13 minutes
Last Updated: January 7, 2024
What Are Casino Free Spins?
A free spins bonus is among the most popular casino bonuses around and rewards you with spins you can use free of charge. In other words, you can bet on a slot machine without paying for the bets. Instead of getting a fixed amount of money, you get a fixed number of spins.
Anything you win while wagering the free spins is your actual bonus. This is precisely what makes free spins bonuses so exciting and tempting.
You’re not getting any predetermined amount, so you don’t know how much bonus funds you can potentially win. Of course, this also means that you might not win anything if you’re unlucky.
In most cases, you won’t be able to use the free spins on any game you choose. Most of the time, the casino will include a specific slot on which the free spins will be available. With that in mind, the type of slot game also directly influences how favorable the free spins bonus is.
⭐ What Are Cash Spins?
The term cash spins is often used interchangeably with the term free spins. However, there is a difference between the two. On some online gambling sites, cash spins are free spins that come without any wagering requirements. This means that you can instantly withdraw whichever amount you win with the cash spins.
In this regard, cash spins are more favorable than regular free spins bonuses. Having said that, some online casinos call all free spins bonuses just free spins instead of cash spins. Knowing this, when claiming a bonus, make sure to read the bonus terms and conditions carefully. That way, you’ll be certain what type of free spins you’re getting.
⭐ What Are Casino Bonus Spins?
In line with the term above, some online casinos refer to free spins bonuses with wagering requirements as bonus spins. These types of free spins bonuses are the most common ones you’ll come across in online casinos.
What you win with the bonus funds is the actual bonus. Meaning the casino will place certain wagering requirements on that amount. Before you can withdraw the winnings, you will have to wager through the bonus amount the required number of times.
That said, just like with cash spins, casinos call bonus spins bonuses simply free spins. Because of this imprecise terminology, reading the fine print is key.
Are Free Spins Casinos Worth Your Time?
With a regular deposit match bonus that you can get at all real money online casinos, you always know how much money you’re getting. However, determining the value of a free spins bonus is more difficult. There’s no telling how little or how much you’ll get. Everything is left up to chance, so players can have vastly different experiences with the same free spins bonus.
Due to the nature of free spins, you can only focus on the value of each spin in terms of the overall bet size. Ordinarily, the free spins will be locked with the minimum bet size in the specific slot. This depends on the slot game but is commonly around ten and twenty-five cents.
At the same time, you can also find more valuable free spins valued at a couple of dollars or more. Needless to say, these provide much better potential for winning more rewarding amounts.
Ultimately, deciding whether or not a specific free spins bonus is worth claiming is a subjective decision that requires research. These bonuses can undoubtedly be useful, but this depends on many factors.
How to Claim Free Spins Bonuses Online
While the exact process of claiming an online casino bonus might differ from site to site, all of these bonuses are generally very simple to get.
That said, sometimes, you might have to input a free spins bonus code. In others cases, you might need to activate the bonus in your account. But, with most free spins bonuses, the spins will automatically be added to the game once you claim the bonus.
Once a free spins bonus is credited to your account, it’s hard to miss out on the deal. You just need to open eligible online slots for the free spins bonus. The game will automatically prompt you with a pop-up message if you do so, and you can just confirm and start playing in free spins mode.
How to Get a Free Spins Bonus
Free spins bonuses are one of the most prevalent bonus offers in the industry, so you’ll have no problem finding and claiming these deals. What’s more, the free spins we’ve listed above are just those available as part of welcome offers for new players.
Apart from that, you can claim free spins through various other bonuses. Here are some of the most common ways how you can get online casino free spins bonuses:
⭐ Free Spins Sign-Up Bonus
Some online casino sites offer free spins bonuses to their new players just for signing up. These are spins you can get without putting any money in the casino. They are also known as no deposit free spins bonuses.
With these free registration bonuses, all you have to do is create an account and confirm your email address. After doing so, the casino will automatically credit your account with free spins.
Since free spins sign-up bonuses come without deposit requirements, they aren’t as generous as those requiring a deposit. The specific number of spins differs from site to site, but anything between 10 and 50 free spins is normal.
⭐ Deposit Bonus and Free Spins Welcome Package
As you probably noticed on this page, free spins can come as part of a more comprehensive offer that includes a deposit match bonus. Many online casinos offer this type of deal. For instance, the casino will offer you a 100% deposit match bonus plus a hundred or several hundred free spins if you deposit money into your account.
When you get so many free spins through a single bonus, you often won’t receive all of the spins in bulk. Instead, the casino will reward you with several free spins for several consecutive days.
For example, if you get 200 free spins, you might receive 25 spins for eight days in a row. We should note that, in such cases, each batch of free spins is usually valid for 24 hours. This means that you need to log in and play every day. Otherwise, the free spins are void.
⭐ Promotional Free Spins Offers
Besides being used to attract new players to sign up, free spins are also a very productive tool for keeping casino regulars on the site. Most online casinos always have at least a couple of regular promotions aimed at existing members.
Depending on the casino, you might find weekly or even daily free spins promotions. These can be very helpful in boosting your bankroll, especially if the bonus includes a considerable number of free spins.
