What Is A No Deposit Bonus?
A no deposit bonus is a type of online casino bonus that does not require you to make any deposit to unlock it. In rare cases, it is offered to new players simply for creating an account. On certain sites that have this type of promotion, you will automatically receive the no deposit bonus when you register as a new bettor (although some casinos require that you enter a bonus code).
Some online casinos also offer no-deposit bonuses as rewards to loyal players. These are awarded through VIP or loyalty programmes, where you can earn points for time spent playing on a gambling site that has this type of programme. The rewards can take the form of bonus cash, cashbacks, free spins or other forms of offers.
With no financial commitment required, no deposit bonuses are a win-win for New Zealand bettors. When it comes to no deposit bonuses offered to new players, not only do you get to test drive a casino for free, but you can potentially win and withdraw real money. Whether you’re a casino novice or an experienced bettor, you can take advantage of a no deposit bonus by signing up for a new NZ online casino account.
How No Deposit Bonuses Work
The fact that with a no deposit bonus you can play online pokies with real money without making a deposit first is what makes such offers popular. However, though the no deposit bonuses themselves don’t require a real money commitment, a few conditions make winning real money from the offer slightly more challenging. For starters, every no deposit bonus (except for the elusive no deposit no wagering bonus) comes with wagering requirements. This is the number of times you need to wager your bonus money before withdrawing it.
For example, one casino might offer a no deposit NZ$10 casino credit bonus. If the bonus has a 40x wagering requirement, you must wager $400 before withdrawing any remaining bonus money as real cash.
A no deposit bonus might also come with a cashout limit, which is the maximum amount of money you can withdraw from a bonus. At New Zealand casinos, it’s common to find limits as low as $10 or $20, though others can have a limit as generous as $200. Though it’s rare, some casinos will have no maximum withdrawal limit.
Similarly, a no deposit bonus casino might have minimum/maximum bets on its no deposit bonus. Most free spins come with a fixed bet value. Yet, a bonus credit may have a maximum wager amount that puts an upper limit on your spins (and, subsequently, on your potential winnings).
Since no deposit bonuses are the closest thing to “free” in the online casino industry, they usually have stricter rules about eligible games. No deposit bonuses are typically eligible for one particular pokie, yet you can often use no deposit bonus credits on various games.
While this can include table games, they often contribute less towards the wagering requirements than pokies. For example, while video pokies contribute 100% to the requirements, table games may only contribute 20%. A no deposit bonus is generally an online pokies bonus, even if sometimes it doesn't include free spins.
No Deposit Bonuses for New Players
Although rare, some online casinos do offer no deposit bonuses to new players. These bonuses work in a very simple way. You get rewarded simply by registering a new account, which is why many punters refer to them as sign up bonuses. This way, the casino hopes that new players will like their site and eventually make a deposit and start making real money bets.
How I Review No Deposit Bonuses
When it comes to reviewing no deposit bonuses, I take a thorough approach. I only recommend casinos with bonuses which I think are achievable and fair. Therefore, you can find the most generous no deposit bonuses and top-quality no deposit bonus NZ casinos on this page.
During the review process, I test and scrutinise every detail of a casino bonus. This includes wagering requirements, expiry times, game selection, maximum bets, withdrawal limits and banking restrictions. Players are usually looking for the fastest casino withdrawals, and it is my job to point them in the right direction.
Also, I check independent player reviews and consider the casino’s reputation. By evaluating these factors, I can confidently recommend the best casino sites on this page.
How To Use No Deposit Bonus NZ Casinos
At casinos that offer a no deposit bonus on registration, all you need to do is just that, register, then claim the offer. If the no deposit bonuses are offered as part of a loyalty or VIP programme, then to trigger such a bonus is usually a matter of gathering enough points. The process in itself is not complex, but it can cost you dearly, since usually points are awarded according to time spent and bets placed at the casino. In both cases, you should check:
- If a bonus code is needed, and where to enter it. You can find details on whether or not you need a promo code by checking the bonus T&Cs.
- Which games you can play with the bonus. Make sure you're playing games that contribute to the wagering requirements.
- Once you've fulfilled the wagering requirements, you can withdraw your winnings.
How Bonus Codes Work
While most no deposit bonuses will reach your account automatically, some offers require a bonus code to activate them. Simply put, bonus codes are a unique string of letters and/or numbers you can enter to claim a bonus.
The casino will recognise the code you are entering and apply the bonus to your account. If your promotion requires a bonus code, you must enter it before registering your account. Otherwise, you might not be able to claim it.
