Free spins and no-deposit bonuses are attractive options for new and seasoned players. The opportunity to play popular slot games without spending your money while still being in with a chance of winning real money sounds too good to be true. Our guide looks at free spins and no-deposit bonuses, explaining how they work, what to watch out for, and how to make the most of them.
Understanding UK Free Spin Bonuses
Free spins no-deposit bonuses are exactly what they sound like – a chance to spin the reels of slot games without making a deposit. These bonuses appeal to players looking to explore new games or test their luck without any financial commitment. But there is a catch. The amount you can win with these free spins is often subject to the site's terms and conditions, wagering requirements, and withdrawal limits.
When can I find a 50 free spins bonus offer?
There are many ways to get your hands on free spins. These offers are usually 20 free spins or 50 free spins. Below are the most popular methods.
Welcome Offer
You'll often find free spins as part of a casino or slot sites welcome offer for new players. The spins are either offered on their own or as part of a package that also contains bonus funds.Some sites, like
PlayOJO, award free spins in relation to your deposit amount. For example, if you deposit £20 you’ll receive 20 bonus spins on a preselected slot game.
Loyalty programme
Being part of a casino's loyalty or VIP programme often results in free spins, usually split across three to six levels depending on how much money you deposit and spend.VIPs can receive daily, weekly or monthly bonuses with the number of spins and bet amount increasing as players move through the levels.You can always contact the support team to ask if you qualify for free spins, especially if your favourite casino doesn't have a loyalty scheme. The VIP or loyalty manager is more likely to award you a bonus if you frequently play or have recently deposited.
Completing tasks
Some brands like Casumo,
Rizk and ShadowBet offer an alternative VIP scheme, sometimes known as gamification. It’s a popular method of incentivising players to engage with the casino by offering rewards for fulfilling quests.Unlike a VIP programme, you don’t always have to wager to qualify. Tasks including simple actions such as logging in during set hours, completing tournaments or playing a specific game.
Why can't I choose how I use my bonus spins?
Online casinos normally preselect the slot game, or games, for free spins bonuses.It can be frustrating if your favourite title isn’t offered, but below are a few factors that may explain why certain slots are picked for bonuses and others are not.
PopularityCasinos choose popular slot games for offers to attract new players.
Games like NetEnt's Starburst are commonly featured due to their universal appeal.Exclusive slot provider dealsOperators partner with content studios to promote new slot games through free spin bonuses. This allows studios to promote their new games as well as helping casinos in attracting players eager to give these games a spin.Most
White Hat Gaming casinos offer players free spins on NetEnt’s entire portfolio or just a few of its titles for this reason.
Low volatilityCasinos avoid high-volatility slots to prevent significant payouts, favoyring low-volatility options. This is why you're unlikely to find free spins bonuses for games like
Bonanza Megaways as it has a high 96% RTP and a 10,000x multiplier.
Technical abilityNot all slots support free spins, as it depends on the content studio's decisions. This is why newer games that support such features are more likely to be offered.
How to use a free spins bonus
Using your free spins varies by casino and slot provider. Most often, you'll be able to find your active rewards in the casino lobby or your account settings. Alternatively, navigate to the specific slot game to initiate bonus rounds. Contact the brand’s support team if you're unsure which game your free spins have been credited to, or check the terms and conditions of your bonus.The majority of slot providers will notify you when you begin using your free credits for spins. However, be careful, as certain games may necessitate manual selection of the bonus.In most games, you'll find information at the bottom indicating whether you're using free spins or real funds. Double-check before clicking the spin button to avoid unintentionally utilising your cash balance.
How do I check how many free spins I have left?
Typically, there's a counter at the bottom of the game screen that displays the number of your remaining free spins.If you don't use all your spins in a single round, any unused spins will still be accessible when you come back. However, the majority of free spins bonuses come with an expiration period, usually set at 24 hours or 7 days. So it is best to use your spins as soon as possible.
What are no deposit free spins?
These bonuses are given to new players registering at an online casino for the first time, they don't need an initial deposit. As with a regular free spins bonus, you’ll receive a number of spins to use on a specific slot game (or games) without needing to deposit real funds to claim them.
While the spins are free, some sites may make you deposit money in order to withdraw your winnings.No deposit free spins are rare, but can be found at the sites below:
Things to watch out for when picking a free spins casino
Capped wins
Most free spins come with a cap, which means there's a limit to the amount you can win and keep. The specific amounts can vary, ranging from as low as £1 and going upwards. While 100 free spins may seem like a better offer than 30, it's the cap that ultimately decides if it's a generous offer or not. Surprisingly, you might find that a 30 free spins offer allows you to win and keep more money compared to a 100 free spins offer that has a stringent cap on your winnings. Always carefully review the terms before claiming a bonus.
Wagering requirements
Wagering requirements can be found in the bonus terms and conditions, often represented as '30x' or 'x40'. We strongly advise steering clear of bonuses with wagering requirements exceeding 50x, as meeting them while keeping extra cash can be hard. These requirements are the number of times a bonus must be played through before it becomes to 'real money' that can be withdrawn from your account. It's worth noting that there are free spins offers with no wagering requirements, making them some of the most appealing deals available, as any winnings are instantly eligible for withdrawal.
Withdrawal limits
Bonus winnings added to your real cash balance can be withdrawn whenever you choose. But operators tend to impose a minimum limit of £10 on withdrawal transactions typically. If you have won a small amount from a no deposit free spins bonus or your balance is less than £10, you’ll probably need to deposit before you can withdraw.
Ongoing promotions
Before signing up to a
new slot site, check for regular promotions for existing players using the site’s promotion page. While a substantial welcome bonus is appealing, it can only be claimed once. Look for sites that reward their loyal players on a regular basis. Offers to look out for include free spins for existing customers, or a free spin on a daily prize wheel. The type of offers available for existing customers often varies from site to site so check out the promotions page before signing up so you can find the right site for you.
Our Verdict
Free spins bonuses are a good way to test out online casinos without initial financial commitments. When on the lookout for free spin offers, don't be swayed by the number of spins on offer. Often, the number of spins does not necessarily mean better value.Sometimes offers with smaller number of spins have less restrictions which increase your chances of accumulating a substantial balance in your real money account. These offers frequently come with lower wagering requirements or the absence of win caps.Feel free to browse our selection of free spin bonuses above, where you'll discover a diverse range of value-packed packages suitable for players with varying budgets.