What Are Free Spins?
Free Spins bonus is a casino promotion that lets you receive a predetermined number of spins you can use on a particular slot game or a selection of online slots. As one of the most sought-after promotional tools at both land-based and online casinos, Free Spins bonuses can be either standalone promotions or tied to deposit bonuses.
Although this type of bonus doesn't require you to pay in order to play, most of the time, Free Spins bonuses do come with strings attached. Read on to learn how to differentiate between the most common types of Free Spins bonuses and what to pay attention to before activating.
Are Free Spins the Same As Bonus Spins?
You might have come across offers dubbed as "Bonus Spins" or "Extra Spins" instead of Free Spins. In essence, there is no difference between these terms, and they all work exactly the same.
The reason why some of the new casinos use this wording is to make sure they are compliant with gambling regulations and the terms of their licence. Truth be told, Bonus Spins and Extra Spins are still Free Spins; it's just that gambling sites want to reassure their respective regulators they are not luring players with false advertisement.
What Are the Benefits of Free Spins at Online Casinos?
When you sign up at a new casino, Free Spins may well be among the first promotions you see. If they're not part of a welcome offer, Free Spins will most certainly be among recurring or time-limited casino promotions.
Here are several advantages you can derive from online casino Free Spins:
- No deposit required. Many times, online casino Free Spins will come with no deposit required.
- Trying out new releases for free. A Free Spins bonus can be a fun and low-investment way to give new slot games a spin.
- Chance to win real money. Although maximum payouts on Free Spins promotions are generally low, it's still an opportunity to win hard cash with minimal to zero investment.
- Free Spins are offered at virtually every online casino. Typically, Free Spins are part of casinos' core offers, and it would be extremely hard to filter out a casino site without this type of offer.
How to Claim Free Spins?
To get Free Spins on sign up, all you must do is find a new customer offer from our list that you like and activate it. When looking for a casino bonus, Free Spins may be offered either as a part of a match deposit bonus or a standalone offer.
Any online casino with Free Spins will likely offer them directly, by activating an offer at a casino. Other times, a new casino Free Spins offer will require a special code to let you claim the bonus, i.e. exclusive bonuses. All bonus codes for Free Spins are contained in the respective bonuses on AskGamblers, so you don't have to look any further.
How Many Free Spins You Can Receive
When it comes to the number of Free Spins you can receive, the world is your oyster! If you decide to trigger a casino bonus, Free Spins will be available in a broad range:
For instance, when you register at a new casino, Free Spins may come in a bundle of 50. As you bet at the said casino, the Free Spins offer may increase (via promotional tools like birthday gifts, mailers, levelling up within a loyalty program, etc.), so you can continue taking advantage of them and increasing your win potential.
As we said, you can pick any number of Free Spins in a bonus; just make sure the conditions attached to it suit your preferences.
Different Types of Free Spins Bonuses
Free Spins bonuses can be either a standalone category or attached to a deposit bonus. When marketed as a standalone bonus, online casino Free Spins come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Here's an overview of the most common types of Free Spins you can find at online casinos listed on AskGamblers:
Free Spins Deposit Bonus
When offered a Free Spins deposit bonus, players usually look at a classic match deposit bonus topped up with a preset number of Free Spins. These bonuses can be either a one-off offer or recurring promotion like reload bonuses. Any of these will require you to make a minimum deposit before being credited with the Free Spins. Typically, the offer will also include wagering requirements, max bet and cashout limits, so pay close attention to bonus terms and conditions.
Free Spins No Deposit Bonus
As its name suggests, a Free Spins no deposit bonus is a type of bonus you can activate without depositing real money in your casino wallet. Keep in mind that although a casino may give you some Free Spins in the form of no deposit bonus, this type of offer will in most cases come with strings, aka wagering requirements, attached.
Free Spins with No Wagering Requirements
No-wager Free Spins are exactly what their name implies: with no wagering bonuses, meaning that everything you win is yours to keep, provided you don't exceed the max win and max cashout limits.
What to Look for When Choosing a Casino Free Spins Promotion
Every casino bonus comes with a set of conditions you must meet, and Free Spins bonuses are no different. Before claiming Free Spins, you should always check as many details as possible to make sure you don't experience any trouble withdrawing your potential winnings.
