A no-deposit bonus is a highly sought-after promotion in the online betting world because it gives you a chance to place a wager without having to deposit any of your own money first.1 While these brand new betting sites offers are rare, they provide a risk-free way to test a new betting site and its features.
How Do No-Deposit Bonuses Work? 🎁
Unlike the common “Bet & Get” offers that require you to make a deposit and place a qualifying bet, a no-deposit bonus is credited to your account simply for signing up.3 The value of these bonuses is usually small, often a free bet of around £5, but they are incredibly useful for a beginner who wants to explore a new platform without any financial commitment.
The key thing to remember is that if your no-deposit free bet wins, you only receive the winnings, not the original stake.4 For example, if you place a £5 free bet on a selection with 2/1 odds and it wins, you will receive £10 in winnings. The original £5 stake is not returned.
The Catch: Terms and Conditions 📜
Even though a no-deposit bonus is “free,” it comes with a set of terms and conditions that you must understand before you can withdraw any winnings.
- Wagering Requirements: This is the most common condition. You may be required to wager the winnings from your free bet a certain number of times before they become withdrawable cash.7 For example, if you win £10 and there is a 5x wagering requirement, you would need to place bets totaling £50 before you can cash out.
- Maximum Winnings: Some no-deposit offers have a cap on how much you can win from the bonus.
- Expiration Date: The bonus will have a time limit, so you must use it before it expires.
Where to Find No-Deposit Bonuses 🕵️
No-deposit bonuses are much more common on casino sites than on sports betting platforms. However, some betting sites occasionally run this promotion, particularly around major sporting events, to attract new customers.8 They are a valuable marketing tool, and while they’re not always available, a few sites have been known to offer them as a one-off promotion. Because they’re not a standard offering, it’s best to check a site’s promotions page or read reviews of new betting sites to see if one is currently being offered.
