Definition
Free Spins
Also known as Bonus Spins, Extra Spins, FS
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
Free spins are bonus rounds awarded by scatters or promotions, played without deducting from your balance. On most modern slots the majority of the game's total return is concentrated inside them.
Free spins are spins that cost nothing from your balance. They arrive two ways, and the distinction matters.
In-game free spins
Triggered by scatters, typically three or more anywhere on the reels.
These rounds usually carry enhancements the base game lacks, sticky wilds, rising multipliers, expanded reels, guaranteed symbols. That is where the value is.
On a modern high-volatility slot, 60% to 80% of the total RTP sits inside the bonus round. The base game is, in effect, a paid mechanism for reaching it.
This has a practical consequence that is widely ignored: if your bankroll does not cover enough spins to reach a bonus that triggers once in 300 spins, you are playing a game whose actual return you will most likely never encounter.
Promotional free spins
Credited by an operator as a bonus. These come with conditions that in-game spins do not:
- Fixed stake: usually the minimum, typically 10p or 20p per spin regardless of what you would normally bet
- Specific games: you cannot choose
- Wagering requirements on the winnings, commonly 35x to 65x
- Maximum conversion: a cap on what the winnings can become, often £50 or £100
- Expiry, frequently 24 to 72 hours
The realistic value of “100 free spins” is usually between £2 and £8 after the requirements are accounted for. The headline number is the number of spins, not their worth.
Retriggers
Landing further scatters during the round typically awards more spins. Whether retriggers are capped materially affects the max win ceiling. Uncapped retriggering is how the largest recorded slot wins have generally occurred.
Buying them
Bonus buy lets you pay directly for the feature, typically 70 to 100 times your stake. It skips the base game entirely, which is an honest reflection of what the base game is for.
Common questions
Are free spins actually free?
In-game free spins cost nothing and carry the enhancements that hold most of a slot's return. Promotional free spins are different: they come with fixed low stakes, wagering requirements and a maximum conversion cap.
What are 100 free spins really worth?
Usually between £2 and £8 after wagering requirements and conversion caps. The headline number counts spins, not value, and promotional spins are typically locked to the minimum stake on a specific game.