⭐ Free Spins for Newly-Released Slots
Occasionally, the casino might offer a free spins bonus as an exclusive deal for mobile casinos or a particular game to promote it. This normally happens when a game studio publishes a new slot and partners with the casino.
These free spins can come in the form of no-deposit and deposit bonuses. Regardless of this, free spins for newly-released slots can be great deals. They help you test the game for free. If you like it, you can then start playing it with your real money.
⭐ Free Spins Through Loyalty and VIP Rewards
Most online casinos nowadays have thoughtfully designed VIP and loyalty programs to reward their most regular players. These loyalty schemes often include exclusive perks and bonuses that can be very rewarding the higher the player’s loyalty level is.
In many online casinos, you can get a bonus every time you progress to a new loyalty level. Frequently, this bonus comes in the form of free spins.
And, if you manage to climb to the top levels of the VIP club, these free spins bonuses can offer great value. They might include larger bet sizes, more favorable wagering conditions, or other terms that can make the free spins more profitable.
Can You Get Bonus Codes For No Deposit Free Spins?
Usually, you can claim a free spins casino offer without a bonus code. However, some casinos will require you to use a bonus code. To ensure you always get the latest and best casino bonus codes, we regularly include this information in our online casino reviews.
That said, it’s always best to check out this information in the casino’s promotions section as well. Moreover, to ensure you don’t miss out on any free spins bonus codes, it’s also a good idea to sign up for the casino’s newsletter.
Most casino bonus codes are publicly published in the casino’s bonus section. On top of that, some casinos offer exclusive bonus codes sent to select players by email.
How to Use Free Spins in Online Slots
After claiming the free spins, the next key question is – how do you actually play free spins? Luckily, it’s very simple to use free spins.
The first step is to activate the free spins bonus in your casino account. After that, everything is pretty straightforward. Simply open the slot game eligible for the free spins bonus.
Once you do so, you’ll get a pop-up asking whether you want to use the free spins on the game or play with your real money. Of course, in this case, you’ll choose the former option.
Once you’re in the game, all that’s left to do is to start spinning the reels. One great aspect of free spins bonuses is that the bet sizes will be preset. This is especially convenient for beginners, as you only have to spin and not be mindful of any conditions.
Depending on your slot, you can also use gameplay options like auto spins or quick spins. These will speed up your gameplay, and you can just sit back, relax, and watch the wins come in.
Once you’ve used all of the free spins, you will get another pop-up. It will notify you of how much you’ve won and provide other useful intonation. This is the entire process of playing with free spins, one of the simplest types of bonuses you can get online.
Most Popular Free Spins Slots
Another important aspect to consider is that free spins are typically available for a specified game. More precisely, in the free spins bonus terms and conditions, the casino will list the one or several games that you can use the free spins on.
If you find a free spins bonus that lets you pick between multiple games, make sure you can mix your slots. This will enable you to try out several games using the free spins. This is a great way to find a game you like playing before you put any of your money on the line.
It’s worth mentioning that some online slot games generally receive more representation and are included more frequently in free spins offers. Let’s take a look at a handful of online slots that you’ll frequently find included in free spins bonuses:
Starburst by NetEnt
It’s been over a decade since Starburst came out, and this NetEnt slot is still as popular as ever. This simple low volatility slot is often featured in free spin promotions. The game includes a Win Both Ways Feature and a Respins feature that gives you more free spins to boost your winnings.
Gonzo’s Quest Megaways by Red Tiger Gaming
Not to be confused with NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest, this sequel introduced some new features. Most notably, as the name gives out, this is the Megaways feature. With this mechanism, players have even more winning opportunities. More precisely, it offers 117,649 ways to win. It also includes multipliers that can increase the winning amount by up to 15x.
Book of Dead by Play’n GO
Published in 2016, Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is one of Play’n GO’s biggest hits. It’s a classic video slot with a couple of interesting features. Arguably the most exciting one is the free spins bonus. It awards you ten free spins with the option of re-triggering for an additional ten free spins.
Free Spins Bonus Wagering Requirements
Free spins bonuses are just one of many bonus deals you can find on online gambling sites. As such, these offers also tend to include certain terms and conditions. To withdraw any winnings from free spins, you first need to clear wagering requirements within a specified period.
Generally, a turnover of 35x the total free spins winnings is considered an industry standard. This requirement means you must play through the winning amount at least 35 times before unlocking the bonus and withdrawing the money.
Keeping this number in mind, a 35x wagering requirement is fair, and players can realistically meet it. However, many free spins bonuses will come with higher requirements, especially in the case of no deposit free spins bonuses. With that in mind, wagering requirements of 40x to 45x are still solid, but anything over that would be very challenging to clear.
Withdrawing Your Winnings From Free Spins Bonuses
Lastly, when you manage to clear the wagering requirements that come with the free spins, you can withdraw the money. As long as the amount you’ve won is higher than the minimum withdrawal limit, you don’t have to play anymore and can request a withdrawal.
With that in mind, if you’ve won a substantial amount of money and met the wagering requirements, there’s one more aspect that you should be aware of. The online casino might sometimes set a maximum win limit on the free spins bonus.
This win cap will limit how much you can actually take home from such a bonus. The most player-friendly online casinos won’t set a win limit, but some set fairly low limits, so it is something you want to check before playing.
