They say there’s no such thing as a free bet. But we’re here to tell you anything is possible! We’ve found a number of ways you can experience the fun of the game without paying a penny. 

Unfortunately, unless you took a job as a slot machine tester or mechanic, it’s unlikely you’ll ever be handed a pile of free tokens in a land-based casino. So, online is the way to go. Here’s our guide to free casino games. 

Demo games 

Many online casino operators offer demo versions of their games – this can be as simple as watching a video of how a typical game would go (which we don’t recommend), but many are fully interactive. They replicate real gameplay, allowing you to select your coin and bet value, and even offer cool bonuses like free spins or multipliers. 

You may also be able to choose the number of paylines that you play with, which will influence how much you bet while playing the game. Then, either spin manually or hit autoplay to spin the reels automatically without needing to continuously press a button. 

The benefits are numerous. The fun is immediate, you can play straight away without downloading any software or spending time going through a registration process. Most importantly, there’s no deposit required. 

Of course, the downside is that cash prizes are not awarded. But whether you’re new to the games, keen to practice and gain confidence, or an experienced player looking to sharpen your skills, it’s a good idea to take advantage of these games, if only to decide whether you enjoy it enough before committing to putting down real money. 

Welcome offers

Another way to give yourself a chance to get something for nothing is by making use of the many generous welcome deals online casinos offer for new players. 

Before you sign up to a casino, check to see whether they offer to match a certain percentage of your first deposit, along with any free credit or a number of free spins. Typically, this will be 100%, but can range between 50% to 400%, and there will be a minimum deposit amount required for these deals to be applicable. 

Oftentimes they also come with a wagering requirement which is the number of times a player must play the bonus money before being allowed to make a cash withdrawal. Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions so that you can be sure you are getting a good deal, and be sure to make yourself aware of the risks! 

These offers give you the opportunity to have more chances of winning, or to bet with extra funds and therefore have the chance to win bigger cash prizes, so they are well worth using. 

No deposit offers

But is there a way to win real money without spending anything? Technically, yes! 

Many casinos give players bonuses of free spins or bonus money without first needing to place a deposit. There’s no reason you can’t win real money playing like this! You are playing the game for real, the only difference is you won’t be using your own money to do so. The free spins or bonus from the casino will be used instead. 

Also, some casinos don’t ask you to input payment details to be able to start playing and access their offers. They may require other forms of verification though, such as an email address and/or mobile phone number, so they can send a verification code to complete the registration process.

However, we must warn you – it can be tough to win money using this hack. The games might have high wagering requirements or capped winnings and, with a limited number of free spins or bonus money available, it can be hard to get a significant win. With games based on luck though, anything can happen!

If you do win money with your bonus or free spins, the casino may have requirements on how you use it which will be explained in the casino’s terms. Some sites may allow you to withdraw this bonus, while other casinos will state that you have to wager any winnings on their games.

But please don’t despair if you don’t win any real money from no deposit slot games! After all, you won’t have lost any of your own money and you’ve had a bit of free fun while spinning the reels.

You can find the best sites to play free games in our list of no deposit casinos. All the casinos we recommend on 1CS have been thoroughly researched and rigorously tested for security, customer support, and gameplay. That way, you can be assured it’s a site of quality.

What’s the catch?

With thousands of free games available at countless online casinos, many wonder how it’s possible, or whether there’s a catch to all these offers. But there is a reasonable explanation: with so many sites to choose from, casinos are very competitive and want to keep and bring in as many new players to sign up as possible. That’s why they can afford to lure you in with sweet deals. 

Be sure to only go to accredited casino sites. That way, you can be rest assured that the slots work by random number generators and aren’t rigged against you  in favour of the house. 

If you’re new to slots, be sure to check out our how to play online slot games guide and become aware of responsible gambling practice so that the games stay fun! Good luck!