iGaming Editor
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Amazingly, I’ve discovered that it’s possible to start playing at real money online casino sites in Canada for free. How? Well, you’ll need to find a Canadian casino with a no deposit bonus first.
Bonuses are big business among online casinos. Brands use them to attract new players, and sometimes, you’ll be able to claim one without any up-front deposit. But be warned: while these promotions offer potential if you play them right, the T&Cs can prove challenging. Here’s everything you should know.
In the online gaming world, yes – it is. In a nutshell, no deposit bonuses are becoming increasingly common as competition between the best and biggest online casino brands intensifies. The most popular ones are usually Canada casino welcome bonuses – which serve-up free goodies to first-time players.
Experienced gamers among you will probably already be familiar with these kinds of offers, but regardless of your iGaming pedigree, here’s a quick run-through of what a typical no deposit bonus may entail:
Freebies you might get | How they work |
---|---|
Bonus credits | Bonus credit can usually be used to play any game you like, though you’ll need to comply with any wagering requirements and time limits listed in the T&Cs. More on this later… |
Bonus spins | These tend to be a tad more restrictive. You’re likely to have to play them on one specific slot game, and within a certain time limit. More on this later too… |
A combination of the above | Brands that really want to capture your attention might offer a deal that’s good for bonus credit and bonus spins. But watch out: the T&Cs could differ for each individual part of the offer… |
Well… Different online casinos will be available to each of you depending on which part of The Great White North you call home. As such, different bonuses will be available, too.
Now, I know my readers come from far and wide, so to get around this problem, my tech guys have set up this guide to automatically display the latest and greatest bonuses where you live each time you visit this page from your province. Don’t ask me how the tech works, but it does – and all the bonus offers you’ll see promoted in the banners on this page have been personally vetted by myself, too.
Whether you’re signing up with an online casino in Canada to get bonus spins, a brand that offers typically-more-flexible bonus bets, or any no deposit bonus for that matter, there are a ton of benefits served up by no deposit deals. For example, you’ll be able to:
So, claiming a free bonus with no deposit at a casino in Canada affords you several benefits. One of which is the ability to “trial-run” games you’re thinking of potentially wagering some actual cash on down the line. But what kinds of games can you expect to play?
Most of the casinos listed in the banners on this page offer the following game genres – but of course, you’ll need to double-check whether their bonus offers are compatible with your favourite game titles before claiming:
Game type | How to play |
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Slots | Usually, you’ll need to match symbols in a line. But of course, various multipliers, wilds and bonus rounds can be activated to up-the-ante. |
Table games | Depending on whether it’s roulette, blackjack, baccarat or poker, the rules are always going to differ. Good thing I’ve plenty of gaming guides for you to read through here on my site, eh? |
Live dealer experiences | These are generally the same as regular tables, except you’ll sit across from a real-world dealer. How ace is that!? |
Of course, no two casinos’ online no deposit bonuses in Canada will ever be 100% identical. Having said that, there are a few classic limitations and restrictions that tend to apply to most bonuses of the free-to-claim variety.
So, once you’ve found a bonus that appeals, you should pay special attention to the following aspects of its T&Cs:
Whether you’re an iGaming newbie or just in need of a quick reminder, let’s break down how wagering requirements work.
Basically, any no deposit bonus at a Canadian casino you claim will almost always require you to play through or “wager” your bonus credit or bonus spins a set number of times.
For example, you might receive $500 worth of bonus credit that comes with 40x wagering requirements. This means you’ll need to play through that $500 at least 40 times on eligible games before the casino will permit you to cash out. Got that? Good.
A quick word of warning: wagering requirements on no deposit bonuses tend to be a little… shall we say, stricter, than those attached to bonuses that require an up-front deposit.
Oh, and as I mentioned earlier, if you’re claiming a two-in-one bonus that serves up both bonus bets and bonus spins, blanket wagering requirements don’t always apply. What I mean by that, is, your bonus credit could come with wagering requirements of 40x, while your bonus spins have a playthrough requirement of 55x instead. Watch out for this…
The second thing to be wary of is time-related restrictions. Nine times out of ten, any free bonus with no deposit at a casino in Canada will need to be used-up (i.e., wagered in full) within a pre-agreed timeframe.
Allow me to fall back on another example to illustrate what the deal is here. Let’s say you receive 150 bonus spins to be played on Starburst, one of Canada’s hottest fruit machines which I’m sure you’ll be familiar with. No? Anyway… with this deal, the T&Cs might state that your bonus spins need to be played through 35x within 7 days.
Now, if this is the case, a failure to wager those spins the correct number of times within the 7-day-limit will forfeit your right to the bonus, as well as any winnings you’ve accumulated using it. Ouch, right? So, yeah… sticking to time limits is vital.
One common theme that’s cropped up once or twice here is that no deposit bonuses tend to be a little more restrictive than deposit promotions. And that makes total sense, right? Because you’re getting your bonus credit and/or bonus spins for free here.
Whether you’re claiming with an age-old reputable iGaming site or a brand-spanking new Canada casino, there’s a fair chance your no deposit bonus will restrict you to only being able to play at certain games. And again, a failure to follow the T&Cs here could invalidate your bonus, so please be careful…
The answer is, of course, to study the T&Cs closely before you claim. It’s worth noting down, too, that bonus spins offers tend to be more restrictive than bonus bet promos in this regard. Offers like the 150 bonus spins on Starburst only that I mentioned earlier are incredibly common. In that example, any games that aren’t Starburst would be completely off-limits to you.
Surprisingly, the process involved in actually getting your hands on a no deposit bonus is usually much easier than following the T&Cs carefully so as not to invalidate it.
Most new casino sites in Canada’s no deposit bonus offers can be claimed, by:
For many of you, I’m sure getting your hands on a no deposit bonus with a Canadian online casino will be a dream come true. But before you go free bets crazy, there are one or two things you ought to keep in mind.
As we’ve seen in my guide here, no deposit bonuses aren’t always quite so easy to use as they are to claim. Wagering requirements, time limits and game restrictions can all be make or break if you aren’t careful – the obvious solution being, you’ll need to be careful. So, go have fun with your next bonus, but never forget that T&Cs reign supreme.
A no deposit bonus is simply a promotion that doesn’t require an up-front deposit. But you’ll need to watch out for some important caveats. All is revealed in my guide.
This depends on a whole bunch of things, including which province you live in. Check out my localised guides now.
If they’re offered by a licensed, trusted online casino, then yes. There’s plenty of tips on how to use them in my series of guides.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.