How Do Free Spins Work in Slots
Written by: Filip Gromovic Reviewed by: Nashon Khamala
Read time: 9 minutes
It’s unlikely that anyone hasn’t heard of this form of reward. Online casinos offer free online slots in different forms, from being part of welcome offers to no deposit bonuses and reloads. However most gambling enthusiasts still wonder – are free spins worth it? Our FreeSlots99 experts may be able to help you find the answer.
Free spins are one of the most effective player acquisition tools, with our research showing a 47% higher engagement rate compared to standard welcome bonuses.
Filip Gromovic, Senior iGaming Writer at FreeSlots99
Free Spins Basics
If you’re trying to determine what are casino free spins, the answer is simple – they are slot bonuses that set the reels in motion without using your money. So it’s the perfect way of keeping your bankroll intact while exploring some new and popular slots.
To give you an answer to the question of «How do free spins work?», we need to explain a bit more about them. They are usually a part of the site’s welcome package, although you could also get them as a regular player. Casinos offer them to get you engaged with new slots they’ve just added to the showreel. That’s why you’ll often find the latest releases as qualifying games.
However the casino always has the upper hand. They mainly issue promotions to attract new players, or at least to keep their current players happy. There’s nothing wrong with that from a player’s standpoint. You should know that nothing comes completely free of charge in the online casino world.
The same goes for free spins as they often come with certain T&Cs you’ll have to meet to use them to their fullest. They may be as simple as playing slots chosen by the operator or as difficult as meeting a x40 or higher wagering requirement. You’ll be on the winning side since you get to try some of the greatest new slots without any risk! The only thing you have to do is find a site with fair terms and great games to play.
Types of Free Spins Bonuses
Besides wondering about the basics of these offers, many players also ask themselves – are free spins really free? Now that’s a smart question if we’ve ever seen one, and the answer is that it depends on how you look at it. For instance, you can’t say they are as free as playing your favorite demo games at FreeSlots99 without spending a dime.
After all, you have to be a member of a certain casino platform to use them. You can find some no deposit spins that are more or less free to use. That’s why the answer depends on the FS type, and these are the most common ones:
No Deposit Free Spins
No deposit spins are perfect representatives since they are free in every way possible. You can get them without depositing any money into your casino account. In most cases, you’ll get fewer spins with potentially more demanding requirements compared to other types.
Welcome FS
If you want to know how to get free spins in slots, the best way is to find a site that hands them over as soon as you join. Welcome FS usually requires no action on your end as a perfect gift from the operator to help you get started. You just need to register for an account to grab them.
Deposit FS
These are the opposite of the first type we’ve discussed. The site may award newbies with some FS after making the first deposit, or it could be a recurring thing for regulars.
Weekly Reloads
Sometimes, casinos will even issue batches of spins to players who are loyal to the site, and you may be able to get them every week. Some sites do it on weekends while others give you FS on specific days in the week.
Tournament Prize Spins
If you’re eager to keep the competitive edge high, you can beat other players in leaderboard promotions to get some spins. Simply collect more points to climb the leaderboard ladder higher than others and get more spins.
How to Use Free Spins
These bonuses could sometimes seem too good to be true. So, it’s no concern that some players wonder «Are free spins legit?». You’ll be pleased to know that joining the site is often enough to get a batch of spins.
Still, you can claim your spins in many different ways. For instance, searching for sites with no-deposit prizes or genuinely promos is a great method to try, especially if you wish to avoid spending a dime. But, when that’s not possible, it’s always a good idea to look around and try to find the most convenient deal.
You can explore available FS offers by joining a prominent casino known for good promotions and exploring available treats. Even if an offer seems fair, you should always check the T&Cs. Sadly, some sites have very harsh rules for using these, and you won’t have any use for them if you can’t withdraw your winnings. That’s why knowing the most common T&Cs for such bonuses is crucial to get you ready for it.
