In the early days of online casinos, no deposit bonuses were the #1 tool that online casinos used to attract players. As online gambling grew, casinos started phasing out this form of bonus. Nowadays, it is somewhat rare to find a no deposit bonus, but it is not impossible.
Today, we will go over five of the most common no deposit bonuses you will see at Australian online casinos. Generally, this will be a signup bonus or part of your welcome package. You can find out more about the offers available at your favorite casino by visiting their promotions page.
Free Spins
The most common no deposit bonus you’ll see at online casinos are free spins. These spins are generally for a featured pokie, such as Starstruck. You’ll get anywhere from 5 to 25 free spins and they will usually be limited to lower stakes, such as .25 to $1 per spin.
Free spins will be subject to a rollover and may even have a max cashout. For example, you may get 10 free spins on Starstruck, but you may have to playthrough any winnings 30x. Also, you may be limited to a max cashout, generally around $500.
Bonus Cash
A less common no deposit bonus at online casinos in Australia is bonus cash. You’re familiar with receiving bonus cash as a match bonus, but some casinos will give a limited amount of bonus cash for new players. This is generally a smaller amount ranging from $5 to $25. Also, most casinos will limit you to playing pokies or keno for this type of bonus.
This bonus will also be subject to a playthrough and may be higher than the standard playthrough for a deposit bonus. For example, if a deposit bonus has a 30x playthrough, the no deposit bonus may have a playthrough of 40x.
Free Play Chips
Free play chips are still relatively common and work differently than bonus cash. Instead of limiting you to pokies and keno, you can use free play chips for other casino games. If a free chip promotion is offered, it is usually between $25 and $100. It could be a new player bonus or could be a reward bonus.
Depending on the casino, this bonus may only be used for select casino games. For example, you may only be able to play blackjack or roulette games with the bonus. Playthrough rates are generally the same as the deposit bonus, but keep in mind that casino games contribute a lot less to the playthrough. Where pokies contribute 100%, blackjack may only contribute 10%.
Free Tournament Entries
If your online casino offers pokies or video poker tournaments, they may offer the occasional free entry as no deposit bonuses. You’ll generally get a single entry to a tournament with the option to buy additional entries.
There are generally no real restrictions on these entries as it is seldom you will see a player win a tournament on a single entry. If you’re a tournament player, this may save you a buy-in or two.
Online poker rooms also use free tournament entries as a no deposit bonus. This is often for freeroll tournaments that play a small amount to the top players. You won’t get rich on freerolls, but you may win the equivalent of a minimum deposit.
Free Loyalty Points
A common no deposit bonus you’ll see at online casinos is free loyalty points. Often, a casino will award loyalty points to players when they sign up for a new account. This ranges from 100 up to 1,000 depending on the casino.
What will those points buy you? Not much. They are a way to introduce you to the loyalty program. Often, they are equivalent to about 10 to 20% of what you need to redeem a reward. The good news is that you won’t have any restrictions on those points and you can start accumulating additional points immediately. Also, they generally don’t expire, which can’t be said for most other bonuses.