Whenever I see a free spin bonus on a gaming site, I think okay cool let me check this out. But in this industry things are never that simple. When you look a bit closer you will see in the fine print there is usually some wagering requirement attached to the offer. In this post I will give you some perspective on if free spin bonuses are worth it or just a complete trap.
What Are Free Spins Bonuses?
When you sign up at a gaming site, they usually have some type of offer which may include free spins on select games. You usually don’t need to deposit to claim one of these free spin offers however wagering requirements may later be attached to them. This kind of promotion is used to entice new players to try a site out which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Some gaming sites might also refer to free spins as a no deposit bonus which is also common.
Why Casinos Offer Free Spins
To put it plainly they are just trying to attract new players. It’s also a way of encouraging deposits later which usually works. It’s also a way for us players to test a site out before figuring out if we want to dump money on the site and play for real. The casinos usually have specific games set for free spins which can include any popular games on that specific site. It’s rare you can choose the game you want to use free spins on as the gaming site will usually have this automatically set for you.
Are Free Spins Really Free?
Yes, they are. But what most people don’t realize is that they can often come with certain conditions such as wagering requirements. For example, let’s say you claimed 30 free spins and claimed something like $100 in winnings. The site might make clear a requirement of 20x or so before the money can be withdrawn. Which means you would have to then do $2000 in actual gameplay before the money can be available to withdraw. It’s a bit sneaky but it’s just the way things are in this industry. For context I’ve cleared some big wagering requirements before so it’s more than doable to hit something like 20x or more. It’s just not exactly easy.
When Free Spins Can Be Worth Claiming
I do feel like they are always worth claiming because you can test certain games out without having to put up any of your own money. But you should also go into it knowing there will probably be some type of wagering requirement that is often hard to hit but still possible.
I would also check to see if there are any expiration dates attached to one of these offers because they can sometimes run out in 30 days or less. But in general, I do think it’s still worth claiming a free spin bonus because you have nothing to lose in doing so. Players can also compare current free spins offers at Casinostacked.com before deciding which promotions are worth considering.
Red Flags to Watch For
Free spins can look like an easy win, but some offers are much less attractive once you read the fine print. One of the biggest red flags is a high wagering requirement. If you need to wager your winnings 40 or 50 times before making a withdrawal, the bonus may be harder to cash out than it first appears. I don’t usually see this high of a multiplier, it’s usually somewhere between 20 to 30x.
Another thing to watch for is a very low maximum withdrawal. Some casinos may let you win a decent amount from free spins but only allow you to withdraw a small portion of it. Short expiration dates can also be a problem, especially if you only have a day or two to use the spins or complete the wagering requirements. Players should also be careful with offers that have unclear terms. If it is difficult to find information about eligible games, maximum bets, or withdrawal rules, that is usually a reason to be cautious.
Final Thoughts
If you go into claiming a free spin bonus with all this knowledge it will give you a better understanding of what these promotions are mainly used for. It’s to entice new players to try a gaming site out. You should set some expectations that you likely won’t end up winning anything significant but if you do you can later use it to try and grow a small bankroll into something larger.
Wagering requirements for these types of offers is always the hardest thing to get past but even at 20-30x it’s still more than possible. If I’ve been able to do it then you can obviously clear them as well. But I do think if you see a free spin bonus on an online gaming site that is reputable, I would still accept the offer.
