Three Ways to Claim a No Deposit Bonus
You will redeem your no deposit casino bonus in one of three different ways depending on which casino you register with. We always specify how to claim a particular bonus in our casino reviews.
Usually, you will receive your bonus automatically once you have created an account. However, you will occasionally have to activate the bonus by using a bonus code or selecting the bonus in the cashier after you have registered.
Read on to learn more about the different ways you can activate a no deposit casino bonus.
#1 - How To Use A No Deposit Casino Bonus Code
Some online casinos will ask you to enter a specific bonus code to activate your bonus.
Over the years, bonus codes have become slightly less common and many popular new online casinos do not use them. However, as you explore our casino list, you will notice that many brands still use Australian no deposit bonus codes.
A bonus code is a sequence of letters and/or numbers that serves as a unique id for the bonus. We always make relevant bonus codes visible in our bonus lists and casino reviews, so that you know when they are applicable.
In the example below, we have claimed Fair Go Casino's no deposit offer to illustrate how you redeem a bonus using a bonus code:
Fair Go Casino
100% up to $1000 Match Bonus + 100 free spins. Use code: WELCOME
As casino sites have slightly different user interfaces, the process shown in this example may vary from one casino to another. For instance, you might be required to enter your bonus code in a dedicated box during the registration process.
#2 - No Deposit Bonuses That Are Automatically Assigned
No deposit bonuses that are automatically assigned require less work - you literally just have to sign up to receive your bonus.
Instead of bonus codes, online casinos with automatically assigned bonuses use tracking codes that sense which bonus you are eligible for. Once you have completed the registration process, your bonus will be automatically added to your account.
As these casinos do not have a bonus code specified under the Claim Now Button, you can easily spot them in our casino lists.
In this example, we have used Kings Chance's welcome bonus to illustrate how you claim an automatically assigned no deposit bonus:
#3 - How To Claim A No Deposit Bonus Via the Casino Cashier
Occasionally, you will have to choose your no deposit bonus in the cashier.
In the cashier, there will usually be a bonus tab that displays all bonuses that you are eligible for. Depending on the style of the casino’s graphic user interface, you activate the bonus by choosing it from a list or a drop-down menu.
No Deposit Bonus Rules and Terms and Conditions
Before you redeem a no deposit casino bonus, you must be familiar with its user terms.
By having a good understanding of casino bonus terms, you will not only ensure that you make the most of your bonus - you will also be able to compare and assess different bonuses accurately.
Bonus terms are essentially what make or break a bonus, and therefore, it is critical that you understand them. A seemingly generous bonus with a jaw-dropping percentage and max amount may not be worth all that much if its bonus terms are unreasonable.
Read on to learn about bonus terms that you must understand to compare different bonuses and make an informed decision before claiming an offer.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements specify how many times you must play through the value of your bonus to withdraw your winnings.
You must play through your bonus by the allocated wagering requirement determined by the casino you are playing with. When you redeem a free spin bonus, the wagering requirement is applied to the amount you have won with your free spins.
For example, if a $10 bonus has a 30x wagering requirement, you must stake $300 to convert the bonus to real money. See this calculation:
$10 bonus x a 30x wagering requirement = $300 to wager.
We always display wagering requirements in our casino lists and reviews so that you can compare our bonuses easily.
Let us now compare two bonuses to see how their respective wagering requirements affect your chances of winning real money.
As you can see, both these online casinos offer you 25 free spins on sign up. However, True Blue Casino has a much lower wagering requirement than King Johnnie.
For the sake of comparison, let us assume that you claim both offers and manage to win $10 with your free spins at each casino. In such a scenario, the respective wagering requirements would look as follows:
True Blue
$10 free spins win x 30x wagering requirement = $300 to wager.
Once you have staked $300 or your bonus credits, any remaining bonus balance will be transferred to your cash balance, from where you can request a withdrawal.
True Blue Casino
200% up to $3000 Match Bonus + 33 free spins on I Zombie. Use code: TRUE200
King Johnnie
$10 free spins win x 50x wagering requirement = $500 to wager.
You must play $500 to convert this bonus win to real money that you can withdraw.
