All You Need to Know About Free Spins

If you’ve visited online casinos before, you’re probably familiar with various kinds of promotions. But just in case, let’s start out by explaining exactly what free spins, or simply freespins, are. Essentially, they’re free game rounds that are offered by online casinos as a way to attract new players or keep existing ones happy.  They’re typically limited to online slots or jackpot games, and the player will need to give something in return in order to claim the spins. In the casino world, we often separate freespins into 2 main types:

• Deposit free spins on sign up (requires a deposit)
• No deposit free spins on sign up (only requires signing up to the site and might require a bonus code)

Deeper into the guide we’ll go more into detail on what other types of free spins exist. But at this point, you might be wondering how to choose an offer and how to actually claim a freespins bonus. So, let’s get into that first.

How to Claim a Free Spins Bonus

Claiming a bonus is often as simple as choosing an available promotion at our shortlisted sites, and then register to the site. To qualify for most online casino bonuses, you’ll just have to make a big enough deposit according to the casino’s policy.  Some sites, however, offer no deposit free spins on sign up which is a kind of promotion where you don’t even need to risk your own money. Here’s a quick guide that explains step by step what you need to do:

1. Find a free spins bonus at a reliable online casino. For this, we recommend browsing our top listed sites of which you can also learn more by clicking the INFO button to access our expert reviews.
2. Click on the registration button. When signing up to a casino there might come a point where you need to confirm which bonus you want. Choose the freespins offer and continue to follow the on-screen instructions from the site.
3. Read the terms & conditions. Once you fully understand the bonus terms and conditions which are usually summarized at the promotion page, you may accept the terms and continue. Typically, free spins come with a playthrough requirement, but more on that later.
4. Make a deposit. You can refer to the bonus terms and conditions to learn how much you need to deposit in order to qualify for the freespins bonus. Once you’ve decided how much you want to play with, choose your payment method in the casino’s list of accepted payment methods.
5. Activate your free spins and enjoy! Your spins should be tied to a slot or jackpot game, so next you’ll just need to navigate to the slot section and find the game. Open the game and your spins will automatically be credited to your account. 

Different Types of Free Spins Bonuses

Let’s look at some common ways online casinos design these promotions. Remember when we told you there are two main types of this casino bonus, the ones that require a deposit as well as no deposit free spins? Below are some other types of promotions you might want to keep an eye out for.

Cash & Free Spins as Welcome Bonus

When you visit an online casino and deposit money for the first time, you might get a bonus that combines both free spins and cash. Keep in mind that while it may look good on paper, you always want to read the bonus terms.  Many of our recommended free spins bonuses are just that, some spins, but they come with lenient terms. We don’t just focus on how good an offer looks, because we want players to actually win and be able to withdraw their winnings fast.

Wager Free Spins

All casinos are out to make a profit, so it’s hard to come by free spins with no wagering requirement or bonus terms. Still, wager free bonuses are common in some countries. One example is Sweden where the competition between casinos is fierce, and operators are required by law to restrict bonuses to one offer per player.    The benefit of free spins without wagering requirement is that you don’t have to risk your money at all. And you can withdraw your winnings at any time. Be aware, however, the sites that offer them will try to make their money back in other ways. The spins might, for instance, only be usable in average or low RTP slots.

Wager Free No Deposit Free Spins

Free spins with no deposit and no wager requirements are an extremely rare find. And once you do find them, you can count on the bonus terms to be very strict in other ways.  For example, some online casinos offer slot tournaments that give free spins if you place high enough on the leaderboard. You’ll still need money to play with, but the promotion technically don’t require any deposit to enroll in the tournament. Case in point, not as good as it might look on paper. If you’re completely new to a site and want to get your hands on wager free no deposit free spins, it’s difficult. Furthermore, the number of spins you get will  typically be very low. You might get at most 10 or 20 free spins on registration with no deposit requirement. We recommend saving yourself the trouble and just choosing a bonus that has low deposit and wagering requirements.  

Daily Free Spins

The best sites know how to pamper players with regular promotions and perks. At some of our highest ranked casinos, players can enjoy daily free spins offers that often come with low playthrough and deposit requirements. Many of our listed sites also offer daily or weekly tournaments you can partake in to win your share of massive cash rewards. 

Split Up Free Spins

Some promotions, especially those that give a large number of spins, will limit how many you can play with per day. For instance, 100 free spins might be split up into portions of 25 each day for your first 4 days at the casino. All you have to do is return to the online casino each day to activate your daily free spins.

How We Find the Best Promotions with Free Spins 

Just visit a few online casino sites and you’ll quickly learn that free spins is a really common and popular casino promotion. In fact, almost all casinos offers either cash or free game rounds when you register to the site and play for the first time. Needless to say, finding the best promotions can be tough. This is where EuropeSlots come in. Our experts test hundreds of freespins bonuses every month and are always looking for new promotions. We compare everything from bonus size to bonus terms in order to highlight the very best offers to our readers. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the things our experts look for when evaluating and rating free spins casinos.

