by Steve Bourie
Free spins bonus offers give online casino players the chance to play selected online slot machines in the real money mode, however, these bonuses typically involve no inherent risk.
Understanding how free spins work will ensure that you always get the most out of any promos that you decide to claim. However, although most free spins promotions are worth claiming, others are worth steering clear of.
With that said, we are going to list seven important things that every online slot machine enthusiast should know before claiming and using free spins bonuses on any legally permitted online casino websites they decide to join. But, first:
What are free spins promos at online casinos, and why do operators give so many away?
Free spins bonuses are essentially marketing strategies used by online casino operators to either entice new players and get them to sign up to their site, or they are used as a way of boosting customer retention and keeping players happy, so those same players hopefully return to their website in the future instead of playing elsewhere.
When a player claims a free spins bonus, either as part of the initial welcome bonus or part of the ongoing loyalty rewards/daily log-in bonus, they can use those free spins to play selected online slots in the real money mode – no strings attached.
A three-reel slot machine
In other words, free spins enable players to try online slot machines without risking any of their hard-earned cash in the process. They have become one of the most effective marketing tools for online casino operators, and players love them, especially online slot machine enthusiasts.
Some free spins bonus offers may require a minimum deposit before they are credited to your account, and others don’t. Operators often credit players who have made at least one deposit on their site with X amount of free spins (usually anywhere from 1 to 50 free spins) as a way of thanking them for their loyalty.
7 important things you should know before claiming an online casino bonus
Before claiming a free spins bonus on the first casino site that you come across, there are many things to consider. Here are seven of the most important things every online casino player should be aware of before claiming free spins:
- Before joining an iGaming site to claim a free spins bonus, ALWAYS make sure that it’s legally permitted to operate in your country and that it is fully licensed and regulated by at least one mid to top-tier licensing authority. NEVER claim free spins on UNLICENSED/UNREGULATED casino sites
- Find out if a deposit is required to unlock the free spins offer because you may need to deposit at least the minimum amount required, which could be $5.00, $10.00 or $20.00, depending on the bonus, depending on the payment method you use to deposit, and the casino’s terms and conditions
- Always head straight to the terms and conditions that are attached to any bonuses that you claim, because they will tell you everything you need to know to ensure you get the most out of your free spins
- Pay close attention to the part about what most sites refer to as the ‘wagering requirement’ (also known as playthrough, turnover or rollover requirement). This is the number of times your free spins winnings must be wagered before you can withdraw
- When your free spins can be used on ANY online slots (bar a few exceptions), look for games with HIGH or ABOVE-AVERAGE Return to Player (RTP%) payout rates because, mathematically speaking, they are more likely to pay than LOW RTP slots. In other words, where possible, use your free spins on slots with a 97.00% or higher RTP payout rate, and perhaps avoid low RTP slots (93.00% or lower)
- Claim as many free spins promotional offers as possible because you have nothing to lose, and you could end up giving your bankroll a quick cash injection each time you claim them
- If your free spins offer requires some kind of unique bonus code to unlock, remember to enter the correct bonus code into the required field, and to use your bonus code/free spins before the offer expires
It’s also important that you always remember to gamble responsibly each time you log in to claim free spins. Many of today’s most trusted sites provide a range of safer gambling tools (aka responsible gambling tools) such as deposit limits, session time reminders, win/loss limits, and spending caps, so use them.
Also, never log in to online casinos to play in the real money mode while tired or intoxicated. Never treat online casino gambling as a job, and never take out financial loans or borrow money from friends or relatives or anyone else you know just for the purpose of gambling.
Final thoughts
Don’t forget that some online casino bonuses can only be claimed when using specific deposit methods, so always find out if your preferred online payment method is included or excluded from the promotion before depositing.
Most free spins winnings are capped at a specific amount, meaning you typically can’t ever win a life-changing progressive jackpot. The capped amount could be, say $50, $100 or $500 (each bonus is different).
Also, some offers may be aimed at mobile users only, which means that you won’t be able to claim them when using a desktop computer or laptop.
Finally, free spins bonus offers are always optional, meaning you don’t have to claim them, but you have nothing to lose, so there’s no point declining them when they are offered to you unless you really can’t be bothered, or simply don’t have the time to claim them and complete your wagering requirements.
Otherwise, take advantage of as many free spins as possible as and when they become available because you could end up winning. You won’t know unless you claim them.
AUTHOR INFO: Steve Bourie is the author of the American Casino Guide Book – the number one bestseller
on casino gambling and travel for more than 25 years, which is now available in a digital format.
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