Free Spins bonuses are one of the best casino bonuses on offer. They offer players a chance at winning without breaking the bank and are so common in welcome bonuses in online casinos and in bonus rounds.
So, how long have free spins bonuses been around? Well, the most common bonus seen in casinos and slot machines back in the day was no-deposit bonuses. However, free spins became popular in the early 2000s on slot machines, as they were offered upon registration.
Consequently, free spins began to become attached to other bonuses as an add-on to draw customers in. That is why so many welcome bonuses now include some free spins, because the appeal is so great. According to one statistic, by 2015, 81% of online casino sites were offering free spins. Now, practically every online casino has them.
Now that we have established their appeal and history, let’s discuss the important aspects: How to maximize free spins bonuses.
Types Of Free Spins And How They Can Affect Gameplay
Before we can get into how to use free spins effectively, we need to talk about the types of free spins bonuses.
Here are some of the most common ones:
- No Deposit Free Spins – These are usually part of a bonus where you will be awarded free spins without the need to make a deposit. You may call these free spins with no deposit. Online slots often feature this option because it provides players with a try-before-you-deposit experience.
- No Wagering Free Spins – No wagering free spins are very similar to no deposit free spins. However, the no money needed part comes when you withdraw your winnings from free spins. Players do not need to meet a wagering requirement before withdrawal with this kind of bonus, meaning all their winnings are returned to them instantly.
- Deposit Bonus + Free Spins – This is a common type of free spins bonus that requires players to deposit their so the casino can match the percentage of the bonus to offer them the extra playing opportunities, which will include free spins for good measure.
Terms To Know To Maximise Your Free Spins
Like with most casino lingo, there are key terms to know, especially if you’re trying to win big or make your bonuses stretch. First is the wagering requirements.
Wagering Requirements
Wagering requirements are the number of times you have to play through a bonus before you can withdraw any winnings. While some free spins are wager-free, many are not.
So to withdraw your winnings, you’d have to multiply the amount you received in your bonus, e.g, £300, by 35 to calculate how much you need to wager before taking out your winnings. In that scenario, the answer is £10,500.
Game Restrictions
Often, in the terms and conditions of a free spins bonus, game restrictions will be highlighted. This means that the free spins bonuses is restricted to certain slot games that are listed. You cannot redeem the bonus on the games that are not listed. Casinos do this to promote certain slots and sometimes new releases to their customers.
Expiry Dates
Free Spins always have an expiry date in bonuses. A lot of casinos give a time frame of when players can activate them. For example, sometimes the terms and conditions say that players have 7 days to activate the free spins. This means they have 7 days to apply the spins to their account after signing up for the bonus. Then they will also say the spins are valid for X amount of time. This relates to when the spins have been activated, how long players have to use them.
Players must read the terms and conditions of the free spins bonuses before they sign up to a casino otherwise they may waste or lose their free spins.
Free Spins Strategies: How To Make Them Go Far
Free spins can be incredibly helpful to levelling up in the casino, but there are some strategies to make them go far.
First, players choose slots and games with a high RTP. This is an obvious choice to do when playing with free spins, because the slots offer more long-term value. Therefore, if you play for a long period of time, the high RTP slot reduces the casino’s edge, so you have a better chance (theoretically) of your free spin helping you meet wagering requirements quicker.
Second, make your deposits when there are promotions. Many promotions will be seasonal and will be offered for a limited time. This is common with free spins, and utilising these limited edition promotions will enable you to get free spins on top of deposit bonuses. Furthermore, seasonal promotions tend to offer bigger rewards to players. If you make your deposit, you may get more free spins on a seasonal offer, although this is purely speculative.
Lastly, keep that bankroll in check! Let’s say you win a specific amount, before you deposit to activate free spins (if the bonus requires) set aside some of that money for profit and the rest for deposits/wagering. If you put all of your money back in, you may find your free spins don’t stretch as far as you think, whereas if you have a little left in your bankroll, they can.
Mistakes To Avoid With Free Spins Bonuses
| Mistake | Why You Shouldn’t Make It |
|---|---|
| Forgetting To Check Terms and Conditions | If you forget to check the terms and conditions, you will find yourself not knowing how much to wager, or potentially losing free spins due to expiry dates. |
| Assuming Each Spin Is Equal | Sometimes it will say “spins valued at 10p per spin”, but this is not always true. Understand the stake size is what tells you the value of the free spin, as you could sign up for a really rubbish bonus where the spins aren’t worth much. |
| Think Free Spins = Wins | Free spins do not guarantee wins. So do not assume you will get a payout while using them. They are a tool to help you win, so do not blow them all at once. |
| Not Checking Wagering Requirements | If you do not check the wagering requirements in the terms, you resign yourself to the possibility of making a big bet you can’t afford. |
Free Spins can be fun, but they are also a tool used to help increase your chances of winning. However, free spins may be very easy to obtain, but they do not ensure you will become a winner. Essentially, they are only valuable if you check the terms and play them to your advantage, which you can do if you’re knowledgeable.
