choose to give you your no deposit bonus spins on any slot other slots as well. In the bonus offer you receive, the eligible slot or slots will be listed. In some cases, most commonly as a part of a loyalty reward, you might also be able to pick the slot you fancy for your spins.
No Deposit Bonus Money
The most significant benefit of getting a lump sum of money instead of free spins is that you know for sure how much you get from your no deposit bonus. Besides, you are free to choose for yourself which game you want to use the money on. Just be aware that in the bonus terms and conditions, there might be listed some game types of particular slots that are restricted for use with bonus money.
But, on the whole, you can pick the game yourself. Then, when you've found the game you want to play, you can also bet more or less as much as you'd like. The big question when you get free no deposit bonus money is how much you get. The most common amount is $5, at least if we're talking about sign-up casino bonuses. Loyal players or VIP players might get much more than that, and a couple of hundred dollars aren't unheard of either. However, before a casino gives away this kind of cash, you have to deserve it. And deserving a casino bonus like that means you have to be a loyal player.
A question players from Canada often have is, 'how do I get a free no deposit bonus?' Well, there are several answers to this. If you're new to the world of online gambling, then you can get casino bonuses such as these simply by signing up at a new casino.
Not all casinos offer free registration bonuses, but quite some do. Especially for new players from Canada. Have a look at our top-list over the best online casinos, and you'll see which casinos you can sign up to and instantly claim a free casino bonus.
And, of course, don't forget that you'll more often than not also get a deposit bonus when you make your first deposit, or even for several of your first deposits at the casino.
So the sign-up bonus might just be a small part of a bigger welcome bonus package – just to give you a free sample of the services and the games the casino is offering.
Now let's get on to how you can claim some free spins or some bonus cash as an already registered player.
Free Spins to Play New Slots
Giving away free spins to registered players from Canada when a new big slot is released has almost become standard. This is something the casinos do in cooperation with the game providers, as they want some extra attention for their biggest slot launches.
Quite often, the casino will give some spins to all their players, and the number of no deposit bonus spins you get can be anything from one spin to 50 free spins, all though 20 free spins seem to have become some sort of norm.
The number of free spins will often depend a bit on which player segment you're in, meaning how loyalty you are as a player (i.e., how much you regularly deposit into the casino). The more valuable a player you are, the more you can expect to get.
It's not uncommon for these free spin offers to be given as a combination offer. You might get ten spins entirely for free, but if you also make a deposit, you can get even more.
However, at that point, the offer turns into a deposit bonus rather than a no deposit bonus. So if you want to take full advantage by risking some of your real money as well, is up to you.
The game provider that most often has free spin offers when they launch new slots is NetEnt. Some casinos have introduced a relatively new thing where you won't get a set number of free spins, but you get to spin a wheel, and then the number you get is randomly selected. Bonus wheels, such as these, are often used for NetEnt games, and you can get awarded hundreds of spins on the most popular online slots there are!
Exchange Loyalty Points for Spins or Free Play
Lots of Canadian casinos have some sort of loyalty program, reward system, or adventure built into the casino experience. This is basically a form of gamification. These systems are made to reward loyal players, and the point is that you should deserve to get the bonuses.
Once you've filled a meter, collected enough points, or however the casino measures your progress, you'll get a no deposit bonus.
Some will give you this bonus as free spins on a particular slot, they can give you a cash bonus to play with, they can let you choose your bonus, or you can be awarded a randomly selected bonus.
Examples of casinos with these kinds of loyalty rewards are Casumo and Rizk – both great options for players looking to get rewarded regularly according to their gameplay.
One thing to note about these types of casino bonuses, though, is that it could be debated whether they are really free or not. Yes, you won't have to make a deposit then and there to get it, so it's free at that stage, but then again, you won't get rewards like these unless you have previously made deposits.
So they should perhaps rather be conceived as a delayed casino deposit bonus or an extra bonus offer. For players that play regularly anyway, they are among the best bonuses, though.
Especially since you can collect these points, or whatever they are, while also getting the regular deposit bonuses or match bonuses that the casino is offering. So these loyalty rewards are just something you get in addition.
Also, keep in mind that the higher up in loyalty levels you get, the better the bonuses tend to be.
VIP and High Roller Bonuses and Cashbacks
The very best no deposit bonuses and loyalty schemes are reserved for the casino's most valuable players, and that's high rollers and VIP players.
These are players that play often and that take their gaming seriously. High rollers are the ones that bet big bucks and thus also tend to lose a lot when they are on a losing streak, but then again, they win a lot when they are on a lucky streak.
