Casino without bonus guide

What attracts an player to one online casino instead of another? It could be the games on offer, the bonus money received through free cash, the reload free spins, the free no-deposit bonus, or even the real money games available on the casino website. We all register at one site as opposed to another for a specific reason, with bonuses playing a big role in most of our online gaming decisions.

There are times when players can refuse bonus money a site might offer. As a player, you have an option not to click the opt-in button, and hence play slots and other other games with no bonuses attached. Is it a good move? Is it a worthy move? Via this review, we discuss what types of offers sites offer, and how to play at top gambling sites when you skip casino bonus offers.

By Adiela de Bruyn - Last modified 2024/11/11 - Estimated reading time: 12 minutes.

Table of contents

Casino without bonus guide
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Types of Bonus offers

When you register at a new gambling site, you are exposed to an array of casino bonus offers that you can scoop throughout your gambling journey. Below we look at some of the most common offers that gambling websites offer

No Deposit Bonus

A free no-deposit bonus is offered by online casinos to players who complete their registration and also verify their player account. The free no-deposit bonus offered by casino sites normally would include a set number of spins. Or a small amount of free money that will allow you to test and try out the site. To claim such offer, you do not need to put any money to your player account.

Welcome Bonus

A casino welcome bonus is a 100% extra money match awarded to players who deposit their money. This offer is capped at a specific amount at a ZAR casino. The gambling site also offering South African players a set number of free spins to try out and test.

Reload Bonus

Reload Bonuses are offers that are available to claim once you complete welcome offers T&Cs. Reload bonuses are composed of either free spins or deposit bonuses e.g. 100% capped at a maximum bonus ZAR 500.

Loyalty Bonuses

A loyalty bonus is awarded to returning players who are part of a loyalty scheme. Each time you make real money bets and deposits at online casinos with loyalty schemes, you will accumulate status points. Those will help you reach new tiers and unleash loyalty bonuses in return. Loyalty rewards include deposit-free spin offers (used on specific slot games), exclusive bonus money, tournaments and other bonuses.

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Are casino bonuses a must?

Casino sites offer cbonuses to boost your account, enhance your gambling experience and give you a good time. But, you do have the option of not taking any of them. Here are the steps you need to take to skip bonuses and offers.

Opt out of deposit casino bonus offers

To claim deposit casino bonuses, you would need to tick a box that says you opted -into the offer. This means for you not to claim the offer, you just need to untick the opt-in box. This way you skip the free no-deposit casinos offer or the welcome bonus package.

Skip visiting the promotions and bonuses page at online casino websites

To view all the available promotions and offers available at online casinos, you would need to click on the Promos page. Here you will have all the offers available, with a button to deposit or opt in.

Speak to the Customer Support team

Some deposit casino bonuses are only claimed (or declined) when speaking to the support team. If you would like to give the bonus amount a miss, you simply would need to speak to CS to prevent you from having any offers credited. To get in contact with the support team, you would either need to send the team an email or contact them via live chat. Check out the Help section to view the viable communication channels.

Deposit casino offers via email

At the start gambling journey, you will be asked if you would like the gambling site to contact you with marketing and promotional offers. The site will ask you to choose if you would like a call, a phone message or an email. This to advise you about new, free, no deposit and active bonus offers. This is not obligatory, with players having the option of skipping getting contacted by casinos with deposit bonuses being off the table. This feature is done when registering at a new casino site, with you having the ability to amend communication channels via your player profile.

Do not use deposit bonus codes

You will find many online gaming and casino review sites that offer you a bonus code for you to claim and enjoy a free bonus. This does not mean you have to take the bonus offer and opt-in, you can simply skip that process and not claim a bonus code. If you indeed would like to claim a bonus amount via a bonus code, you simply need to input the code in the available box when making a real money deposit.

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Why would a casino player opt out?

All bonus offers come along with strings attached. Life rarely offers you free things, and the strings attached to all of your bonuses are called terms and conditions. If you had to ask a South African player why he or she opted out of a bonus, chances are they mention terms and conditions, which sometimes are unrealistic to meet. Below we look at some of the most common terms and conditions attached to promotions.

Minimum deposit to withdraw No deposit bonus winnings

Most no-deposit bonuses do have some terms attached that you would need to meet to be able to enjoy winnings deriving from the bonus. To be able to withdraw winnings from bonuses, you would need to make a minimum deposit, with each minimum amount differing from one offer to another. Some players prefer to skip claiming such bonuses, just for the notion of having to make a deposit to claim winnings. Unfortunately, nothing free is free.

Minimum initial deposit to claim deposit bonuses

Deposit bonus offers include a capped match, free spins, and cashback with all offering ways for you to win real money. To claim such offers, the casino would ask you to deposit to your player account. eg. Pay a minimum amount of ZAR 100 and walk away with a 100% match of up to ZAR 500. Many players opt not to use less money to play games at online casino websites. You could simply deposit ZAR 50 and play should the site allow it, with no need to deposit the full amount of ZAR 100.

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements dictate the number of times the bonus amount would need to be played (wagered) for you to be able to claim any real money wins. Whilst you will find only a handful of casinos that offer no wagering requirements that need to be met, most casinos would require you to meet wagering terms. The standard wagering requirements terms set by most sites vary from 30 up to 35x. While some online sites indicate that you meet higher wagering requirements of up to 60x. If the wagering requirements terms are set high, these bonus terms would be impossible to meet and reach, with. Many players opting to skip the offer altogether.

