Free Spins Bonus Guide
The term ‘free spins bonus’ is often used to describe a casino welcome bonus or promotional offer. However, it can also refer to an online slot’s bonus round. For new players this can prove confusing to say the least! Understanding the difference can be instrumental in your casino journey.
Recent legislation indicates a change on the horizon, whereby online casinos are moving more towards the use of ‘extra spins’ or ‘deposit spins’ in their welcome and promotional descriptions as it is argued that ‘free spins’ bonuses are not actually ‘free’. Here at LeoVegas, we like to use the term ‘cash spins’.
Our guide will highlight different types of casino free spins bonuses and promotions in addition to exploring the popular free spins bonus round featured in many online slots. So as not to confuse the issue, we will look at bonuses and promotions first.
What are free spins?
Free spins do exactly what they say on the tin! They are a form of casino bonus that allow you to play online slots for free. However, the reason why regulators quibble that these are not entirely free is because you are usually expected to deposit funds to claim a free spins bonus, plus there is often a wagering requirement attached to any winnings.
Free spins are often included in a casino’s welcome offer, which is typically a deposit match bonus. Some offers may restrict the slots on which you can play, but essentially you will receive a batch of spins that can be used on one or several of the slots in the casino’s lobby, and you can potentially win real money from them.
What is a free spins promotion?
A free spins promotion is a bonus that is offered to existing players and can usually be found on the LeoVegas ‘Current Promotions’ page. The free spins promotion may be part of a deposit match bonus or mid-week reload, but it can also be a stand-alone weekly offer.
It will have certain conditions imposed such as turnaround times and wagering requirements that players must meet and typically has a promotional start and end date. By switching up promotions on a fairly regular basis, this keeps the site fresh and appealing for both new and existing customers.
What does ‘no deposit free spins’ mean?
The term ‘no deposit free spins’ means exactly that – free spins that are awarded without the need for a deposit. These offers are often used as a sign-up bonus for new players and are typically lower in value than deposit bonuses. All you need to do is complete registration, activate your account and claim your no deposit free spins.
These offers provide new players with a free opportunity to try the casino’s online slots. The no deposit free spins are usually valued around 10p/20p each, and more often than not, players will need to meet specific wagering requirements prior to any withdrawals.
Types of free spins bonuses & promotions
Free spins bonuses and promotions can come in all shapes and sizes, but essentially when you narrow them down, there are just a few key elements to look out for:
No deposit free spins
As discussed above, these are typically offered at sign-up once registration is complete but can also be part of a regular promotion offered to existing players. Take, for example, our LeoVegas Social Media Campaign. Players can enter the draw for 50 no deposit free spins just by liking our Facebook and Instagram pages plus the relevant Game of the Week, Exclusive Game or Early Release social media post and leaving a comment with your LeoVegas nickname.
Check out our Weekly Free Spins No Deposit Contest here
Deposit free spins
These are the most common casino bonuses to be found. Players will need to deposit funds to receive these free spins and playthrough their deposit on selected casino games. Typically offered as a welcome bonus, the player’s deposit can be fully or partially matched with a bundle of free spins attached.
The number of free spins can be considerably higher than what you would expect from a no deposit free spins offer and can often be as high as 200 free spins! However, if the number of free spins seem low in volume, don’t automatically dismiss the offer.
Sometimes, the value of each spin is much higher than that offered on no deposit free spins deals. So, rather than playing with spins that are worth 10p/20p each, you could be playing with spins that are valued up to £1 per spin.
Players can often find deposit free spins deals on the LeoVegas promotions page. A minimum deposit amount will be specified and a small number of free spins offered. These offers can help promote new or exclusive slots. At LeoVegas, they also often carry low wagering requirements.
Wager-free spins
When a free spins offer states no wagering requirements, it means that players can enjoy their free spins bundle without the need to playthrough any winnings a certain number of times prior to withdrawal. You will typically find wager-free requirements attached to free spins bonuses or promotions where a lower number or value of spins are offered.
Personalised free spins offer
Here at LeoVegas, we like to look after our players, and once in a while we’ll simply send you a free spins offer to play on a selected online slot! Just keep an eye on your ‘My Offers’ page, where you will receive your personalised offer detailing any playthrough conditions or wagering requirements to be met.
Mobile free spins
Irrespective of whether you are playing from your desktop or mobile device, you will still have access to the same fantastic LeoVegas free spins offers. We offer dedicated mobile apps for both Android and iOS users, so you can download today and claim your free spins deal while gaming on the go!
LeoVegas is proud to offer award-winning apps that enhance your mobile gaming experience through cutting-edge technology and a dedication to continuous improvements.
Free spins bonus terms and conditions
When claiming your free spins offer, it’s important that you first read through the bonus terms and conditions. These will outline any particular requirements necessary. You may discover that the bonus is not suited to your needs and a different offer would be more beneficial.
You are usually only allowed to claim the bonus once. For example, the welcome package is available to new players only. Bonus abuse is taken very seriously at LeoVegas, and any player trying to claim more than once, attempting to open multiple accounts or not strictly adhering to the bonus terms will face suspension or exclusion from the site.
Here are some of the more general free spins bonus terms you can expect to find:
- Minimum deposit: This is the minimum deposit amount required to be eligible for the bonus.
- Maximum bet: This is the maximum bet allowed during playthrough, typically 25% of the deposited amount.
- Win cap: For non-depositing players, the max win or withdrawal is capped at £50.
- Restricted slots: Some slots may be restricted from playthrough for the free spins bonus.
- Time limits: These can vary and apply to both the promotion’s duration and playthrough time period.
- Wagering requirements: Free spin bonus may be subject to wagering requirements before players can cash out their winnings.
- Playthrough contributions: Not all slots will contribute 100% towards wagering, so check the bonus terms.
When it comes to the wagering requirements, LeoVegas is not afraid to offer free spins bonuses with minimal wagering requirements or even wager free conditions, so don’t forget to check the promotions page on a regular basis!
Slot games & free spins bonus
Let’s now move on to discuss the popular bonus feature found in most online slots, the free spins bonus round. Some software developers refer to the feature as ‘free games’ to avoid any confusion, but it is more popularly known as the free spins bonus.
How do I get free spins?
The free spins bonus is usually triggered by landing a certain number of scatters, typically three or more, on the slot reels. Sometimes, these scatters may also offer an instant payout in addition to the free spins. Certain games will stagger the number of free spins dependent upon the amount of triggering scatters.
For example:
- 3 scatters: 5, 8 or 10 free spins
- 4 scatters: 8, 10, 12 or 15 free spins
- 5 scatters: 10, 12, 15 or 20 free spins
You can find out how many spins to expect and how to trigger them by reading the paytable and game rules information. Sometimes, the scatters may need to line up in certain positions on the reels. At other times, they can trigger the free spins bonus from any position.
How the free spins bonus round works
The free spins bonus round can often come with additional features not available in the base game, such as win multipliers, colossal symbols, stacked wilds, transforming symbols and more. Often, the feature can be retriggered, or you can pick up additional free spins for landing a scatter or bonus symbol on the reels. It is often in the free spins bonus round where you have the best chance to spin for the maximum win.