King Johnnie Casino
100% up to $6000 Match Bonus + 200 free spins on Queens and the Dragons + more games
As we can conclude from these examples, it is significantly harder to wager King Johnnie's bonus. The higher a wagering requirement is, the more likely you are to run out of bonus credits before the wagering requirement is complete.
Win Limits
Win limits restrict how much of your bonus winnings you can withdraw, regardless of how much you win with your bonus.
By applying such limits, a casino ensures it never loses more than a certain amount on a free bonus.
Win limits are important to consider as your goal is to win as much as possible. We always display win limits in our casino lists and reviews, and as you explore the selection, you will notice how much these limits vary.
Here are two examples:
As shown in the image, WildCard City has a generous win limit of $200. This high limit, coupled with a relatively reasonable 50x wagering requirement, makes WildCard City's no deposit bonuses a highly competitive offer.
As you can see, BetChain has set its win limit on the other side of the spectrum. If you win with your free spins, you will not be allowed to withdraw more than $25.
Bet Size Limits
Bet size limits restrict how much you are allowed to bet per spin or hand with your bonus.
Most online casinos set this limit to $5 per spin or hand. Bets that exceed the limit will not count towards your wagering requirement. Furthermore, a casino will confiscate your bonus funds if it finds out that you have been placing ineligible bets.
Since casino wins are always a multiplication of your stake, a casino can effectively reduce your chances of scoring massive wins by setting bet size limits.
For example, if you stake $30 per spin and hit the 2,500x win multiplier in Gonzo's Quest, you will win $75,000.
However, if you are restricted to betting $5 per spin, the same scenario would only yield a $12,500 win.
Excluded Games
You cannot use a no deposit bonus on any game you like.
Casinos exclude certain games from bonus play, and if you do not comply with these terms, you may have your bonus winnings confiscated or your account suspended.
Online casinos usually exclude games with high RTP (Return to Player) percentages and volatility scores. They exclude such games for the same reason they implement bet size limits - to limit your chances of getting massive wins.
Some casinos exclude way more games than others. Therefore, you should check the excluded games carefully before you redeem a bonus. At the end of the day, you want to use your bonus on as many of your favourite games as possible.
Game Weighting
Game weighting is a percentage that describes how much of your bet will count towards your wagering requirement in a particular game.
If a game is 10% weighted, it means that $0.10 is deducted from your wagering requirement when you play a $1 spin or hand.
Pokies are generally 100% weighted - meaning that your entire stake is deducted from your wagering requirement. Therefore, game weighting percentages are mainly relevant when you intend to wager your bonus on table games.
If you want to wager your bonus on table games, you should check the casino's game weighting percentages, as they may range from 5% to 20% depending on which casino you choose.
We always specify a casino's game weighting percentages in our reviews. By clicking the Expert Review link under a casino's logo, you will access a dedicated review in which you can see game weighting percentages for all game categories.
Permitted Games: Pokies (100%), Video Poker (1%), Blackjack (1%), Roulette (5%), Baccarat (5%)
The games that you can play with King Johnnie's no deposit bonus, as shown in our review. In brackets, you can see the respective game weighting percentages for each game category. This information will always be accessible in the casino's general terms and conditions as well.
Choose no deposit bonuses with as low wagering requirements as possible. 
Choose a casino with a high win limit. Win limits typically range from $10 to $100, and you obviously want to be able to withdraw as much of your winnings as possible.
Pick pokies with high RTP (Return to Player) percentages.
Ensure the casino has a good reputation. You want to avoid casinos that have a history of stalling payouts, or vague bonus terms. By choosing one of our trusted casinos, you can skip this step and save yourself precious time.
Play according to the rules. Read the bonus terms and ensure that you do not play ineligible games or place bets that exceed the casino’s bet size limit.
Do not play games that do not affect your wagering requirement.
No deposit bonuses are a scam No, they are not. No deposit bonuses are indeed a marketing tool meant to incentivise players and make them deposit real money. However, these bonuses do offer a legit chance of winning. As long as you are on board with the associated bonus terms, you will never have a reason to feel scammed.
You have to deposit to receive your winnings This is not true. You will be able to withdraw your winnings as long as you have met the wagering requirements and followed the bonus terms. 