Value & Size of the Bonus

All casino bonuses have a value in real money, which is more important to consider than the number of actual spins. For instance, let’s say a casino values a 100 free spins no deposit bonus at 1 cent per spin. In this case, the actual cash worth would only be 100 cent. If another casino offers 10 free spins with no deposit requirement at 1 dollar per spin, you’d be better off going with that site.

Game offering

We also look at the games that the spins are usable on. Is it a popular slot with a high RTP and max potential? Or a slot that few have ever heard of? To be fair, free spins bonuses are often used to market new games. But we’ll rate a casino higher if the spins are usable in slots with a good return rate and high hit rate. Better yet if the game is known for paying out big wins on occasion. 

Bonus terms & Conditions

We always consider all of the bonus terms when choosing whether to recommend a free spins bonus.  Things to look out for when you choose a combination bonus, for instance, is how much the wagering requirement is and how much you’re allowed to cash out. You’ll also want plenty of time to fulfill any wagering requirement before the bonus goes bust.

Free Spins Terms & Conditions

As with all types of casino bonuses, players always need to meet the terms and conditions set by the casino in order to claim a free spins promotion. Rules like playthrough requirements exist to protect the operator from suffering too much in losses. Even a low wagering requirement guarantees the casino will get back at least some of their invested money. Below, we’ve listed all common bonus terms you may come across. 

Wagering Requirement

The infamous wagering requirement, sometimes referred to as playthrough requirement, is the biggest term all gamblers need to be aware of. Most cash and free spins bonuses will require you to bet your money or spins a number of times before a cutoff-point. If you don’t meet the wagering requirement in time, you’ll be disqualified and lose out on your winnings.

Deadline

The second thing to look out for is the deadline or cutoff-point of the wagering requirement. Our recommended sites typically offer between 30 and 60 days which should be more than enough time to fulfill a reasonable wagering requirement.

Deposit Requirement

Let’s not forget that most promotions require you to deposit a small amount of your own money in order to claim the bonus. An exception is online casino free spins no deposit bonuses, which are fairly rare to come by. At our shortlisted casinos, the minimum deposit to qualify will typically be $10 or the equivalent in other currencies. 

Bet Limits

Some free spins bonuses come with  a limit on how much you can wager per spin. This is more common in jackpot games where you can qualify for huge prize pools by betting over a certain amount. If you’re unsure whether your bonus has a limit on bets, you can always check the terms and conditions of the promotion.

Max Withdrawal

Some casinos set a max withdrawal limit on their free spins bonuses to prevent players from winning too much. A site might for instance set a limit to $100 in which case anything you win over that limit will be denied at a withdrawal request.

Other Terms & Conditions

Other terms than the above mentioned may include the restriction of one bonus per household or IP address. You may also find that some payment methods don’t mix well with casino bonuses like free spins. For instance, some sites exclude eWallets like Neteller and Skrill from their promotions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are online casino free spins?

A type of promotion given by online casinos where you get to play for free in a slot or jackpot game. It’s also a common bonus feature in those types of games.

How do I get free spins?

Simply navigate to the top listed free spins casinos further up on the page. Register to the casino site and claim your bonus. Except for no deposit free spins bonuses, most promotions require you to deposit a small amount in order to qualify for the bonus. At some sites, you also have to input a bonus code to claim your spins.

What are the terms and conditions of freespins bonuses?

Most freespins bonuses have a wagering requirement which means you’ll have to wager your winnings a certain number of times in order to qualify for a withdrawal. You have a set number of days to fulfil the wagering requirement. Other terms and conditions may apply, so always read them carefully.

Can I win real money with a free spins casino bonus?

Yes! It wouldn’t be much of a point of free spins otherwise, would it? That being said, bonuses always come with terms and conditions and the overall value of promotions vary. Always go with a bonus that has been tested and recommended by experts to get the most out of your time and money.

Where do I find the best free spins casino promotion?

Here at EuropeSlots.com we list the latest and best bonuses. Not only do we consider the amount of spins you get, but also their cash value, wagering requirement and other terms. Whether you’re after a no deposit free spins bonus, a deposit bonus or a combination bonus, you’ll find us list everything that’s available at the best casino sites.

What is a wagering requirement or playthrough requirement?

A common bonus term attached to free spins that sees players gamble their winnings and/or bonus money a certain number of times before qualifying for a withdrawal.

What should I look for in a free spins bonus?

Look beyond the size of the bonus and how good the promotion reads. What’s more important is the cash value of the spins, and whether or not the bonus comes with a reasonable wagering requirement. We recommend sticking to bonuses at our shortlisted sites that have a wagering requirement of 40 or less.

Why do casinos offer free spins?

As with any kind of promotion, free spins are a way for the casino to attract new people and reward loyal players at their site. It’s also a way for software providers and game developers to market their products and get people to play them.

Are there any downsides I should be aware of?

Most promotions that give free spins require you to risk some of your own money by making a deposit first. With very few exceptions, casino bonuses also come with a wagering requirement that needs to be met before you can withdraw your winnings.

Do I have to make a deposit to get free spins?

Sometimes. Whenever there are free spins with no deposit requirement available, you’ll find the promotion listed on this page. That is, as long as the bonus comes with reasonable terms and conditions and a wagering requirement that is easy enough to fulfil.