What Are Free Spins?
Fundamentally, free spins are rounds of play on a slot machine that are not charged against your cash balance. Each spin of a slot machine typically has a predetermined cost (e.g., $0.10; $1.00) to make the spin. Using a free spin does not mean you do not have to pay for that spin; instead, the casino typically will pay that cost for you.
However, the term "free spin" does not always convey the same meaning because there are typically prerequisites to receiving a free spin. For example, you might be prompted to register (this requires time and data) or deposit cash (this will cost you money) to access a spin.
When you play a slot machine, there are many things happening at once that are designed to keep you interested (lights, sounds, etc.). By granting you access to play for free, the casino gives you an opportunity to experience what it is like to play without any upfront fees. It’s the "try before you buy" strategy in gambling. It eliminates a large portion of what could be perceived as a barrier to entry. If you had to deposit $20 just to experience the fun of playing a slot machine, you might be much less inclined to take the initial risk involved.
Pros and Cons of Free Spins plusi un mīnusi
How Free Spins Work
When you claim one of these offers, the process is generally automated. Let’s say you accept an offer of 50 free spins on one of the most popular games such as Starburst or Book of Dead. When you start playing that game, you will notice that instead of having your cash balance to determine your funds for the spins, there will either be a pop-up or an additional counter displayed on-screen stating the number of free spins available (for example, 50 Free Spins Available).
After hitting the spin button, the reels will spin, and, like with a real money spin, an RNG (Random Number Generator) will determine the results of that spin. As far as the way the game plays or your odds are concerned, there really remains no difference in the mechanics of the game after using a free spin.
The only difference, if you lose the spin, is that you will continue to have 49 remaining spins. If you win on the spin, the amount you won will be credited to your account. However—and here is the very important part—the money that is credited to your account will typically not appear as cash but rather will be in a separate wallet (e.g. “Bonus Money” or “Bonus Balance”).
Spin > Result > Winnings go to Bonus Balance
Free Spins vs Bonus Money
Feature |
Free Spins |
Bonus Money |
Primary Use |
Playing specific slot games |
Can be used on various casino games |
Bet Value |
Predetermined by the casino |
Player can choose bet size (within limits) |
Flexibility |
Low (tied to specific games) |
High (usable on a wider game selection) |
Winnings |
Usually credited as bonus funds |
Winnings are added to the bonus balance |
Play'n GO Hacksaw Gaming Pragmatic Play Pragmatic Play
More demo games
Sweet Bonanza
Le Bandit
Book of Ra
Gates of Olympus 1000
Why Do Casinos Offer Free Spins?
You might be asking yourself why online casinos would just give away chances to win. It seems counterintuitive for a business to hand out free opportunities. However, there are several strategic reasons behind these promotions. Free spins are a powerful marketing tool that benefits both the casino and the player.
Attracting New Players
In a competitive market, online casinos need to stand out. A juicy welcome offer featuring free spins no deposit is one of the most effective ways to catch the eye of potential customers.
The promise of playing for free is a low-risk proposition for a new player. They can sign up, try out the platform, and play a popular slot game without having to commit any of their own funds. If they have a good experience, they are more likely to make a deposit and become a regular player.
A free spins casino that offers a compelling sign-up bonus has a much better chance of growing its player base.
Retaining Existing Players
It’s not all about acquiring new customers. Keeping existing players happy and engaged is just as important.
Casinos use free spins to reward loyalty and encourage players to keep coming back. These offers might be sent via email as a special treat, offered as part of a VIP program, or included in weekly promotions. By providing ongoing value, casinos build a stronger relationship with their players, making them feel appreciated and less likely to stray to a competitor.
A surprise batch of free spins can be a delightful way to maintain player engagement.
Promoting Slot Games
When a game developer releases a new, highly anticipated slot, casinos want to generate buzz around it. What better way to do that than to offer free spins on the new title? This strategy allows a large number of players to try the game immediately upon its release. It works as a form of advertising, showcasing the game's features, graphics, and winning potential.
This not only benefits the casino by driving traffic to the new game but also helps the game provider gain exposure for their latest creation. Sometimes, a free spins deposit bonus will be tied exclusively to a newly launched slot.
5 Steps to Get Free Spins
Types of Free Spins
Different free spins bonus promotions can be offered in different ways and have different terms of conditions and advantages associated with them.
By learning about the different types of free spin bonuses, you can determine which offers are most suitable for your specific play style. Below is a list of the most typical categories you will find while searching for free spin offers online.
No Deposit Free Spins
This is perhaps the most sought-after type of bonus. As the name suggests, free spins no deposit offers are given to you without requiring you to deposit any of your own money. Typically, all you need to do is register an account at the casino. Once your account is verified, the spins are credited and ready to use.
These bonus offers are an excellent way to try out a casino without any risk. You will experience the site first-hand and could potentially win some real cash. As these types of free spins cost nothing to the player, they often have higher wagering requirements and lower maximum withdrawal limits than other types of casino bonuses.
Despite these limitations, players love to use them as there is a real chance of winning free money. Players interested in checking out different options (such as Casino Latvia) can do so with these types of offers.
Deposit Free Spins
This is the most common type of free spins offer. To claim them, you need to make a qualifying deposit. These are often part of a welcome package, where a casino might offer something like a "100% match bonus up to $200 + 50 Free Spins." The spins are an added incentive to make a deposit.
Because they require a financial commitment from the player, deposit free spins offers are often more generous than their no deposit counterparts. You might receive a larger number of spins, and they may come with more favorable terms, such as lower wagering requirements. A free spins deposit bonus is a standard and valuable promotion you'll find at nearly every online casino.