Since the loyalty at a casino is often measured in wagering, players like these quickly rise in the VIP levels, making them eligible for lots of great no deposit bonus offers. VIP players, on the other hand, are not only high rollers. You can get to a high VIP level and status even without playing for large amounts.
Even as a relatively 'normal' player, you'll be considered important as long as you're loyal. It might take you a bit longer to get to the highest levels where the biggest cash bonus is offered, but you will get there eventually as long as you stay loyal.
The bonuses players like these are getting are the best of the best. If you're counted as one of the best players at the casino, you can get hundreds of spins for free, hundreds of dollars added to your account as just a random no deposit bonus, or you can get cashback. The latter is something many VIP players are offered, so they have some sort of insurance if they would hit a losing streak. They'll then get parts of their losses back so they can try their luck again.
Promotions Offering No Deposit Bonus Codes
As you might have gathered by now, there are lots of different scenarios where a casino might give you a free no deposit bonus. However, we haven't mentioned the ones where the casino sends out no deposit bonus codes to their registered players, offering a free no deposit bonus. These are exclusive bonuses that you can't get unless you have the right bonus code, so make sure to keep an eye out for emails and SMSs from the casinos you are signed up at. You'll most likely not find the offer on the casino's campaign or promotion page since not all players will be eligible to partake in it. So count yourself lucky any time you get no deposit bonus codes dropping into your inbox, and make sure to claim the bonuses before they expire!
Bonus Terms for a Free Bonus
Once you've found the no deposit bonus offer you want to claim, you have to start by reading the bonus t&cs. Even though a free bonus offer is more or less always worth taking part in, the terms are what decides how good the offer really is.
You'll most likely find terms that say something about a wagering requirement, and you might also find some game or bet restrictions that you need to pay close attention to. Some casinos have a max cap on how much you're allowed to win and withdraw from a bonus. That's the case both for no deposit bonuses and for deposit bonuses. However, the best casinos don't have a cap like that at all.
Wagering Your Bonus
A wagering requirement is almost always a part of the terms and conditions of any type of bonus you get, no matter if it's a deposit bonus or a no deposit bonus. The standard is that you need to wager the amount you get as 35x. If you get free spins, then it's the amount you win from your bonus spins that is the base of the wagering. In a few cases, you might also get bonuses without any wagering attached, and that's, obviously, the absolute best offer.
However, if you get a bonus that doesn't require a turnover of some sort before you can cash out your winnings, the amount you get is quite often very low. But, all that said. What does wagering mean? Wagering is betting. If you play a $1 spin on the slot game Starburst, then you have wagered $1. If you win or lose from this spin is inconsequential for the wagering, as it's only the bet that counts.
That means you'll have to win to be able to complete the wagering requirement for your bonus. If you get a $10 no deposit bonus and it's 35x you need to turn over this amount, then the requirement is a turnover of $350. That might sound like a lot, but the wagering goes quicker than you might think. Remember that the RTP (Return to Player) in a typical video slot is often between 95% and 98%, which means you are likely to win some, which means you can wager more.
Once you've completed the wagering, the bonus funds get converted to real money, and this is when you'll be able to make a withdrawal of your winnings from the casino. When you get to do that, you have earned yourself free play prizes from a no deposit bonus, and you can withdraw real cash!
Claim a Bonus With No Max Win Limit
If the casino has or has not imposed a maximum limit for how much you can win from a no deposit bonus is of utmost importance. Given, in most cases, that won't matter much, but when it does matter, it matters a lot! Some casinos have a max of $50, $100, or $1000 as the limit for how much they will pay out from a no deposit bonus. If you win more than the limit set, then the casino will deduct the rest of what you won from your account before you can request a withdrawal.
That might seem reasonable, and truthfully, most players would be happy to get away with $100 anyway if they never risked any real money of their own. But, and this is a big but, what if you hit the jackpot? Can you imagine if you are so lucky, and then the casino takes that win away from you and payout $100 from what could have been millions?! Yes, the likelihood of that happening is slim. However, it wouldn't have been the first time.
Some years ago, a lucky player got some free registration free spins, completed the wagering requirement, continued to play for the winnings, and then won millions on the Mega Fortune slot from NetEnt. This slot has a progressive jackpot, and he hit the biggest of them all. And guess what? The casino in question paid out the winnings since they had no max win limit for their no deposit bonus. That's why this limit matters! And with loads of casinos offering free bonuses without any max win, then those are the casinos you should prioritize to play at.
