No deposits and lots of poker—what more could you ask for?
The game of poker has arguably benefited more from the digital age than any other gambling game. It exploded in popularity during the early 2000s and it has shown no signs of slowing down.
It’s a game played by casual gamblers, high spenders, professionals, and even celebrities. And if you’re new to the game, the following no depoοsit poker sites could be the perfect way to introduce yourself.
If not, don’t worry, as these sites are open to everyone.
What are No Deposit Poker Sites?
It’s all in the name—no deposit poker sites are poker rooms that you can join without making a deposit.
Sounds a little too good to be true, right? Well, there are some important caveats to consider.
Here’s what you need to know from these sites:
You Need to be Verified
These poker sites don’t require a deposit, but you will need to sign up, and as they are licensed in the United Kingdom, you’ll be asked to verify your account.
It’s one of those things that many players get frustrated with. After all, on the one hand, you have a site saying that you can collect a few quid and play some poker tournaments without depositing a single penny. But at the same time, they’re asking for photo identification, proof of address, and a debit card.
But those requests come from the UK Gambling Commission and are part of Know Your Customer (KYC) rules. These rules were put in place to protect against underage gambling, money laundering, and problem gambling, and if the gambling sites don’t abide by them, they’ll get into a lot of trouble.
The Bonuses Aren’t Huge
Poker sites operate on a commission basis. Unlike casinos and sportsbooks, they don’t profit when you lose. Instead, they take a small amount of money from each tournament buy-in and cash game pot.
If you deposit and lose £10, the site may only get £1 or so. As a result, they don’t have much of a margin to play with and so they tend to be very conservative when it comes to bonuses.
Many no deposit poker sites will give you just £5 or £10, or the equivalent in tournament tickets. Others will just give you access to freeroll tournaments.
It’s All About the Freerolls
Speaking of freerolls, whether you get bonus credits and tournament tickets or not, you can still play freerolls.
Poker sites run regular freerolls throughout the site, and the biggest ones have several freerolls a day. The best freerolls are reserved for new players, and you’ll either qualify by virtue of a ticket awarded upon sign up or by having an account that is only a few days or weeks old.
In any case, if you’re a new player or you’re on a budget, freerolls are the perfect way to grow your bankroll and gain some experience. They are a little more chaotic than traditional tournaments and players usually throw caution to the wind at the start and after the bubble, but you can use this to your advantage.
There are Always Terms and Conditions to Consider
If you’re collecting a no deposit bonus, it will always come with a series of terms and conditions. Obviously, there is no need to make a deposit, so there is no minimum deposit amount, but there are terms relating to all of the following:
- Release Rate: Many poker bonuses are released steadily over time. You unlock chunks of them when you collect a certain amount of rake.
- Wagering Requirements: If there is no release rate, there will probably be a wagering requirement. This must be met before the bonus funds are converted into cash.
- Minimum Withdrawal: A threshold that must be cleared before the funds can be withdrawn.
As always, you need to be at least 18 years old to collect one of these bonuses and they are also limited to one per IP or household. You can find all of the information that you need in the terms and conditions.
You Can Still Participate in Other Promotions
The best no deposit poker sites have scores of promotions throughout the year. You can usually collect these along with a no deposit bonus or after that no deposit bonus has been used. Here are a few of the promotions to look out for:
- Reload Bonuses: Make a deposit and it will be matched to a specific percentage.
- Loyalty Clubs: Earn points based on your rake. These points can then be exchanged for prizes or cashback.
- Events: Play in guaranteed tournaments where there are massive prizes and perks up for grabs. Some of these tournaments span multiple days and even weeks, giving players points that determine their position on a leaderboard.
- Mini-Games: Play fun little mini-games to be in with a chance of winning big. PokerStars is a great example of this, as it lets you play a hand of draw poker and triggers a jackpot when you get a Royal Flush.
Why are No Deposit Poker Sites Rare?
No deposit gambling sites in general are very rare, as strict regulations mean that operators are required to verify all of their customers before they place a bet.
If a site offers you a free £10 just for completing a 2-minute sign-up process, you’ll bite their hand off. Just let the forms auto-fill, confirm your phone number or email address, and away you go.
If it requires you to verify your identity and send authenticating documents and then asks you to upload a valid debit card, you’ll be much less inclined. The more hoops you have to jump through, the less likely you are to accept.
The same is true for online bingo sites and casinos, which used to be packed with these bonuses but now have a very limited selection.
Check out our list below for some examples of top no deposit casinos.
[NO DEPOSIT CASINOS]
How to Get More from No Deposit Poker Sites
If you want to spend as little as possible and win as much as possible, play as many freerolls as you’re allowed. You don’t necessarily need to bet big to win big, you just need to be persistent and good.
A number of years ago, a famous poker player named Chris Ferguson tasked himself with turning $0 into $10,000, and he did it. He didn’t achieve it overnight, but he was persistent and he got there eventually by playing lots of freerolls and low-stakes games.
In the years since then, many other players have followed in his footsteps and have posted their journeys on YouTube. It’s far from an easy task, but they have proved that it is possible.
FAQs About No Deposit Poker Sites
Yes, no deposit poker sites are available to players in the United Kingdom. The UK actually has one of the biggest online and offline poker scenes in Europe, so a lot of sites are keen to cater to UK players..
There is no “best” option as such. It all comes down to what you enjoy playing. However, if you want the maximum possible return on your free tournament buy-ins or freeroll tickets, look for games of No-Limit Texas Hold’em. This variant always draws the biggest crowd, and where there are more players, you’ll also find bigger prize pools.
As noted above, you will need to verify your account as per legal gambling requirements. This is true even if the site isn’t offering any bonus credits and you only intend to play freerolls.
However, most poker sites can verify your details using a soft credit check. If you enter your details correctly and in full, and you have a credit history (or you’re on the electoral roll) the process should be instant.
If the automatic verification fails, you will be asked to submit more details. You’ll need a photo ID (driver’s license or passport), along with proof of address (utility bill). You may also be asked to add a valid debit card. It won’t actually be charged, though, and it’s just another part of the verification process.
No. You should always use your real name when joining an online gambling site. However, this is not the name that other players will see when you’re actually playing the game.
During the registration process, you will be asked for a username. This is the name that other players see and it doesn’t have to be your real name.
Entering a fake name during the sign-up process will just cause the verification process to fail and the site will then prompt you to upload further documents. Unless you have a passport in the name of “PokerKing69”, you should enter your real name.
