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Free Spins – Are They Worth It? Pros and Cons of the Slot Bonus

Anybody who has spent any time exploring casino platforms will have come across free spins as one of the common bonuses that casinos offer to players. But are they worth it? Are free spins actually a way to potentially win money or are they a gimmick for casinos to try to promote their games?

The answer is somewhere in between. Free spins can be a very good way for players to work out what is on offer or to try out a new game, plus, there is no real risk to utilising these free spins as there’s no risk and no financial outlay to do so. We’re exploring some of the pros and cons here.

Free Spins graphic showing dice, cards and a spins wheel

Are Free Spins Just For New Customers?

Most commonly, free spins are offered to new customers as a way to try and encourage them to sign up. Sometimes, free spins can be provided before a player has even deposited into their account, and there are a lot of sites offering them and options for players.

However, free spins aren’t just a promotional method for new customers. Casinos are recognising the fact that the industry is so competitive and many are offering free spins more frequently as a method of rewarding players. For example, if a customer stakes a certain amount at a casino over the course of a week, they may be rewarded with free spins.

Free spins are also a way for casinos to encourage people to try their new offerings and new slot games, and new games are released all the time. This means that when a big release occurs, casinos might give their players 10 free spins to check it out, for example.

The Pros

A lot of people would come to the conclusion that there are more pros than there are cons when it comes to free spins. Not many people say no to a freebie and even if they’re not going to win huge amounts from free spins, they may still deem them more than worthwhile.

A Way to Test a New Game

If there is a slot game that has been launched and a player wants to see what it is like, they’d normally have to pay to play. Free spins may take this outlay away and give a chance for people to check out the game and not have to pay for the privilege. The free spins may be enough to get a taste of the game even if a player doesn’t get a win.

A Way to Test a New Site

As well as a way to test a new game, a lot of people are also looking to test a new site altogether. Free spins are often provided by sites that are trying to get new customers and this can be a way to see if you like the interface or the way the site works without having to spend any money in the process. Players might find that they like the selection of games or they might find that the site is clunky and they’d rather use one of the many other gambling sites.

No Risk on Those Spins

Of course, not spending any money to spin the reels means there is no risk. Even if a free spin doesn’t have the same level of potential to win as some of the others, it is totally free for players. Rather than spending money to spin the reels they can do so for free and there is still the chance that they can potentially win from those spins. This is why they have been so successful for casinos.

The Cons

There are some downsides to free spins as well. A lot of this is about expectations and players should be aware that free spins do have some limitations.

May Have Strict Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements mean that a player needs to continue to spin and use their winnings from the free spins if they are going to withdraw them. It is a way for casinos to make sure that players keep playing and exploring and can’t just take money from free spins straight away, there is an argument to scrap wagering requirements altogether. So, it is possible that a player might win on the free spins, but the winning streak might not continue long enough for them to withdraw money. This is looking at the negatives, it is also very possible that a player will be able to keep playing and even winning with the money, but there’s no guarantee.

Capped Winnings

A lot of the free spins have capped winnings. This means that there is a maximum payout on the slot game and the player can’t necessarily win the bigger amounts on a slot. Those who want to try for a jackpot will find that they can’t hit it, or even if they do, they might not be eligible for the payout with the capped winnings. This is why it is so important to read the conditions.

Other Restrictions

Different casinos do things in different ways and there may be other restrictions on the free spins bonuses. The small-print can sometimes show other restrictions and ways that these freebies are a little different from a standard spin.

Having Multiple Accounts

This can be a pro or a con, really, but a lot of people are reluctant to give their details to loads of sites and go through the signup processes. If somebody is trying to ensure that they take advantage of all of the free spins bonuses out there, then they are going to find that they have to sign up on a lot of different accounts and keep an eye on the promotions. They may also need to read a lot of terms and conditions, too.

My Final Thoughts

Alex Hussain Gambling Journalist

Alex Hussain

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He/ Him

Online Gambling Journalist

136 Articles

Free spins bonuses are found at pretty much every casino, along with lots of other promotions. Some use this as a way to tempt new players to try their platform and they are a popular promotional tool. They also take the risk out of things for players and free spins are something that a lot of people think they might as well take advantage of. There are some downsides, but not many people say no to something that is totally free of charge!

Alex is an expert in the field who writes on various subjects relating to online gaming, and he has been doing so for the last 8 years. Alex makes sure that readers have access to thorough and informative news coverage, addressing topics from the most recent developments to the latest trends in the casino industry.

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