Choosing the Right Game to Play
In the terms and conditions for a no deposit bonus, you might find some game restrictions telling you which games you can't play with the casino bonus you got. That is something you need to pay attention to. But in addition, you should look at the wagering contributions or weighting as it might also be called. That tells you which percentage of each of your bets on a particular game will count towards your wagering.
Slot games are usually the only ones contributing 100%, while table games and live dealer games might contribute as little as 10% or 5%, or nothing at all. Once you have chosen the game type, you then need to find the right game. Even though winning a lot is the main goal for everyone playing at online casinos, what you should be after while converting a bonus is the wagering itself.
Therefore, we would recommend that you choose a game with low volatility. Games like these will usually pay out small winnings often, which means you'll likely be able to keep on playing for a long time. If you choose a game with high volatility you're more likely to end up in a losing streak, as the wins are less frequent. So pick a game that will keep you in the game for as long as possible. Once your free bonus has been converted to real money, you can aim for the big wins in the high volatility games.
Withdrawing Money From a Free Bonus
Many players seem to think that a free no deposit bonus is just a form of casino scam, but that's not correct. If a player is denied to withdraw winnings from a bonus like this, it's likely because they breached some bonus terms and conditions. That's also why you must read them and understand them before you claim your bonus or use a free bonus code. If you follow the rules, you'll be able to make a withdrawal.
Perhaps the most common rule for players to break is that they try to take advantage of the no deposit bonus multiple times. This is very common for free sign-up bonuses. You can only do it once, and if you're unlucky, you can't simply open a new account and try again. If you do, you won't get any winnings paid out. The second most common term for a player to break is the max bet limit. The standard bet limit is $5, and if you bet more than this while having an active bonus, you have breached the terms, and the casino might not pay out your winnings for your casino no deposit bonus.
As long as you play according to the terms and conditions, though, you will be able to withdraw cash money from your free bonus. If you're not already verified with the casino, you'll most likely have to undergo that verification process first, which means you'll have to verify your identity and place of residence in Canada. That's something you'll have to do at some point anyway at all casinos. This is done so the casino knows who you are and who they are paying out winnings to. Once all of that's taken care of, you can request a withdrawal, and then you can just sit back and relax until your newfound free money ends up in your bank account!
The Best No Deposit Bonus Offers
The very best free no deposit bonus offers for Canadian players are the ones with a low wagering requirement, the ones where there is no max win, and the ones where you get multiple options for games to play. All of that might seem like a tall order, but actually, it's not all that unreasonable. The best casinos are usually the ones with the best terms, so picking the right casino is at the core of finding the best no deposit bonus.
In-depth research into all of the different casinos and taking a deep dive into their bonus terms is time-consuming and something most players are not the least interested in doing themselves. Understandably so, as it's quite tiresome to work. Luckily for you, though, there is no need for you to do this yourself since we have done it for you!
So for you to find the best no deposit casino bonus for players living in Canada, you can simply have a look at our top-list and pick the no deposit bonus that appeals the most to you. Just read through our casino review as well, as you'll there get a quick recap of all the most important terms you need to be aware of. And, you might even find some no deposit bonus codes hidden away in our reviews as well… With that, we wish you the best of luck!
The Best No Deposit Bonus Offers - FAQ
What is a No Deposit Bonus?
A no deposit bonus is just as it sounds – a bonus that you don't need to pay for. Casino bonuses of this type are offered by online casinos as a reward for new players, to try a new game, or to reward loyal players. You will either receive a small amount of money credited to your account or provide you with some bonus spins.
How Does a No Deposit Bonus Work?
No deposit bonuses are available at Canadian casinos as part of a welcome bonus or as ongoing bonuses. In exchange, the player will receive free spins or bonus funds to play casino games. Winnings can be converted to real money when the wagering requirements are met. If you intend to withdraw funds from some online casinos, you may need to make a deposit first.
Are no deposit bonuses available on mobile devices?
Nowadays, you can do pretty much anything with modern technology, including claiming no deposit bonuses with a mobile casino app. Your mobile device can be used to complete your no deposit bonus and play your favorite online slots and live dealer games.
How to Use a No Deposit Bonus Code?
A casino bonus code is easy to use, and users usually only need to enter the code in one place. You will have to enter the no deposit bonus code in the cashier section of the casino website during the registration process, or you may contact customer support to find out if there are any no deposit bonus codes available.
Can I Win Money from a Casino No Deposit Bonus?
You are in complete control of how much you win from any no-deposit casino bonus. However, the casino will set some limits on how much you can win from your bonus, but you can undoubtedly win. Find out what real money winnings you are able to walk away with by reading the terms and conditions.