Free spins are among the most common and most popular slot bonuses at online casinos. They’re often part of welcome bonuses, but many casinos have them for regular players, too. Free spins usually come in the form of deposit or no-deposit spins. Both are a great option to experience new games.
While players love them—especially slot fans—this type of bonus has its pros and cons. While the pros far outweigh the cons, it’s safe to say that there are some things you should know about this casino bonus that limit its potential. We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages below.
The Biggest Free Spins Advantages
Unlike deposit or no deposit cash bonuses, free spins are not a cash bonus. Casino sites are quite generous with this offer as they’re not giving you real money to play with. Free spins are only available on slots and can be used to win real money, just like you can do with the Big Boost casino welcome bonus.
There’s a lot of value in free spins, especially when it’s a no-deposit offer. Yes, you might not get a large number of free spins this way, but you do get to check out a casino or a top new slot. This is one of the largest advantages of free spins. You get to play slots and check casino sites out without spending a lot of money, and you still get to win something in return.
Most free spin offers are used as a way to promote new casinos or new games. You luck out with both. New casino sites often try hard to get the attention of fans, and free spins are a perfect choice for scouting various missions. This is especially true for no-deposit spins. Unlike sign-up offers, no deposit-free spins on sign-up are literally a free pass for you to check a casino and see if you like it.
The same goes for slots. Free spins are often used to promote hit slots or new slots. With this bonus, you can explore games you’ve never played before. However, you should first check out the terms, as most free spin offers are available on one game only. Some games are almost cannon fodder for free spins. For example, you’ll find many offers for NetEnt’s Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, or Gates of Olympus. If you’re a new player on the market, you’ll be glad to try these ageless slot hits.
The biggest advantage of using free spins bonuses is that you can use them to win real money. You may not play with real money, but that’s the prize you get for using your spins. Only under certain conditions, though. For example, you won’t be able to claim your winnings without first completing the wagering requirements. Also, you’ll have a cap on bets and the maximum possible wins. That’s why it’s important to read the terms of free spins offers before you claim them, as there are many strings attached that you need to be aware of.
Yes, the term free might indicate otherwise, but unless you find a no-wager free spins bonus—which is rare—you won’t get anything for free.
The Disadvantages of Free Spins Bonuses
While there are many advantages of free spin bonuses, there are also some disadvantages. While the pros far outweigh the cons, you should know that no casino bonus is perfect. To be fair, there aren’t that many disadvantages as they’re potential restrictions. Most seasoned players might be put off by some of these restrictions, which don’t allow you to use free spin offers to their potential.
In order to protect themselves against heavy losses, casinos set the minimum bet level pretty low for this bonus. This is a multi-billion dollar industry with a rising annual rate, so it’s only natural for casinos to try and cut back on their losses. Since you can win big with free spins, they’ve decided to cut on that potential by limiting the bet values of your free spins.
This means that you can only bet very small amounts per spin. The average is somewhere around 10c, or it may go up to 20c. In that way, casinos ensure you won’t win big, which is a downside for some players who stay off free spin offers.
The wagering requirements are another major disadvantage for some free spins bonuses. This is the number of times you have to play your winnings over before withdrawal. Some casinos might set this figure inexplicably high, which makes completing the wagering all the more challenging. For example, if the winning cap is at $100 and you need to wager the winnings 40 times before withdrawal, it means you need to spend at least $400 to win $100. That’s not a great look.
Also, when choosing free spins bonuses, you have to consider another element – the lack of choices. Most free spin offers are tied to a single game, usually as a way to promote it. If you don’t like the slot on offer, then you won’t enjoy your bonus a lot. Also, it’s fair to mention that free spins can’t be used on progressive jackpots. Bets made with this bonus on this particular game type won’t count, essentially cutting you off from life-changing rewards.
Conclusion
Free spins remain one of the most popular casino bonus types. They’re prevalent in today’s industry and offer great action on the latest and greatest slot games. However, they’re not without disadvantages, including potentially high wagering requirements, limited game eligibility, and no progressive jackpots.
Luckily, the pros far outweigh the coins in this case. Free spins are a great way to check out a new casino or slot site so you can see if it’s worth a try. Also, it’s a great way to discover new games, as the bonus might be attached to a slot you haven’t tried before. If you stick to the terms and you don’t expect a lot, it is a bonus worth claiming.