The rise and rise of online casinos has been one of the biggest business phenomena of our time. In just a matter of decades, thousands have sprung up, no doubt with many more to come.
Over the years what they have offered has also become increasingly sophisticated. The slot games have become more complex and involving – and a real leap forward has come with the arrival of the live casino.
This involves the real-time streaming of games like roulette and blackjack run by actual dealers. Clever tech digitizes the gaming action to allow it to be played online and creates an atmosphere not a million miles from the authentic casino experience.
While the huge proliferation of different online casinos has been good news for the sector in general, it’s also generated huge competition.
Many have worked hard on establishing and reinforcing their brand to stand out. All have had to rely on the use of cash and other incentives to attract and retain players.
Incentives equal more players
Generally, this takes the form of offering free stake money and spins on slot games to get players into the habit of using their site. These can involve very generous bonuses indeed. running into hundreds of dollars and/or spins on selected slot games.
While this is a sound approach as well as being a long-established cornerstone of effective marketing, it also comes with a cost attached.
Because of the nature of casinos, this cost can easily escalate. Why? Because say a player gets a $20 joining bonus or several free spins. If they then use that stake or spin to go on to a big win it can potentially lead to the online casino losing thousands of dollars.
So, to offset the risk slightly, the majority of casinos impose what is known as a wagering requirement before any winnings can be paid out.
Put simply, this means that players need to play through with a set multiple of their bonuses to claim winnings. Generally, it’s between a factor of 35 and 50. So to use our $20 example, a player would need to place bets of between $700 and $1000.
But, luckily, there are a few casinos that are prepared to offer their players bonuses with no wagering requirements attached to them. So any winnings achieved can be claimed straight away.
Picking a winner
Because they are in the minority, these casinos offering wager-free play can be hard to find amongst the thousands on offer. Fortunately, you can access your chance at no wager UK free spins by checking them out at one of the many review sites available.
As well as providing a list of online casinos you’ll find details of the bonuses on offer and a full review of the site too. Often the operators are also graded with marks out of five to help you compare them with each other before making your final decision about which one to choose.
There are three main types of no-wager bonuses that you’re likely to come across. In no particular order, these are:
No-Wager Deposit Bonus
This is the most common kind you’ll find on offer. This will need you to deposit a minimum amount of money into your online casino account to qualify for free spins. The number is likely to be quite limited although others need several deposits over a certain period and these are likely to give you a higher number of free spins.
No-Wager Cashback Bonus
A less common form of bonus lets you have the opportunity to win back a certain proportion of any losses that you are unlucky enough to make when you play. Generally, there is a set period that you need to wait for the return of the money, a strategy designed to make you stick with the casino in question.
Once you’ve received your refund there are two options. You can either withdraw the money or use it to try your luck once again on the slots.
No Deposit Bonus
This is the slots fan’s favorite kind of no-wager bonus. That’s because it needs not a single cent of investment. All that is required is for you to register with the site in question and to claim your set number of free spins. But do be aware, this kind of bonus is getting harder and harder to find so you could spend quite a while searching for one.
The better the bonus, the fewer the spins
While there are obvious benefits to the no-wager bonus there is one downside. This is because you will get fewer spins than with bonuses linked to wagering requirements and, therefore, less chance of a big win.
Of course, it’s very much a question of weighing up the odds and going down your preferred route. So, to wager or not wager, that will always be the question.