What you will want to pore over are general terms and conditions as well as bonus terms and conditions, the rules guiding every action you take and every bonus you activate at a casino.
Here are the main points to consider when studying the terms and conditions:
Free Spins Wagering Requirements
Sometimes, online casinos will require players to wager their winnings obtained from the Free Spins bonus before they allow you to withdraw your money. For instance, if you win $10 and the wagering requirements are x30, you will need to wager $300 on the game before cashing out.
Expiration Date
Another point to consider is the time frame within which you can use your bonus. Like any other promotion, casino bonus Free Spins are expirable, giving you a specific period to play them through before they are voided.
Available Games
Always double-check the game(s) that count toward the promotion. For instance, a casino may limit a bonus with Free Spins to a single slot; other times, the casino will include a selection of games on which you can use your Free Spins.
Payout Limits
Finally, don't forget to check how much you can win using your Free Spins bonus. Max cashout is the limit imposed by an online casino that caps the maximum amount you can win from a Free Spins bonus. In other words, if you win any sum that exceeds the max cashout, you won't be able to withdraw it.
How to Make the Most of a Free Spins Bonus
We've said this so many times, but it won't hurt to say it one more time: start by reading the bonus Terms and Conditions carefully, paying special attention to wagering requirements, maximum payouts, eligible online slots, and expiration dates.
Next, increase your winning chances by using your spins on slots with high RTP percentages (say, above 96%). Stick to one game if that's what the bonus is limited to; otherwise, choose games with bonus rounds or multipliers for additional value.
Once you start spinning, play strategically and don't rush through your spins. Instead, use them at a time when you can fully focus. Keep an eye on your balance and set a win goal and loss limit to stay in control. If you win, consider cashing out quickly, especially if the winnings aren't tied to more wagering.
Also, look out for low playthrough requirements or a no wagering casino bonus: Free Spins that don't require wagering will let you keep more of your winnings.
Finally, use free spins as a no-risk opportunity to try and build a bankroll: turning a free bonus into real profit is possible, but only through smart play and good timing.
Are Free Spins Bonuses Worth It?
Free Spins bonuses are most definitely worth it, as long as they involve fair Terms and Conditions. If you're seeking Free Spins, every online casino will have a different set of rules that guide their use. Therefore, you should look for low wagering requirements, a decent minimum deposit (or no deposit at all), and a fairly high cash-out limit.
Let's look at an example. Suppose an online casino offers 20 Free Spins for a minimum deposit of €25 with a wagering requirement of 40x bonus + deposit and a maximum payout of €50. As you can surmise for yourself, this is not an attractive or fair offer, and you should continue looking further.
The formula here is simple: low deposit → low wagering requirement → high maximum cashout. Of course, you cannot expect an online casino to give you anything for free since they are in the business of earning money. But you shouldn't settle for too demanding conditions either; as with any other aspect of gambling, striking a balance is crucial.
How We Compare and Rank Free Spins Bonuses
When comparing and ranking Free Spins bonuses, AskGamblers considers several key aspects to make it easier for players to identify the most valuable and fair offers.
Here's our evaluation criteria for Free Spins promotions:
- Bonus type. First, AskGamblers distinguishes between several types of Free Spins offers, such as no-deposit Free Spins, deposit-based Free Spins, and no-wagering Free Spins.
- Wagering requirements. Lower or no playthrough requirements are favoured, as they allow players to access their winnings more readily (and spend less money along the way!).
- Game eligibility. We always point out the eligible game(s).
- Expiration date. Although a 7-day expiration date is the most common on any type of bonus, we include this information in every bonus published on our website.
- Maximum bonus amount. It's the highest amount of money you can earn with active online casino Free Spins.
Our Free Spins casino bonus analysis aims to provide players with transparent and comprehensive information, helping them choose the promotions that offer genuine value and a fair chance of winning.
Now that you're equipped with everything you need to know about Free Spins bonuses, take a moment to explore our list. From welcome offers to reload bonuses, you can find all of the latest Free Spins bonuses right here on this page.
Find your preferred type of Free Spins bonus, read our unbiased online casino reviews, make sure to explore the Terms and Conditions of the casino of your choice, and most importantly, have fun spinning!
