What are Free Spins Bonuses?
Promotions are vital to any serious online casino. They aim to give players the best experience. And promotions with free spins bonuses are at the very top of that strategy. If, like me, you love slots, you'd want bonus spins on the latest and greatest online slots.
In simple terms, free spins bonuses are offers in which you get free rounds on specific online slots. These offers come in various forms. They include a no-deposit bonus, a reward for referrals, a welcome offer, and free spins unlocked with a deposit. The quantity of free spins you get, and their value, varies from offer to offer. So do the qualifying slots you can play with the extra spins and the terms of the bonus.
This is a point I need to stress, since it is very important. Most world casinos offer free spins bonuses, but with different conditions. Rules and regulations always exist. So, it is vital to read the terms and conditions of a bonus. That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect before you start playing.
Different Types of Online Casino Free Spins
The term “free spins” is pretty broad and has different meanings depending on how it is used. There are two types of free spins. One comes from an online casino promotion. The other is a gameplay feature of an online slot.
- Bonus Free Spins: These are gratis spins you receive as part of a bonus from your online casino. The offer could be a welcome bonus for new players, or an offer for existing customers. The bonus spins you get allow you to play slots for free. Yet, these bonuses come with terms and conditions. They include wagering requirements, bet limits, and payment restrictions.
- Gameplay Free Spins: Many online slots have exciting bonus rounds. These are extra layers within the game with engaging gameplay mechanics. Free rounds are one of the most common additions found in thousands of games. When you activate this bonus round, you get to play a number of times for free. The trigger is usually a specific symbol combination. Claiming free spins on a slot may unlock a path to the jackpot.
Different Types of Free Spins Bonuses
There are many variations of free spins promotions from online casinos. No two bonuses are the same. Casino operators often mix and match offers to appeal to both new and existing players. The most common types of free spins bonuses include:
- Welcome Bonus Spins: The casino welcome bonus is usually the most lucrative offer available. You will find it at almost all online casinos. Casino operators want new customers. So, they often offer something generous. Deposit match bonuses are common. But, many casino sites also add free spins on top of the deposit bonus.
- Free Spins on Registration: Some casinos give gratis spins just for registering. No deposit is needed to claim them. These no deposit free spins are a one-time offer. Online casinos use them to encourage new players to create an account. No deposit free spins offers are an excellent way to test out games for free.
- No Deposit Bonus Spins: Hugely popular but also extremely rare. Free no deposit bonus deals reward you with a bunch of spins for free without you even needing to make a deposit. That means you can enjoy playing slots for real money without dipping into your bankroll. I'll explain this in more detail because it's a type of bonus I get many questions about.
- No Wagering Free Spins: These are very rare. But, an online casino may, at times, offer free spins with no wagering requirement. These rare offers come on special occasions. They might be for a new, highly anticipated slot or a birthday gift. No wagering free spins allow you to withdraw any winnings after only one playthrough.
- Ongoing (returning player) Bonus Spins: Welcome Spins and Bonus Spins on registration entice customers to register with a casino. There are also regular promotions to keep current players happy. Many ongoing online casino promotions are free spins on new or popular slots.
- Special Occasion Free Spins: Many sites put out promotions on certain special occasions. Christmas and Halloween are two very common examples. Many online casinos give out spins for free during these annual celebrations. These types of offers usually require online casino promo codes to unlock them.
No Deposit Free Spins
While free spins promotions may differ slightly from one another, the structure of the bonus will be available in one of two ways. The most common is when you make a minimum deposit, and the online casino rewards you with a number of free spins. For example, 30 free spins on Starburst when you deposit $30. This type of promotion is used frequently, usually weekly, with different games promoted every week.
Alternatively, while they are rarer, you'll sometimes encounter no deposit free spins bonuses at the best rated online casinos. This is the holy grail of casino promotions for many slot players because it does not require a deposit. Yes – you can simply claim the spins without depositing any of your own money. Under these terms, the same bonus example above would simply be 30 free spins on Starburst.
A no deposit bonus is always a popular option, but there are some caveats. As always, you should check the T&Cs of the offer. No deposit promos often have the following drawbacks:
- A higher wagering requirement than a deposit bonus
- A lower number of free spins compared to a deposit bonus
- Not as common as other types of casino promotion
Anther type of no deposit free spins are those awarded via a loyalty or VIP scheme. Online casinos that have a loyalty program, reward returning players with points every time they play on their site. These points can later be exchanged for free spins.
Free Spins and Wagering Requirements - The Lowdown
Every casino bonus you come across has terms and conditions. And you must meet them before cashing out your real money casino winnings. This includes wagering requirements (sometimes called playthrough requirements).
A wagering requirement is a number. It shows how many times you must wager a bonus. You must reach that number before you can withdraw any profits from your casino bonus. For standard casino bonuses, the wagering requirement is attached to the bonus amount. An example is a 20x wagering requirement for a $10 no deposit bonus. This means you’ll need to wager 20 x $10 (bonus amount) before you cash out, which would be $200 in total.
For free spins promotions, the wagering requirement is slightly different. Instead of being attached to a bonus amount, it is attached to the total winnings you make from free spins. Say you win $100 from 100 free spins and the wagering requirement is 20x. You must wager $2,000 (20 x 100) before cashing out your winnings.
Knowing the wagering requirement is vital before playing for a casino bonus. In fact, the wagering requirement is what makes a bonus safe or risky. Some wager commitments will be too harsh and tricky to achieve. Others will be more manageable. Most casino players should achieve a 35x-40x return, at least.