Bonus Expires within specific dates

Another term to consider when claiming a offer is the expiry date that is attached. Terms and conditions ask you to meet the wagering requirements for the amount by 30 days of receipt. While free spins are often valid for up to 7 days from receipt. Keeping up with expiry dates is something we do in everyday life, with sometimes punters opting out of bonus offers due to tight expiry dates.

Gambling with more money at hand

Deposit and no deposit bonus offers are free spins or a cash balance that you can use to play games of chance. When you claim a casino bonus offer, you are essentially playing with more money, thus granting you more time spent gambling alone. If you are new to the gaming industry and wagering money on games of chance, you might be weary of having extra money, and spending more time gambling online. Many times, players choose to skip claiming bonuses. This for the simple fact of having gambling limits, and not wanting to have extra cash allocated to gambling. It is a well-studied fact that having more play money at hand will lead you to play games online more, with this possibly resulting in problematic gambling.

Deposit Methods

Some payment methods do not allow you to claim bonus offers. This means if you use a specific payment option to claim a deposit-required offer, you might not be eligible to claim the amount after all. We always suggest you read the terms and conditions of both your payment gateway and casino terms to verify if your payment option of choice allows you to claim.

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Why are casino bonuses beneficial?

We did look at why players might want to skip claiming casino bonuses. Still, we would also like to highlight why claiming bonuses could be beneficial, especially if you are a new player starting your journey.

Boosting your bankroll

Once you claim a deposit bonus, your bankroll will be boosted. Let's give you a practical example to put you in the picture. The casino offers players a deposit bonus of 100% match on a Wednesday of up to ZAR 200. This means, that if you deposit ZAR 200 on the day, you will end up having your ZAR 200 + another ZAR 200 to play games of your choice at casinos. If you would like to boost your bankroll and enjoy more play money, a casino promo might work wonders for you.

Test out new casino games

Casino games contribute differently to helping you meet and reach your bonus wagering requirements. Deposit Bonuses work hand in hand with terms and conditions, with the latter advising you on the % contribution each game offers, assisting you in reaching your wagering terms. Eg - online slot games grant you 100% towards your reaching your wagering goals, table games offer you 50% and live games grant you only a 10% wagering contribution. Now let's envisage you are a live player, and to reach your wagering terms, you would need to play slots, that offer a whopping 100% wagering contribution. Playing with offers, allows you to test out new games and see you enjoy a new range of games available at online casino sites.

Testing out a new casino site

Claiming gambling offers will see you test a new gambling site. By making a small minimum deposit to your player account, you will be eligible to claim bonuses included with your welcome package. Both the deposit match and the free spins offers will see you try out the new casino, and test the site to see if it is a gambling match for you. If you would like to build up your online gambling strategy and gameplay, online bonuses serve as a good way to do so.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Playing Casino Without Bonus

What are casino bonuses?

Casino online bonuses are promotions that an online gambling site offers to boost your overall gameplay. There are various types of offers that you can claim at online casinos, these include a no-deposit bonus where no real money deposit is needed for you to claim such. On the other hand, to claim offers, you are required to put money in your player account.

Can you skip casino bonus offers?

You have the option to either opt into or skip walking away with the offer altogether. To skip claiming the offer, you either speak to the Customer Support team, skip using codes, or simply do not opt into the promotional offer.

How can you test at casino sites without using casino online bonuses?

You can still test out new casino websites by using the free games that are available at gambling sites. Both slot machines are table games that offer you the chance to play for free with fictitious free cash and free spins. When playing using the free games function, you cannot win real money. Still playing for fun offers you the chance to test the games available at gaming sites.

What is a free no-deposit promotion?

A no-deposit-needed bonus offer is a set amount of free spins or free cash that is offered to new players when a casino registration is complete. Once you register as a new player, you will be asked to verify your account. You can do so by uploading a personal identification document such as a valid driving license or ID. Additionally, you would also need to send over a copy of a utility bill issued in the last 6 months and highlight the same address that you used when registering as a new player. Once this is complete, you can expect the no-deposit promotion to head your way, although you can also skip claiming this bonus.

What is a casino deposit bonus?

A casino deposit bonus is a promotion that is offered to players when they make a real money deposit at an online casino. These bonuses can be either play money as in a match that will boost your gameplay bankroll, or a set number of spins.

What are casino bonus terms and conditions?

Terms and conditions are a set number of T&Cs that you would need to meet to have the option of withdrawing any winnings that derive from the offer. Casino promotional terms and conditions include wagering requirements. But also time scales and minimum deposit requirements.

Can you win real money via casino games free play?

You cannot win real money when playing free play at gaming sites. Free play can be used as a way to test a new gambling site and also new games available at casino sites, but the gameplay does not offer you real money winnings.

Author and fact checker: Adiela de Bruyn

Adiela de Bruyn biography

Expertise: Online casino reviews, player insights, and marketing strategies.

Experience: 10+ years. Former croupier, casino enthusiast, and contributor to South Africa's online gambling regulations.

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