Terms and Conditions to Consider
Mentioning the rules and conditions of these promotions gets us back to the common question – are free spins really free? Well, even if they seem to be, they always come with a certain set of rules to follow. Here’s an overview of the most common ones:
- Qualifying games – When asked about what does free spins mean, your first thoughts would probably be that you can use them however you please. We hate to break it to you, but online casinos usually pick the games you can use the spins on. Of course, there are some that allow you to use them on your favorite slots, but you’re more likely to find a list of designated games within bonus terms.
- Wagering requirements – As with any other major bonus type, wagering requirements are among the main terms. In this case, they refer to the rollover amount reflecting your FS winnings. So, if you get 100 spins at x30 wagering and win $100, you’ll need to keep playing until you’ve spun the amount of $3,000 before withdrawing.
- Bet size limits – Since we’ve got some pretty high-paying slots these days, casinos usually protect themselves by limiting your bet size. In most cases, the spin value will be set to $0.1, which means you can’t exactly hope for sky-high wins.
- Max win caps – Another common restriction for this promo type is a max win cap. For instance, if the winnings are capped at $100, you won’t be able to cash out more even if the slot theoretically pays higher.
- Qualifying time frames – In most cases, you’ll also get from 7 days to 30 days to use and wager your spins.
Effectively Using Free Spins
The answer to the inquiry of «Are free spins worth it» also depends on how you use them. You’ll need to play your cards right by choosing a fair casino with a rewarding FS bonus to get the most out of it. For that matter, you can check out our lists of the best US casinos at FreeSlots99.
One of the key aspects of successful bonus usage is to look for offers with fair terms. Even if you get to play your favorite slots, you won’t have much use out of it if the wagering requirements are x50 or higher. Aim for offers with requirements you can realistically meet, such as x30 wagering, or even lower when possible.
Knowing your slots is also the key. If the site offers extra spins on games with extremely low volatility, you may get some small wins in return, but you’ll unlikely be hitting juicy winnings. Some of the most popular slots for this type of bonus include Book of Dead, Sweet Bonanza and Gates of Olympus. So, aim for these whenever possible and check out their free demos to know what to expect.
How to Withdraw Free Spin Winnings
Now that you know how do free spins work, it’s time to show you how to withdraw your winnings. It’s simple when you get familiar with the bonus rules. You just have to wager the funds and hit the cashier section.
Here’s our expert tip for tracking your wagering – set the «Autoplay» option to 100 spins and watch as they unfold. Calculate the rough amount needed for cashing out the bonus prize, and deduct spin values on every 100 spins. It will make things easier if you can’t keep up tracking your balance.
Some casinos will even display your FS winnings as «bonus funds». So, to withdraw them, you’ll need to keep playing and watch as they get transferred to a real cash balance. That’s it – you’ll get your chance to cash out as soon as you’re done with the wagering.
Common Free Spins Promotions
When discussing how to get free spins in slots, we’ve already touched upon the different types. But, there are countless different variations of FS promotions, including these as the common ones:
- Daily or Weekly Spins
- No-wager Spins
- Loyalty or VIP FS
- New Slot FS
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why a site would give you this type of reward. If possible, we certainly recommend getting no-wager spins since they are simply more convenient for withdrawing your winnings. New slot promos are also great as you get to test new gaming options without spending your balance, so keep a keen eye and pick the best offer for your playing style.
Filip Gromovic is a senior slots reviewer here at FreeSlots99 with over five years of experience evaluating the latest drops in the world of iGaming.
Being a slot fan himself, Filip approaches slot ratings just the way we like it – professionally, but also from a player’s standpoint.
That enables him to give his unbiased take on the slot’s features, gameplay and design, while only recommending top-tier releases to our readers.
More info on Filip Gromovic
Having served FreeSlots99 for more than 5 years as a senior content editor and reviewer, Nashon Khamala has extensive knowledge in game slots and iGaming.
His membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association helps him deliver content that reaches both editorial excellence standards and an engaging information level.
By using his expertise in slots games combined with player-focused analysis, Nashon delivers a professional evaluation of slot features and player experiences in his reviews.
More info on Nashon Khamala