They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but no deposit bonuses get pretty close.
A no deposit bonus is any kind of bonus given by a casino or sportsbook for free, which doesn’t require you to spend any of your own money to claim.
It means that, if you know what you’re doing and get a bit of luck along the way, you can wind up winning real money online totally free.
This page is your complete guide to the best no deposit casinos and how they work.
We’ve got all the details you need to know about no deposit bonuses: the different types, how you can claim them, no deposit casino bonus codes, advantages and disadvantages, and much more.
Everyone loves getting something for nothing, and we’re going to show you how you can do just that at online casinos.
Mobile Casino
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Casinos and sportsbooks offer bonuses and promotions for one very important reason: to attract new players and encourage people to try out the site. The hope is that once you get through the virtual doors with your bonus, you’ll become a loyal member and maybe deposit some of your own money down the line.
No deposit bonuses are arguably the most attractive offer they use, for the simple reason that they are totally free. They mean you can sign up and start playing real money games without ever reaching for your wallet.
All online casinos in the US have welcome bonuses for new players, but not all of them include a no deposit bonus as part of the offer. Their rarity is another thing that makes no deposit bonuses so sought after and valuable.
Here you can find the best US casinos which have no deposit bonuses up for grabs right now.
It’s worth noting that if your favorite US casino isn’t included below, there’s still a decent possibility that they’ll come up with a no deposit bonus down the line.
Unlike the vast majority of casino bonuses, no deposit bonuses are entirely free. Normally, all you need to do to claim one is register with a casino, and you’ll get the chance to play some real money games for free.
That’s the general idea, but no deposit bonuses do come in different shapes and sizes. We’re going to cover them all in this section.
The most common type of no deposit bonus involves receiving a small amount of bonus cash when you register with a site – normally around $10 or $20. Bonus cash works just like regular cash, in that you can use it to play real money games, with the difference being that you can’t withdraw it right away.
One of the best no deposit offers available right now is from BetMGM.
As soon as you create your account, you’ll be given $25 FREEPLAY® – which is what BetMGM calls bonus cash.
This is an excellent offer for a couple of reasons. For one, the wagering requirements attached are just 1x, so once you gamble all your bonus cash once you’ll be able to withdraw your winnings. This is basically a dream scenario for no deposit bonuses.
Better still, there’s still a deposit bonus – worth up to $1,000 – waiting for you if you do decide to make a deposit down the line. This offer really is the best of both worlds.
Borgata’s welcome offer is very similar, which is no surprise as both sites are owned by the same parent company – MGM Resorts International – and share similar software.
In this case, you’ll receive $20 instead of $25 – but the rest of the conditions are the same.
The only slight downside to these two offers is that the timeframe to turnover the bonus cash is a little tight. You have 7 days for the no deposit bonus (which is fine) but 14 for the deposit bonus – which isn’t that long if you have up to $1,000 to play through.
If you prefer a little longer timeframe, Unibet is a good option.
With this offer, you’ll get less money – $10 up front and a deposit bonus worth up to $500 later – but you’ll have a full 30 days to complete the wagering requirements. Plus, the $10 also has just 1x playthrough.
Harrah’s also gives you $10 on sign up, and also with 1x playthrough.
All of these offers are pretty similar, and classic examples of no deposit bonuses.
The other main no deposit offer you’re likely to come across involves free spins or free bets. When a casino gives you free spins, it means you can play real money games for free – with each spin representing an individual turn on a slot machine. Each free spin has a monetary value, often $0.10 or more.
While free spins are often included as part of a deposit bonus, or as an on-running promo for regular players, they can also be handed out as a no deposit bonus when you sign up. For example, a casino might give you 20 free spins when you register, with no need to use any of your own money first.
Just like with bonus cash, the money you win from free spins often has terms and conditions attached before it can be withdrawn, and we’re going to cover them in the next section.
Below, you can check out a handy guide to the different no deposit bonuses available at US casinos right now.
Casino | No Deposit Bonus | Wagering Requirements | Time Limit to Complete | Bonus Code |
BetMGM | $25 | 1x | 7 days | none |
Borgata | $20 | 1x | 7 days | none |
Unibet | $10 | 1x | 30 days | none |
Harrah’s | $10 | 1x | 7 days | none |
We’ve already mentioned some of the terms and conditions associated with the bonuses above, and in this section we’re going to explain them a little more in depth. Every bonus at the casino has some small print you need to be aware of, and no deposit bonuses are no different.
The single most important factor is something called wagering requirements or turnover, and it refers to the number of times you need to gamble with some bonus cash before you can withdraw it or your winnings.
Wagering requirements are designed to stop people simply signing up to a casino, claiming their no deposit bonus and immediately withdrawing it, without ever playing any games.
For example, let’s say you get a no deposit bonus of $20, with 20x wagering requirements attached.
