A Guide to the Best No Deposit Poker Sites
The best way to learn how to play poker is to try it, but what if you don’t want to risk your own money just yet? The no deposit bonus is the best way for new players to have a look at an operator, try out a game variant or learn how to play poker without any risk. However, no-deposit bonuses are the rarest of them all, mainly because it means that the operator is risking more. Also, it is considered that a reasonable game of poker can’t be played with such a bonus as this. But, more and more operators are now offering these no risk bonuses to players so that they will try out their poker rooms, which suddenly sounds too good to be true when winning real money comes into the picture. On this page we will discuss no-deposit bonuses and their terms and conditions, looking at all the ins and outs.
*T&C’s apply to each of the offers.
The Benefits of Free Poker Money
The benefits of no-deposit bonuses are obvious; you get to play with real money without there being any risk on your part. With this advantage, you can test your chosen poker site to see if it corresponds with the standards that you would like. You can test the operator for things like their variety of game types, their ease of use and their odds. If you do like them, then you can start depositing your own money and playing for real. But, equally, if you don’t like them, then you can log off and find another provider that may suit you better. On top of that ability to scout ahead, you can, by carrying through the offer, start playing and earning real money. Below we have collected the main benefits of no-deposit poker bonuses for new customers.
- No financial risk and no strings attached – play flexibly!
- Getting familiar with the game without the risk of losing your cash
- Generating real wins with bonus money may be possible
- No account information necessary for activating the bonus
Another advantage is that with your free games you can begin to notice the behaviour in tournaments at your chosen operator. Also, by using a combination of the bonus and your own money means that you can buy into a tournament and not lose all your capital straight away. You might even win one of the tournaments and therefore start directly with a healthy bankroll. This is particularly useful if you want to stick with the poker room!
The Best No Deposit Bonus Offers
If you have been looking for a free starting bonus, then you have probably already noticed that they are pretty rare. It is normally the case that bonuses are only for customers who have just completed their first deposit. However, there are some operators that are offering free starting money.
888 Poker
If you opt for the provider 888 Poker, then you can look forward to a free starting balance! All you have to do is download the software and register, then you will be eligible to claim your £20 Free Bonus. You will be able to use this gift to play however you like, whether it’s on your PC or on your mobile. Players must note that the bonus expires after 24 hours and will be paid in a mixture of real money and tournament tickets. Always remember to check the terms and conditions, as there you will find all the information regarding playthrough requirements and time limits.
What You Need to Know About the Conditions
If you want to fully take advantage of a no-deposit bonus, then there are several things that you should consider first. To begin with, no bonus will allow you to withdraw money instantly, or even on your first or second playthrough. No-deposit bonuses are simply ways for new players to play poker for free, to get involved in some tournaments and also to delve into the poker site’s features. For new players, there is no risk involved, and this means that you can take the time to try out the poker room and have some real fun. The most important thing to keep in mind is that this type of bonus is a fantastic way of testing the waters, and if you persevere, can also be a route to some real money wins.
With some offers, including that from 888 Poker, the bonus will be given out in tournament tickets. With these tickets, you have the opportunity to attend some tournaments for free and to play with real money. Also, the bonus balance might be granted to you only once you have accrued some points, and the same might be the case for being able to withdraw your winnings. However, you can very quickly begin playing competitively without any risk on your part, so get stuck in!
Our Tips for Beginners
Since that in most cases it is new players that look for no-deposit bonuses, we have put together a few useful tips for beginners.
Bankroll Management
Don’t jump too hastily into a tournament without first looking at bankroll management and how it can help you. It basically involves understanding the relationship between your bankroll and the stakes for which you play. This is simply a method of risk management. The idea is that you buy into a game or tournament only with a small fraction of your current bankroll. If you are unlucky and you lose, then you will not lose much and you won’t go broke. If you win, then you will build up your bankroll.
Play to an upward limit
Something that builds on the bankroll management is the rise in playing limits. New players should begin with the lowest limits, which are usually around £0.01 -£0.02. This means you have a maximum of £2 on the table, so 100 big blinds. Before moving upwards to the next level of limits, you should first analyse your results to see if advancing will make financial sense. The key is not to rush to the next level, even if you get a couple of good results.
Double or nothing tournaments for beginners
The Double or Nothing tournaments take place with between 8 and 10 players. The game plays out regularly until half of the original players are left. After that the game ends and the remaining players get to double their buy-ins. This sort of game is suitable for beginners because it is much easier to win and the variance is not too strong. Also, the games only take around 30 minutes.
Poker time limits
Time limits are commonplace in the world of poker, whether it is on a bonus deal or in a game. No-deposit bonuses will almost always have a time limit in which to use the balance, ranging anywhere from a few days to a year. Also, make sure you know the time limits of the game you are playing, as often you will have only a certain number of minutes to perform an action.
Play for free first
You will often find that poker rooms offer players the chance to play games with fake money. This is a huge opportunity to learn the ropes and to get more accustomed to the way games work, as well as the operator. Do not rely on learning too much from social games, as the actions within these games might not reflect those in real money games. However, you can often find freeroll poker games that are free to enter, have a good playing standard and you can win money at the table too.
Questions and Answers
We get a lot of questions from you guys about poker, and we find that a lot of them are very similar. Therefore, we have chosen and answered the top two most commonly asked questions.