Online gambling has many advantages. You can play from your home or on your phone whenever you feel like it, and there is an entire world of casino games always just a few clicks or taps away. New slots are released almost every day, so we don’t have to keep on playing the same old games like we do in land-based casinos.
But for me personally, the best thing about gambling online is no-deposit bonuses. The idea that you can start your gambling bankroll from scratch and build it up while having heaps of fun and risking nothing is really hard to beat.
In this blog, I’ll look into the ways to start gambling with no financial investments and building your bankroll from the ground up. It can be done, and it’s been done many times over, so don’t be quick to dismiss the idea. You’ll need to be smart about it and stay patient, but eventually, you’re almost bound to get there.
Step 1: Finding Good No-Deposit Bonuses
First thing first, you’ll need to find some solid no-deposit bonuses to get you started. These days, many online casinos offer players a chance to start playing without a deposit, so you shouldn’t be lacking options. Whether it is through free spins or cash, it shouldn’t be hard to find some sites giving you something simply for registering your account with them.
However, in the sea of offers, you should be going only for the best ones to start with. The rest you can save for later if things really don’t work out. Personally, I always look into several things when looking for a good no-deposit casino bonus:
- The maximum amount you can win
- Wagering requirements
- Cash-out policies
These three segments, when combined, will help you define if a particular no-deposit bonus is a good way to get you started on your mission of building a gambling bankroll from scratch.
How Much Are You Allowed to Keep?
Our mission is to start building our account balance, so the maximum win requirement is really of great importance. Good no-deposit bonuses usually come with a stipulation that you can keep up to $100 of winnings resulting from free cash or free spins. Those that let you keep $50 or so are fine as well, but you should always look for the highest ones first.
No-deposit bonuses that should rank fairly low on your list for this challenge are the ones where you can only win $10 or so. Some casinos will give you a nice deposit bonus of $50, for example, but somewhere in their terms and conditions, you’ll find a clause that the player can only keep $10 or $20 of their winnings. While it is still free money, and there is nothing wrong with it, you’d rather spend your time somewhere where you can win more.
Can We Beat the Wagering?
The second important part ties into the first segment. Wagering requirements are an essential part of any casino bonus, so no-deposit offers are no different. In fact, most of them come with a relatively high wagering that won’t be easy to conquer.
This is a part of the challenge, however, so you shouldn’t be deterred. I’ve personally managed to beat wagering requirements ranging from 50x to 100x, so it can be done for sure. You’ll need some luck along the way, of course, but it sounds harder than it is, especially if you apply strategies explained later in this blog.
The simple rule of thumb when it comes to wagering requirements is this – less is better. So, if you can get a no-deposit bonus with 50x wagering, count your lucky stars. These are rare offers that don’t come around every day.
Checking Out Cash-Out Policies
With most casinos, once you do win and clear the wagering, you won’t be allowed to cash out immediately. You’ll have to undergo the standard verification procedure, which entails sending over your documents. Also, usually, you’ll need to make a small deposit to connect a payment method to a casino.
All these conditions are fairly standard. What you should pay attention to, however, is the fact that some casinos will only start counting your wagering after you deposit. So, any play before that isn’t really doing much for you, except for possibly giving you a slightly better chance to beat the wagering once you do make a deposit.
Cash-out policies vary from one casino to another, so make sure to really check these out before you start. If you’re unclear about anything, turn to customer support and ask for clarification. Sometimes, you’ll need to be persistent to get your answers, but don’t let these hurdles stop you from achieving your goal.
Step 2: Setting Yourself up for Success
Once you find a no-deposit bonus you like, it is time to set the plan in motion. Regardless of how the bonus is presented, you’ll always end up with a certain amount of money in your cashier. You can use this money to play the games, build your bankroll, and try to beat the wagering.
An Aggressive Approach Works Best
One of the biggest mistakes players make with no-deposit bonuses is being too cautious and trying to slowly build it up. Because of the nature of most casino games, this approach usually doesn’t work. The more spins on a slot you play, for example, the better the chance of your bankroll being decimated. You want to win fast and big.
Always keep in mind these three things:
- You’re playing with free money
- If you lose, you can always try again with a different casino
- Playing higher stakes actually gives you a better shot
So, for example, say you have $15 in your cashier to play with, with 80x wagering attached to it. In total, you’ll need to place $1,200 in bets before you’re allowed to cash out. If you were to try to do this playing the lowest stakes of $0.10 a spin, it would take you 12,000 spins to get there.
You won’t manage to get anywhere near 12,000 spins with $15 – no way, no how!
A good rule of thumb when trying to build up your no-deposit bonus would be to start with about 25 to 30 spins. So, with a $15 bankroll, you should be betting around $0.5 a spin. This doesn’t give you too many spins, but if you’re lucky enough to score a big win or trigger a bonus round, you might get up to $100+ or more.
If the first stage of the plan goes as planned, you’re half-way home. There is still plenty of wagering to go through, though. So, once you’re over $100, up your stakes to around $1 a spin. If you can afford it, it is also fine to go a bit higher, like $1.50 or $2. At these levels, you should be able to beat the wagering with a bit of luck.
Stick to Higher-Volatility Slots
In line with the aggressive betting approach, you should also stick to higher-volatility slots. These games don’t bonus as frequently, and big wins don’t come as often, but when they do – you’re likely to be all set.
One of the games I’ve had a lot of success with using to clear no-deposit bonuses is 300 Shields. This is a highly volatile slot, and you might bust a few no-deposit rolls before you get to a meaningful bonus round. However, if you reach that top level where all wins are multiplied by 300, you’ll boost your bankroll to the point where you’re almost guaranteed to clear the wagering and walk away with the maximum profit.
Step 3: Taking It to the Bank
After some tries, you’re likely to get to a point where you’ve met all the conditions and have some cash waiting to be taken out. As I’ve mentioned, most casinos will ask you to make a small deposit to connect a banking method. For this purpose, it is best to have an e-wallet like Skrill or Neteller, which make it easy to move the money around.
Simply make the minimum deposit from your e-wallet and send in any required documents to verify your account. As long as you’re playing with a reputable and properly licensed casino, there should be no issues. Once your account is verified, you’ll be able to withdraw all the cash back to your deposit method.
If you’ve gotten to this point, congratulations! You now have a gambling bankroll to work with. It is totally up to you if you want to use this money to go for a deposit bonus at the same or a different online casino or if you want to cash it all out and try building it up from scratch again. The important thing is that you reached your goal!
Conclusion: Fun Way to Make a Bit of Money
Chasing no-deposit bonuses won’t, in all likelihood, make you rich. However, it is a really fun way to make a bit of money and start building your gambling bankroll with no financial commitment. Of course, for most people, it is easy enough to just deposit $10 or $20 of their own money and not worry about all of this. But this is also an entertaining challenge to see how far you can get, so money alone doesn’t have to be the only goal.
The advice contained in this blog comes largely from personal experience, and it really works. Of course, there is a lot of luck involved in the whole process, so it is important to stay patient and have as much fun as possible along the way. With this approach, you’re likely to get a good run at some point and finally complete the challenge.
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