You’ll need to place bets totalling $400 ($20 x 20) before you can withdraw any of your winnings. It seems like a lot, but remember you don’t need to win $400, just bet that amount over time. Whatever your balance is once you’ve bet that much is yours to keep.
Getting a bonus with just 1x turnover – which you can right now at the casinos we’ve mentioned – is excellent.
There is also an expiry date on bonus cash, meaning you’ll need to complete the wagering requirements within the stated time frame. Often, this will be a week or two, but can be longer.
The next thing we need to understand is the concept of weighted contributions. This refers to the idea that different games count towards clearing wagering requirements at different rates.
When we talk about wagering requirements of 20x, this is the basic rate and normally refers to slot games. Slots are consistently the most popular type of game at online casinos, and the majority of casino promotions are focused on them.
If you want to play table games like blackjack or roulette, they tend to count towards clearing your bonus cash at a lower rate – often at something like ¼ of the basic playthrough rate.
With 20x playthrough, this effectively means 80x if you decide to play table games. Bonus cash is also often not eligible for use on live dealer games.
All of these terms and conditions will be explained in the small print of the bonus offer, and it’s absolutely essential that you read it carefully before you claim any bonus.
Like we said, no deposit bonuses are great because they give you a genuine chance to win real money for free – but you need to know what you’re doing to give yourself the best chance.
There are loads of ways to play at online casinos. Playing on a desktop or laptop computer has slowly given way in popularity to mobile gaming, and all the top US casinos now have dedicated apps for both iOS and Android devices.
Playing via a mobile app means you have 24/7 access to your favorite casino or sportsbook, anywhere you are connected to the internet.
Sometimes casinos release mobile-exclusive bonuses, to encourage players to try new types of software.
However, all the bonuses covered on this page are available for both the mobile and desktop platforms of the respective casinos. No matter how you play, you’ll get the same no deposit bonus.
Of all the casinos on the list, BetMGM is the highest rated on the App Store, at 4.7/5. If you like to play on your iPhone, this is a great option.
On the Google Play Store, Borgata tops the list with 4.4/5.
No deposit bonuses are normally easy to claim, as long as you follow the casino’s instructions. Gambling sites aren’t really looking to trick people with welcome bonus offers; they are designed for you to take advantage of.
There are a couple of actions you may need to take to claim your bonus.
One is using a promo code or bonus code. This is like a password which triggers a specific bonus, and you can normally either type it in during the registration process, or afterwards in the cashier or in your account.
This is the case with Unibet’s no deposit bonus – you’ll need to use the code UBCASINO10 when you create your account.
Sometimes casinos publicize promo codes themselves, but sometimes they are released exclusively by partners of the casinos as a special offer.
If no bonus code is required, you still may need to opt-in to claim your no deposit bonus. This could be done by clicking a confirmation button or checking a box during the signup process, or in your account afterwards.
Or sometimes there is no action required on your behalf at all, and the casino will simply credit your account with the bonus once you sign up.
Again, the important thing is to read the bonus instructions carefully, and you should have no trouble.
The big attraction with no deposit bonuses is that you don’t need to spend any money to claim them, but chances are you’re going to be making a deposit at some stage down the line. Plus, if you wind up winning from your no deposit bonus, you’ll need a way to withdraw your cash.
US casinos support lots of different payment methods. Below are some of the most common options:
Mobile Casino
Popular casino
Live Casino Bonus
100% up to $1,000 + $25 Free
21+ | Terms and conditions apply
Generous welcome bonus
Wide range of banking options
$1,000 Deposit Match
21+ | T&Cs apply
Mobile Casino
Casino App
Easy site navigation
$1,000 Deposit Bonus + 10 Bonus Spins
T&Cs Apply. The bonus offer might vary depending on location | 21+ Only
Suitable for mobile
Trusted Casino
100% up to $100 + Earn 100 Free Spins
T&Cs apply | 21+
There’s a good reason no deposit bonuses are so highly prized. In fact, there are several.
Here are the main advantages of this type of bonus, according to our experts:
We also asked our experts if there were any drawbacks to no deposit bonuses, or why someone might want to choose a different type of promo. Here’s what they came up with.
A no deposit bonus is any type of bonus offered by a casino where you don’t need to spend any of your own money. They normally come as part of a welcome bonus, to encourage new players to sign up and play for free.
Not quite. Although no deposit bonuses are free, you won’t be able to withdraw bonus cash or your winnings right away. Instead, you need to gamble with the money a certain number of times - known as wagering requirements - before it can be withdrawn.
It varies depending on the casino. You might need to use a bonus code when you register with the casino, or opt-into the bonus in your account afterwards. Make sure you read the bonus instructions carefully before you get your bonus.
For more casino options see our in detail casino reviews for:
After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Journalism, Richard Janvrin has been covering iGaming and sports betting since December 2018. Richard has covered betting at Bleacher Report, Gambling.com, The Game Day, Forbes, and more.
More info on Richard Janvrin
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