It would be an understatement to say that the online casino market has cut-throat competition. There are thousands of online casinos all vying fiercely for market share. In order to grab players’ attention and get them to sign up, online casinos have various strategies that they employ. The most effective strategy is offering bonuses and promotions, especially to new players.
In a bid to get players to sign up with them, casinos make lucrative offers exclusively for new players. For the longest time, the most common new player offer was the welcome bonus where players would receive a bonus upon making their first deposit. However, since then, the first deposit bonus has become so commonplace that virtually any online casino will offer one.
To get ahead of their competition, a few casinos started to offer players bonuses even before the player could make a deposit. Aptly named ‘no deposit bonuses’, players would receive free spins or casino credits just for signing up with the casino, no deposit required at all.
No Deposit Vs. Free Spins – There is No Clear Winner
One of the questions we get asked most often is – are no deposit bonuses better or free spins? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not black or white. Instead, it lies somewhere in the grey zone. Whether free spins are better or a no deposit bonus is better will depend on a number of factors – the specifics of the bonuses being offered, the player’s game play and betting style, the casinos that are offering the bonuses, etc.
Free spins could be much better for a slots enthusiast whereas a no deposit bonus could be better suited for anyone who prefers card and table games, apart from the fact both types do wish to explore a casino without actually putting any of their own money on the line.
Finding good bonuses (be it of either type) is more of a challenge than arguing about which type of bonus is better. There’s no denying both promotional offers are attractive to any player who loves the thrill of online slots. Luckily, at NoDepositWorld, players can easily get new and tested no deposit and free spins bonuses.
Want to know which bonus is better? Read The Bonus Terms and Conditions
It would not be accurate to simply describe one of these bonuses as being better than the other. A no deposit bonus and a free spins bonus are just types of bonuses. A specific no deposit bonus could be better than a specific free spins bonus and vice versa. Right below, we will lay out what is important to consider when assessing the worth and value of a bonus and how to decide which bonus is the better option for you.
If you really want to understand a no deposit bonus or a free spins bonus (or any other online casino bonus for that matter), then it is of paramount importance to read the bonus terms and conditions. In fact, we would urge you to read the specific terms of that particular bonus as well as the general terms and conditions to grasp the full picture. Below are some of the key terms to comprehend and look for when choosing a bonus.
Wagering requirements
Ask any seasoned online casino player and they will tell you that the wagering requirements are the biggest downside to a casino bonus. The rule is simple, the lower the wagering requirement, the higher will be the value of the bonus.
Wagering requirements basically dictate that before you can withdraw any bonus money that you have received, you need to bet and playthrough a certain amount of your own money, usually expressed as a multiple of the bonus amount.
For example, if the wagering requirement for a bonus is 10x, and you have won $100 bonus courtesy of the bonus, then you must first wager $1000 of your own money ($100 x 10) before you can withdraw the $100 bonus. The best bonus offers will have zero wagering requirements.
Max Cashout
Casinos can put hard caps on how much money you could possibly cashout from a bonus. Needless to say, the higher this limit, the more money you can win from a bonus. Want a really high value bonus – look for a bonus offering no restrictions on cashout.
Applicable Games
When you receive a no deposit bonus, you might get casino credits. On the other hand, when you get free spins, you will get a certain number of free spins. However, you must also pay attention to which games you are allowed to play with the casino credits and the free spins. Usually, games with a high house edge are nominated for this purpose. A free-spins offer where you can choose from many games to play would be much more ideal than a free-spins offer where the free spins can only be used on one particular slot the casino has nominated.
Validity
Many players forget to check the validity of the no deposit bonus or their free spins. These generally have expiration dates and must be used up prior to expiring. A good bonus will allow you sufficient time to use your free spins or no deposit bonus credits without rushing you too much to use them and then rushing you to complete the wagering requirements on them. So, go for bonuses that have a reasonable validity period.
Also read: 10 Celebrities Who Love Gambling and Casinos