Casino free spins defined

Whether you’re playing at a land-based casino or at an online casino you will often come across the words ’free spins’. The OSAC team are regularly asked about these ‘free spins’, what they are, whether or not they’re worth it and how to get them. So, for those that are still unsure, what exactly are ‘free spins’?

The literal definition of free spins is the extra spins you get on a slot machine that you don’t pay for. This could mean spins that you don’t deposit credits or money for, or spins that don’t come out of your deposited funds on the machine.

They are a popular and regular feature at casinos and on slot machines and games that give players a chance to play and possibly win with no risk to their bankroll.

What sort of free spins are there?

Free spins come in three basic versions: bonuses, promotions and in-game.

Free spin bonuses and promotions are usually offered by the casino (both land-based and online) while in-game free spins are usually a feature of the slot machine or online slot game.

Free spin bonuses

Online casinos in particular are well-known for offering great sign-up bonuses to new players. These bonuses are known as welcome bonuses and usually take the form of ‘free’ money (a specific bonus amount added to your first real cash deposit). In addition to the deposit bonus, players often get a set number of free spins on a particular online slot game. In this instance, when the player first plays on that particular slot, they get a number of spins that do not cost them any money.

Land-based casinos can also offer players these bonuses, normally when they sign-up for the casinos loyalty card or programme.

One thing to look out for, particularly with the online casino free spins and bonuses, is the wagering requirement. This is a set of terms and conditions that must be met before the player can withdraw any winnings they may get from the free spins.

Promotions

Promotions are another area where casinos offer free spins. These could be tied to a slots tournament or could be a reward for frequent players or VIP players and gives them the chance to play without risking their own money – for a while at least.

Free spins (both as bonuses and as part of a promotion) are usually associated with a specific slots game or game series.

In-game

In-game free spins are features of the slots game itself. When you line up or collect certain symbols you trigger a round of free spins, or even a bonus game that allows you to play for free spins. In our opinion these are the best sort of free spins because they allow you to really rack up impressive winnings without costing you a cent!

Some games even let you win free spins on your free spins round to keep those reels spinning and the win climbing at absolutely no risk to your bankroll.

Where do I find free spins?

For casino bonus free spins and promotions you need to look for what the casino has on offer. At land-based casinos you can speak to the loyalty club managers to find out everything about the bonuses you can get when you join. For online casinos you can normally find all the latest bonuses prominently featured on the home page or just search for the promotions page (every online casino has one).

Not all slots games feature free spins so, if you are looking for the, make sure you check the info on your chosen slots game. Land-based casinos usually have all the information posted on the machine itself while online slots games will have an info button (an ‘i’ or the word info or even the little hamburger-looking three lines that denote extra content) that will tell you all about the free spins and how to trigger them.

Are free spins worth it?

Yes, but with a caution. In-game free spins are awesome as you get to play and win without betting any money. Bonus and promotion free spins can, however, come with some very strict wagering requirements that, if not completed correctly, mean you lose all your winnings.

Always check the wagering requirements!

But even bonus and promotion free spins offer players a great extra: you can test new slots games without risking your cash!

How do I trigger free spins?

Free spins as part of bonuses or promotions can be claimed using coupon codes at the cashier page or can be triggered automatically when you first start playing the selected slots game.

In-game free spins are triggered when you hit specific combinations on the reels. These could be getting three scatter symbols for example, or there may be specific free spin symbols. The game’s pay table will tell you exactly what you need to do to trigger the free spins feature.

Which online casinos and games offer the best free spins?

This is a question with no real answer. Most online casinos offer free spin bonuses to entice and reward players while a lot of online slots games (but not all) offer free spins in-game.

The only way to find ‘the best’ is to research casino bonuses and to play different slots games.

OSAC, however, does recommend these reputable and trusted online casinos for safe and secure gambling as well as great free spin offers:

Jackpot (especially recommended because they offer NO WAGER free spins!)

PlayLive Casino

Fun Casino

Slots Heaven

Casino.com