Free spins are the most misunderstood casino bonuses, period! Not only are they frequently confused with the bonus game free spins you get in slots, but they are also often mistaken for free cash. Let’s dissect this bonus and look into how it really works, and how you can actually turn free spins into real money.
Wagering Requirements
Ugh terms, we all hate terms. But they are important to understand. So let’s get them out of the way first before we dive into the fun stuff. Free spins tend to come with a strict set of rules. Casinos won’t just hand you money, but you probably already knew that. You know that saying.. “If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is”. And that applies to free spins too.
Why? Well because the casinos don’t want to lose money. They want to attract customers without losing money. And free spins are an incredibly valuable tool for that. They limit the amount you can win and withdraw, but on the other hand they have a potential customer that will make deposits to cover their losses.
But alongside all the limits there are also wagering requirements. This means you have to turnover your free spins bonus a set amount of times before you can withdraw. For example if you win $10 with your free spins and the wagering requirement is 40x. You have to turnover $400 before you can make a withdrawal.
Pro Tip
Pick bonuses that have lower wagering requirements. Because they are way easier to clear and you might just have a chance to walk away with some actual cash.
Pick the Right Slot Games
Finding the right slots can make clearing your bonus a lot smoother:
Choose High RTP Games
Let’s do some math. If you play at a 98% rtp slot, then you only lose 2% of your bankroll over the long run. This means if you want to turn over $100, you will only lose $2 in the long run. To make sure you go for the long run – stick to small bets. Once you start betting big, you can lose it in a few hands.
Go for Low Volatility Slots
When you’re looking to clear wagering requirements, always always always go for low volatility slots! Why? Because they let you win more frequently. High volatility slots are for high rollers who are looking to hit big wins. You won’t hit any big wins with free spins so you’d just blow your bankroll in a few spins.
Read the Bonus Terms Carefully
Free spins bonuses are usually tied to a single game or a handful of games, so make sure to check the bonus terms before you contact support and give them additional workload. Most new casino bonuses tend to include a wider range of slots, for example slots from a whole game provider’s collection, like Twist Gaming or Massive Studios for example.
Reading the bonus terms is good practice as well and something you should always do. This helps you avoid surprises.
Manage Bankroll
Play smart. Stay in control. Get the most out of your bonus:
Don’t Get Trapped
The goal of free spins is for you to deposit some of your own money. Don’t fall into this trap if you didn’t intend to do so initially. Once you start spinning slots with free spins it gets those dopamine juices flowing, and the casinos know that. And they know how intuitive it is to press that deposit button and start wagering your own money.
If you planned to deposit from the get go however, then it’s another thing, go for it. Just make sure to be responsible about it.
Go for Small Wins
Please don’t chase jackpots with free spins. Aim for smaller payouts. This makes clearing wagering requirements less stressful. Besides, most jackpot games are not even eligible for free spins.
Stick to Your Plan
Do your best to stick to your plan. And don’t beat yourself up if you slip. The system is designed to make you slip. Just set stop losses and move on with your day without trying to regain lost money.
Make the Most of Your Bonus Time
Most bonuses have a time limit. Meaning you will have to claim or clear your bonus within a set amount of days or even hours. Once you claim the bonus, you may only have 24 hours to clear the wagering requirements or the bonus might forfeit. But this varies from casino to casino and promotion to promotion, so always read the bonus terms before you sign up.
Cash Out Smartly
Won a bit of cash? Wow, look at you! Walking away with money from free spins doesn’t happen too often. Look, we don’t want to make free spins seem useless, but they are in fact just a lure. A lure that the casinos use to make you deposit your own money. So don’t expect to make big bucks with a free spins bonus, because we can realistically say that won’t happen.
