Free spins: how they work and what they are really worth

Free spins are the easiest casino bonus to understand: you get a fixed number of spins on a specific slot and you do not pay for them yourself. But it is only simple in the headline. Two offers that both promise "50 free spins" can differ several times over in practice, because the value is set by the spin stake, the choice of game and the terms that apply to the winnings from the spins.

This guide explains how free spins work technically, how to calculate their face value and what is left of it after the terms are met. The aim is not to tell you whether free spins are good or bad, but to give you a tool to judge every offer yourself.

How free spins work

When a casino gives you free spins, they are added to your account for a specific slot game. Each spin has a preset stake that you cannot change, and usually a deadline for activation and use. When you open the game you see a counter showing how many spins are left. Every spin works exactly like a normal spin: the result is decided by the game's random number generator (RNG), and all the usual paylines, wild symbols and bonus features are active.

Free spins are handed out in several situations:

• as part of a welcome package after the first deposit, often together with a deposit bonus;
• without a deposit for signing up, which is a separate topic, see no deposit bonuses;
• as recurring offers for existing players, for example in a weekend or new game campaign;
• as a reward in a loyalty or VIP programme.

You can find all current offers on the free spins page. Before activating one, though, it pays to know what the number "50" or "100" actually means for you.

Spin value: the first number to check

The value of a free spin is simply the stake the spin is played at. If an offer gives 50 spins at €0.10 per spin, the face value of the package is 50 × €0.10 = €5. If another casino gives 20 spins at €0.50, the face value is €10, twice as much, even though there are fewer spins.

That is why you should never compare offers by the number of spins. Compare the face value. If the terms do not state the spin value, that is a warning sign in itself: it usually means the game's minimum stake.

The second number is the game's RTP, its theoretical return rate. If the RTP is 96%, then in the long run every €1 staked returns €0.96 on average. The expected win from a €5 spin package is therefore about €5 × 0.96 = €4.80. That is an average: an individual player may get nothing from the spins or dozens of times more, especially in a high volatility game.

What happens to the winnings from the spins

This is where offers differ most. Winnings from spins usually do not go straight to your withdrawable balance. There are three common models:

1. Winnings are real money straight away. The best option: the amount won from the spins is yours and can be withdrawn like any other balance. Such offers are often called wager-free bonuses.
2. Winnings become bonus money. The most common option: the winnings are credited as bonus money and must be wagered a set number of times before withdrawal.
3. Winnings are capped. On top of wagering there is often a maximum cashout, for example "up to €100 of free spin winnings can be withdrawn". Anything over the cap is lost at the moment of withdrawal.

For free spins, the wagering requirement is usually calculated on the winnings, not on the value of the spins. If you won €4.80 from the spins and the requirement is 30×, you must place bets worth €4.80 × 30 = €144 in total before the balance becomes withdrawable. Our guide how wagering requirements work explains this in more detail.

How to judge the real value of an offer

The real value of free spins is what is left on average after all the terms. You can estimate it in four steps.

Step 1: face value. Number of spins × spin value. For example 50 × €0.10 = €5.

Step 2: expected win from the spins. Face value × the game's RTP. For example €5 × 96% = €4.80.

Step 3: expected cost of wagering. Amount to wager × house edge. If the requirement is 30× and you wager on a 96% RTP game, the house edge is 4%, so €144 × 4% = €5.76.

Step 4: compare. If the expected cost of wagering is greater than the win from the spins, the expected value of the offer falls close to zero. You can still win, but on average most players run out of bonus balance before the requirement is met.

The same example without a wagering requirement gives an expected value of the full €4.80. The difference is large, even though in the advert both offers look the same: "50 free spins".

The free spins value calculator does all of these sums for you. Enter the number of spins, the spin value, the RTP and the wagering requirement, and you immediately see what is left of the offer on average.

Terms worth reading before activation

The bonus terms for free spins are usually shorter than for a deposit bonus, but they contain several important details:

• Game. The spins are valid only on a specific slot. Check that game's RTP and volatility on its info page.
• Activation and use deadline. Spins often expire within 24 hours to 7 days. Unused spins are lost.
• Wagering deadline. There is a separate deadline for wagering the winnings. If it passes, the bonus balance is lost along with any winnings built up on it.
• Maximum bet during wagering. The maximum bet rule applies: if you bet more than allowed, the casino may void the winnings.
• Game contribution. Not every game counts 100% towards wagering. Table games often count less or not at all, see game contribution.
• Maximum cashout. Whether the spin winnings are capped and how high the cap is.

If any of these points is unclear in the terms, ask customer support before activating. Unclear terms always work against the player.

Free spins at Estonian licensed casinos

In Estonia, casino games may only be offered by a company holding an operating licence issued by the Tax and Customs Board (EMTA). You can check the list of valid licences on the EMTA website. A licensed casino must publish its bonus terms clearly and in Estonian, and a player can always take a complaint to the regulator. Casinos with an Estonian licence are listed on the Estonian licensed casinos page.

Wager-free free spins can also be found on the Estonian market. So it is always worth looking for an offer whose winnings are real money straight away, even if there are fewer spins.

Summary: how to choose

A good free spins offer states the spin value clearly, uses a game with at least average RTP, has no or a low wagering requirement on the winnings, and does not have an artificially small maximum cashout. The number of spins is the last thing to look at.

Remember that free spins are a marketing tool meant to bring you to the casino and get you playing. Casino games in Estonia are allowed from the age of 21. Set a deposit and loss limit before you start, and do not make a deposit just to claim a bonus. If you feel that gambling takes more time or money than you planned, you can find free help and advice at peaasi.ee.