Casino no deposit bonuses: are they actually free money or tied to restrictions

Every time I see those no deposit offers pop up, I'm tempted because, yeah, “free” sounds too good to pass up. But the fine print always feels like a maze - wagering requirements, max cashout, some games not counting at all. Sometimes I wonder if anyone really gets away with a meaningful cashout on these things or if it’s mostly just a way for the casino to get us signing up and spinning for nothing.

I’m mostly a slots and roulette guy, and half the time the bonus doesn’t even work on the live games or the slots I like best. Is it really worth the hassle or am I just building up false hope for a few cents? What’s your real experience with actually withdrawing anything decent off no deposit bonuses?