How do free spins work?
Free spin bonuses certainly help draw people’s attention towards a particular casino site but what are they and how exactly do they work? Whilst they can vary slightly between casino site and casino site, free spins basically refer to a site offering players free spins on slot machines and any winnings made from the free spins are for a player to keep. Sounds too good to be true?
Not quite.
Like with many bonuses and promotions offered at casino sites, there is often a wager requirement attached to free spins. What is a wager requirement you might ask? Put simply a wagering requirement is essentially the amount of time a player must put their ‘winnings’ back into the casino before the money can be withdrawn and is officially theirs.
Wagers on free spins can vary fairly significantly between different casino sites. However, it is safe to say that it usually requires players to put in the money they have won 20 – 40 times back into the casino before the winnings become officially theirs and they are able to withdraw the funds.
Typically speaking, wagers associated with free spins and no deposit promotions are higher than bonuses offered that require players to make a deposit. As the wagering requirements differ from site to site in relation to free spins and other bonuses, it is important that players read the terms and conditions so they are not faced with any unwanted surprises, such as being unable to withdraw the money they won on their free spin bonus.
It is also fairly common for free spin bonuses to have a maximum bet attached. For example, if there is a maximum bet of £5, players will be unable to unlock their bonus by £10 every spin on a given slot machine as such bets do not count towards a player’s wager. Furthermore, bets made on certain table games, such as Blackjack, Roulette and Poker, often aren’t included in wagering requirements either.
How do you claim free spins?
If you’re signing up to a site to take advantage of a free spins offer then take the time to find out what’s included. Most limit the spins to selected games so if you want to play one slot in particular you need to check that your free spins will be valid for that game. Sometimes you’ll be able to use your free spins on any game of your choosing but it’s worth checking before you sign up.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that not all free spins can be used on slots. Some bingo sites feature a wheel of fortune style game where players can spin the wheel to win bonuses or prizes. Before you sign up to anything make sure you know exactly what you’ll be getting to spin.
No Wagering Requirements?
Most online casinos won’t let you withdraw anything won on free spins until you’ve wagered a set amount. This can be anything up to four times the amount of your deposit. If you’re taking advantage of a no deposit offer then you might find that winnings from free spins can only be used to play other games and you’re not allowed to withdraw them as cash.
What is the difference between free spins and no deposit bonuses?
No Deposit bonuses are another type of bonus offered on many casino sites as a means of attracting people to the site and getting them to sign up and start playing the games. These types of bonuses can often be a little misleading. This is due to the fact that more often than not, players are only allocated a certain amount of time to play with the offered free bonus. Sometimes this can be as little as an hour and sometimes it can be a whole 24 hours, which still isn’t much time for players to enjoy and take full advantage of them. However, they do enable players to try out a site and familiarise themselves with the different games and how the site works. It has become increasingly rare for a casino to offer any kind of no deposit bonus. They are usually very small amounts with a high wagering requirements. The main reason for this is because casino’s are now taxed in the UK on bonuses. Free Spins are a cheaper way for casinos to attract players as it’s possible each spin may only be worth a penny!
As with all online casino bonuses and promotions, players are encouraged to read the small print.