Reload Free Spins
A reload bonus is an incentive given to established players by a casino or bookie. Similar to deposit bonuses, reload bonuses can be received on deposits after the first time players put money into their account.
Reload Bonuses are typically offered by casinos or bookies on a regular basis (e.g., every week) through free spins granted on each deposit made during the promotion period.
The goal for the casino or bookmaker is to reward their loyal customers with additional funds for depositing, and to keep the customer engaged and connected to their site. By offering additional spins, casinos/bookmakers can help create a longer-term relationship with their players by continuing to offer significant amounts of free spins after they have signed up to play on the site as well as many other benefits such as promotions, bonuses and/or tournaments.
No Wagering Free Spins
A rare but very valuable free spin is a no wagering free spin, where any money you win will be yours to keep.
The winning amounts are paid as real cash into your cashable balance right away and there will be no play requirements on those winnings. You can either cash out the winnings or continue playing any other game of your choice.
Because these offers are so player-friendly, they are not as common. You might receive a smaller number of spins, but the fact that you can keep what you win without any strings attached makes them extremely attractive. Finding a free spins casino that offers no wagering bonuses is like striking gold.
Free Spins Terms and Conditions
In order to withdraw winnings from free spins or any kind of bonus claim, you will be subject to a number of terms and conditions. The T&Cs provide the rules for using the bonus and/or claiming your winnings. To avoid being disappointed after you claim an offer, it is very important to read the T&Cs prior to claiming an offer, as they will reveal the true value of the offer.
Wagering Requirements
To understand a wagering requirement whether it be called a playthrough or turnover requirement is extremely important.
A wagering requirement is a multiplier that tells you how many times you must wager your earnings from the free spins before they can be converted into real, withdrawable cash. For example, if you win $10 from your free spins and your wagering requirement is 35x then you will need to wager a total amount of $350 ($10 x 35) before that $10 becomes available for you to withdraw.
It is a large obstacle, which is why casinos utilize wagering requirements to protect themselves from players who can just cash out their bonus winnings quickly.
Maximum Bet Limits
Maximum bet amount limits exist when you deposit money into a casino. The maximum amount you may wager from your bonus funds (for Game Spins or Game Play) in order to fulfill any wagering requirements is typically limited to approximately $5 per wager. If you place an amount larger than the maximum, you may lose your bonus and anything associated with that bonus (including winnings). These limits are meant to prevent players from quickly fulfilling their wagering requirements through one or multiple high-limit bets.
Expiration Dates
All free spins provided as part of promotions have an expiration date associated with them.
As soon as you’re credited your free spins, you will typically have a limited amount of time (often 24 hours or up to 7 days) to use those spins. After using the free spins, any bonuses you receive from the winnings carried over will also have an expiration date in which you must complete the wagering requirements (usually around 30 days).
If you fail to meet either of the deadlines stated above, your bonuses and any winnings you may have received from your bonuses will expire after the expiration period, and will be removed from your account.
Maximum Withdrawal Limits
Many free spins offers, especially free spins no deposit promotions, come with a cap on the amount of money you can win and withdraw. This is often referred to as a "max cashout" or "maximum conversion" limit. For instance, an offer might state that the maximum you can withdraw from the winnings is $100. Even if you win $500 and manage to clear the wagering requirements, you will only be able to cash out $100. The rest will be forfeited. This is another way casinos limit their financial risk on free promotions.
Mobile Casino Free Spins
With the rise of smartphones, mobile gaming has become the dominant way many people play at online casinos. As a result, casinos have fully optimized their platforms and bonus offers for mobile users. You can claim and use free spins just as easily on your phone or tablet as you can on a desktop computer. The experience is seamless, with games designed to work perfectly on smaller screens.
App-Exclusive Free Spins
To encourage players to download their dedicated mobile apps, some casinos offer app-exclusive promotions. This could be a special batch of free spins that you can only claim by logging into the casino's app. These offers serve as an incentive to get the app onto players' devices, allowing the casino to engage with them more directly through push notifications and a more personalized gaming experience. It’s always worth checking if a casino has an app and if there are any special bonuses associated with it.
Playing Free Spins on Mobile
Playing free spins on a mobile device is incredibly convenient. The process is identical to the desktop experience. You log in, open the eligible slot game, and your spins will be waiting for you. Modern slot games are built with a mobile-first approach, meaning they feature touch-friendly controls and responsive designs that adapt to any screen size. Whether you're commuting, waiting in line, or just relaxing on the couch, you can enjoy your free spins and have a chance to win wherever you are. The flexibility of mobile play has made claiming a free spins deposit bonus more appealing than ever.
Responsible Gaming
When you play with free spins and other transactional gambles as bonuses offered by the best established online casinos, remember that although these bonuses add a level of fun to the overall online gambling experience, you still need to maintain a responsible attitude towards gaming and gambling in general.
It is also worth noting that casino games are provided purely for entertainment value and are based on luck only. Gambling is incorrect if you attempt to win back your losses by cashing out again or betting more than you are able to comfortably afford to lose.
To prevent issues arising from lack of responsible gambling habits, it is advised that you only use reputable casinos as they will have safety measures in place for their clientele (depositing limits, session times, self-exclusion options).
Should you ever find that you are having issues with your gambling, it is highly recommended that you reach out to one of the many professional organisations that are committed to promoting responsible gaming and receive assistance from these organisations.