Types Of No Deposit Bonus
There are several types of no deposit bonuses that you can claim from our highlighted online casinos. Each bonus comes with unique advantages and disadvantages. Yet, the two types of no deposit bonuses most commonly offered to new players are bonus credits and free spins.
No Deposit Bonus Credits
No deposit bonus credits give you free stakes to wager in the casino. One particular advantage of bonus credits is that, unlike free spins, you are usually free to spend this money on games other than pokies. Roulette casino rollers, blackjack bettors and poker pros alike will be able to buy in using no deposit bonus credits.
Another difference between credits and free spins is that you can increase or decrease your wager amount when betting with bonus credits. However, no deposit no wagering bonus credits are much rarer than their free spins counterpart, so you should expect to find wagering requirements attached.
While the requirements for no deposit bonus credits can often be quite steep, you can turn them over quickly enough by betting the maximum stake.
No Deposit Free Spins
As the name suggests, no deposit free spins give you free stakes on online pokies to wager with. The golden tickets of the casino world, you can use your free spins without needing to make a deposit.
Slot Planet Casino is a good example, as it currently offers 22 Free Spins on Dead or Alive just for registering!
Most no deposit free spins tend to come with a wagering requirement attached. Yet, the number of times you need to wager your winnings will depend on the casino you choose. The casino will usually restrict the variety of games you can spend free spins on, but each spin will typically count 100% towards completing the wagering requirements.
On the other hand, many New Zealand online casinos will offer no deposit no wagering free spins. This type of bonus is not only deposit-free, but you don’t need to play through your wins to withdraw them. No deposit no wagering free spins are like gold dust at New Zealand casinos, but sites like Betway, PokerStars and Sky Vegas offer this type of bonus to NZ players.
Though it may seem too good to be true, you can win real money with a no deposit bonus. However, you must jump through several hoops before withdrawing your winnings as real money.
Of course, you must fulfil the bonus wagering requirements within the given timeframe. If you don't turn your funds over before the bonus expires, you will lose your winnings. Depending on the casino you choose, the wagering requirements will typically range from 1x to 70x.
You can bet the maximum stake when spending your bonus credits to give yourself the best chance of completing the requirements. Unfortunately, this strategy doesn’t apply to no deposit free spins since they have a predetermined value.
However, if the casino gives you some flexibility over which games you can wager on, you should choose a game with an “Autospin” feature. This will bet your free spins as quickly as possible.
Most no deposit bonuses also have a maximum withdrawal amount. Imagine you have used up your no deposit bonus, completed the wagering requirements, and found yourself with $100 remaining in your account.
You go to withdraw your winnings, only to find that there is a maximum withdrawal of $10. Not fun, right? To avoid this disappointment, make sure you choose a casino with a reasonable maximum withdrawal limit and check your site’s T&Cs.
Always check if the bonus funds are eligible regardless of which deposit method you select when you're about to make your first deposit. You might prefer Neteller casinos, or perhaps you are looking for the top online casinos that accept maestro, but if such a deposit will render you ineligible to receive a bonus, you might want to consider other options.
Best No Deposit Bonus Casino Games
Wagering your no deposit bonus on pokie games is the quickest way to meet the wagering requirements. Whether or not the casino lets you spend your bonus on table games, pokies will typically always contribute to 100% of the wagering requirements. And the best online pokies sites will give you bonuses on the more popular and exciting games.
Specific pokies sites may have a lower wagering contribution than some casino sites, so be sure to consult the T&Cs before you start spinning the reels of your chosen game.
High RTP pokies are your best bet at scoring a win with your bonus free spins. Some of the highest RTP pokies include:
- NetEnt’s Mega Joker - 99%
- Bloodsuckers - 98%
- Relax Gaming’s Book of 99 - 99%
- Marching Legions - 98.12%
- The Catfather - 98.10%
- Jokerizer - 98%.
Other games you can play to maximise your no deposit bonus are pokies with free spins rounds. These bonus rounds are an opportunity to boost your bankroll while saving up your no deposit spins. You can find free spins bonus rounds in games like Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Quickspin’s Artemis vs Medusa, and NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest.
On the other hand, using your no deposit bonus credits on table games can have many advantages. Depending on the games you choose, there is less reliance on chance and more opportunity to control the outcome.
It is also an excellent way to change the rhythm of playing on pokies. Blackjack gives you the best chance of winning since the house edge is usually less than 1%. Alternatively, craps and roulette both offer 50-50 odds.
One disadvantage is that many casinos will limit how much table games contribute to the wagering requirements. Make sure to check the T&Cs for game weightings before you start spending your credits.